{"id":119572,"date":"2025-11-18T16:09:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=119572"},"modified":"2025-11-19T07:00:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:00:02","slug":"preview-opera-meets-wrestling-opera-revue-2025-gala-november-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/11\/18\/preview-opera-meets-wrestling-opera-revue-2025-gala-november-26\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Opera Meets Wrestling At The Opera Revue 2025 Gala November 26"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Graphic for Opera Meets Wrestling: A Night of Arias and Arm Bars! (Image courtesy of Opera Revue)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arias and arm bars are on the bill at the 4th annual Opera Revue Gala, to be held on November 26, 2025. Toronto\u2019s Opera Revue have developed a well deserved reputation for taking the art form where it has never gone before, and making it accessible to anyone.<\/p>\n

The company ups the ante with their 2025 Gala performance, where audience members can experience exquisite opera, and meet the professional grapplers of Junction City Wrestlers<\/strong>. Junction City Wrestling is known for dynamic performances that combine family-friendly entertainment, a roster of entertaining characters, and eye-popping athleticism.<\/p>\n

Duets and dropkicks are to be expected, with a high calibre roster of guest artists that will join Opera Revue\u2019s Danie Friesen<\/strong> (soprano), Alexander Hajek<\/strong> (baritone), and pianist Claire Elise Harris<\/strong>, including Queen Hezamuryango, Gregory Finney, and Ryan Downey, along with the Opera Revue Band.<\/p>\n

Wrestlers include multiple championship winner the Australian Style Siren<\/strong>, along with Kingsley<\/strong>, ring veteran The Mighty Cadman<\/strong>, who\u2019s spent 13 years wrestling across Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK, rising star Wanda Del Rey<\/strong>, and Freedom Wallace<\/strong> (AKA Andrew McRae, owner of Junction City Wrestlers).<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople ask us \u2018why opera and pro wrestling??\u2019 Well, to be honest, we had to think of some way to top our previous opera\/circus and opera\/burlesque shows… this was the perfect \u2018Hold my beer\u2019 moment… but then, we realized it WORKS!<\/p>\n

\u201cLike burlesque and circus, wrestling actually shares a lot of things with opera \u2014 the drama, the highs and lows, the villains, the ridiculous storylines, and of course all the fight scenes. It just works. And once again, we are reaching two crowds, opera lovers and fans of the sport, which helps draw audiences into something they might not have considered before,\u201d said soprano Danie Friesen<\/strong> in a statement.<\/p>\n

Operatic Talent<\/h2>\n

Queen Hezumuryango, mezzo-soprano<\/h3>\n

A native of Burundi, Queen Hezumuryango earned Bachelor\u2019s and Master\u2019s degrees in vocal performance from the Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al. She is a current resident artist with Opera on the Avalon and a laureate of Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Lyrichor\u00e9gra\u2019s Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. She is a recent graduate of the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s Ensemble Studio program. Recent roles include Carmen (Carmen, BrottOpera), Lola (Cavalleria rusticana, COC), Ebba Sparre (La reine-gar\u00e7on, COC), and Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia, Highlands Opera Studio). She was a finalist of the 2025 Rumbold Vocal Prize, and was nominated or a Dora Award for the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s 2023 production of Treemonisha.<\/p>\n

Gregory Finney, baritone<\/h3>\n

Cape Breton baritone Gregory Finney has been a fixture of the Toronto and region opera scene since 2007. He\u2019s become known for his comedic abilities as well as his vocal performance. Greg\u2019s repertoire includes Pirates of Penzance (Maj. Gen. Stanley), Nozze di Figaro (Conte), Figaro\u2019s Wedding (Bartolo\/Antonio) & La boh\u00e8me (Benoit\/Alcindoro), among many others. Finney has added director to his CV, and has led productions of Bluebeard\u2019s Castle, Nozze, and Carmen, with more to come.<\/p>\n

Ryan Downey, tenor<\/h3>\n

Ryan Downey\u2019s recent roles include performing with the Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, Toronto Operetta Theatre and Opera in Concert, and solo credits in the title role in Candide, Tamino in Die Zauberfl\u00f6te, Rodolfo in La boheme, Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Goro (Pinkerton cover) in Madama Butterfly, the Gingerbread Witch in Hansel and Gretel and Basilio and Curzio Le nozze di Figaro. In 2024\/25, Downey covered the roles of Remendado in Carmen, and Spoletta in Tosca.<\/p>\n

The Show<\/h2>\n

Tickets are going fast for Opera Meets Wrestling: A Night of Arias and Arm Bars! \u2014 November 26 at The Great Hall.<\/p>\n