The Canadian Opera Company has announced that Music Director Johannes Debus and Chorus Master Sandra Host have renewed their contracts through the 2028-29 season. The company said, “Our audiences know that an opera with Johannes at the podium and our chorus led by Sandra will always be an exceptional musical experience. Many congratulations, Johannes and Sandra! We can’t wait to {…}
The Canadian Opera Company is set to present Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” for the first time in 30 years. The opera will be presented between April 26 and May 18, 2024 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, with an additional one-night-only performance starring current and graduate artists of the COC’s Ensemble Studio on May 14, 2024. The opera {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Verdi’s “Nabucco” starring Roland Wood, Tamara Wilson, Rihab Chaieb, Matthew Cairns, and Simon Lim. Paolo Carignani conducts the new production by Katherine M. Carter. Performance Dates: Oct. 4-25, 2024 Long Long sings the title role in Gounod’s “Faust” with Kyle Ketelsen, Kseniia Proshina, Simon Melchlinski, and Megan Latham. {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced three emerging Canadian artists for the 2024-25 season. The artists are sopranos Emily Rocha and Gabrielle Turgeon, and bass Duncan Stenhouse. The singers join six returning Ensemble Studio members soprano Karoline Podolak, mezzo-soprano Queen Hezumuryango, tenor Wesley Harrison, baritone Korin Thomas-Smith, and pianist/coaches Brian Cho and Mattia Senesi. All three incoming Ensemble Studio artists {…}
The Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) 10th annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition took place on Oct. 26, 2023, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais from Chicoutimi, QC, sang “Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s “Tosca.” She won the First Prize of $7,500 and the Audience Choice Award of $1,000. St-Gelais was named Radio-Canada’s 2023/2024 classical breakout {…}
The Canadian Opera Company and the National Arts Centre have announced the co-commissioning of Ian Cusson and Cherie Dimaline‘s new mainstage opera,”Empire of Wild.” The opera is based on Dimaline’s 2019 novel of the same name which was inspired by the legend of the rogarou, a werewolf-like creature that haunts the roads and woods of Indigenous communities. The opera weaves {…}