{"id":112164,"date":"2025-02-25T15:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T20:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=112164"},"modified":"2025-02-25T18:30:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T23:30:35","slug":"preview-canadian-opera-companys-2025-26-season-offers-new-old-favourites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/02\/25\/preview-canadian-opera-companys-2025-26-season-offers-new-old-favourites\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Canadian Opera Company\u2019s 2025\/26 Season Offers Both New And Old Favourites"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A
A scene from Rom\u00e9o et Juliette, Malm\u00f6 Opera, 2022 (Photo: \u00a9 Jonas Persson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Canadian Opera Company has announced the details of its 2025\/26 season, which includes both traditional favourites from Rossini and Verdi, and a brand new Canadian-built production of Massenet\u2019s Werther.<\/p>\n

Robert Carsen and Robert Lepage, two Canadian icons from the world of international opera, add their stylistic touch to the season, which also offers a new to Toronto audiences version of Gounod\u2019s Rom\u00e9o et Juliette.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Canadian Opera Company has long established itself as a global leader in artistic excellence,\u201d says COC General Director David C. Ferguson<\/strong>. \u201cHowever, even more important than international reputation is one of our company\u2019s key, value-driven priorities: that Canadians, of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences, fully understand and share our pride in the incredible opera being performed right here at home. In curating our 2025\/2026 mainstage season, we have put great thought into programming a lineup that offers a variety of entry points and layers of engagement with the art form so that there are just as many thrilling experiences to be had for a seasoned subscriber as there are for anyone making their very first visit in 25\/26. It\u2019s going to be a terrific year to join us at the opera house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the season in full.<\/p>\n

\"John
John Relyea as Duke Bluebeard and Ekaterina Gubanova as Judith in the Canadian Opera Company production of Bluebeard\u2019s Castle, 2015 (Photo: \u00a9 Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

COC 2025\/26 At A Glance<\/h2>\n

Gounod: Rom\u00e9o et Juliette (Toronto premiere of the production)<\/h3>\n

September 27; October 5, 8, 10, 14, 16, and 18, 2025<\/em>
\nSung in French with English SURTITLESTM<\/em>
\nA production from Malm\u00f6 Opera<\/em><\/p>\n

This striking and colourful version of the quintessential tragic romance comes from Sweden\u2019s Malm\u00f6 Opera. The production is directed by Amy Lane, who Toronto audiences will remember from her cabaret-inspired take on Gounod\u2019s Faust, which kicked off the COC\u2019s 2024\/25 season. This time, she sets Rom\u00e9o et Juliette in New York City during the Gilded Age, where the family feud explodes at a lavish costume party. Bekhzod Davronov and Kseniia Proshina make their COC debuts as the titular star-crossed lovers. Multiple alumni from the Ensemble Studio are in the cast, including bass Robert Pomakov (Fr\u00e8re Laurent), bass-baritone Gordon Bintner and baritone Korin-Thomas Smith (they share the role of Mercutio), tenor Owen McCausland (Tybalt), bass-baritone Alex Halliday (The Duke), and mezzo-soprano Alex Hetherington (St\u00e9phano).<\/p>\n

Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice<\/h3>\n

October 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 25, 2025<\/em>
\nSung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM<\/em>
\nA Canadian Opera Company co-production with Th\u00e9\u00e2tre des Champs-Elys\u00e9es, Fondazione Teatro dell\u2019Opera di Roma, Op\u00e9ra Royal Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles Spectacles, and Lyric Opera of Chicago<\/em><\/p>\n

Canadian director Robert Carsen\u2019s iconic minimalism draws the attention to the romantic story at the heart of the Greek myth of Orfeo ed Euridice. After the death of his beloved wife, Orfeo implores the gods to allow him to bring her back from the Underworld. But, there are conditions: she must never look back. Countertenor Iestyn Davies stars as Orfeo, with soprano (and Ensemble Studio graduate) Anna-Sophie Neher as Euridice. Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie leads the COC Orchestra, with Price Family Chorus Master Sandra Horst leading the COC Chorus.<\/p>\n

Verdi: Rigoletto<\/h3>\n

January 24, 28; February 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, 2026<\/em>
\nSung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM<\/em>
\nA COC co-production with English National Opera<\/em><\/p>\n

Verdi\u2019s Rigoletto is perennially popular with good reason: a dramatic story, and iconic melodies that are among the most recognized in the opera world. Baritone Quinn Kelsey, known for his interpretations of the role, stars as the titular clown, with tenor Ben Bliss as the Duke of Mantua. Soprano Andrea Carroll sings the role of Rigoletto\u2019s daughter, Gilda. When the evil Duke seduces her, Rigoletto sets on a tragic path of revenge. Director Christopher Alden\u2019s production puts the story into a meticulously detailed Victorian men\u2019s club, with set and costume designs by Michael Levine.<\/p>\n