There have been quite a few announcements in the last couple of weeks or so.  Here’s what’s coming up.

Essential Opera is back after a hiatus.  They are doing a single performance of Gianni Schicchi at 3pm on April 22nd at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (the one up near the Arctic Circle).  Kevin Mallon conducts the Toronto Orchestra with a really good line up of soloists.

21C is back from May 23rd to 27th with a varied lineup.  Perhaps the most interesting concert from a vocal point of view is vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis with violinist and singer Maarja Nuut and electronic music composer Hendrik Kaljujärv in works by Arvo Pärt, David Lang, and Helena Tulve.  The concert is presented in partnership with Estonian Music Week and it’s on the 26th at 8pm.

May 11th to 13th sees the 3rd Annual Toronto Bach Festival. On Friday, May 11th, at 8pm, at St. Barnabas-on-the-Danforth, there’s a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos No. 2 and No. 4, the Concerto for Oboe d’amore and the Orchestral Suite No. 4, on original instruments.  On the 12th at 2pm at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, there’s an organ recital by Rachel Mahon. The program includes Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D, Buxtehude’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor and more.  The festival concludes with the “a capella” St. John Passion by Heinrich Schütz at St. Barnabas-on-the-Danforth on Sunday May 13th at 3pm. Vocalists, include Ellen McAteer, Simon Honeyman, Nils Brown and Joel Alison.  More details at TorontoBachFestival.org.

Opera 5 has announced a production of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The show will be at Factory Theatre from June 13th to 17th.  Jessica Derventzis directs a production set in the early 20th century and Evan Mitchell will conduct an 11 person ensemble.
The cast is headed by Stephanie Tritchew as Rosina with Kevin Myers as Il Conte d’Almaviva, Johnathon Kirby as Figaro, Michael York as Bartolo, Giles Tomkins as Basilio, and Megan Miceli as Berta.

Against the Grain Theatre is going to Hell.  They have a new production of Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice. In aco-production with the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and Opera Columbus.  This production blends an orchestra that mixes acoustic and electric instruments, baroque-burlesque dancers and a global virtual chorus.  Got that?  Joel Ivany directs and Topher Mokrzewski conducts the AtG Ensemble.
The cast features Siman Chung in the title role, Mireille Asselin as his love Eurydice and aerialist and soprano Marcy Richardson who will portray Amour.  A cast of dancers from NYC’s Company XIV (known for their annual burlesque Nutcracker Rouge) act as witnesses along Orphée’s journey.  Three performances will take place at Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, third floor, on April 26, 27, and 28 at 8pm. See againstthegraintheatre.com for more details.

Finally, Iain Scott has announced a new series of opera appreciation classes.  There are five; Fathers and Daughters in Verdi Operas, Exotic Operas from Around the World, The Art of the Operatic Ensemble, Love and Marriage in Opera and Opera and Power.  Full details, location, dates, pricing etc here.