17-18-02-MC-D-0543 – Andrew Haji as Nemorino in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of The Elixir of Love, 2017. Conductor Yves Abel, director James Robinson, original costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, revival costume designer Amanda Seymour, set designer Allen Moyer, lighting designer Paul Palazzo,. Photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: The Elixir of Love

The Elixir of Love. The strength of this particular elixir is that it’s a character-based, romantic comedy, filled with a very fun and happy score. There’s heartache and longing and it’s all brought to life by Gaetano Donizetti’s thoughtful capacity to create beautiful melodic hooks.
Erin Wall as Arabella and Tomasz Konieczny as Mandryka in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Arabella, 2017. Conductor Patrick Lange, director Tim Albery, set and costume designer Tobias Hoheisel, and lighting designer David Finn. Photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Arabella Review

Canadian Opera Company’s Season Opener, Arabella: A comedy of errors with girls dressed as boys, mistaken identities, family scandal and trouble caused by the passing on of a key.
Jane Archibald as Ginevra (on bed) with Alice Coote as Ariodante and Johannes Weisser as the King of Scotland (in front row) in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Ariodante, 2016, photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Ariodante Review

Handel’s Ariodante, like so many operas before it, weaves a tale of obsession, deception, heartbreak and redemption. Director Richard Jones updates this tale in both time and place, adding to it an empowering ending sure to satisfy.
Christian Van Horn as Escamillo (centre) and Sasha Djihanian as Frasquita (right, at table) in the Canadian Opera Company production of Carmen, 2016, photo: Michael Cooper

Carmen Opera Review

Carmen opera Review: COC’s Carmen, full of beautiful music and singing, but a more convincing portrayal of passion would help the opera from feeling flat.
Image of Opera Atelier Lucio Silla production in Salzburg, Germany. TheSceneinTO.com

Opera Atelier Debuts Mozart’s Lucio Silla

The premiere of Mozart's Lucio Silla is a special one for Canadian opera fans as it is the first time the composer’s masterpiece will be produced in Canada. This is Mozart's first masterpiece, where love proves more powerful than the tyranny of Rome’s infamous dictator. You’ll find passion, intrigue and redemption in an opera that is notoriously challenging for singers.