SALUTE TO 2025!
Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 8 p.m.
Meridian Arts Centre
5040 Yonge St, Toronto
Looking for the perfect Season’s gift? Look no further: celebrate the New Year in style! Give yourself and your loved ones the priceless gift of music. During the Festive season, it’s a cherished tradition to present classical music concerts that blend lively spirit with nostalgic warmth. Join our special guest, internationally renowned bass-baritone Geo Chobanov, a celebrated Bulgarian opera singer, returning to Canada by popular demand. Alongside him is the abundantly talented Canadian soprano Alexa Frankian. They will perform with the award-winning Kindred Spirits Orchestra under the inspiring leadership of maestro Kristian Alexander. Together, they bring to life a one-of-a-kind, world-class New Year’s Gala with stirring overtures, arias, and duets from beloved operatic masterpieces by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Rossini, Gounod, Tchaikovsky, and more. Come and experience the magic of a season filled with love, hope, and new beginnings!
Program
W.A. Mozart, Overture to “The marriage of Figaro”
W.A. Mozart, “E Susanna non vien…Dove sono” (aria of The Countess from “The marriage of Figaro”)
W.A. Mozart, “Non più andrai, farfallone amoroso” (aria of Figaro from “The marriage of Figaro”)
W.A. Mozart, “Madamina, il catalogo è questo” (aria of Leporello from “Don Giovanni”)
A. Catalani, “Ebben? Ne andro lontana” (aria of Wally from “La Wally”)
G. Puccini, “Donde lieta usci” (aria of Mimì from “La Boheme”)
G. Puccini, “Quando m’en vo” (aria of Musetta from “La Boheme”)
G. Rossini, “La Calunnia è un venticello” (aria of Don Basilio’s from “The Barber of Siviglia”)
G. Donizetti, “Un foco insolito” (aria of Don Pasquale from “Don Pasquale”)
W. A. Mozart, “Pa-, Pa-, Pa-, pagena” (duet of Papageno and Papagena from “The magic flute”)
G. Bizet, Overture to “Carmen”
C. Gounod, “Rondeau du Veau d’or” (aria of Méphistophélès from “Faust”)
G. Verdi, “Che mal vegg’io!… L’offeso onor” (aria of Gomez da Silva from “Ernani”)
G. Puccini, “O mio babbino caro” (aria of Lauretta from “Gianni Schicchi”)
G. Verdi, “Mentre gonfiarsi l’anima” (aria of Attila from “Attila”)
G. Donizetti, Barcarola (duet of Dulcamara and Adina from “L’elisir d’amore”)
P.I. Tchaikovsky, “Valse des fleures” (from “The Nutcracker”)
W.A. Mozart, “In uomini, in soldati” (aria of Despina from “Così fan tutte)
W.A. Mozart, “Cinque… dieci…” (duet of Figaro and Susanna from “The marriage of Figaro”)
W.A. Mozart, “Là ci darem la mano” (duet of Don Juan and Zerlina from “Don Juan”)
Acknowledgment of Our Sponsors
Our deepest thanks to those whose generosity and vision have brought this one-of-a-kind, world-class New Year’s Gala to life. Through their support, we celebrate not only the art of music but also the vibrant cultural connections that enrich our community, uniting us all this festive season.
With heartfelt appreciation to:
- Mr. John S. Kloppenborg, Ph.D. FRSC
- Ms. Mariana Holder
- Ms. Kalina Loukanov
- Ms. Nevyana Sepettchieva
- Mr. George Gratzer
- Mr. Peter Suma
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Kristian Alexander
Conductor
Kristian Alexander is the founding Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra (Toronto, Ontario), the founding Music Director of the International Music Academy (Markham Ontario), the founding Artistic Director of Markham Contemporary Music Festival and the founding Artistic Director of the International Music Festival and Competition (Toronto). Kristian Alexander has conducted Internationale Bach-Collegium and Gächinger Kantorei in Stuttgart, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Oratorio Society and Orchestra, the National Opera of Romania, the National Teleradio Symphony Orchestra of Moldova, Lutosławski Philharmonic Orchestra and Malawski Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, and Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Opéra de Montréal Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra (Toronto), Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaughan Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Oratorio Society, Toronto Classical Singers, the Mozarteum Symphony Orchestra an the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra in Sofia..
Geo Chobanov
Bass-Baritone
Celebrated as one of Bulgaria’s foremost contemporary basses, Geo Chobanov stands out as a distinctive voice in the realm of contemporary opera, celebrated for his compelling performances and rich vocal depth. As a prominent soloist with Varna’s State Opera for over a decade, he has consistently captivated audiences with his powerful delivery and magnetic stage presence.
Chobanov’s artistic journey began at the esteemed National Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov,” where he developed his exceptional skills under the mentorship of the acclaimed Prof. Niko Isakov. His career took off with an impactful debut at the State Opera of Ruse, leading to an impressive repertoire of over 40 iconic bass roles. From the tormented Dutchman in Der fliegende Holländer to the regal King Philip in Verdi’s Don Carlos, his interpretations resonate with authenticity and passion.
In the 2023-24 season, Chobanov showcased his remarkable versatility, tackling diverse roles such as Zaccaria in Nabucco, Don Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Oroveso in Norma, and Daland in Der fliegende Holländer. His portrayal of Surin in Tchaikovsky’s Pikovaya dama (The Queen of Spades), directed by the esteemed Vera Nemirova, received high praise from critics.
Among his notable early achievements was a standout performance alongside Carlo Colombara at the “Bassissimo” concert, commemorating the centenary of Boris Christoff’s birth. Chobanov’s international engagements have taken him across Italy, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland, including appearances at the prestigious Solothurn Opera Festival, where he featured in Eugene Onegin, Manon Lescaut, and La Traviata.
This year, Chobanov returned to Canada for his third concert, Harmonies between Continents, conducted by Maestro Sabatino Vacca, further enriching his artistic footprint. He also shared the stage with the celebrated Sonya Yoncheva at the Varna Summer Festival, adding to his impressive collaborative experiences.
As he looks ahead, Chobanov is preparing for the iconic role of Ramfis in Verdi’s Aida, promising to add yet another layer of brilliance to his already illustrious career.
Alexa Frankian
Soprano
At just twenty-four, Canadian soprano Alexa Frankian is gaining recognition in opera and art song, praised by Opera Canada as “abundantly talented.” In 2024, she joined the Merola Opera Program, impressing with her “simple, unaffected, and beautifully sung Mimi” in La Bohème (San Francisco Classical Voice) and delivering a “radiant, surging” performance in a Tchaikovsky duet (San Francisco Chronicle).
This year, she became a Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, where she’ll perform in L’Amico Fritz and Cosi Fan Tutte. She also earned an Encouragement Award at the 2024 Met Laffont Competition Buffalo-Toronto District and placed third at the 2023 Mildred Miller International Voice Competition as its youngest participant.
Alexa graduated in 2024 with an Artist Diploma from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, where she performed in Dialogues des Carmélites, Ice Time (a new work by Tapestry Opera), and Flight. She is inspired by classic composers like Puccini and Mozart, as well as modern works like Bas Sheve (North American premiere of Yiddish opera) and The Monkiest King (Chinese-Canadian opera).
She holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School, studying under mentors Stephanie Bogle and David Eliakis.