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For the 2026/27 season, Opera Atelier founding Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski, C.M. and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, C.M. are offering their audience A Season of Heroes. The season will include two major productions at the Telus Centre for Performing Arts, Koerner Hall: the company’s new production of Charpentier’s The Descent of Orpheus, and the remount of the company’s popular 2023 staging of Handel’s The Resurrection.
Opera Atelier is known throughout North America and beyond as a leading opera and ballet company dedicated to historically informed period productions for the modern day audience. Their longstanding partnership with Tafelmusik, an award-winning period-instrument orchestra, ensures a high level of musical excellence, and their productions come together as complete artistic statements that pay equal attention to the music, dancing, dramatic, and design elements.
OA’s productions have toured internationally to major opera houses and festivals such as the Royal Opera House in Versailles and the upcoming presentation of The Resurrection at Chicago’s Harris Theatre in March 2027.
Here’s a look at each production for 2026/27 in more detail.
The Descent of Orpheus by Marc Antoine Charpentier
October 22 – 25, 2026 at Koerner Hall
Charpentier composed his two-act opera in 1686. The chamber opera’s libretto is based on the story of Orpheus as it appears in Book 10 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, but leaves the ending open ended, so to speak.
The work is quintessentially French in style, and incorporates wonderful dance music, some of the finest that has ever been created for French 17th-century lyric theatre. Opera Atelier’s production brings dance and opera back together for a rich audience experience.
Story
In the story, the shepherd Orpheus’ beloved Eurydice dies, and Orpheus uses his gift of music to bargain his way into the underworld to bring her back to the land of the living. Charpentier diverges from Baroque tradition by beginning his version of the story at the death of Eurydice.
It becomes both a tragedy and a hero’s journey. As Orpheus travels through the underworld to reclaim his lover, he transforms from a simple Arcadian shepherd into a godlike hero.
The emphasis is on his journey, rather than the outcome of his quest.
Cast & Credits
Charpentier himself sang the role of Orpheus at the work’s premiere in France. Acclaimed and versatile American tenor Daniel McGrew takes on the role for Opera Atelier in his company debut.
Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin, an audience favourite who enjoys a glittering international career, will sing the role of Eurydice.
French bass baritone David Witczak, a graduate of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with wide ranging stage experience, sings the role of Pluto.
Canadian lyric mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel, today based in Berlin, will sing the role of Persephone.
Some of Canada’s finest singers make up the opera’s onstage ensemble, together with the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet, as choreographed by Lajeunesse Zingg.
The score will be performed by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, and the production will be led by Opera Atelier Assistant Music Director Dr. Christopher Bagan in his Koerner Hall conducting debut.
With the support of the Jerry and Joan Lozinski Opera Atelier Reimagined Project at Koerner Hall, Set Designer Gerard Gauci will transform the space to bring the staging past the orchestra and into the audience.
Handel’s The Resurrection
April 15 – 18, 2027 in Koerner Hall
Opera Atelier revisits its 2023 production of Handel’s The Resurrection, which was both a critical and audience hit. The lavish production incorporates the hallmark elements of OA’s style for a truly inspirational work that celebrates the hero’s triumph over death.
“Handel’s expansive vision for this timeless story of rebirth resulted in the creation of one of his greatest works” says Pynkoski, who is also the stage director for the production. “I’m fascinated by this world in which the individual experiences spiritual ecstasy through a ravishing of the senses.”
The composer’s score underscores the work’s sensual nature, with a libretto that vividly brings the story and its emotions to life.
The Story
Handel composed The Resurrection for Easter of 1708. It depicts the events that take place between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the despair and the tensions that lead to Christ’s resurrection following his crucifixion and burial. The story takes place in two realms — the celestial, and the earthly.
In the celestial realm, a radical Archangel storms the gates of Hades to dispute boastful Lucifer. The Archangel insists that Christ’s death was an act of sacrificial love, and the two beings argue the point vigorously — shot through with moments of Handel’s signature humour.
On Earth, Mary Magdalene, Cleophas and St. John the Evangelist struggle to deal with Christ’s brutal death and its immediate aftermath.
Cast & Credits
The role of the Archangel was originally written for a castrato. It’s performed for OA by Carla Huhtanen, who last took the stage with Opera Atelier in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. A coloratura soprano, Huhtanen has a renowned vocal range, making her perfect for the role. As the Archangel, she interacts with the Artists of Atelier Ballet, who serve as a corps of male and female angelic beings.
Bass baritone David Witczak sings the role of Lucifer, the Archangel’s diabolical counterpart in the argument. Witczak is well known as a superb linguist, and for his passionate performance of Italian repertoire.
French tenor Antonin Rondepierre, a graduate of the Centre de Music Baroque Versailles, is a rising star of the early music scene. He performs the role of St. John the Evangelist.
Soprano Meghan Lindsay, well known to Opera Atelier audiences for her impassioned performances over past seasons, sings the role of Mary Magdalene.
Mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel rounds out the cast as Mary Cleophas.
David Fallis leads Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in interpreting Handel’s opulent score. The production features choreography by Lajeunesse Zingg, performed by the full roster Artists of Atelier Ballet on Koerner Hall’s expansive stage. As the opera progresses, the divine takes more and more precedence over Lucifer’s boasts, and the angelic beings become more and more a part of the action on stage. They cross between the physical worlds of Mary Magdalene, Cleophas and St. John, and the supernatural realm of the Archangel and Lucifer.
Both male and female Artists of Atelier Ballet will perform with swords.
“It is a delight to perform Handel’s work in Toronto’s celebrated Koerner Hall,” says Lajeunesse Zingg. “Handel’s superb score will be well-served by the hall’s renowned acoustics, as our artists explore the
ecstatic sensuality of Counter-Reformation Rome.”
Gerard Gauci will create an elaborate multi-level set to showcase Handel’s glorious vision.
This presentation was made possible through the generous support of Production Underwriter Vivian Elizabeth Pilar.
Tickets & Details
As a company, Opera Atelier is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the education of youth and young artists. OA offers a broad ranging slate of education, enrichment and outreach opportunities. The organization has been led by co-founding Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg since 1985. Both were named members of the Order of Canada and Officers of the Order of Arts and Letters (Officiers dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French Republic.
- 2026/27 Season Subscriptions are available by calling 416-703-3767 x 700, or online [HERE].
- Single Tickets for The Descent of Orpheus will go on sale August 25, 2026.
- Single Tickets for The Resurrection will go on sale February 23, 2027.
Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the
Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.
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