Canadian Opera Company - Toronto | 19 January 2021 |
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Performance reviews
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Hansel und GretelCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Puzzles within puzzles |
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Troppo zucchero per la fiaba |
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Hansel & Gretel opera leaves a strange aftertaste |
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COC's visually arresting Hänsel und Gretel brimming with ideas |
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‘Hansel and Gretel’ opera gets modern, and muddled, and muffled |
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Il barbiere di SivigliaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
The comic hit from 1816 soldiers on |
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The Barber of Seville goes full circus in the Canadian Opera Company's electrifying, funny production |
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E Rossini avrebbe applaudito |
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Superlative vocalism and marvelous conducting make Barber revival a must-see |
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TurandotCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
High style, muted drama |
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Tamara Wilson dazzles as Canadian Opera Company's Turandot |
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Turandot frocked in minimal look: near nothingness |
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Cina in controluce |
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Classic Robert Wilson: Turandot opens Canadian Opera Company season |
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From a distance |
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Director Robert Wilson creates a futuristic, minimalist Turandot |
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Adjusting the pitch
Canadian Opera Company grapples with interpreting Turandot for today.
Canadian Opera Company grapples with interpreting Turandot for today.
RusalkaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Retour aux sources pour Radvanovsky |
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Rusalka is a shining example of a dark fairy-tale opera done right |
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Canadian Opera Company's enchanting Rusalka features other-worldly talents |
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Un spectacle imposant |
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Il richiamo della fiaba |
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OtelloCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
Excellent singing, puzzling staging |
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In quali eccessi |
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Canadian Opera Company’s Otello just misses its full emotional potential |
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COC ends season with a musically triumphant Otello |
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La bohèmeCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
A briskly conducted Bohème revived in Toronto |
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A thorough success |
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Voci di primavera |
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La Bohème is safe but sung with spirit at Canadian Opera Company |
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Così fan tutteCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Pinned butterflies, but outstanding singing in Canadian Opera Company’s Così fan tutte |
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Farfalle in laboratorio |
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Much fun with a good deal of fussiness |
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Soprano Tracy Dahl is having a ball in comedic masterpiece |
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A musical triumph, but the staging could use an update |
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ElektraCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
La voce dell'ossessione |
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Canadian Opera Company's Elektra could be more electrifying |
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A splendid evening |
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Christine Goerke leaves you breathless in Canadian Opera Company’s Elektra |
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Great singing and superb orchestra mark revival of COC Elektra |
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Eugene OneginCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
An enchantment |
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Tempo d'autunno, gioia negli occhi, dolore nel cuore |
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An enchantment |
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Robert Carsen's Eugene Onegin ages gracefully at COC |
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COC's Eugene Onegin adds passion and warmth to chilly fall |
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Canadian Opera Company’s Eugene Onegin grabs you by the heart |
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HadrianCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
In Wainwright’s Hadrian, musical merit, iffy libretto |
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Il lutto di Adriano |
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A buzz-worthy premiere |
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Hadrian a visual feast but operatic letdown |
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Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Hadrian’ is a step forward, but still frustrating |
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Anna BolenaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
Anna Bolena is a great showcase for soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, but not much else |
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Another triumph for Sondra Radvanovsky |
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Sondra Radvanovsky reigns supreme in the COC's Anna Bolena |
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Le parole dei Tudor |
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With Anna Bolena, the COC bets it all on Sondra Radvanovsky – and it sure pays off |
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Star Sondra Radvanovsky’s vocals lead Canadian Opera Company to triumph with Anna Bolena |
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The Nightingale and Other Short FablesCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
A magical night at the opera |
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L'incanto della fiaba |
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Robert Lepage’s watery production returns |
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The Nightingale is musical and visual storytelling at its finest in COC revival |
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The Nightingale proves the power of live theatre |
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An enchanting night of music theatre |
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Die Entführung aus dem SerailCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
Mozart with extras, alas |
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Didactic, sanitized staging abducts Mozart’s Seraglio |
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Revisions to libretto don’t feel all that necessary |
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Updated opera Abduction from the Seraglio a mess in all but the music |
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RigolettoCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
Il club dei cortigiani |
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Rigoletto reboot |
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This Rigoletto will leave you cold |
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A baffling return |
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Crisper, tighter, more relevant: revival of Christopher Alden's Rigoletto at the COC |
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COC’s Rigoletto is both a musical jackpot and directorial puzzle |
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Rigoletto revival graced with first-rate voices |
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Le nozze di FigaroCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
Nozze all'inglese |
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A marriage of style and substance |
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Eros, nient'altro che Eros |
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Get reintroduced to Mozart's 'Figaro' with the Canadian Opera Company |
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A long evening |
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The Marriage of Figaro proves we can love an opera that omits the best bits |
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A Marriage of Figaro with psychological depth |
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L'elisir d'amoreCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
Senza pensieri |
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COC's The Elixir Of Love is a middling concoction |
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A jaunty success |
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Elixir of Love’s recipe works to perfection |
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ArabellaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
Arabella was a beautiful and dazzling operatic production |
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Il sorriso nel crepuscolo |
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Girlhood, interrupted |
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This Arabella will make you fall in love |
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Musically vibrant, visually subdued |
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COC’s Arabella succeeds on strength of its singers |
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Canadian Opera Company's Arabella sparkles in every way |
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ToscaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 8 | ![]() ![]() |
Why tamper with success? |
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Tosca’s cautious leap |
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Women rule in COC’s terrific Tosca |
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Le campane di San Pietro |
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Adrianne Pieczonka slays as Puccini’s tortured diva |
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Adrianne Pieczonka nails her scenes to the stage floor in Tosca |
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Canadian Opera Company's Tosca is a total triumph |
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COC offers a night at the cinematic opera with Tosca |
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Louis RielCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
With its new production of Harry Somers’ Louis Riel, Canadian Opera Company has covered itself in resplendent glory |
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A harrowing epic |
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L'Opera e la Storia |
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Louis Riel revival is electric |
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A step in the right direction |
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Louis Riel opera’s flaws redeemed, mostly, by star Russell Braun |
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Grand visions flame out at Louis Riel opera |
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GötterdämmerungCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
Cards on the table |
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Musically magnificent, visually subdued |
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En plus de cette éclatante réussite orchestrale, ce Crépuscule des dieux permet d'entendre une brillante distribution |
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The Canadian Opera Company’s Götterdämmerung dazzles with its art and humanity |
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Christine Goerke stuns in COC’s powerful Goetterdaemmerung |
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Gotterdammerung still speaks to the human condition |
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Christine Goerke on Wagner, endurance and the drive to perform
In a year or so, Christine Goerke will be sing Brunhilde in a complete Ring Cycle at the Met. Odds are, when that happens, that she will be one of the most famous operatic performers in the world.
In a year or so, Christine Goerke will be sing Brunhilde in a complete Ring Cycle at the Met. Odds are, when that happens, that she will be one of the most famous operatic performers in the world.
Christine Goerke talks Brünnhilde
Ahead of Wagner's Götterdammerung at the COC, the great American Wagnerian soprano gives a free-ranging and candid interview on her life and art.
Ahead of Wagner's Götterdammerung at the COC, the great American Wagnerian soprano gives a free-ranging and candid interview on her life and art.
Die ZauberflöteCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
A welcome return |
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Le chef Bernard Labadie propose une lecture alerte, nerveuse |
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The Magic Flute could be more enchanting |
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COC’s Magic Flute takes its time, but finally delivers |
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The Magic Flute casts spell over Canadian Opera Company |
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AriodanteCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() ![]() |
La solitudine dell'innocenza |
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COC’d Up Ariodante |
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Handel’s Scottish opera |
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COC's Ariodante offers audiences plenty to ponder |
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NormaCanadian Opera CompanyNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
Norma, Norma e Adalgisa |
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Worth the wait |
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Norma les yeux dans les yeux |
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Astounding singing in COC's Norma |
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Sondra Radvanovsky - a star soprano at the pinnacle of her talent
Sondra Radvanovsky plays the title character in Norma, the COC’s first production of this season.
Sondra Radvanovsky plays the title character in Norma, the COC’s first production of this season.

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News & Articles
Canadian Opera Company announces new General Director |
Canadian Opera Company has announced that Perryn Leech will be its new incoming General Director, effective March 1, 2021. |
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Canadian Opera Company cancels remainder of 2020-21 season |
The company announced that productions of Bizet’s “Carmen,” Janáček’s “Katya Kabanova,” Verdi’s “La Traviata,” and Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice” will no longer be performed. |
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Canadian Opera Company unveils reimagined fall season |
To be entitled Opera Everywhere, the season will feature concerts, panels and more. |
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Canadian Opera Company cancels all fall programming |
Given continued restrictions on large public gatherings in Toronto the Canadian Opera Company will be cancelling all in-person performances, programming, and events through the fall of its 2020/2021 season. |
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Canadian Opera Company cancels the rest of its 2019-20 season |
The Canadian Opera Company has become the latest major cultural institution to cancel performances because of the COVID-19 outbreak. |
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