February at the Canadian Opera Company Features DON GIOVANNI, DIE WALKÜRE and More

Below is information for Canadian Opera Company events in February 2015. This information includes details on the COC's winter productions of Don Giovanni and Die Walküre, as well as highlights of the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and tours of the Four Seasons Centre.

OPERAS

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 soprano Christine Goerke makes her COC and role debut as the mighty Valkyrie Brünnhilde. She is joined by American tenor Clifton 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

February 3 - 24, 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
February 3, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Poèmes pour Mi COC Ensemble Studio sopranos, Aviva Fortunata and Karine Boucher, present Messiaen's moving and heartfelt song cycle,Poèmes pour Mi. It is complemented by Theme and Variations for violin and piano, performed by violinist Kerry DuWors and pianist Liz Upchurch. Both works are dedicated to Messiaen's first wife, the violinist Claire Delbos.
February 5, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Piano Virtuoso Series	Opera Transcriptions for Piano Master pianist Emanuel Ax hosts a concert, in collaboration with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's RBC Piano Extravaganza, featuring two of the most exciting rising star pianists on the international scene today: Pavel Kolesnikov and Orion Weiss. Their program includes operatic transcriptions by Granados and Wagner-Liszt.
February 9, 2015 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.	Vocal Series SPECIAL PRESENTATION	The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards In this special presentation, artists of the COC Ensemble Studiocompete in the sixth edition of the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards. Each artist will perform an aria of his or her own choosing, as well as a second aria selected by the panel of judges.
February 10, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Songs of Love and Longing Internationally acclaimed Canadian coloratura soprano Jane Archibald (starring in the COC's winter production of Don Giovanni) teams up with pianist Liz Upchurch for an intimate hour of her favourite art songs and arias.
February 11, 2015 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.	World Music Series UPDATED CONCERT INFORMATION	Pandemonium Toronto-based Caribbean Latin jazz powerhouse CaneFire takes the steelpan to new heights in a high-energy hour featuring music from the group's latest album, Pandemonium. Led by Canadian pianist and composer Jeremy Ledbetter, CaneFire smashes Caribbean music stereotypes with an explosive, original sound that has won praise from audiences around the world. It's music sure to move your heart, your head and your hips!
February 17, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Urlicht German mezzo-soprano Janina Baechle (making her COC debut as Fricka in Die Walküre this winter) presents a program featuring bittersweet Lieder by Mahler. She is joined by pianist Rachel Andrist and COC Principal Viola Keith Hamm, accompanying her on the "viola songs" by Brahms and Loeffler.
February 19, 2015 12 - 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Collaborations Two acclaimed young artists programs come together for an afternoon of musical collaborations. Singers from the COC Ensemble Studio and the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal join forces in a program of arias and ensembles.
February 24, 2015 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.	Vocal Series	Rapture In collaboration with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's New Creations Festival, celebrated Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan presents a captivating evening of vocal chamber music. The program features Chausson's mesmerizing Chanson perpétuelle and Schoenberg's impassioned String Quartet No. 2 in F-sharp minor, inspired by the poems of Stefan George. Joining Hannigan are pianist Liz Upchurch and The TSO Chamber Soloists led by TSO concertmaster Jonathan Crow.

TOUR THE FOUR SEASONS CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

February 1, 8, 15, 22, 2015

Start time: 10:30 a.m.

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

Cost: $20/adults; $15/seniors and students

The Canadian Opera Company opens the doors of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on February 1, 8, 15, 22, 2015with 90-minute tours for the general public. These extensive tours include backstage access and are an exciting opportunity to learn more about the first purpose-built opera house in Canada, its history, architecture and innovative acoustic design. Starting at 10:30 a.m., each tour is led by trained docents and includes information and access to the magnificent Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and R. Fraser Elliott Hall, as well as backstage areas like wig rooms and dressing rooms, the orchestra pit, and other spaces that only a stage door pass could unlock.

Tickets for public tours are $20/adults and $15/seniors and students, and can be purchased in advance at coc.ca or at 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. Tickets will also be available on the morning of the tour starting at 10 a.m. at the welcome desk located in the main lobby.

Russell Braun as Don Giovanni in the Canadian Opera Company/Teatro Real Madrid (TRM)/Festival d'Aix-en-
Provence/Bolshoi Theatre co-production of Don Giovanni, 2013, TRM, photo: Javier del Real

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