Part two of a report from the Richard Strauss-Woche in the Deutsche Oper by Joseph So.

Santa Fe Opera's Madama Butterfly revival meets the spirit of the work with great voices, a fine orchestra, and an evocative production.

They make their Toronto début tonight at the Glenn Gould Studio in a two-part programme. The first half showcases the truly remarkable skills and musicality of Vestard. The second half is all about the couple as collaborators, as Vestard’s work on the keyboard is joined by his engaging wife’s appealing soprano.

Opera 5, a group of young professionals with interesting ideas, close their first, three-production season with rare (for Toronto) Spanish-language one-act operas — El retablo de maese Pedro by Manuel de Falla and Goyescas by Enrique Granados — at Parkdale’s intimate Gallery 345.

The Canadian Opera Company’s second annual Ensemble Studio Competition held Thursday night yielded three new members for the young performers’ apprenticeship programme, each of them bearing a cash prize to sweeten the moment.

The COC extends contract for General Director Alexander Neef through 2025/26 and posts a modest $11,000 surplus.

On Wednesday evening the Canadian Opera Company announced its 2015-2016 season in Grand Opera style. No exclusive little cocktail party for a handful of press here ­– instead General Director, Alexander Neef went straight to his public and pulled out all the stops. Over a 90 minute programme he offered the crowd of over 1700 an 'event' overflowing with informal chat, Q & As, video segments, interviews, live music, surprise guest singers, a full orchestra conducted by COC Music Director, Johannes Debus - and the complete Act II finale of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Brent Bambury, the affable CBC Radio One host, functioned as moderator and kept the various elements moving along in a quick and orderly fashion. With the massive set for Richard Wagner's Die Walküre in the background, all that was missing was the chorus...

Opera Atelier founding Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg have been appointed to the Order of Canada.

First up is Giuseppe Verdi’s great, final opera Falstaff. The excellent cast includes John Fanning in the title role, James Westman, Lyne Fortin, Ariana Chris, Sasha Djihanian and American tenor Theo Lebow. The director is Allison Grant. There will be four performances, starting Oct. 19.

Former teacher, and current emerging stage director and dramaturge Jessica Derventzis steps in as new Artistic Director at Opera 5.