Alexandra Delle Donne, Soprano
Menotti's The Telephone &
Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor
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Synopsis
Set in the 1950’s, Lucy and Ben are a simple unmarried couple who enjoy spending time together. Lucy particularly enjoys talking to her friends on the telephone discussing the latest gossip, going over plans, and perhaps having the most important conversation of her life! Ben on the other hand, spends most of his time trying to get Lucy off of the phone...not much has really changed today.
Synopsis
In this production of Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario), you will follow an opera production in the 1950s where casting has gone very wrong. Madame Herz, a notable and well respected singer, and Mademoiselle Silberklang, an up and coming young Soprano, don’t exactly see eye to eye. The two sopranos spend their time literally singing at each other to prove who is better, while everyone else is just trying to keep the peace.
Cast
Canadian-Italian soprano Alexandra Delle Donne received her Graduate Degree in Historical Performance from the University of Toronto in 2021.
Alexandra performed with the North York Concert Orchestra in their production L’elisir d’Amore (2024), covering the role of Giannetta and singing in the chorus. Alexandra also performed with Toronto City Opera in their production of Floyd’s Susannah (2024) as Mrs. Gleaton. Alexandra also performed the role of Frosch in their TCO's production of Die Fledermaus (2024). She sang in Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2023) as part of the chorus, as well as playing Donna Elvira’s maid.
Alexandra was a featured soloist with TES in Allegri’s Miserere (2024), Faure’s Requiem (2023), and Handel’s Messiah (2022-2024). As well as performing with the Mandle Philharmonic in their concert of Beethoven's 9th, as well as movements from Carmina Burana (2024).
Alexandra is excited to be producing and directing her first staged operas; Menotti's The Telephone, and Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor (2025).
Alexandra Delle Donne
The Telephone: Lucy / Der Schauspieldirektor: Mademoiselle Silberklang
Mekhriban Mamedova
Mekhriban Mamedova joined the Church of St. Peter and St. Simon the Apostle in August 2020, as an Alto Lead, having previously sung as a Lead at St. James Cathedral, Toronto. Born in Moscow, Russia, she has been singing in choirs and playing the piano since she was 6 years old. In addition to the piano, Mekhriban regularly plays pipe organ and various percussion instruments.
Throughout her music career in Ontario, Mekhriban has sung with Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Trinity College Evensong Choir (Trinity College, at the University of Toronto), Toronto Festival Singers, and St. Basil Catholic Church choirs (St. Michael’s College, at the University of Toronto), among others. She currently performs on a regular basis with The Edison Singers (Elora, Ontario), where she serves as a member of the board of directors and chairs several executive committees.
Mekhriban is a graduate with Honors of the Gnessin State College of Music (Moscow, Russia), majoring in classical piano, and of the Moscow State University, Law Faculty, with the major in Civil Law, specializing in Intellectual Property rights. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto, both the Faculty of Law (Juris Doctor and Master of Laws) and Rotman School of Management (Master of Business Administration). She has been practicing law as a corporate lawyer both in Toronto and Kitchener/Waterloo regions of Ontario ever since 2011. She is also involved in corporate governance roles, currently serving as a member of the Advisory Board and Stewardship Committee at the Church of St. Peter and St. Simon the Apostle, whereby she also acts as a lead alto singer, and as hoc pianist and organist
The Telephone & Der Schauspieldirektor: Pianist
James Sandau is a baritone originally from Ajax, Ontario. Recent credits include Beethoven’s 9th (2024) with the Mandle Philharmonic, as well as performing with Toronto City Opera in their productions of
Carmen (2023) and Die Fledermaus (2023). In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing crime fiction. He holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto.
James Sandau
The Telephone: Ben / Der Schauspieldirektor: Buff
Katelyn Bird
Miss Bird is a Canadian soprano, praised as a “powerful coloratura soprano [who] sings with precision and secure top notes” (Christopher Hoile, 2022).
Graduating from the Glenn Gould School (GGS) at the Royal Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s (Honours) in Voice Performance and an Artist Diploma, Miss Bird recently made her professional debut as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pacific Opera Victoria (2024). Other recent roles include Adele in Die Fledermaus with Toronto City Opera (2023), Soprano section lead and Donna Anna understudy in Don Giovanni (2023), and Gianetta in L’elisir d’amore, where she also understudied Adina (2024).
In 2022, Miss Bird was a finalist in the Atelier Lyrique National Auditions of Opéra de Montréal, while also receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Armida in GGS’ Rinaldo by Handel. She brought depth to her performances as Milica in Ana Sokolović’s Svadba and Young Heidi in Stephen Sondheim’s Follies (2021). Additionally, she performed the role of Annunciata in W. Bolcom’s Lucrezia (2020), made her debut as Papagena in The Magic Flute at GGS (2019), and portrayed Cecily Cardew in the Canadian operetta The Importance of Being Earnest by Eugene Benson and Victor Davies (2018).
In addition to her operatic success, Miss Bird is equally accomplished in concert repertoire, having performed with the Upper Canada Chorus, Toronto Concert Choir, Novi Singers Toronto, and The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, as well as establishing herself as a well-versed solo recitalist. In 2023, she performed Stabat Mater with Music Niagara and previously took part in the world premiere of Anna Höstman’s IceFolding during the 21C Festival at Mazzoleni Hall in 2019.
Alongside her performing career, she is a passionate vocal and piano teacher, having guided a student to achieve the Gold Medal for Grade 2 Voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2012. Miss Bird is committed to fostering new talent as the Artistic Director of Crashcat Studios, a company dedicated to empowering young artists.
Der Schauspieldirektor: Madame Herz
Tenor Joshua Clemenger began his training at The Theatre Aquarius Performing Arts Programme in Hamilton Ontario, where he performed in Miss Saigon, Chess, and Grease. He received a Bachelor's degree in vocal Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and then spent 4 years living and teaching abroad before returning to earn a Master’s degree in Opera from the University of Toronto.
Joshua now runs a thriving vocal studio while continuing to perform around Ontario, and he’s thrilled to be joining such talented colleagues in this delightful double bill! Recent opera credits include; Sam in Susanna and Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Toronto City Opera, Colin in L’Amant Anonyme, with
Opera in Concert, Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Jo the loiterer in Mother of us All (OIC), L’abete in Adriana Lecouvreur (OIC), Luiz in Gondoliers (TOT), and Ralph in TrypTych opera’s production of H.M.S. Parliament.
Joshua Clemenger
Der Schauspieldirektor: Mister Vogelsang
