The Canadian Opera Company is set to present “The Marriage of Figaro.” The Mozart masterpiece will be performed eight times at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts between Jan. 27 and Feb. 18, 2023. The acclaimed Claus Guth production will be revived by Marcelo Buscaino of Brazil; the production had a previous run in 2016 and has also {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present R. Strauss’ “Salome.” The opera will be performed by Canadian soprano Ambur Braid and will also include Karita Mattila, who once was a great Salome, in the role of Herodias, tenor Michael Schade as King Herod, baritone Michael Kupfer-Radecky in his COC and North American debut as Jochanaan, and, in a role {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has released its report for the 2021-22 season. The company said that the report was marked by sold-out shows, an average mainstage attendance capacity of 94%, and impressive growth in the company’s online community. In a statement, COC General Director Perryn Leech said, “I couldn’t be more proud of my first season at the COC – {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced the return of The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre: City Sessions. The series will begin on Nov. 22, 2022 and run through June 2023. One concert will be released every month, showcasing a new artist or ensemble filmed in the COC’s performance space. In a statement, Meaghan Froh Metcalf, Manager of {…}
Soprano Karoline Podolak took home both First Prize and Audience Choice Award at the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition. The finale, which was held on Nov. 3 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Podolak, a Toronto native, won a $7,500 award, as well as the Audience Choice Award, which was matched on this night {…}
The Finalists have been announced for the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition. The finals will be held on Nov. 3, 2022 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts with all proceeds from the evening supporting the COC’s groundbreaking artist development program. This year the theme of the evening is “A Night in the Spotlight.” The {…}
Canadian Opera Company has announced that Cecilia Livingston will be its new Composer-in-Residence. The residency will last for two years with Livingston set to work closely with the company’s executive, artistic, and community programming leaders. She will also work on a new project and will receive dramaturgical input, musical feedback, and critique all the way through production. She will also {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present Bizet’s “Carmen” with two mezzos. J’Nai Bridges makes her COC debut in the title role and shares it with COC Ensemble Studio alumna Rihab Chaieb. They are joined by Argentine tenor Marcelo Puente as Don José and Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury as Micaëla. El-Khoury shares the role with Anna-Sophie Neher, an Ensemble Studio {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to open its new season with Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman.” The opera, which will be performed at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, will be directed by Marilyn Gronsdal, taking on the original vision from American director Christopher Alden. COC Music Director Johannes Debus will lead the opera and said, “I was {…}
On August 29, 2022, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced the nominations for the 42 Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which recognize excellence in theatre, dance, and opera in Toronto. Leading the opera category with nine nominations is “R.U.R. A Torrent of Light” by Tapestry Opera in partnership with OCAD University. They are nominated for Outstanding Production, Outstanding {…}
The COC Ensemble Studio has announced that four new artists have joined the company’s 2022-2023 roster. The four singers are soprano Ariane Cossette, mezzo-sopranos Queen Hezumuryango and Alex Hetherington, and pianist Brian Cho. The four will join the highly specialized development program for Canadian opera professionals this August, alongside returning sopranos Charlotte Siegel and Midori Marsh, baritone Jonah Spungin, bass-baritone {…}