{"id":50439,"date":"2018-01-17T09:55:06","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T14:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=50439"},"modified":"2018-01-17T05:20:22","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T10:20:22","slug":"scoop-coc-2018-19-season-features-big-names-world-premiere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2018\/01\/17\/scoop-coc-2018-19-season-features-big-names-world-premiere\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | COC 2018-19 Season Features Big Names And A World Premiere"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rufus
Rufus Wainwright (Photo: Matthew Welch)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Toronto opera fans, mid-January is a particularly exciting time, because of the announcement of the upcoming Canadian Opera Company\u2019s new season. Over the years, it has evolved from an essentially media-focused event at the Company headquarters on 227 Front Street East, to a big production with all the bells and whistles, taking place in the Four Seasons Centre, where all subscribers are invited and treated to a reception and musical entertainment complete with singers and full orchestra.<\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s not happening this year, folks! For whatever reason, we are back to a season announcement via a press release.<\/p>\n

As in previous years, six productions divided into three pairs, for the fall, winter and spring seasons. It\u2019s a particularly well-balanced season, with operas in Italian, German, Russian, and English; a smorgasbord of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky, plus a world premiere.<\/p>\n

Fall Season (Eugene Onegin<\/em> and Hadrian<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
\"A
A scene from Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Eugene Onegin. (Photo: Todd Rosenberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fall season opens on September 30 with Eugene Onegin<\/em>. It\u2019s the Robert Carsen<\/strong> production originally staged for the Metropolitan Opera. The largely Canadian cast features bass-baritone Gordon Bintner<\/strong> in the title role; Joyce El-Khoury<\/strong>, last seen as Violetta, returns as Tatiana; Joseph Kaiser<\/strong> is Lensky. The Armenian mezzo Varduhi Abrahamyan<\/strong>, last seen in Ariodante<\/em>, returns as Olga.\u00a0 Also returning is American mezzo Helene Schneiderman<\/strong> as Madame Larina. Making his COC debut is Moldovan bass Oleg Tsibulko<\/strong> as Prince Gremin. Johannes Debus<\/strong> conducts. Sept. 30 \u2013 Nov. 3 (8 performances)<\/p>\n

Paired with the Tchaikovsky is the world premiere of the COC commissioned piece, Hadrian<\/em>, by Canadian songwriter\/singer\/composer Rufus Wainwright<\/strong>. For this show, the COC is sparing no expenses with big-name casting \u2014 making COC debuts will be American baritone Thomas Hampson<\/strong> in the title role, and\u00a0 Finnish soprano Karita Mattila<\/strong> (Plotina). Canadians include tenor Isaiah Bell<\/strong> (Antinous) and Ambur Braid<\/strong> (Sabina). As if that\u2019s not enough, the COC entices retired Canadian heldentenor Ben Heppner<\/strong> to return to the stage in a cameo role as Dinarchus. Johannes Debus<\/strong> conducts. \u00a0Oct. 13 \u2013 27 (7 performances)<\/p>\n

Winter Season (Elektra<\/em> and Cosi fan tutte<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
\"(L-R)
(L-R) Susan Bullock as Elektra and John Mac Master as Aegisth in the Canadian Opera Company\u2019s production of Elektra, 2007 (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It opens with Elektra<\/em>, with not one but two Brunnhildes!\u00a0 American soprano Christine Goerke<\/strong>, a fantastic Brunnhilde in G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung last season, returns as Elektra.\u00a0 British soprano Susan Bullock<\/strong>, a former Elektra and Brunnhilde at the COC, sings Klytemnestra. Canadian soprano Erin Wall<\/strong> sings her first Chrysothemis. German bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer<\/strong> makes his COC debut as Orest, and Canadian tenor Michael Schade<\/strong> is Aegisth. This is a revival, directed by James Robinson<\/strong>. Johannes Debus<\/strong> conducts. Jan. 26 \u2013 Feb. 22 (7 performances)<\/p>\n

The dreary Toronto winter demands some light entertainment, so there\u2019s always a comic piece in the winter season. This time it\u2019s a revival of the Atom Egoyan<\/strong> production of Cosi fan tutte<\/em>. The sisters are Canadians \u2014 soprano Kirsten MacKinnon<\/strong> and mezzo Emily D\u2019Angelo<\/strong>, both Met Auditions winners and both with flourishing international careers. Russell Braun<\/strong>, last season\u2019s Louis Riel, retuns as Don Alfonso. His partner in crime is Tracy Dahl<\/strong> as Despina. American tenor Ben Bliss<\/strong> is Ferrando, and German baritone Johannes Kammler<\/strong> is Guglielmo, both making their debuts. Mozart specialist Bernard Labadie<\/strong> conducts. Feb. 5 \u2013 23 (9 performances)<\/p>\n

Spring Season (La boh<\/em>\u00e8me<\/em> and Otello<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
\"A
A scene from the Canadian Opera Company production of La Boh\u00e8me, 2013. (Photo: Michael Cooper)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The perennial favourite, the Puccini warhorse La boh<\/em>\u00e8me<\/em> is back for a run of 11 performances, with all principals double-cast. The fast-rising American soprano Angel Blue<\/strong> makes her COC debut as Mimi, sharing the role with Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil<\/strong>, a COC Ensemble graduate. Musetta is shared by Canadian sopranos Andriana Chuchman<\/strong> (last seen as Olympia in Hoffmann<\/em>) and Danika Loren<\/strong>, currently an Ensemble Studio artist. Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan<\/strong> makes his COC debut as Rodolfo, sharing it with American tenor Joshua Guerrero<\/strong>, currently in town to sing the Duke of Mantua. American baritone Lucas Meacham<\/strong> and Polish baritone Andrej Filonczyk<\/strong> shares Marcello. Conductor is Italian maestro Paolo Carignani<\/strong>. April 17 \u2013 May 22 (11 performances)<\/p>\n

The season concludes with the Verdi masterpiece, Otello<\/em>, starring American tenor Russell Thomas,<\/strong> last season\u2019s Pollione, in the title role. The great Canadian baritone Gerald Finley<\/strong> takes on his first Iago. Finley seems to be moving into the bad guy’s territory these days. Just two days ago in Covent Garden, he sang his first-ever Scarpia, opposite Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka as Tosca. His Iago at the COC is a major event for the legion of fans of this great singer. \u00a0American soprano Tamara Wilson<\/strong>, last heard as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus<\/em>, returns as Desdemona. The production comes from ENO and is directed by David Alden<\/strong>. Johannes Debus<\/strong> conducts. \u00a0April 27 \u2013 May 21 (8 performances)<\/p>\n

There you have it, a well-balanced season, a combination of the familiar and the new, basically a bit of everything for every taste. To be sure, there\u2019s no French opera and no Baroque, but that\u2019s bound to happen when you only have six operas to work with. It\u2019s nice to see Hampson and Mattila finally singing opera in Toronto.<\/p>\n

LUDWIG VAN TORONTO<\/i>
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n

Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and reviews before anyone else finds out? Follow us on\u00a0<\/i>Facebook<\/i><\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/i>Twitter<\/i><\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0for all the latest.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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