Alexander Neef News

The Canadian Opera Company opens its 2017/2018 season with the lush orchestration and soaring vocal lines of Richard Strauss' lyrical comedy about love, money and sex, Arabella.

The Canadian Opera Company's acclaimed Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre returns for its 2017/2018 season on September 26, 2017.

The Canadian Opera Company's acclaimed Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre returns for its 2017/2018 season on September 26, 2017.

Laughter and love stories carry over into the new Canadian Opera Company production of Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, one of the most popular comedies of the opera world for almost 200 years. The Elixir of Love runs for eight performances at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 11, 15, 17, 21, 27, 29, November 2, 4, 2017.

The Canadian Opera Company opens its 2017/2018 season with the lush orchestration and soaring vocal lines of Richard Strauss' lyrical comedy about love, money and sex, Arabella.

Canadian Opera Company Music Director Johannes Debus and the internationally acclaimed COC Orchestra step out of the orchestra pit of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to launch the 'Canadian edition' of the 21C Music Festival, performing the opening concert on May 24, 2017 at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music at Koerner Hall. This is the first of two engagements with COC artists at the 21C Music Festival.

On April 19, 2017, the Canadian Opera Company is hosting a meeting at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, organized by Dr. Dylan Robinson of Queen's University, to discuss First Nations song protocol and the use of Indigenous songs in Canadian compositions, such as Harry Somers' Louis Riel.

On April 19, 2017, the Canadian Opera Company is hosting a meeting at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, organized by Dr. Dylan Robinson of Queen's University, to discuss First Nations song protocol and the use of Indigenous songs in Canadian compositions, such as Harry Somers' Louis Riel.

The Canadian Opera Company has brought together an all-Canadian cast, led by renowned Canadian baritone Russell Braun in the title role, for its highly anticipated revival of Harry Somers' Louis Riel. This new production of Louis Riel is co-produced with the National Arts Centre in anticipation of Canada's sesquicentennial and runs for seven performances by the COC on April 20, 23, 26, 29, May 2, 5, 13, 2017 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Canadian Opera Company closes its 2016/2017 season with Puccini's beloved Tosca. A tense drama of passion and betrayal, Tosca returns in a COC production performed with two of today's great divas in the title role: internationally renowned Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka and critically acclaimed American soprano Keri Alkema.

Canadian history comes to life on the stage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this spring when Harry Somers' Louis Riel returns to the Canadian Opera Company. A new production of this uniquely Canadian contribution to the opera world is being conceived by one of Canadian theatre's most acclaimed and inventive directors, Peter Hinton, with the COC's celebrated music director, Johannes Debus, conducting. This production of Louis Riel is proudly presented by the COC and its co-producer, National Arts Centre (NAC), in anticipation of Canada's sesquicentennial and the 50th anniversary of the opera's premiere. Louis Riel is sung in English, French, Michif and Cree with English, French, Michif and Cree SURTITLESTM, and runs for seven performances by the COC on April 20, 23, 26, 29, May 2, 5, 13, 2017 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It will premiere in Ottawa by the NAC on June 15 and 17, 2017.

On Today, February 23, 2017, Canada's next generation of opera stars takes over the mainstage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for An Evening with the Ensemble Studio: Music of Handel and Mozart.

On Thursday, February 23, 2017, Canada's next generation of opera stars takes over the mainstage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for An Evening with the Ensemble Studio: Music of Handel and Mozart.

The Canadian Opera Company presents a 2017/2018 season that defies conventions on what opera can be and cements the art form's enduring relevance as a reflection of timeless human relations and universal themes.

 The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra Academy returns for its fourth year on January 8, 2017, welcoming five student musicians to its annual three-week intensive training program.

Simone McIntosh of Vancouver took home First Prize (the Chair's Prize) at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2016 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Simone McIntosh of Vancouver took home First Prize (the Chair's Prize) at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2016 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Canadian Opera Companyhas selected seven finalists from across the country to showcase in this year's exhilarating vocal competition at its annual gala fundraiser,Centre Stage, on November 3, 2016. Selected from a pool of 119 aspiring Canadian opera singers, the final seven will take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to perform selected arias in the hopes of securing a cash prize, ranging in value from $1,500 - $5,000, and a highly coveted invitation to join Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, the COC Ensemble Studio. 

When this year's aspiring opera stars take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to compete in the Ensemble Studio Competition at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Centre Stage gala, they'll do so with legendary Canadian tenor and CBC Radio personality Ben Heppner in attendance.

The Canadian Opera Company's 2015/2016 season was one of continued artistic excellence paired with financial stability, as reported today at the COC's Annual General Meeting by COC Board Chair Colleen Sexsmith and COC General Director Alexander Neef. The COC's operating expenses for the 15/16 season were $40,278,000 with revenues of $40,310,000, allowing the opera company to report a modest surplus of $32,000.