{"id":123841,"date":"2026-04-29T14:09:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=123841"},"modified":"2026-04-29T14:09:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:09:33","slug":"feature-opera-queens-launch-historic-six-month-residency-at-torontos-tranzac-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/04\/29\/feature-opera-queens-launch-historic-six-month-residency-at-torontos-tranzac-club\/","title":{"rendered":"FEATURE | Op\u00e9ra Queens Launch Historic Six-Month Residency At Toronto\u2019s Tranzac Club"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_123843\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-123843\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123843\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-FEATURE-1.jpg\" alt=\"Op\u00e9ra Queens Artistic Director Mike Fan \u8303\u7956\u94ed, aka Tania Smania (Photo courtesy of the artist) \" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-FEATURE-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-FEATURE-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-FEATURE-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-FEATURE-1-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-123843\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Op\u00e9ra Queens Artistic Director Mike Fan \u8303\u7956\u94ed, aka Tania Smania (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Op\u00e9ra Queens recently became the first company to hold an opera residency at Toronto\u2019s Tranzac Club. Their performances take place on the first Saturday of each month in the venue\u2019s Southern Cross Lounge, and began on April 12.<\/p>\n<p>Tanya Smania headlines the residency, which spotlights QTBIPOC performers in what they describe as queerified, gender-bent, and drag opera performances. Each month has a different theme, as explained by Op\u00e9ra Queens\u2019 Artistic Director Mike Fan \u8303\u7956\u94ed, a Chinese-Canadian operatic tenor (aka Tania Smania)<\/p>\n<p>Op\u00e9ra Queens Tania Smania performs at Tranzac Club on April 12:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AOuWJZE9Lws?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>The Residency<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cThe main big thing is obviously is that this is kind of historic,\u201d Fan says.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the very first opera residency at Tranzac.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[The goal], especially in the wake of that whole Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet thing, is to make opera more accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That means making opera itself, as well as its audiences, more diverse, and accessible to the entire QTBIPOC community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve stood on those stages,\u201d they point out, \u201cbut [were] not always treated so well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bringing opera from larger institutions to night clubs is part of the solution. With a pay what you can format, and relaxed vibe, the first event alone brought a nicely mixed audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor first one \u2014 I was kind of surprised,\u201d Mike says, mentioning there seemed to be a lot of newcomers to opera itself in the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>They credit the Tranzac Club and its management for creating the right kind of welcoming environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ve been so lovely, so welcoming. It\u2019s just a really magical place.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_123847\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-123847\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123847\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-NEWS-1.jpg\" alt=\"The cast of Op\u00e9ra Queens Tranzac Residency (L-R): Mike Fan (Photo: Tam Photography); Christina Lamoureux (Photo courtesy of the artist); Stephanie DeCiantis (Photo courtesy of the artist); Cesar Bello Rodriguez (Photo courtesy of the artist); Nicole Whitney Dubinsky (Photo courtesy of the artist) \" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-NEWS-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-NEWS-1-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-NEWS-1-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-NEWS-1-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-123847\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The cast of Op\u00e9ra Queens Tranzac Residency (L-R): Mike Fan (Photo: Tam Photography); Christina Lamoureux (Photo courtesy of the artist); Stephanie DeCiantis (Photo courtesy of the artist); Cesar Bello Rodriguez (Photo courtesy of the artist); Nicole Whitney Dubinsky (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Op\u00e9ra Queens Residency \u2014 By Theme<\/h3>\n<p><strong>May 2: Gaysian Gala<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re picking up on Asian Heritage Month,\u201d says Fan. \u201cWe\u2019re spotlighting Asian artists and composers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fan\/Smania will be performing with pianist <strong>Suzanne Yeo<\/strong> in a program that includes music by Chiang Khan and Alice Ping Yee Ho, along with La Japonaise, an art song by composer Mario Previti and lyricist Karin ten Cate (from the rock opera Barcelona), and an excerpt from L\u00e9o Delibes\u2019 Lakm\u00e9, an opera about a Hindu princess written in the \u201corientalist\u201d mode that was popular at the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA bunch of things supporting the canon of problematic Asian representation,\u201d Fan laughs. \u201cThe point is, why aren\u2019t Asians being cast in these roles?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>June 6: Proud Voices 2.0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously June is Pride,\u201d Mike says. \u201cThat is definitely up our alley. We\u2019re bringing back an open mic called <strong>Proud Voices<\/strong>.\u201d The open mic ran in 2025 at another venue to great success.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTanya is going to bringing some diva things,\u201d they add. That includes excerpts from Tosca, and Norma Desmond from Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s Sunset Boulevard. After a performance of big musical theatre and opera hits, the open mic will be offered to community performers. \u201cSpotlighting the up and coming, and semi-pro singers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Open mic performers don\u2019t have to sing opera, they explain. It could involve anything from pop to opera to musical theatre.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe point is to show the little rainbow of performers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>July 4: Summer Song Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This intimate evening will be given over to art song and concert repertoire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe music that\u2019s designed for this kind of Schubertiade,\u201d Fan details. Schubertiades are synonymous with evenings spent with friends.<\/p>\n<p><strong>August 1: Opera Sustenida<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This evening will feature a performance by <strong>Nicole Dubinsky<\/strong> and <strong>Stephanie DeCiantis<\/strong> of <a href=\"https:\/\/operasustenida.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opera Sustenida<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause they\u2019re a woman-led opera company. As a part-time woman,\u201d Fan laughs \u201cit\u2019s a great opportunity to support them and work together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>September 5: Latin Night<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt least for now, [the residency] is only six months,\u201d Mike explains. \u201cWe\u2019re closing out with Latin night, focused on Carmen. Tanya has done it a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Soprano <strong>Christina Lamoureux<\/strong> will be one of the special guests, with others in the works.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s actually really serendipitous,\u201d Fan notes. \u201cThe two other time slots after us are both Latin groups. It\u2019s a nice segue. The marathon is definitely underway.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_123848\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-123848\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-123848\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Suzanne-Yeo-IMG_4865.jpg\" alt=\"Pianist Suzanne Yeo (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Suzanne-Yeo-IMG_4865.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Suzanne-Yeo-IMG_4865-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Suzanne-Yeo-IMG_4865-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Suzanne-Yeo-IMG_4865-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-123848\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pianist Suzanne Yeo (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Op\u00e9ra Queens Tranzac Residency<\/h2>\n<p>Performances take place May 2, June 6, July 4, August 1, and September 5 from 5 to 7 pm at <strong>Tranzac<\/strong> (292 Brunswick).<\/p>\n<p>Shows are free\/Pay-What-You-Can.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find out more about Op\u00e9ra Queens and their performances [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.operaqueens.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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