The good news this week is that Canadian Opera Company have extended the contract of Music Director Johannes Debus through 2017. This follows the announcement of a contract extension for General Director Alexander Neef. So, not only does COC get to keep a very good conductor who is well liked by the orchestra but it keeps the Neef/Debus team together for at least another five years. Neef and Debus seem to work together extremely well so this bodes well for a continuation of the combination of varied repertoire, interesting productions and starry casts that we have seen recently at the Four Seasons Centre. 

In less happy news my Twitter feed is telling me that Toronto arts patron (and father of operarambling’s favourite director) Walter Carsen has died at the age of 100. I haven’t seen confirmation in the mainstream media though. Carsen’s legacy in the city is huge and he’ll be missed. Still, an innings of that length and quality is rather to be applauded than mourned.

And on the more international front Anna Sokolovic’s Svadba:Wedding is on tour in Europe this month with its original Toronto cast.  It’s playing in Paris on the 15th (Canadian Cultural Centre), at the music festival in Belgrade on the 17th, at the Théâtre d’Orléans on the 19th and the Dublin City Gallery on the 21st.  Closer to home (just about) it’s also playing in Edmonton from January 12th to the 19th.  Here’s my review of the world premiere in Toronto last June.