The Descent of Orpheus at Opera Atelier

Opera Atelier opens its 2026/27 season with Canada’s first fully-staged production of M.A. Charpentier’s The Descent of Orpheus, at Koerner Hall’s TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, from October 22-25, 2026. Founding Co-Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski, C.M. and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, C.M. direct and choreograph this fresh, contemporary, and emotionally-driven staging of Charpentier’s masterpiece, grounded in the concept of period performance. The production is the earliest known French operatic take on the Orpheus myth from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Celebrated American tenor Daniel McGrew is making his Canadian debut with Opera Atelier as Orpheus opposite French-Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin as Eurydice. They will star alongside French baritone David Witczak as Pluto, Olivier Bergeron as Apollo, and Mireille Lebel as Persephone. With dance being an essential element of this French courtly drama, the Artists of Atelier Ballet will lend their talents to fully realize Charpentier’s vision, accompanied by the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and an ensemble from Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Bagan on the harpsichord. Tickets and information at OperaAtelier.com