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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 4, 2004 -C3 Oakville opera singer has lead role in The Widow Light-hearted opera permed by O Catuida composer M ike Toth SPECIAL TO "me BEAVER She has brought the house down with her performance as Eliza Doolittle in the musical My Fair Lady. She has trilled us in the title role of Bizet's most famous opera. Carmen, and earned kudos for her performance as Dolores Santa Cruz last year in the much acclaimed Canadian premier of Gonzalo Roig's classic Cuban operetta With that in mind, she w ill have to stamp her own personality on the char acter of Dona Paquita. " It's a challenge of true artistry and it appeals to the true artist in me," says Fredette. "1 have always enjoyed doing these roles, there's nobody to copy. " I have to develop the role myself and bring my own quality to it." The Widow is a rare gem in Canadian musical theatre. As the composer of or National Anthem, Calixa Lavall^e may be the most popular composer across the land with performances of his best-known work, O Canada, heard daily in concert halls, hockey arenas, before sporting events and everywhere else from Newfoundland to the Queen Charlotte Islands. Few people realize though that the Qutfbec-bom composer was just as famous in his lifetime on both sides of the 49th parallel for his light operas, songs and various instrumental works, all of which were heard regularly on the best stages as much in the U.S. (or maybe even more) as in Canada. The Widow, which premiered at the Chatterton Opera House in Springfield, Cecilia Valdes. Now G is< 51e Fredeite is ready thrill musical theatre lovers again, this time performing the leading role when the Toronto Operetta Theatre presents Calixa Lavallde's most famous stage work. The Widow, at the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane Mallett Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 14. It is not just another run-of-the-mill turn on the stage for Oakville's resident songbird. The Widow represents a much greater challenge than many of her pre vious triumphs. This light-hearted operetta by the composer of O Canada has rarely been performed on Canadian stage in nearly a century. Speed dating event has 10 chances to find Valentine Heart atid stroke Foundation fundraiser Feb. 15 Speed dating is coming to Oakville for Valentine's Day. Now is your chance to date over 10 peo ple in one night without the awkwardness of pick-up lines, unwanted come-ons or drawn-out, boring conversations. Also, it's safe. No more worry of being pressured to hand out your phone number to relative strangers. Instead, if interested after your six-minute date, you simply write the name of the person - as well as the names of any of the other people you meet and are interested in - on your dating card. You then submit that dating card to the organizer of the event at the end of the night, and if one of the people you picked also picked you, then your email address is sent to him/her and his/her email address is sent to you. To make the deal even more sweet, all proceeds will be given to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, so even if you don't find the love of your life, at least you'll get the pleasure of helping out people in need. Plus, there are door prizes. As well as the quick dates, there will be time to mix and mingle throughout the night. Give or take two years, 23 to 34 year old women will be matched up with 25 to 36 years old men, and 35 to 46 year old women will be meeting 37 to 48 year old men. The speed dating is on Sunday. Feb. 15 between 3 and 6 p.m. at Julia Restaurant in downtown Oakville, 312 Lakeshore Rd. E. It is S35 per person, and all proceeds will be donated to The Heart and Stroke Foundation. Advance registration is required. To register, or for more information, call 905-337-2878, or visit www.datingevents.ca.. O akville's Gisele Fredette stars in the lead of the Toronto Operetta Theatre production The Widow playing Feb. 14 at the St. Lawrence Centre's Jane M allett Theatre Illinois in 1882, was dedicated to Count eral languages. Her first CD, entitled Euridyce and numerous television One Voice, Une VoLx, Una showcas appearances. De Premio-Real. who was Consul General of Spain for the Dominion of es her versatility. The Manitoba-bom singer has been a Having performed in the title roles of resident of Oakville for nearly seven Canada and British and French posses sions in North America at the time. It numerous operas, such as Carmen, her years. " Now I feel this is my home. I was instantly accorded enthusiastic experience in the classics is extensive. absolutely love it here," she says. reviews as: " extremely lively and bril Her first love is the stage, which comes As the wide world is her stage most liant", " melodious" and " suffused with in many forms -- opera, musical the ly, Oakville residents aren't much the elegance and virtuosity that is only atre, pop and jazz. aware they have a star of Fredette's found in good comic and light operas" . Among others, Fredette had per quality and renown living in their midst. formed such varied roles as Anita in West That's all still valid today. " But my neighbours know," she says For Gisele, it represents what she Side Story, Gianetta in Elexir o f Love, with a chuckle. "They can't help it, they calls "the continuation of the Fredette Countess Stasi in Czardas Princess, hear me sing and practice." Adah de Clercq in Naughty Mariatta, tradition" -- her father had a starring There are tickets ($35 and $28) still part in the 1966 C B C recording of the Anne Bylen in Henry VIII. Second Lady available for Fredette's Valentine's Day Lavallee operetta and now she gets to in the Magic Flute and was soloist in the performance of The Widow at the Jane Oakville Symphony's presentation of a Mallett Theatre Box Office, 27 Front St, sing the lead role. Gisdle Fredette is more than one of Gilbert and Sullivan concert. East in Toronto, on-line www.stlc.com, Canada's most versatile mezzo-sopra Her film credits include Prima Dona or by phone at 416-366-7723 or 1-800nos, she is also an accomplished com in Mr. Beethoven Lives Upstairs and 708-6754. poser and songwriter, proficient in sev- Euridyce in the classical Orfee el B o o k e r s TABMCLMID ( IT** l i d r a n S r in u ii Bookers Bookstore. 172 Lakeshore Rd. E, Oakville · 905 · 844-5501 · bookers@bellnet.ca 20% O i l I I \ k im o I. by Elizabeth Hay v i :k It O O k l J t S KO O KS G A RBO LAUGHS, (H nnrh E im l.T lu Oniinlle Oub. Afml I S/041 t AN EMBARRASSMENT OK M ANGOES, by A n n V an d erb o o f (Bntnrh h i*nl,T ht O n h illr Club, April 18/04) 3. RIVER O F T H E BROKENH EA RTED, by David A dam s R ichards lAulogmpM) 4. 5. O N E H U N D R ED M ILLIO N HEARTS, bv Kerri Sakamoto (Autographed) T H E IN-BETW EEN W O R LD O F VTKRAM LALL, by M. G. Vassanji (A utogm pM ) 6. 7. 8. 9. ORVX AND CRAKE, by M argaret Atwood H EG EM O N Y O R SURVIVAL, by N oam C hom sky ELIZABETH C O ST ELL O , bvJ.M . C o e tte e T H E VINYL CAFE DIARIES, by Stuart Mdx-an Chorus delivers singing valentines If you're looking for something to spice up your gift to your Valentine on Valentine's Day, the Circle of Harmony Chorus is delivering singing valentines. Circle of Harmony Chorus, a barber shop ensemble, will be delivering singing valentines for area residents and business people looking for a fun and exciting new way to send a Valentine message to their sweethearts, friends or customers. Circle of Harmony is affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, an organi zation dedicated to the art of barbershop harmony. For more information or to place an order for a singing valentine, visit www.cirlceofhannony.ca or call Ingrid at 905-319-2281. O FF O U R O R IG IN A L PRICES on selected If you h a ve a n e w s tip or s to ry idea, ca ll the O akville B e a v e r at 10. D U E PREPARATIO N FO R T H E PLAGUE, b y ja n e tte T u rn e r H ospital I I . DUD E, W H ER E'S MY CO UN TRY ? by M ichael M oore 12. LO R D J O H N AND T H E PRIVATE MATTER, bv D iana G ab ald o n 13. O 'H A RA 'S C H O IC E , bv L eon Uris 14. IN MY OWN NAME, bv M au reen M cTccr (Autogmplud) 15. T H E WAY TH E CROW FUES, bv A nn-M aric M acdonald FALL & WINTER CLEARANCE 1 WEEK ONLY - FEBRUARY 2-8 Entire In-Store Stock! McCALL'S PATTERNS - ONLY 2.49 EA. O ffe r v a lid Feb.2-8, 2004. w h ile q u a n titie s last. N ot v a lid w ith any o th e r d is c o u n t offers. Sale in effect on selected in stock seasonal merchandise from Jan 21 Feb 8 2004, while quantities last Applicable discounts will be applied to Fabrlcland's original chain-stora prices. Look for the red sale tags. A H sales final oi 1. s p e c ia l 845 - 3824 . OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 iy i i h TO O A K V m i is i DEAFENING, by Franco lUuri 140 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE 844-7728 (ftuaAfimt V r< ih A -< h h Ito u o jZ /D f) 2. THE H A N D WALKERS, by John B a n n s ' (OtnhBM VrfJrhAdih MrnoyZm Don't Think About it START TODAY! Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver X M ID N IG FrrA X TH E DRAGONCAFE, b)|wh'F(Xig Hates (ftw tA fim C lhr()th*m fifo w ry S W ; 4. 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