Toronto’s opera scene will be well-represented at the upcoming Dora Awards. Today, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) unveiled this year’s nominees, including 53 mentions for the Opera and Musical Theatre/Opera divisions. Collectively, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) leads the pack with 27 nominations: eight for Götterdämmerung, six for Norma, five each for Ariodante and Tosca, and three for Louis Riel. On the other hand, Tapestry Opera’s production of Rocking Horse Winner single-handedly garnered nine nominations, making it the most-decorated production in the two divisions.
Tapestry Opera’s artistic director, Michael Mori, was also the director of Rocking Horse Winner. He commented on the potential significance of the opera’s elevated tally: “We are incredibly humbled to have been nominated in 9 categories for last season’s production of Rocking Horse Winner. Seeing Rocking Horse Winner recognized in company with the COC and Mirvish’s celebrated Come from Away speaks volumes to the talent that is working passionately in the alternative opera and new opera scenes. I hope that this is a sign that audiences are beginning to see contemporary opera as a living and dynamic art form with as broad a contemporary potential as the flourishing theatre scene in Canada. Personally, I am humbled to receive my first Dora nomination for direction in the good company of one of my mentors, Tim Albery. It takes a village to raise an opera and I salute co-commissioner Alex Reedijk at Scottish Opera, my predecessor Wayne Strongman, the powerful imagination of Anna Chatterton and Gareth Williams, conductor Jordan de Souza, designer Camie Ku [sic], and all of the amazing artists and administrators involved in conceiving and executing of Rocking Horse Winner. Opera doesn’t have to be what you thought it was to be powerful and transformative!”
The Dora Mavor Moore Awards are handed out yearly to Toronto’s best productions in General Theatre, Independent Theatre, Musical Theatre, Dance, Opera, and Theatre for Young Audiences. The 2017 Awards Ceremony will be held June 26 at the Elgin Theatre, and will be hosted by Raoul Bhaneja.
Detailed list of Opera Division and Musical Theatre/Opera Division nominations:
Ariodante (COC)
-Outstanding Production
-Outstanding Performance – Female (Jane Archibald)
-Outstanding Scenic Design (Ultz)
-Outstanding Costume Design (Ultz)
-Outstanding Choreography (Lucy Burge)
Götterdämmerung (COC)
-Outstanding Production
-Outstanding Performance – Female (Christine Goerke)
-Outstanding Performance – Male (Ain Anger)
-Outstanding Performance – Male (Andreas Schager)
-Outstanding Direction (Tim Albery)
-Outstanding Musical Direction (Johannes Debus)
-Outstanding Scenic Design (Michael Levine)
-Outstanding Lighting Design (David Finn)
Norma (COC)
–Outstanding Production
-Outstanding Performance – Female (Sondra Radvanovsky)
-Outstanding Musical Direction (Stephen Lord)
-Outstanding Scenic Design (David Korins)
-Outstanding Costume Design (Jessica Jahn)
-Outstanding Lighting Design (Duane Schuler)
Tosca (COC; co-production with Norwegian National Opera and Ballet)
-Outstanding Production
-Outstanding Performance – Female (Adrianne Pieczonka)
-Outstanding Performance – Male (Marcelo Puente)
-Outstanding Musical Direction (Keri-Lynn Wilson)
-Outstanding Costume Design (Kevin Knight)
Louis Riel (COC; co-production with Canada’s National Arts Centre)
-Outstanding Performance – Male (Russell Braun)
-Outstanding Performance – Ensemble
-Outstanding Direction (Peter Hinton)
Brundibar (Canadian Children’s Opera Company)
-Outstanding Performance – Ensemble
Dido and Aeneas (Opera Atelier)
-Outstanding Performance – Ensemble
Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera; co-commission with Scottish Opera)
-Outstanding Production
-Outstanding Performance – Ensemble
-Outstanding Performance – Female (Carla Huhtanen)
-Outstanding Performance – Male (Asitha Tennekoon)
-Outstanding Direction (Michael Mori)
-Outstanding Musical Direction (Jordan de Souza)
-Outstanding New Musical/Opera (written by Anna Chatterton; composed by Gareth Williams)
-Outstanding Scenic Design (Camellia Koo)
-Outstanding Lighting Design (Michelle Ramsay)
Congratulations to all the nominees!
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