Following on from this year’s successful festival at Theatre Passe Muraille Opera 5 are once again running a sort of mini festival at that venue in June next year.  There will be two programmes.  There’s a Puccini double bill of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi which, I’m guessing will be given with chamber ensemble accompaniment.  Rachel Krehm headlines as the theologically unsound nun while Gianni Schicchi has Greg Dahl in the title role.  Krisztina Szabó will appear in both operas as Princess Zia and Zita.  Jessica Derventzis directs and Evan Mitchell is in charge of matters musical.  This one runs June 3rd to 7th.

The second piece is the world premiere of a work by Cecilia Livingston and Duncan McFarlane.  It’s called Parélios and it’s starting point is Olafur Eliasson’s installation The Weather Project.  It’s not the first piece Livingston and McFarlane have created based on visual art.  They also collaborated on mark; a piece inspired by Houston’s Rothko Chapel and other paintings. The new work will combine elements of  opera, oratorio, dance and video installation.  It will be choreographed by Jenn Nicholls and conducted by Evan Mitchell with soloists, a choir, dancers and TorQ Percussion Quartet.  The themes explored are climate change, migration, and humanity’s connection to the planet; the issues that really matter right now.  This one runs June 11th to 14th.

The internship programme in conjunction with McGill will also continue.  Besides providing understudy opportunities there will be an RBA lunchtime concert by the interns on May 4th as well as one by the festival cast on May 13th.