{"id":101863,"date":"2024-02-22T17:18:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T22:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=101863"},"modified":"2024-02-22T17:18:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T22:18:42","slug":"the-scoop-five-new-productions-and-returning-favourites-headline-canadian-opera-companys-2024-25-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/02\/22\/the-scoop-five-new-productions-and-returning-favourites-headline-canadian-opera-companys-2024-25-season\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Five New Productions And Returning Favourites Headline Canadian Opera Company\u2019s 2024-25 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R clockwise: Joyce El-Khoury (centre) as Tatyana and Gordon Bintner as Eugene Onegin in the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s production of\u00a0Eugene Onegin, 2018, (Photo: Michael Cooper); A scene from\u00a0Wozzeck, Salzburg Festival, 2017, (Photo: Ruth Walz); Alexey Dolgov (left) as Pinkerton in Houston Grand Opera\u2019s production of\u00a0Madama Butterfly, 2015, (Photo: Lynn Lane)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The COC\u2019s very first staging of Verdi\u2019s Nabucco and the Toronto premiere of La Reine-gar\u00e7on are among the highlights of the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s 2024-25 season, as announced today. Almost all the productions for the season are new to Toronto audiences, including the world premiere of a new production of Gounod\u2019s Faust.<\/p>\n

Beloved operas from the repertoire, and adventurous new productions, come together in 2024\/25.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to share our 2024\/2025 season,\u201d says COC General Director Perryn Leech<\/strong> in a statement. \u201cWith the COC\u2019s international reputation, I wanted to create a lineup that would be new and exciting for seasoned opera-goers while providing globally beloved classics and boundary-pushing presentations for newer audiences to explore. I\u2019m also delighted to be partnering with opera companies here at home and around the globe in the creation of important new productions. The COC boasts exceptional technicians and artisans who are putting a distinctly Canadian stamp on opera productions that will be seen all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A scene from Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of\u00a0Nabucco, 2016, (Photo: Cory Weaver)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

COC\u2019s 2024\/2025 Season At-A-Glance<\/h2>\n

Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi<\/h3>\n

October 4, 6, 12, 17, 19, 23, and 25, 2024
\nSung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM
\nA production from Lyric Opera of Chicago<\/p>\n

Verdi\u2019s Nabucco has never before been performed by the COC. The story calls for a cast of more than 120 performers and hundreds of costumes. Baritone Roland Wood stars as the ]title character with soprano Tamara Wilson as Abigaille, his supposed daughter and would-be Queen of Babylon. Lovers Fenena and Ismaele are portrayed by Ensemble Studio graduates mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb and tenor Matthew Cairns, with conductor Paolo Carignani leading the COC Orchestra.<\/p>\n

Faust by Charles Gounod<\/h3>\n

October 11, 13, 16, 18, 24, 26; November 2, 2024
\nSung in French with English SURTITLESTM
\nA new COC production<\/p>\n

This iconic story about the deal with the devil sees aging philosopher Faust trade his soul for eternal youth. Naturally, the consequences are dire. Charles Gounod\u2019s take on the story is part of the worldwide revival of French grand opera. Tenor Long Long stars as Faust opposite bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen as the demon M\u00e9phistoph\u00e9l\u00e8s. Soprano Kseniia Proshina makes a COC debut as Faust\u2019s love interest, Marguerite, with direction by Amy Lane.<\/p>\n

Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini<\/h3>\n

January 24, 26; February 1, 6, 8, 12, 14, and 16, 2025
\nSung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM
\nA production from Houston Grand Opera<\/p>\n

The beloved Puccini opera comes back to the COC in a production that is new to Toronto audiences from Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage. Eri Nakamura stars as Butterfly (Cio-Cio San), with tenor Kang Wang as Pinkerton.<\/p>\n

La Reine-gar\u00e7on by Julien Bilodeau and Michel Marc Bouchard<\/h3>\n

January 31; February 2, 5, 7, 9, 13, and 15, 2025
\nSung in French with English SURTITLESTM<\/p>\n

The first ever co-commission and co-production between the Canadian Opera Company and the Op\u00e9ra de Montr\u00e9al, the story revolves around Queen Christine of Sweden, raised as a boy by her father. The production brings together two of Canada’s most innovative creatives: composer Julien Bilodeau and playwright Michel Marc Bouchard, with a cast of Canadian singers: sopranos Kirsten MacKinnon and Kirsten LeBlanc as the Queen of Sweden; tenor Owen McCausland as Ren\u00e9 Descartes, who is summoned to guide the young Queen; and bass-baritone Philippe Sly as Christine\u2019s suitor Count Karl.<\/p>\n

Wozzeck by Alban Berg<\/h3>\n

April 25, 27; May 3, 8, 10, 14, and 16, 2025
\nSung in German with English SURTITLESTM
\nA co-production from the Canadian Opera Company, Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, and Opera Australia<\/p>\n

Alban Berg’s Wozzeck was coloured by the composer\u2019s experiences during WWI. He captures the horrors of the battlefield in a story about a soldiers disintegration into insanity. South African artist William Kentridge directs, with baritone Michael Kupfer-Radecky in the title role, and soprano Ambur Braid, as Marie, his lover. Tenor Michael Schade sings the role of the Captain.<\/p>\n

Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky<\/h3>\n

May 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 17, and 24, 2025
\nSung in Russian with English SURTITLESTM
\nA Canadian Opera Company revival<\/p>\n

Tchaikovsky\u2019s Eugene Onegin takes a simple story of unrequited love, and turns it into a masterpiece. Soprano Lauren Fagan stars as the bookish Tatyana, with Eugene Onegin, sung by baritone Vasily Ladyuk in a COC debut. Staging from Canadian director Robert Carsen has been acclaimed worldwide, with Speranza Scappucci to conduct.<\/p>\n

\"Joyce
Joyce El-Khoury as Christine (centre) in\u00a0La Reine-gar\u00e7on, Op\u00e9ra de Montr\u00e9al, 2024, (Photo: Vivien Gaumand)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Special Events<\/h2>\n

Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition<\/h3>\n

October 30, 2024<\/p>\n

The Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition lets audiences get an early glimpse at tomorrow\u2019s opera stars. They\u2019ll be competing for cash prizes, along with the chance to be part of the COC Ensemble Studio, a career development program. Finalists are selected from cross-country auditions.<\/p>\n

Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni<\/h3>\n

May 23, 2025<\/p>\n

The one-act operas comes to the stage in a one-night only concert presentation. A thriller of a story about love and betrayal unfolds in near real-time, with a cast that features tenor Russell Thomas as Turiddu, soprano Anna Pirozzi as Santuzza, mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel as Mamma Lucia, and baritone Simone Piazzola as Alfio.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the addition of Cavalleria rusticana, we\u2019re excited to add a mainstage concert as another way to experience opera in 2024\/2025,\u201d continues Leech. \u201cI am thrilled this season at the Canadian Opera Company will showcase some of the world\u2019s most incredible vocal artists, extraordinary musicians, and wonderful technicians in an unparalleled venue: the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It\u2019s a season that has something for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n