Canadian Opera Company Features DON GIOVANNI, DIE WALKURE, Free Concerts and More!

The Canadian Opera Company presents its winter listings, including Don Giovanni and Die Walküre, as well as highlights of the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.

Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart

10 performances: January 24 (4:30 p.m.), 27, 30, February 1 (2 p.m.), 3, 6, 12, 14, 18 and 21, 2015

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

Start time: 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted above

The Canadian Opera Company's winter season opens with a game-changing new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Internationally acclaimed Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov, in his COC debut, defies convention with this dark and witty masterpiece about literature's most famous womanizer by making all of the characters part of a deeply dysfunctional family. The all-star cast features renowned Canadian baritone Russell Braun in the title role; Canadian soprano Jane Archibald as Donna Anna, one of Don Giovanni's conquests; and one of today's leading Mozart tenors, Canadian Michael Schade as Don Ottavio, Donna Anna's fiancé. American mezzo-soprano Jennifer Holloway is Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni's wife; and American bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen sings the role of Leporello, a relative. German conductor Michael Hofstetter makes his COC debut leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus.

Regularly priced single tickets for Don Giovanni range from $49 - $424, with specially priced $22 tickets available for people under the age of 30. To purchase, go to coc.ca, call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231, or visit the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Die Walküre by Richard Wagner

Seven performances: January 31, February 4, 7 (4:30 p.m.), 10, 13, 19 and 22 (2 p.m.), 2015

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

Start time: 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted above

Wagner's epic Die Walküre returns to the Canadian Opera Company this winter with the company's critically acclaimed production from renowned Canadian director Atom Egoyan. This masterwork about a passionate, forbidden love ignited in a war of gods and mortals, features a star-studded cast. Grammy Award-winning American sopranoChristine Goerke makes her COC and role debut as the mighty Valkyrie Brünnhilde. She is joined by American tenorClifton Forbis as the half-mortal Siegmund; and Danish baritone Johan Reuter, in his COC debut, as Wotan, king of the gods. American soprano Heidi Melton also makes her COC debut as Sieglinde, Siegmund's lover and unknown twin sister. COC Music Director Johannes Debus conducts his first Die Walküre, leading the COC Orchestra through Wagner's powerful and iconic score.

Regularly priced single tickets for Die Walküre range from $59 - $424 with specially priced $22 tickets available for people under the age of 30. To purchase, go to coc.ca, call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231, or visit the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FREE CONCERT SERIES IN THE RICHARD BRADSHAW AMPHITHEATRE

January 6 - 29, 2015

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is a unique opportunity to experience diverse artistic programming in what has become one of Toronto's most exciting cultural hubs. Six inspiring series offer concerts, dance performances and engaging presentations that feature both up-and-coming young artists and established international stars. All performances are FREE to the public, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early as late seating is not available.

Date	Series	Artist
January 6, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Dance Series	Brazil, The Land of Tears and Soul Newton Moraes, Brazil-born choreographer and founder of Newton Moraes Dance Theatre, celebrates his vibrant native heritage, connecting it with Toronto and today's world. This performance features an evocative series of vignettes that reflect on the soulful complexity of contemporary Brazilian culture.
January 7, 2015 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.	Jazz Series	Easy to Love: The Cole Porter Songbook The Amy McConnell & William Sperandei Quartetcelebrate some of the best-loved songs from master composer and lyricist Cole Porter. McConnell and Sperandei's inspired sound and irresistible musical chemistry have propelled them to the top of the jazz charts and garnered rave reviews across Canada.
January 8, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Dance Series	Sirocco Ritmo Flamenco Dance and Music Ensemble features the talents of Canada's pre-eminent flamenco family. Alongside her parents Roger and Valerie Scannura, award-winning dancer/choreographer Anjelica Scannuramoves beyond geographical and stylistic boundaries to explore the obscure Arabic roots of flamenco. The group works seamlessly together, as only a family can, to create a beautiful, heartfelt piece.
January 13, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Chamber Music Series	The Golden Violin Winner of the McGill Schulich School of Music's 2014 Golden Violin Award, the 2012 Prix d'Europe concerto competition and numerous other awards, violinist Victor Fournelle-Blain teams up with pianist Philip Chiu in a program of virtuoso masterworks for violin and piano.
January 15, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Jazz Series	All or Nothing at All Saxophonist Rémi Bolduc, one of Canada's foremost and most inspiring jazz musicians, is known for his formidable energy and spontaneity. He leads a dynamic ensemble of some of McGill University's most talented young artists in a high-octane hour of jazz standards and original compositions.
January 20, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Jazz Series	Cross Cultural Journey Indo-Jazz is an emerging genre that explores the synthesis of two musical worlds. Humber alumnus, professor and bassist Justin Gray leads the audience and the talented young artists of Humber College's Indo-Jazz Collectiveon a cross-cultural journey through his unique compositions that blend elements of traditional Indian classical raga music and contemporary jazz.
January 22, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Songs of Love and War Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio present a program of music commemorating the First and Second World Wars, and the fall of the Berlin Wall.
January 27, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series WORLD PREMIERE	A Celebration of Canadian Art Song The Canadian Art Song Project presents the world premiere of a new song cycle by Marjan Mozetich, performed by mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy and pianist Adam Sherkin. The program also features sopranos Joni Henson and Nathalie Paulin, accompanied by pianist Robert Kortgaard, performing works by some of Canada's finest composers of song.
January 29, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Chamber Music Series	Introducing the Academy The COC Orchestra Academy is a unique opera-focused mentorship program offering talented young artists fromThe Glenn Gould School and the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music the opportunity to experience playing as part of a world-class orchestra in an operatic production, under the mentorship of professional musicians in the COC Orchestra. In this special performance, members of the Academy perform alongside their mentors in a program of gems from the chamber music repertoire.

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