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. Continue reading
Tag Archives: opera 5
Elegies
My review of William Finn’s Elegies as performed by the interns at Toronto Opera Festival is now up at La Scena Musicale.
Photo credit: Emily Ding Photography
Come Closer
Come Closer; libretto by Rachel Krehm, music by Ryan Trew, is a two act chamber opera about Rachel’s relationship with her younger sister Elizabeth who died as a consequence of heroin addiction. Some of it is based on Rachel’s memories and much on the writing and drawings that Elizabeth left. It premiered on Friday night and is currently playing in an Opera 5 production at Factory Theatre.
Opera 5 gala
Opera 5 opened the first Toronto Opera Festival last night at Factory Theatre with a gala featuring Greg Dahl and the singers from their intern programme; most of whom have McGill connections.. It was basically a concert of opera arias and scenes and musical theatre numbers in about equal shares. It was quite varied ad theire was some excellent singing supported with versatility and flair by Nate Ben-Horin on a slightly battered looking piano (it sounded fine though!).
Looking ahead to June
Things slow down just a little bit in June but with both Luminato and Opera 5’s Opera festival it’s not that quiet. Here’s what’s coming down:
- June 5th to 7th at Daniels Spectrum there’s Nigamon/Tunai; an exploration of Indigenous perspectives from North and South America (part of Luminato)
- June 6th at Metropolitan United Krisztina Szabó leads in Queen of the Night Communion, another Luminato show.
All the news that fits…
There have been a lot of announcements in the last few days. Tapestry announced that they had two companies “in residence” for next season at their new home at 877 Yonge Street. They are Opera Q ;led by Ryan Macdonald and Camille Rogers, who produced the pandemic video Medusa’s Children and Cultureland which is led by Afarin Mansouri and was responsible for Echoes of Bi-Sotoon. Continue reading
Canadians win big in Digital Excellence in Opera Awards
Two Canadian projects scooped first prizes at Opera America’s Digital Excellence in Opera awards earlier this week. Sweat from Jenn Nichols, Larissa Koniuk and the Bicycle Opera gang won the big one; “Artistic Creation”. What can I say? I loved the stage show and I loved the film. Well deserved.

The other winner was the very cute kids’ series Threepenny Submarine from Rachel Krehm and Opera5. This was joint winner in the “Noteworthy Projects” category.

So two out of four of the top prizes went to Canadian projects. Not bad eh?
McGill interns Turn the Screw
The second performance of Opera 5’s production of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw on Thursday night was sung by the “apprentice” cast drawn from Opera McGill. Curiously, it was an all female cast with women singing both Miles and Peter Quint.

What’s on in June?
Here’s an events listing for June as it currently stands:
- Canadian Children’s Opera Company are doing Dean Burry’s The Hobbit at Harbourfront Centre on May 31st through June 2nd.
- June 6th at 7.30pm at Arrayspace there’s Echoes of Bi-Sotoon; short operatic works by seven composers inspired by the ancient site of Bi-Sotoon (which) means the place of the gods).
Indie Operas
Coming up later this month is Angel’s Bone; an opera with music by Du Yun and a libretto by the amazing Royce Vavrek. It’s a chamber opera for amplified voices and small ensemble. The plot concerns two angels who fall to earth and are ruthlessly exploited by otherwise unremarkable people. It’s a commentary on human trafficking and the exploitation of youth. There’s a really good looking cast and it will play at Harbourfront Centre March 22nd to 24th. It’s already attracted largely positive reviews in New York and Vancouver. More details including casting and ticketing here. Continue reading


