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Artscene By Tina Depko · FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009 33 Coming home Tenor performs in Toronto after 11 years abroad He grew up in the Falgarwood area of town, attending St. Ignatius of Loyola. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Neither his parents, nor his sister, had This holiday season is a homecoming of musical talent or interest, he said. Curry did like to sing though, so he was sorts for David Curry. The tenor grew up in Oakville, but has always in his high school's musicals. "I did do all of the productions in high enjoyed an exciting 11 years working and living in Europe before settling down in school and had leading a role in all of those," he said. Vancouver last December. "But I was involved in a broad perspective He is back in Oakville, temporarily staying with his family so that he can attend of things in high school and there was no parrehearsals for his first Canadian production ticular focus in music and certainly, I had no music training." as a professional singer. Following graduation, he went to the Curry has been cast as a lead in Toronto Operetta Theatre's production of Countess University of Western Ontario, enrolling in the sciences with an expectation of pursuing Maritza, which opens Dec. 26. "It's been nice to come back and see some medicine. He also joined the Navy. However, he found that the passion for MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER of my friends here again," the 35-year-old said. "I'm looking to grow the North chemistry and biology, as well as the Navy, simply wasn't there. American side of what I do, "I'm looking to grow the "I ended up auditionso I'll be back in Toronto in North American side of what ing, really as a joke, for a the future." production at Western Countess Maritza is an I do, so I'll be back in and it was Gilbert & operetta from 1924 by Toronto in the future." Sullivan and I had no idea Hungarian composer what I was getting into, I David Curry Emmerich Kalman. just thought it was a good The show, set in Oakville-raised tenor way to meet girls," he Hungary in 1924, tells the said. tale of social change and "I ended up with the loss of status, coloured by principal role in that and I did meet a girl the drama of the First World War. Curry stars as Tassilo, an impoverished who turned out to be my wife, who was in the nobleman, who falls in love with a countess. chorus in the show." Curry dropped out of Western and the This is his first time doing the show. "In my career, I've done a lot of operetta, Navy and moved to Toronto at age 21. An odd job in a costume shop in Toronto and operetta like this is the precursor to the put him in contact with Warren Hughes, past modern musical," Curry said. "It has great music, is well-written and has president of the Toronto Gilbert & Sullivan a solid story. Next to The Merry Widow, it is Society, who encouraged Curry to become one of the greatest operettas written. I'm involved in music again. "I started getting singing lessons and I was amazed it doesn't have a wider following here told I had to go back to university for music, in North America." While singing is now his life, it is the last win an audition and I did all of that in a year," career he imagined for himself during his he said. See Singer page 34 SUBMITTED PHOTO youth in Oakville. SUBMITTED PHOTO CURRY POWER: David Curry, a professional singer raised in Oakville, is back in Canada following 11 years working overseas. Although his residence is now Vancouver, he will be starring in a Toronto production -- his Canadian debut as a professional performer -- this holiday season. Minimum purchase of $75 before taxes. Offer expires December 24/09. (not to be used in combination with other offers) $1 OFF 5 Making Your Cooking Fun & Easy ing g g Fu y · Knives and Garnishing Tools · Spice Racks · Small Appliances · Cookware and Tableware · Linens, Aprons and Mitts · Bakeware · Barware · Espresso Makers and Accessories Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday CLOSED Hours: River Glen Mews Plaza 2530 6th Line, Oakville (905) 257-3500