The Candian Opera Company has announced that the COC Orchestra will take center stage in a new video series, Solo Spotlights with the COC Orchestra. The new series will be hosted by Music Director Johannes Debus and each episode will feature the conductor in conversation with a member of the orchestra as they share candid anecdotes and special musical demonstrations. {…}
Canadian Opera Company has announced that Perryn Leech will be its new incoming General Director, effective March 1, 2021. Leech will work on his transition alongside General Director Alexander Neef, who will be heading over to the Opéra National de Paris. “I am so excited to be joining the Canadian Opera Company at this time of great challenge, but also {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has canceled the remainder of its 2020-21 season. The company announced that productions of Bizet’s “Carmen,” Janáček’s “Katya Kabanova,” Verdi’s “La Traviata,” and Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” will no longer be performed. Other productions affected by the cancelation include the world premiere of “Fantasma,” the Opera for Young Audiences production recently commissioned by the COC, and all special {…}
(Credit: Michael Cooper) “People are craving music and all the healing, soothing, and bonding elements it provides.” American-Canadian soprano superstar Sondra Radvanovsky was in Rio de Janeiro on March 13, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in full force. Radvanovsky was slated to perform at the Theatro Municipal, but the performance ended up being canceled. Faced with a {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced a reimagined fall season of physically distanced programming, called “Opera Everywhere.” The season will be comprised of digital and in-person events including live concerts, interactive learning opportunities, and deep dives into opera’s past and future, all designed with community-building in mind. In a press statement, COC General Director Alexander Neef said, “As we look {…}
The Canadian Opera Company’s digital platform for kids, Opera Makers, is set to bring interactive and educational programming to even more children in the region of Toronto. The program introduces the art form to children through activities that explore aspects such as storytelling, composition, performance, and design. The programming is created by COC teaching artists working with local partners. Among {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced that General Director Alexander Neef will be made the new head of the Opéra national de Paris, effective September 2020. Neef will continue in his role with COC until a new General Director is found. The move comes after Stephane Lissner, the current head at the Opéra national de Paris, announced his departure from {…}
The Canadian Opera Company will stream “Hadrian” for one night only on August 10, 2020. Starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, the company will join forces with the Montréal Pride Festival to host a free stream of the opera, accompanied by a watch party event that will feature a live Q & A with composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor. {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has released a new video on its YouTube page featuring its first ever virtual choir singing the “Anvil Chorus” from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” After putting out an open invitation in May, the choir features over 215 singers from 22 countries across six continents. The project was led by COC’s Chorus Master Sandra Horst, with help from {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced the cancellation of its in-person performances and programming through the fall of its 2020-21 season. In a press statement, Alexander Neef said, “Since the cancellation of our spring season back in March, we have been actively exploring every option regarding what our return to the stage might look like in our current reality. There {…}
Alexander Neef has released a statement in response to recent media speculation out of France that the Canadian Opera Company’s OC General Director plans on exiting his role with the company ahead of July 2021. In a statement, Neef confirmed that no decision has been made on accelerating a departure date. He said, “I certainly did not anticipate Lissner’s early {…}