COC Announces Their May Productions and Events

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The company enjoys an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation.

OPERA

The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner
8 Performances: April 24, 28, May 11, 14, 17, 20 at 7:30 p.m., May 2, 2010 at 2 p.m., May 8, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

A revival of Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman opens the COC's spring season. The Flying Dutchman is a story of the search for redemption through love, a theme Richard Wagner was to revisit many times, and is set to some of his most gloriously romantic music. COC's Music Director Johannes Debus leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Making his COC debut singing the role of the Dutchman is Russian bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin, and bass Mats Almgren sings Daland, a sea captain who gives the Dutchman his daughter's hand in marriage. Senta is sung by soprano Julie Makerov, and Eric is sung by returning tenor Robert Künzli. Renowned American director Christopher Alden, no stranger to the world's great opera houses, returns to the COC to restage this production he first directed in 1996 and remounted in 2000.

Single tickets are $62 - $292 (specially priced $20 tickets are available for young people under the age of 30.) Tickets are available starting March 8, 2010 online at coc.ca, or by calling COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231, or in person 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 7 p.m.

Maria Stuarda by Gaetano Donizetti
8 Performances: May 1 at 4:30 p.m., May 4, 10, 13, 22, 26, 28 at 7:30 p.m., May 30, 2010 at 2 p.m.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

Continuing the spring season is a COC premiere and Canada's first fully-staged production of Gaetano Donizetti's Maria Stuarda. Based on Friedrich Schiller's play, Donizetti draws from the political rivalry between Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I and orchestrates a searing confrontation between the rival queens resulting in vocal fireworks. Singing the title role is Italian soprano Serena Farnocchia, as well as Bulgarian soprano Alexandrina Pendatchanska makes her company debut as Elisabetta. Tenor Eric Cutler makes his COC debut as Roberto, the Earl of Leicester and bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi is Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury. Conductor Anthony Walker, music director of Pittsburgh Opera, makes his COC debut leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Stephen Lawless brings Donizetti's compelling tragedy to life.

Single tickets are $62 - $292 (specially priced $20 tickets are available for young people under the age of 30.) Tickets are available starting March 8, 2010 online at coc.ca, or by calling COC Ticket Services at
416-363-8231, or in person 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 7 p.m.

Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
8 Performances: May 9 at 2 p.m., May 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 27 at 7:30 p.m., May 29, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)
The Canadian Opera Company closes its 09/10 Diamond Anniversary season with a new production of Mozart's early masterpiece Idomeneo. From out of its dignified, classical framework, Idomeneo bursts to life with some of the most heartfelt, passionate music Mozart ever wrote for the human voice. Leading tenor Paul Groves is Idomeneo, former COC Ensemble Studio member Krisztina Szabó is Idamante, and Isabel Bayrakdarian is Ilia. Returning to lead the COC Orchestra and Chorus is Mozart expert, conductor Harry Bicket. French director François de Carpentries makes his COC debut with this production.

Single tickets are $62 - $292 (specially priced $20 tickets are available for young people under the age of 30.) Tickets are available starting March 8, 2010 online at coc.ca, or by calling COC Ticket Services at  416-363-8231, or in person 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 7 p.m.

Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Special Ensemble Studio Performance
May 19, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

Experience the exciting young singers of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio performing the lead roles in one of Mozart's most heartfelt and passionate operas, Idomeneo, on Wednesday, May 19, 2010
at 7:30 p.m. This special mainstage performance celebrating the Ensemble Studio's 30th anniversary stars the Ensemble members with the full COC Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of renowned conductor
Harry Bicket. For casting, please visit the COC website at coc.ca. Tickets are accessibly priced at $20 or $50 per person.

FREE CONCERT SERIES IN THE Richard Bradshaw AMPHITHEATRE

May 4 to May 27, 2010
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.

COC FREE CONCERT SERIES IN THE Richard Bradshaw AMPHITHEATRE

May 4, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.

Vocal Series

Spring Schubertiade
The young artists of the COC Ensemble Studio present an afternoon of German song delving into the formidable song output of the legendary Viennese master of the Lied, Franz Schubert.
May 5, 2010
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Jazz Series

Cuevas con Cuerdas
Hailed as "Reina Latina," (680 News) Canada's emerging Latin music queen, Venezuelan-born vocalist Eliana Cuevas, shares the stage with her own band, as well as strings of the COC Orchestra, in a series of exciting new arrangements of her songs, featuring highlights from her most recent CD, Vidas.

May 6, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.
Piano Virtuoso Series
Explorations
Pianist Ben Cruchley performs a program of precision, power and passion, featuring selections from The Art of the Fugue, Brahms' Variations on an Original Theme in D Major, and works by Scriabin culminating with the powerful Sonata No. 5.

May 11, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.

Piano Virtuoso Series

Dances and Romances
Korean pianist Kyung Wha Chu showcases her virtuosity and panache in a program featuring Beethoven's Pathétique sonata, Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze and Ravel's La Valse.

May 13, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.
Vocal Series
Highlights from Idomeneo
The young artists of the COC Ensemble Studio perform highlights from one of Mozart's greatest masterpieces, Idomeneo, the story of the ill-fated King of Crete, who, in a tragic twist of fate is forced to choose between paternal love and the future of his kingdom.

May 18, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.

Vocal Series

Italian Arias and Art Songs
Internationally acclaimed Italian soprano Serena Farnocchia (singing the title role in the COC's Maria Stuarda) performs a program of arias and art songs from her native Italy.

May 20, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
One World
The Continuum Ensemble performs a thought-provoking program that reflects on how we relate to each other and live in the world featuring British composer Geoff Hannah's Where I live is shite/where I live is posh, James Rolfe's Simon & Garfunkel & the Prophets of Rage, Community-Normed (Jackhammer Lullaby) by Aaron Gervais, and Summertime for Sex in Woolly Sweaters by Canadian William Peltier.

COC FREE CONCERT SERIES IN THE Richard Bradshaw AMPHITHEATRE

May 25, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.

Vocal Series

Les Adieux
The graduating artists of the COC Ensemble Studio perform a special "farewell" concert of their favourite arias and ensembles.

May 27, 2010
12 - 1 p.m.
Piano Virtuoso Series
Iberia IV
Canadian pianist and GGS alumnus Stéphan Sylvestre presents the fourth and final book of Albéniz's Iberia suite, taking us from the famed Mediterranean seaport of Málaga in southwestern Spain, through Jerez, the Andalusian town renowned for its sherry wine, to Eritaña, named for a tavern on the outskirts of Seville notable for its flamenco music.

To post a comment, you must register and login.