PROGRAM WINTER 2016

SIEGFRIED THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL DIRECTOR 4 HIS LIFE, HIS WORK, ALEXANDER NEEF HIS CRAZY SCHEDULE Johannes Debus, COC Music Director “This is our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, 6 NEWS FROM THE COC’S more beautifully, more devotedly ANNUAL GENERAL than ever before.” MEETING Making Leonard Bernstein 7 BIOGRAPHIES Who’s Who at the COC this Winter First of all, it gives me great pleasure to announce that our exceptional 16 WHAT’S PLAYING: music director Johannes Debus has the arts SIEGFRIED extended his contract with the COC to the end of the 2020/2021 season. 22 SIEGFRIED, MEMORY Orchestra of the National Anthem at AND IDENTITY In January and February, two the top of the performance, and a few 24 GET TO KNOW... extraordinary COC productions grace brief remarks from me to dedicate the STEFAN VINKE the mainstage, both conducted by production of The Marriage of Figaro accessible. Johannes, who will be making his to the Canadian values we hold so 25 UP IN THE AIR Siegfried debut. dear. WITH THE COC! This production also stars the Every new calendar year at the COC 28 BACKSTAGE AND world’s most renowned Siegfried, begins with a season announcement. BEYOND Stefan Vinke in his first Canadian For the third year in a row, our 30 WHAT’S PLAYING: performances, and the incomparable subscribers were part of the THE MARRIAGE Christine Goerke, making her role excitement at the 2016/2017 Season OF FIGARO debut. Launch Celebration last week, becoming the first to hear about our 36 HOLDING A MIRROR UP Our new Marriage of Figaro is a upcoming line-up of productions. In TO NATURE production originally created by the addition to our beloved classics, Tosca Jane Archibald and Erin Wall Salzburg Festival. Directed by the on The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute, the majesty of renowned Claus Guth and starring Götterdämmerung, and superb new 38 DARKNESS AND JOY our own wonderful Jane Archibald, productions of Norma and Ariodante, Exploring the humanity of Russell Braun and Erin Wall, we are we are presenting, in collaboration Claus Guth’s Figaro very pleased that this acclaimed with Canada’s National Arts Centre, a production now belongs to us. new production of Louis Riel to help 41 OPERA’S NEXT mark the country’s 150th birthday. I’m GENERATION The Marriage of Figaro is a sure you agree that 16/17 is a season 44 OPERA: FACES AND particularly poignant opera that truly worth celebrating! (Please refer to the WORDS exemplifies the values of freedom of insert within this program for more speech and expression. Mozart’s opera information). 46 MANY THANKS (and the comedy by Beaumarchais Acknowledging our it is based on) is among the earliest Finally, over the past year, COC staff many supporters pieces in the operatic canon to and volunteers have been looking deal with the ideas and values that further ahead into the future and 54 PATRON INFORMATION AND POLICIES have recently come under attack in embarked on an extensive strategic Paris, Beirut, San Bernardino and planning process called COC365. other places around the world. At At the heart of the new mission the COC, we feel it is important to and vision for the company is not only reflect on the impact of our unequivocal belief in artistic these attacks, but also to honour excellence, and, in the next five COC Program is published three times a our Canadian values of freedom, years, we will turn our dreams and year by the Canadian Opera Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole respect for cultural differences, and a ideas into concrete plans to help or in part without written consent is commitment to social justice. We are our large, multi-faceted, and ever- prohibited. Contents copyright Canadian proud of providing a cultural space evolving company grow even better Opera Company. Direct all advertising in this country where people are BMO Financial Group is proud to sponsor the Canadian inquiries to [email protected]. and stronger. With COC365, we will free to gather, create art and express bring the transformative experience of Program edited by Claudine Domingue, opinions—freedoms not granted in opera to our local, national, and global Opera Company’s Student Dress Rehearsals and Director of Public Relations; Kristin McKinnon, Assistant Publicist; and, Gianna many places around the world. audience every day of the year. You Pre-Performance Opera Chats. Wichelow, Senior Manager, Creative and won’t want to miss a moment of it! Publications. Layout by Gianna Wichelow. Opening night of Figaro will include All information is correct at time of printing. Photo credits are on page 53. a special presentation by the COC CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 3

15-1969 - Corporate Donations - Canadian Opera Company AD EDITS_Student Ad_Ev1.indd 1 15-08-27 10:36 AM Both winter operas are pretty long, What have you been up to since Siegfried particularly. How do you Pyramus and Thisbe closed, and JOHANNES DEBUS, and the musicians get through what does the rest of your season them? look like? Wagner conductors are always revered In November, I did a very special COC MUSIC DIRECTOR for their stamina and strength, but, in concert with the San Diego Symphony, fact, I think sometimes it’s far more in which the symphony collaborated exhausting to conduct a Verdi opera with the city’s art museum. After that than to follow the natural flow of I made my debut with the National HIS LIFE, Wagner’s music. It’s so well written Arts Centre Orchestra, conducting the for all the instruments that everyone world premiere of a new piece by Ana loves to play it. Wagner, even though Sokolovic*. Then I spent some time in he loved to write longer operas, was Berlin studying the winter operas. In HIS WORK, extremely clever in terms of pacing of the middle of the Siegfried and Figaro the piece. Each act has maybe one real run, I have a concert with the Royal climax. As the conductor you have to Conservatory Orchestra on February know where those climaxes are, and 12, which we kind of squeezed into HIS CRAZY you work towards them and try not to my crazy schedule. I was released exhaust yourself and everyone else too from the spring run here because I early. If you understand that, then it’s got an offer from my old theatre in not as difficult to get through as one Frankfurt to do a production of The SCHEDULE might imagine. Cunning Little Vixen. I’m a real lover of Janácek’sv music and I’m also very BY CLAUDINE DOMINGUE How can Verdi be more difficult to happy to be back in Frankfurt and conduct than Wagner? reconnect with my old “opera family.” I think it was Daniel Barenboim who said that Verdi is always in the In a way I was really lucky that I could present and Wagner is always in the spend a long time in Frankfurt and it development of something, of getting became a kind of home for me. When somewhere. Another conductor said I left Frankfurt, I came here and found Verdi’s music is vertical and Wagner’s a new beautiful home. I have to say is horizontal. This means that Verdi’s that I’m very, very grateful for that, operas force you to jump start your and I have to remind myself how good engine at the very beginning and things turned out for me! that requires a lot of energy. And you We caught up with our busy maestro it again, and I might have a different the piece—the architecture of each have to keep that motor going at high as he prepares to conduct both operas answer, but right now I’m very happy act—trying to somehow connect the speed for the whole opera. That might On January 13, 2016, at the public this winter run. about it! very beginning with the very end, be a reason that you sweat a little bit launch of the COC’s 2016/2017 and by doing that, build this arc over more during a Verdi opera than you do season, General Director Alexander Johannes, how do you perform Do you do a lot of preparation the the whole evening. For something in a Wagner opera. Neef announced that a new contract two operas back-to-back? Isn’t it day you conduct? like Figaro, I try to capture the for Johannes Debus extends his exhausting? Yes and no. I do need some time “atmosphere” of the piece. Also, as Last year, your son was born the tenure with the Canadian Opera Well, first of all, an instrumentalist to prepare, to get into the “zone.” I always in Mozart you are trying to deal same day as a performance of Die Company through to June 30, 2021. wants to play, a singer wants to sing need this moment—and of course, with the emotions of the characters. Walküre. How did you get through and conductor wants to conduct, for Siegfried and Figaro it’s a longer Mozart is a composer of the soul and that run? *Ana Sokolovic has been commissioned to so it’s actually great when you have moment because the works are long— what the soul is going through, so, I Noah was born at 12:45 in the compose a new opera for the COC for the 2019/2020 season. La Reine-Garçon will have performances back-to-back. Yes, to mentally go through the piece. I have to know what state of mind each afternoon, and the performance a libretto by Quebec playwright Michel Marc admittedly, it could have been a also try to reflect on what happened character is in at each moment, and started at 6:30 that evening. I have no Bouchard from his play of the same name. “lighter menu.” But, I’m fortunate to in the performance before and what then try to connect with it. Those clear memories of that performance; have two of the greatest composers in I have to do better, or maybe what I kinds of things are going through my I know that I was on an adrenaline Claudine Domingue is Director of the operatic repertoire, Wagner and want to do differently this time. mind in preparation for each opera. high. I knew I had to conduct that Public Relations at the COC. Mozart, and I find so much energy and So, yes, in answer to your question, night and I can’t rationalize it… I knew inspiration in that music. Both operas Do you prepare for some pieces there is preparation. I can’t just jump that I had to do it somehow for this Johannes Debus is generously little creature, for this little wonderful underwritten by George and Kathy are such masterpieces that you don’t differently? into the pit, look at the score and say, Dembroski think about how exhausting it might For an opera like Siegfried, I try “Oh well, it’s Figaro, it’s Siegfried being… It was a very memorable night, Maestro moments: In rehearsal for the world be. Ask me after the run if I would do to understand the “structure” of tonight!” and start. It doesn’t work for that’s for sure. premiere of Pyramus and Thisbe, Johannes with director Christopher Alden (top) and tenor Owen me. McCausland (third image from the top).

4 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 5 WELCOMES, FAREWELLS... BIOGRAPHIES AND THREE REAL OPERA HEROES WHO’S WHO BY NIKITA GOURSKI

At the COC’s Annual General Meeting Long-time COC supporter and Board a tremendous cumulative impact on the AT THE COC on October 22, 2015, General Director member Colleen Sexsmith transitions COC, steering the organization from Alexander Neef welcomed Timothy from her role as Vice-Chair to Chair a role of national importance to one of THIS WINTER Loftsgard and Yael Woodward as new of the Board, while Justin Linden international renown. members to the Board of Directors, transitioned and took up the duties of and paid special tribute to Mr. Tony Vice-Chair. Last but not least, Mr. Neef also Arrell, who stepped down as Chair after unveiled new appointees to the Life serving his three-year term. Mr. Neef also announced the retirement Trustees Council, a recognition society of several Board members: Mark comprising philanthropic and artistic “During those three years, Tony has Appel, Rob Brouwer, Stewart Burton, leaders whose efforts have been integral been the COC’s biggest champion, Adam Froman, Stephen Marshall, to the company’s transformative history an energetic leader, and a thoughtful Nick Mutton, and Michele Symons, of accomplishment. Arthur Scace, Rob mentor to us all,” Mr. Neef said at the noting their incredible enthusiasm and Collins, and David Stanley-Porter were event. “We can’t thank him enough and unwavering generosity to the company. all welcomed into the prestigious I am very happy that he remains on the Together they represent nearly four Life Trustees Council. Board.” decades of board service, and have had

Life Trustees Council Appointments

MR. ARTHUR R. A. SCACE For nearly 20 years, Mr. Scace has served the COC in a variety of capacities, including Past President and Chair of the COC’s Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the COC’s Capital Campaign Cabinet—Four Seasons Centre, and President of the Canadian Opera House Corporation (COHC). As President of the COHC and Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign Cabinet, he was instrumental in helping the COC with the building of the Four Seasons Centre. He was also an inspiring champion of the new opera house, leading numerous personal tours of the building site to potential donors and advocating for the investment required for the project to succeed.

MR. J. ROB COLLINS WOLFGANG ABLINGER- JANE ARCHIBALD MEREDITH ARWADY DEREK BATE GORDON BINTNER Intimately involved with every aspect of the company’s administration for almost two decades, Mr. Collins Soprano (Truro, NS) Contralto (Kalamazoo, MI, USA) Assistant Conductor Bass-baritone (Regina, SK) SPERRHACKE (Toronto, ON) has been a generous supporter and advocate for the COC. In particular, his guidance during the construction Tenor (Zell am See, Austria) Susanna, Erda, Siegfried Count Almaviva, Siegfried of our opera house has been superlative. Mr. Collins chaired countless board and committee meetings, Mime, Siegfried The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT The Marriage of Figaro (Ensemble Studio performance) Death, The Nightingale and Other COC DEBUT attended dozens of cultivation events, solicited scores of prospective donors and made numerous site visits. COC DEBUT COC DEBUT Short Fables (COC at BAM, 2011) Conductor, Carmen, 1979 During his two-year term as President of the COC (2004-2006), he not only participated in the conversion Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2011 COC DEBUT RECENT Customs Official, La Bohème, 2013 RECENT RECENT Herod, Salome (Vienna State Opera RECENT of a parking lot into a world-class opera house, but also presided over the board’s supervision of the COC’s Zita, Gianni Schicchi (Los Angeles Pyramus and Thisbe (with Lamento and Opernhaus Zürich) Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos (Royal RECENT Opera) d’Arianna and Il combattimento di operations, including fundraising and world-class productions. Hauptmann, Wozzeck (Teatro all Scala Opera House, Covent Garden) Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro Aunt Hannah Watkins, Emmeline Clorinda e Tancredi), COC and Opernhaus Zürich) Konstanze, Die Entführung aus dem (Manitoba Opera) (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis) Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung, COC The Prince, Lulu (Bayerische Serail (Théâtre des Champs- Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville Schwertleite, Die Walküre (Houston Die Walküre, COC Staatsoper) Elysées, Festival d’Aix en (COC Ensemble Studio DR. DAVID STANLEY-PORTER Grand Opera) Conductor, The Student Prince Monostatos, The Magic Flute (Dutch Provence) performance) Dr. Stanley-Porter has been an inspiring educator for the COC since the early 1980s, bringing neighbours, co- (Toronto Operetta Theatre) National Opera) Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute UPCOMING Guglielmo, Così fan tutte (Milwaukee (Opéra national de Paris) Symphony Orchestra) workers, and friends to this company in huge numbers and supporting the operatic art form by broadening Erda and First Norn, Ring Cycle (Oper UPCOMING UPCOMING Frankfurt) Carmen, COC its audience. Through his Opera Courses and Opera Tours, he has enriched the opera experience for Loge, Das Rheingold (Opera North) UPCOMING Erda, Siegfried (Houston Grand UPCOMING thousands of people. He graciously donated the funds constituting his salary back to the company, catalyzing Mime, Das Rheingold (Staatsoper im Cunégonde, Candide (Hamburger Opera) Papageno, The Magic Flute (Michigan Schiller Theater) Symphoniker, Hamburg) Opera Theatre) more than $2 million in revenues for the COC. He has also been an enthusiastic individual donor, supporting Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae (Salzburg Donna Anna, Don Giovanni (Theater Araldo, Otello (Salzburg Easter Festival) the company’s wide-ranging operations through major gift donations, including Capital Campaign, Festival) an der Wien) production underwriting of modern operas, artist sponsorship, and annual giving through his Golden Circle membership.

6 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 7 KARINE BOUCHER RUSSELL BRAUN MICHAEL COLVIN JORDAN DE SOUZA JOHANNES DEBUS Soprano (Quebec City, QC) Baritone (Georgetown, ON) Tenor (Toronto, ON) Conductor (Feb. 23 and 25) / COC Music Director (Berlin, Susanna, Count Almaviva, Basilio, Assistant Conductor (Toronto, ON) Germany/Toronto, ON) The Marriage of Figaro Siegfried and The The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro (Ensemble Studio performance) COC DEBUT Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT COC DEBUT Assistant Conductor, Dialogues des COC DEBUT Servant, Der Rosenkavalier, 1990 Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville, Carmélites, 2013 COC DEBUT Kate Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly, 1999 War and Peace, 2008 2014 RECENT RECENT Pentheus, Les Bassarids (Teatro RECENT Assistant Conductor, La Traviata, Un RECENT RECENT dell’Opera di Roma) L’Aumônier, Dialogues des Carmélites ballo in maschera, La Bohème National Arts Centre Orchestra Berta, The Barber of Seville (COC) Lescaut, Manon (Metropolitan Opera) (Dutch National Opera) (COC) San Diego Symphony Mimì, La Bohème (Jeunesses Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni (COC) Rodolphe, Guillaume Tell (Royal Conductor, Verdi's Requiem (Ottawa Pyramus and Thisbe with Lamento Musicales) Opera House, Covent Garden) Symphony) d’Arianna and Il combattimento di Miss Pinkerton, The Old Maid and the UPCOMING Peter Grimes, Peter Grimes (English Conductor, Mass in B Minor, St. Tancredi e Clorinda (COC) Thief (Opéra de Montréal) Soloist, Brett Dean’s Songs of Joy National Opera) Matthew Passion, St. John Passion Aspen Chamber Symphony (Aspen Annina, La Traviata (Opéra de (Toronto Symphony Orchestra) Herod, Salome (Northern Ireland (Ensemble Caprice) Music Festival) Montréal) Soloist, Brahms’ Vier Ernste Gesänge Opera) Conductor, M'dea Undone (Tapestry Opera) The Tales of Hoffmann (Bregenz Inez, Il Trovatore (Opéra de Montréal) (Stuttgart Radio Symphony) Festival) The Man, Senza Sangue (Göteborgs UPCOMING UPCOMING UPCOMING Symfoniker) Duke of Cornwall, Lear (Opéra Conductor, Rocking Horse Winner UPCOMING Micaëla, Carmen (COC) Louis Riel, Louis Riel (COC) national de Paris) (Tapestry Opera) The Cunning Little Vixen (Oper The Painter, Lulu (English National Conductor, Romeo and Juliet (National Frankfurt) Opera) Ballet of Canada) The Marriage of Figaro (Komische Assistant Conductor, Franco Faccio's Oper Berlin) Amleto (Bregenz Festival)

SASHA DJIHANIAN PHILLIP ENS DONNA FEORE DAVID FINN EMILY FONS Soprano (Montreal, QC) Bass (Winkler, MB) Choreographer (Stratford, ON) Lighting Designer (Mill Valley, Mezzo-Soprano (Milwaukee, WI, Barbarina, Fafner, Siegfried Siegfried CA, USA) USA) For security, privacy, safety and time management Siegfried Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT COC DEBUT

Don Fernando, Fidelio, 1991 Red Emma, 1995 COC DEBUT The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT Venus and Adonis, 2001 charter a private jet. Annio, La clemenza di Tito, 2013 RECENT RECENT COC DEBUT

Jorg, Stiffelio (Metropolitan Opera) Director/Choreographer, The Sound RECENT RECENT Claggart, Billy Budd (Glyndebourne of Music, Crazy for You, Fiddler on Hänsel und Gretel (Dutch National RECENT Zerlina, Don Giovanni (COC) Festival and Houston Grand the Roof (Stratford Festival) Opera) Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus (New Pedro, Don Quichotte (COC) Opera) Creative Producer/Director, Dear Life The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Orleans Opera) Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro Fafner, Das Rheingold and Siegfried and I Lost my Talk (National Arts Australia) Ruby, Cold Mountain (Santa Fe (Opera Lyra) 152,000 pilots voted Skycharter Best in Canada (Royal Opera House, Covent Centre) Roméo et Juliette (Deutsche Oper Opera) Garden) Director, Mendelssohn’s A Berlin) Rosina, The Barber of Seville (Opera UPCOMING Midsummers Night Dream, Theatre of St. Louis) Frasquita, Carmen (COC) UPCOMING National Arts Centre UPCOMING Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte (Opéra de Ramfis, Aida (L’Opéra de Montréal) Così fan tutte (Opera Australia) UPCOMING Massy and Opéra de Reims) FBO SERVICES AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT CHARTER SERVICES King Mark, Tristan and Isolde UPCOMING Tannhäuser (Royal Opera House, Rosina, The Barber of Seville (Lyric (Musiktheater im Revier) Director/Choreographer, A Chorus Line Covent Garden) Opera Baltimore and Pittsburgh (Stratford Festival) Opera) Soloist, Crescendo at White River www.skycharter.com State Park (Indianapolis Opera) Stéphano, Roméo et Juliette (Santa [email protected] Fe Opera)

905-677-6901 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 9 JEAN-PHILIPPE AVIVA FORTUNATA FRANÇOIS GIRARD CHRISTINE GOERKE ALLISON GRANT Soprano (Calgary, AB) (Montreal, QC) Soprano (Valley Stream, NY, Assistant Director (Toronto, ON) FORTIER-LAZURE USA) Tenor (Kitchener-Waterloo, ON) The Countess, Director, Siegfried The Marriage of Figaro Brünnhilde, Siegfried Don Curzio (main cast) The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT COC DEBUT (Ensemble Studio performance) Don Basilio Oedipus Rex with Symphony of COC DEBUT Choreographer/Assistant Director, Psalms, 1997 Brünnhilde, Die Walküre, 2015 Queen of Spades, 2002 (Ensemble Studio performance) COC DEBUT

Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte (Ensemble The Marriage of Figaro RECENT RECENT RECENT Studio performance, 2014) Parsifal (Metropolitan Opera) Turandot, Turandot (Metropolitan Director, The Magic Flute (Hawaii COC DEBUT Boychoir (Informant Films) Opera) Opera Theatre) RECENT Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville Zarkana (Cirque du Soleil) Elektra, Elektra (Boston Symphony Director/Choreographer, The Marriage Annina, La Traviata (COC) (Ensemble Studio Performance, Orchestra) of Figaro (Sarasota Opera) Berta, The Barber of Seville (COC) 2015) UPCOMING Brünnhilde, Die Walküre (Houston Director/Choreographer, Roméo et Helmwige, Die Walküre (COC) Waiting for Godot (Théâtre du Grand Opera) Juliétte (Vancouver Opera) Song Prize Finalist, 2015 BBC Cardiff RECENT Nouveau Monde, Montreal) Singer of the World Giuseppe, La Traviata (COC) The Hunting Gun (Tokyo) UPCOMING UPCOMING Pelléas, Pelléas et Mélisande (Nova War Requiem (Opéra de Lyon) Brünnhilde, Siegfried (Houston Grand Director, The Hobbit (Canadian UPCOMING Scotia Opera Company) Opera) Children’s Opera Company) Clotilde, Norma (COC) Chevalier de la Force, Dialogues Turandot, Turandot (Opera Director/Choreographer, Company des Carmélites (Atelier d’Opéra, Philadelphia) (Music Theatre on the Thames) University of Montreal) Brünnhilde, Ring Cycle (Metropolitan Opera) UPCOMING Remendado, Carmen (COC)

Image credit: SEAN GALBRAITH, Palace Theatre, 2014

MARILYN GRONSDAL CLAUS GUTH ALAN HELD SANDRA HORST ULI KIRSCH Finally, you can take the opera home with you. Associate Director (Toronto, ON) (Frankfurt, Germany) Bass-Baritone (Washburn, IL, Chorus Master (Toronto, ON) Actor (Berlin, Germany) Siegfried Director, USA) The Marriage of Figaro Cherubim, The Wanderer, Siegfried COC DEBUT The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT The Marriage of Figaro Director, La Bohème, 2009 COC DEBUT Norma, 1998 COC DEBUT COC DEBUT presented by Simone/Schicchi, A Florentine Toronto’s most exciting annual auction RECENT Tragedy/Gianni Schicchi, 2012 RECENT Assistant Director, Pyramus and RECENT La Traviata (COC) RECENT of contemporary art photography Thisbe with Lamento d’Arianna Der Rosenkavalier (Oper Frankfurt) RECENT Pyramus and Thisbe with Lamento Dancer, Samson et Dalila and La and Il combattimento di Clorinda e Fidelio (Salzburg Festival) Orest, Elektra (Opéra de Montréal) d’Arianna and Il combattimento di Rondine (Deutsche Oper Berlin) Capturing the fight against HIV for 15 years Tancredi (COC) L´incoronazione di Poppea (Theater Kurwenal, Tristan und Isolde Tancredi e Clorinda (COC) Death, Orfeo ed Euridice Co-director, Madama Butterfly an der Wien) (Bayerische Staatsoper) Conductor, The Telephone and The (Mozartwoche Salzburg and (Saskatoon Opera) Salome (Deutsche Oper Berlin) Don Pizarro, Fidelio (San Francisco Medium (UofT Opera) Musikfest Bremen) Assistant Director, Bluebeard’s Castle/ Symphony) Dargelos, Les Enfants Terribles Erwartung (COC) UPCOMING UPCOMING (Komische Oper Berlin) THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016 Associate Director, Die Walküre (COC) Rigoletto (Opéra national de Paris) UPCOMING Carmen (COC) Die Maske, AscheMOND (Staatsoper The Bram & Bluma Appel Salon Juliette (Staatsoper Berlin im Schiller Wotan, Ring Cycle (Washington Maometto II (COC) im Schiller Theater Berlin) UPCOMING Theater) National Opera) Conductor, The Machine Stops and Die Haut, Dionysos (Staatsoper Berlin at the Toronto Reference Library Assistant Director, Maometto II (COC) Jochanaan, Salome (Staatsoper Wien) Paul Bunyan (UofT Opera) im Schiller Theater) UPCOMING Death, Orfeo ed Euridice (Opéra Exclusive Wine Sponsor national de Lorraine)

10 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 SNAP-TORONTO.COM GREAT OPERA PRESENTS needs GREAT SUPPORTERS NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT OF JENIFER KOWAL MEGAN LATHAM MICHAEL LEVINE ANDI A. MÜLLER AGLAJA NICOLET SCOTTISH OPERA Stage Manager (Thornhill, ON) Mezzo-Soprano (Abbotsford, BC) Set and Costume Designer Video Designer (Zurich, Associate Director (Zurich, The Marriage of Figaro Marcellina, (Toronto, ON) Switzerland) Switzerland) Thank you to our many Siegfried The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro COC DEBUT The Marriage of Figaro (Ensemble Studio performance) Assistant Stage Manager, Falstaff, COC DEBUT COC DEBUT COC DEBUT generous members, 1992 Idomeneo, 1985 COC DEBUT RECENT RECENT Florence Pike, Albert Herring as well as corporate, RECENT RECENT Die Frau ohne Schatten (Royal Opera Associate Director, Tristan und Isolde (Ensemble Studio production), Pyramus and Thisbe with Lamento Wozzeck (Opernhaus Zürich) House, Covent Garden) (Zurich Opera) 2004 foundation, and d’Arianna and Il combattimento di Between Worlds (English National Lohengrin (Teatro alla Scala) Associate Director, Die Frau ohne Clorinda e Tancredi (COC) Opera) Parsifal (Teatro del Liceu) Schatten (Royal Opera House, RECENT Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung (COC) The Encounter (Complicite Theatre/ Covent Garden) government partners for Ruth, Dark Sisters (Vancouver Opera) Don Giovanni (COC) Edinburgh International Festival) UPCOMING Director, Die Entführung aus dem Alisa, Lucia di Lammermoor AtG’S Messiah (Against the Grain Hansel and Gretel (Dutch National Rigoletto (Opéra Bastille) Serail (Musikfest Bremen) (Edmonton Opera) making everything we do Theatre) Opera) Rossweisse, Die Walküre (COC) UPCOMING Geneviève, Pelléas et Mélisande possible. UPCOMING UPCOMING Projects in Salzburg, Paris, Madrid (Against the Grain Theatre) Maometto II (COC) Benjamin, dernière nuit (Opéra de and Milan Lyon) Le Petit Prince (National Ballet of Your support ensures that Canada) we can continue bringing the transformative experience of opera to our audience in Toronto THE DEVIL INSIDE and across the country. Libretto by Louise Welsh Become a supporter Music by Stuart MacRae today to go behind A Co-commission & Co-production by the scenes with Scottish Opera & Music Theatre Wales Presented by Tapestry Opera our artists, enjoy DOUG MACNAUGHTON IAIN MACNEIL GEORGE MOLNAR ROBERT POMAKOV CHRISTOPHER exclusive benefits, Baritone (Brandon, MB) Baritone (Brockville, ON) Actor (Montreal, QC) Bass (Toronto, ON) PURVES Antonio, Figaro, The Bear, Siegfried Bartolo, Baritone (Cambridge, UK) March 10 – 13, 2016 access tickets ahead The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro The Marriage of Figaro Alberich, Siegfried COC DEBUT 231 Queens Quay West (Ensemble Studio performance) The Bear, Siegfried, 2005 Harbourfront Centre Theatre, of the general public, COC DEBUT COC DEBUT COC DEBUT Telemaco, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, COC DEBUT RECENT Varlaam, Boris Godunov, 2002 and much more. 1989 Commissioner, Madama Butterfly, Actor, Zsófika (short fiction), dir. RECENT The UK’s renowned Welsh-MacRae creative team makes 2014 Maxime-Claude L’Écuyer RECENT Alberich, Götterdämmerung RECENT Dancer, Requiem for Fanny, chor. Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (Bayerische Staatsoper) their North American debut with a gripping tale of greed Judge Turpin, Sweeney Todd RECENT Lorne Brass (Metropolitan Opera) Ephraimite, Moses und Aaron (Opéra (Vancouver Opera) Marquis d’Obigny, La Traviata (COC) Actor, Cendres, dir. Jérémie Niel Monterone, Rigoletto (Metropolitan national de Paris) and compulsion inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Donner, Das Rheingold (Pacific Opera Dr. Bartolo, The Barber of Seville Opera) Saul, Saul (Glyndebourne Festival) Victoria) (COC Ensemble Studio UPCOMING Vodnik, Rusalka (Lyric Opera of short story, The Bottle Imp. Luther/Crespel/Schlemil, The Tales of performance) Documentary on the making of Kansas City) UPCOMING Hoffmann (Edmonton Opera) Fiorello, The Barber of Seville (COC) François Girard’s installation, Alberich, Siegfried (Houston Grand 416-363-5801 Guglielmo, Così fan tutte (Centre for La Paresse (Sloth) UPCOMING Opera) FEATURING STARS FROM THE ROYAL OPERA UPCOMING Opera Studies in Italy) Banquo, Macbeth (Opera Theatre of Protector, Written on Skin (Barbican Solo Recital, Light and Shadow Saint Louis) Hall/Teatro Real/Gran Teatro del HOUSE AND SCOTTISH OPERA coc.ca/Support (COC’s Free Concert Series in the UPCOMING Mathieu, Andrea Chenier (San Liceu) Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre) Le Dancaïre, Carmen (COC) Francisco Opera) Gamekeeper, The Cunning Little Vixen Gremin, Eugene Onegin (Oper (Glyndebourne Festival) Frankfurt) Monterone, Rigoletto (Opéra national www.tapestryopera.com de Paris) 12 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 Harbourfront CANADIAN Centre OPERA COMPANY Box 2015/2016 Office: 13 416-973-4000 Imagine choosing a caregiver who loves opera too!

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PROG15_COC_Winter2015_LivingAssistS_ad.indd 1 2015-12-02 3:04 PM SIEGFRIED BY RICHARD WAGNER

Drama in Three Acts w Libretto in German by Richard Wagner First performance: Festspielhaus, Bayreuth, August 16, 1876, the Second Day of the Ring Cycle

COC PRODUCTION Last performed by the COC in 2006 January 23, 27, 30, February 2, 5, 11, 14, 2016 Sung in German with English SURTITLES™

THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Mime...... Wolfgang Ablinger-SperrhackeD Siegfried...... Stefan VinkeD*** The Wanderer...... Alan Held Alberich...... Christopher PurvesD**** Fafner...... Phillip Ens Forest Bird...... Jacqueline Woodley^ Erda...... Meredith Arwady Brünnhilde...... Christine Goerke** The Bear...... George Molnar

Conductor...... Johannes Debus* Director...... François Girard Associate Director...... Marilyn Gronsdal Set and Costume Designer...... Michael Levine Lighting Designer...... David Finn Choreographer...... Donna Feore Stage Manager...... Cynthia Toushan SURTITLES™ Producer...... Gunta Dreifelds

Performance time is approximately five hours, with two intermissions

Production originally made possible by Kolter Communities

*Johannes Debus is generously underwritten by George & Kathy Dembroski **Christine Goerke’s performance is generously sponsored by Jack Whiteside ***Stefan Vinke’s performance is generously sponsored by an anonymous donor ****Christopher Purves’ performance is generously sponsored by Kristine Vikmanis and Denton Creighton

D COC Debut ^ Graduate of COC Ensemble Studio Program information is correct at time of printing. All casting is subject to change.

GO SCENT FREE: In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid wearing strongly perfumed beauty products and fragrances.

Christian Franz in the title role of the COC’s 2005 production of Siegfried.

16 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 17 Synopsis Director’s Notes

PRELUDE – ACT I instinctively, he puts his fingers in his mouth. After tasting Everything seems to have been said about Richard Scene i: the blood, he discovers he can understand the bird’s song. Wagner’s Ring of the Niebelung. From Nietzsche to Jung Mime the Nibelung knows he must repair the shattered The Forest Bird tells him to take only the magical helmet and Freud, from Mahler to Shaw, Donington, Magee, sword Nothung if he wants to reclaim the Ring from Fafner (Tarnhelm) and the Ring. Siegfried disappears into the cave. a remarkable number of scholars and thinkers from the dragon. The sword rightfully belongs to Siegfried, the all fields have commented on the work. Still today, in boy Mime has raised from infancy without knowledge of Scene iii: Wagner Societies around the world and in intellectual other people or of fear. Siegfried returns home from the Timidly returning to the mouth of the cave, Mime finds a circles, the discussion continues. It is hard to think forest with a bear. He loses patience with Mime and grabs defiant Alberich waiting for him. The dwarves begin to argue of another piece that has captured music and theatre him by the throat, demanding that Mime fix the sword. Mime over who will get Tarnhelm and the Ring. They fade into the lovers’ imaginations so completely. And yet, despite sobs in frustration at being unable to fix Nothung. background while Siegfried speaks again to the Forest Bird, the various essays and countless interpretations, who tells him that Mime is false and shouldn’t be trusted. including the composer’s own, The Ring has resisted all Scene ii: Mime walks toward Siegfried and offers him a drink for his attempts to define it. During the 20 years Wagner took The Wanderer enters Mime’s home. He challenges Mime thirst. Because of the spell cast by Fafner’s blood, Siegfried to compose it, his entire worldview shifted and he even to a battle of riddles; the winner can claim the loser’s life. hears Mime’s murderous thoughts. With one swing of sometimes contradicted himself when commenting on Winning handily, The Wanderer spares Mime and tells him his sword, Siegfried strikes Mime dead. Lonely, Siegfried his masterpiece. The Ring’s reach is larger than anyone’s that a man who has never learned fear will forge the sword, wonders how to proceed. The Forest Bird tells Siegfried of a grasp and the life that lies beneath it speaks in its own and it will be that man who takes Mime’s life. bride up on a mountain, guarded in her sleep by a ring of fire. voice. Only one who has no fear can fight the flames and wake her Scene iii: from sleep. Siegfried starts out for the mountain. Within The Ring, Siegfried remains the most abstract of Above: Christian Franz starred as Siegfried and Robert Künzli as Mime in Siegfried enters to check on the progress of Nothung, but the four operas and this is what first attracted me to it. It the COC’s 2005 production of Siegfried. Mime can think of nothing but The Wanderer’s prophecy. INTERMISSION holds a very special place in the Ring Cycle. The audience Mime tells Siegfried that he must fight Fafner, the giant, who comes to the theatre with the foreknowledge of Das has taken the Rhinemaiden’s gold and turned himself into ACT III Rheingold and Die Walküre—it is a memory play of sorts music, Wagner made emotions and inner thoughts the a dragon, but Siegfried refuses to fight without his sword. Scene i: where the spectator already knows what the hero does landscape of his work. And this is exactly where we started— Siegfried himself sets to work on the sword. As Siegfried The Wanderer wakes the earth goddess Erda from her long not which allows Wagner to make the most powerful use by exploring the introspective nature of the piece in the successfully re-forges Nothung, Mime makes plans to poison slumber. Erda cannot help him, as her power is declining. of his famous leitmotif structures. hopes of hearing its true voice shine through. him after his battle with Fafner. The Wanderer finally admits that Erda was right about her predictions regarding the end of the world. He allows her to The mythical sources of Siegfried, as well as the whole My gratitude goes out to the late Richard Bradshaw for the INTERMISSION return to her slumber. cycle, its pre-Freudian symbolism and its musical invitation to be part of this incredible journey he and the complexity perfectly illustrate the revolution Wagner’s COC undertook more than a decade ago. ACT II Scene ii: ‘music drama’ wrought in the operatic world. In much Scene i: The Wanderer intercepts Siegfried at the foot of Brünnhilde’s the same way that Beethoven transformed symphonic François Girard Alberich the Nibelung waits at the mouth of Fafner’s cave for mountain. Believing this is his last chance to end the the moment he can seize the Ring. The Wanderer approaches destruction, he blocks Siegfried’s way with his spear, but Alberich and tells him he has come to witness what happens Siegfried shatters it. The Wanderer’s power now completely next. The Wanderer calls to Fafner in his cave and leaves gone, he gathers the pieces of his spear and disappears into Alberich to his fate. the darkness.

Scene ii: Scene iii: IN MEMORIAM: MARIA RADNER Alberich hides as Mime and Siegfried reach Fafner’s cave. Siegfried climbs the mountain, flames all around him. He Mime describes the ghastly Fafner; his poisonous drool, his sees a warrior lying sleeping. As he approaches, he sees that Last March, the COC was among many opera companies around the world greatly shocked and twisting tail, his merciless heart. Siegfried is not afraid, and the warrior is, in fact, the bride the Forest Bird told him about. saddened by the untimely death of German contralto Maria Radner. demands Mime leave. Once Mime is out of sight, Siegfried Enchanted by her beauty, Siegfried wonders how to wake her. begins to reminisce about his parents, imagining his mother Fear consumes him as he reaches down for a kiss. Brünnhilde Ms. Radner made her COC debut in 2009 in The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, and was is speaking to him through a Forest Bird. With a flute, he awakes, and asks for his name. They marvel at the wonder of scheduled to sing this winter at the COC as Erda in Siegfried. Only in her early 30s, she had mimics the bird’s song. Fafner appears. They fight; Siegfried their meeting, and proclaim their love. Brünnhilde realizes already built an international career singing a wide range of alto repertoire, particuarly renowned and Nothung make quick work of the shocked Fafner. she has lost her immortality, but chooses to remain with for her performances in works by Wagner, Mahler and Strauss. As Fafner dies, he tells Siegfried about the Ring’s curse. Siegfried, though it may mean her death. They joyously vow Siegfried accidently touches Fafner’s blood, which burns; to go to their deaths together. Ms. Radner died on March 24, 2015, along with her partner Sascha Schenk and their infant son, Felix, when Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed near the French alps.

18 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 19 MUSIC STAFF ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS DANCERS Eric Weimer (Head of Music Preparation) Stephanie Marrs Matthew Armet Orchestra Anne Larlee Joanna Barrotta Alexandra Herzog Jennifer Szeto (Ensemble Studio Intern Galen Johnson VIOLIN 1 Naomi Barron* David Quackenbush* Coach) ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNERS Bonnie Jean Jordan Marie Bérard, Concertmaster Drew Comstock** Gary Pattison Andrea Nelson Chad McFadden The Concertmaster’s chair has been Peter Cosbey* ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Davida Tkach Jason Sermonia endowed in perpetuity by Joey and Bryan Holt* WAGNER TUBAS Derek Bate Toby Tanenbaum Olga Laktionova Roslyn Black* WALLY RUSSELL LIGHTING INTERN UNDERSTUDIES Aaron Schwebel, Associate Marianne Pack* Bardhyl Gjevori FIGHT DIRECTOR Wesley McKenzie Siegfried Clay Hilley Concertmaster Elaine Thompson David Quackenbush* James Binkley Mime Michael Colvin Jamie Kruspe, Assistant Concertmaster Gary Pattison Alberich Robert Pomakov Anne Armstrong BASS ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHER Erda Megan Latham Sandra Baron (leave of absence) Alan Molitz, Principal TRUMPET Stephen Cota Forest Bird Karine Boucher Bethany Bergman Robert Speer, Assistant Principal Robert Grim, Principal Hua-Chu Huang** Nick Davis* Michael Fedyshyn* Hiroko Kagawa* Tom Hazlitt Robert Weymouth Nancy Kershaw Paul Langley Boris Kupesic* Eric Lee* BASS TRUMPET Dominique Laplante Doug Ohashi** David Pell* Yakov Lerner Reuven Rothman* Renée London* Robert Wolanski* TROMBONE Jayne Maddison Charles Benaroya, Principal Neria Mayer FLUTE Ian Cowie Aya Miyagawa Douglas Stewart, Principal Leslie Newman BASS TROMBONE VIOLIN II Maria Pelletier Herbert Poole Paul Zevenhuizen, Principal Megan Hodge* Csaba Koczó, Assistant Principal PICCOLO Laura D’Angelo* Shelley Brown CONTRABASS TROMBONE James Aylesworth Maria Pelletier Megan Hodge* Jennie Baccante* Christine Chesebrough* OBOE TUBA Corey Gemmell* Mark Rogers, Principal Scott Irvine, Principal Elizabeth Johnston Jasper Hitchcock Sarah Kim* Lief Mosbaugh TIMPANI Yada Lee** Michael Perry, Principal Alexey Pankratov* ENGLISH HORN Trevor Tureski Sonia Shklarov* Lesley Young Louise Tardif PERCUSSION Marianne Urke (leave of absence) CLARINET Trevor Tureski, Principal Sonia Vizante* James T. Shields, Principal Chung Ling Lo* Joanna Zabrowarna James Ormston Ryan Scott* Michele Verheul VIOLA HARP Keith Hamm, Principal BASS CLARINET Sarah Davidson, Principal Joshua Greenlaw, Assistant Principal Colleen Cook Sanya Eng* Carolyn Blackwell* Katrina Chitty* BASSOON BACKSTAGE HORN Catherine Gray* Eric Hall, Principal Mikhailo Babiak Sheila Jaffé William Cannaway Chau Luk* Elizabeth Gowen Rory McLeod* LIBRARIAN Nicholaos Papadakis* CONTRA BASSOON Wayne Vogan Laurence Schaufele* Elizabeth Gowen Beverley Spotton ASSISTANT MUSIC LIBRARIAN Yosef Tamir HORN Ondrej Golias Meagan Turner** Mikhailo Babiak, Principal Sarah Sutherland, Assistant Principal* STAGE LIBRARIAN CELLO Janet Anderson Paul Langley Bryan Epperson, Principal Roslyn Black* Alastair Eng, Associate Principal Jessie Brooks* PERSONNEL MANAGER Paul Widner, Assistant Principal Erin Cooper-Gay* Ian Cowie Maurizio Baccante Bardhyl Gjevori *extra musician **Orchestra Academy member

Right: Susan Bullock was Brünnhilde in the COC’s 2006 production of Siegfried.

20 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 21 confronts his grandson to ask Siegfried (Christian Franz) slays Fafner in the COC’s 2005 production of Siegfried. whether he knows who he is, Siegfried SIEGFRIED, MEMORY, impertinently answers that he doesn't much care, and essentially tells the Ruler of the Gods to stop speaking in BY STEPHAN useless riddles and to get out of his BONFIELD way. He over-runs The Wanderer and AND IDENTITY splits his spear, smashing the old-world order, destroying any connection with the past and effectively securing the When we first meet the hero Siegfried, Wagner presents Siegfried's lack of into fledgling self-awareness, emerging eventual doom of the gods in the next we encounter a man-child-demigod knowledge about his own identity in from a primordial past, long-ago music drama Götterdämmerung. trying to learn about his own past and revealing, metaphorical fashion. The forgotten. identity from someone who can tell hero, for all his strength and eventual Much has been written about this epic him very little about either. What the indomitability in battle, still remains a Siegfried is descended from the gods moment, often described as a cost unscrupulous Mime does know, he mystery to himself, something like how but does not know it. Even when told borne of colossal human ignorance. buttresses with untruths in a petulant, the human race discourses with its own something of his past by Brünnhilde at Humanity, in its rush to overthrow its fitful manner, claiming to be both obscured past by trying to seek clues the end of the opera, he seems to lack gods because of the imperturbable Siegfried's father and mother, so as to to its own evolutionary emergence. the fundamental curiosity to explore need to move forward, effectively use him for his own sinister purposes Humanity is symbolized in the this cosmic relationship further. He guarantees its own inevitable to acquire the Ring. personage of Siegfried, emerging even forgets the meaning of fear he destruction by sequestering the past nascent, fresh and new in the primeval learned when he first encountered into ignorance, dooming the human We may not realize it right away, but world, which Wagner describes in Brünnhilde. Siegfried seems to have race to repeat its mistakes. When our first encounter with Siegfried is darkest primordial woodwind hues as lost his way in understanding his own we lose memory of both our past with someone whose very human the curtain rises on the forested cave of lineage, a vital piece of information and our identity, we ensure our own qualities we know all too well, our hidden unconscious origins. needed to establish a connection with fall into ignorance and destruction, recognizable from earlier stages in the past, his own present identity, and just as surely as Siegfried does our own lives—naïveté, innocence, Siegfried was an emotionally secure path toward when his naïveté tragically betrays manipulability—in short, someone with responsible future action. In other him in Götterdämmerung and he is an underdeveloped identity. Wagner’s artistic words, cut off from memory of his past, treacherously slain. and lacking an emotionally mature When we begin to seek first awareness representation of the present, Siegfried lacks the profound And herein lies the point of Wagner's of our own identities we start with who emergence of human conscious self-awareness necessary to central message in Siegfried. As our parents are. Unlike Siegfried, most construct his own future. Siegfried forges his sword—a bold of us are fortunate enough to know our consciousness. metaphor for the creation of his parents' identities, and even to know a Wagner appears to be making the new and heroic identity—so we too lot about our own heritage. Knowing Wagner liked to say that his earliest interesting but astonishing assertion as a civilization must forge identity our past becomes a guarantor for understanding of Siegfried could be that somewhere along the way, we too and memory together, based on an taking first firm steps toward knowing seen in "each throbbing of his [own] forgot, or worse, became oblivious to unstoppable love that thirsts for the ourselves. pulse, each effort of his muscles as the notion that, like Siegfried, we were knowledge of our origins. For Wagner, he moved," and in him, he "saw the descended from some transcendently anything less meant being cursed by But for Siegfried, the basic first step archetype of man himself." Siegfried creative power. Wagner often wrote of a loveless Will to blind power, like toward taking action in the world is was Wagner's artistic representation Greek epic heroes who were descended Alberich's curse on the Ring. If we hampered by his disconnection from of the emergence of human from gods themselves and in Siegfried, remain naïve to this evil tendency of his own past. He knows nothing of the consciousness. seems to suggest that in our mytho- human nature, then like Siegfried, we events we saw in the previous music poetic understanding of our own ensure our own destruction. drama Die Walküre, nothing of his Furthermore, Wagner composed origins we have forgotten that we too parents Siegmund or Sieglinde, nor of Siegfried when Germany was itself were stamped from a similar forge of How can we escape such a fate? To his infamous grandfather Wotan, who emerging as a nation during a time of eternal fire. find out, we will have to return next now seeks truth about the fate of the great political upheaval; struggling to season for Götterdämmerung. gods and the world disguised as The life; flexing a newly-unified, muscular Much like Siegfried, who cannot even Wanderer. Above all, Siegfried knows national identity, and likewise, the recognize his own grandfather, Wotan, nothing of fear itself, that great human composer came to envision humanity king of the Norse pantheon, we also Stephan Bonfield is a frequent speaker attribute that makes us cautious in in much the same way, being birthed seem to reside in a sort of collective at the COC and other opera companies our tentative first steps toward self- from the cosmic undergrowth amnesia, cut off from our past origins, across Canada and is the opera and knowledge. into a visibly new thicket of life. and still seeking clues as to our present ballet critic for The Calgary Herald Siegfried's character also stands as a identity as human beings. When and Edmonton Journal. representation of humanity birthed Wotan, disguised as The Wanderer The COC production of Siegfried was originally made possible by Kolter Communities 22 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 23 Cappuccino, Riesling, and some advice for Siegfried... UP IN THE AIR WITH THE COC! One sign of having made it as an opera singer is With so much airfare to cover, travel represents a significant encountering the (pleasant) problem of a demanding travel portion of our annual operating costs. For this winter run schedule. Indeed, the world’s leading opera professionals of Siegfried and The Marriage of Figaro alone, the COC GET TO KNOW... are essentially nomads, living out of a suitcase for long is booking approximately 233,000 kilometers of air travel. stretches of the year and spending nearly as much time (That’s roughly six times the circumference of the Earth!) airborne as they do on the ground at the world’s major opera centres. So it is fantastic news that the COC’s existing relationship STEFAN VINKE with our preferred credit card, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite To be an opera singer—or a conductor, or a director, or a Privilege* Card, is entering a new chapter with support designer—is to be a frequent flyer. from Montreal-based company Aimia, which manages the Aeroplan loyalty program in Canada. Aeroplan’s From an organizational perspective, a world-class opera Beyond Miles program makes it possible for you to easily company like the Canadian Opera Company needs to book donate your Aeroplan Miles to participating charitable a lot of flights, becoming something of an international hub organizations, including the COC. where artists from near and far converge to collaborate in the preparation and performance of what is arguably the By donating your Aeroplan Miles to the COC, you can world’s most complex art form. help us continue bringing the very best Canadian and international artists to Toronto.

Donate your Aeroplan Miles today to help bring acclaimed Canadian and international artists to Toronto

The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite boarding1 and four annual One-Time eligible to receive an exclusive Privilege* Card is the perfect travel Guest Access Benefits1 to an Air complimentary COC seat upgrade companion. Earn Aeroplan Miles Canada Maple Leaf Lounge™ when (subject to availability)3. faster, and get privileges designed to you travel using an Aeroplan flight make your journey more rewarding. reward redeemed using miles from Learn more about this offer and As the Primary Cardholder, you your Aeroplan account. Plus, you will apply, visit: td.com/privilege. will enjoy the following benefits on receive a Welcome Bonus2 of 25,000 flights operated by Air Canada®, miles. To donate your Aeroplan Miles, Air Canada rouge® or under the please visit www.milesforcoc.com. Air Canada express® banner: one All COC patrons who purchase a complimentary first checked bag1, subscription on their TD® Aeroplan® priority check-in and priority Visa Infinite Privilege* Card will be

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ® The Aeroplan logo and Aeroplan are registered trade-marks of Aimia Canada Inc. ® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

1 Conditions apply. All Air Canada benefits are fulfilled in whole or in part by Air Canada or its designated affiliates or other third parties, and are subject to change at any time. With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card, Air Canada Priority Travel Services (the complimentary first checked bag, priority check in and priority boarding) apply whenever the Primary Cardholder travels on a flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge or under the Air Canada express banner. Flights operated by other airlines are not eligible. To access these benefits, the Primary Cardholder must include their Aeroplan Number on their reservation at time of booking, or redeem their Aeroplan flight reward (defined as a Fixed Mileage Flight RewardTM or Market Fare Flight RewardTM) using miles from their Aeroplan account. To access these benefits, the Primary Cardholder may be required to show their TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card to the Air Canada agent. The Primary Cardholder will also receive four (4) Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge One-Time Guest Access Benefits once every calendar year (January 1 - December 31). The Primary Cardholder may access an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, where available and pending space availability, upon presentation of an active TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card with a valid, same-day boarding pass for travel using an Aeroplan flight reward, only, on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada rouge or under the Air Canada express banner. To access this benefit, the Primary Cardholder must redeem their Aeroplan flight reward (defined as a Fixed Mileage Flight Reward or Market Fare Flight RewardTM) with miles from their Aeroplan account. Access is subject to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge terms and conditions and may not be available due to unforeseen circumstances. Please allow two (2) weeks from receiving your Card for these Air Canada benefits to be activated. Additional conditions apply and are outlined on aircanada.com/tdbenefits.

2 Welcome Bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan Miles (“Welcome Bonus Miles”), will be awarded to the Aeroplan Member account associated with the TD Aeroplan Credit Card Account (“Account”) only after the first Purchase is made on the Account. If you have opened an Account in the last 6 months, you will not be eligible for this offer. We reserve the right to limit the number of Accounts opened by, and the number of Welcome Bonus Miles awarded to, any one person. Please allow up to 8 weeks after your first Purchase is posted to your Account for the Welcome Bonus Miles to be credited to your Aeroplan Member account associated with your Account. Offer may be changed, withdrawn or extended at any time and cannot be combined with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Welcome Bonus Miles are not eligible for Aeroplan status.

3 The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates are not responsible for the seat upgrade offer (“Seat Upgrade”). To be eligible for the Seat Upgrade you must purchase your 2016/2017 Canadian Opera Company (COC) subscription with your TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card by April 30, 2016. Cardholders are entitled to one Seat Upgrade per subscription, up to a maximum of four subscriptions, for a single performance. If you qualify, you will receive information on how to upgrade your seat with your COC subscription tickets. The COC will also contact you by telephone in August 2016 and assist you with upgrading your seat for a performance between October 6, 2016 to May 20, 2017 as part of the 2016/2017 season subscription. Seat Upgrades are granted on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability. Account must be in good standing at the time you upgrade your seat. A Seat Upgrade has no cash value and is non-transferable. The COC reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time.

24 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 25 OPERA INSIGHTS FREE EVENTS THIS SPRING

REGISTRATION BEGINS TUES. APRIL 5, 2016 AT 10 A.M. ONLINE OR BY PHONE. Visit coc.ca/OperaInsights for more information.

Carmen danza! Tues. April 19, 2016, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and join Ritmo Flamenco’s Anjelica Scannura and flamenco guitarist Roger Scannura as they take you on a journey deep into the heart of Spain’s rich dance culture. All levels of dancers are welcome!

Reconstructing Rossini Wed. April 27, 2016, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Rossini’s Maometto II went through several dramatic revisions early in its performance history. Join the team responsible for the new critical edition of the opera as they lead us on a fascinating journey of rediscovery. Presented in partnership with the Center for Italian Opera Studies, University of Chicago.

Rossini Master Class Mon. May 2, 2016, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Listen in as singers from the COC’s Ensemble Studio join Maometto II conductor Harry Bicket to unravel the complexities of Rossinian bel canto vocal style in this public master class. SUPPORTING TORONTO’S GROWING ARTS COMMUNITY TODAY, AND FOREVER DON’T FORGET OUR WINTER 2016 EVENTS! Siegfried from Scratch | In Conversation: Christine Goerke | Figaro Bootcamp LIMITED PLACES MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE! Go to coc.ca/OperaInsights to register. As Naming Donor of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, we are proud to be a SUMMER OPERA CAMPS lifelong friend of the fine arts experience for the One hot Monday last summer, a group (designer). Their imaginative and moving patrons here and from around the world. of teenagers gathered in a sunlit room opera, Speak Stand Change, dense with on the Queen Street side of the Four ideas, emotions, and beautiful melodies, Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. received a standing ovation. It was the first day of the COC’s Summer Opera Camps after a two-year hiatus. Each Monday a new group of young people Most of them had never met, but over entered the space and by the end of each ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE the next few days these talented young week they had created and performed an people conceived, wrote, composed, original opera. In the process participants designed, staged, rehearsed, and, finally, formed friendships; learned each other’s performed an opera. They were guided amazing talents as singers, designers, and by the remarkable Chris Thornborrow composers; and discovered new strengths (composer), Jen Johnson (drama and and interests of their own. movement specialist), and Sonja Rainey fourseasons.com

We are delighted to bring Summer Opera Camps back this coming July! Once again, participants in grades 1 to 12 will be given the rare experience of playfully exploring opera as both creators and performers, and will get a glimpse into the magnificent world of opera.

For more details, please visit coc.ca/Camps. Registration opens in January.

26 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016

15_3112_FSCOR_COC_Support_Ad.indd 1 2015-08-25 10:51 AM BACKSTAGE AND BEYOND! 7 8 9 Here is a look at some of our recent activities, many shared with our wonderful COC donors, including parties, galas, and backstage meet-and-greets with artists.

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1 Happy winners Lauren Eberwein (mezzo-soprano, Second Prize), 4 COC General Director Alexander Neef and soprano Sondra 8 Nada Ristich, Director of Corporate Donations at BMO, and 11 Aaron Sheppard, Lesley Abarquez, Erica Iris Huang and Emily D’Angelo (mezzo-soprano, First Prize and Audience Choice Radvanovsky at a video shoot in the fall, where Sondra spoke about Alexander Neef attend a Working Rehearsal Dinner for our Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure hit the road during last November’s Award), and Bruno Roy (baritone, Third Prize), pose for a picture returning to the COC to sing Norma during the 2016/2017 saeson. new production of La Traviata, underwritten in part by BMO. Glencore Ensemble Studio School Tour. after our annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition Gala. These donor-attended events feature a dinner in the Henry The event raised approximately $450,000 (net) in support of young 5 COC Board Member Michael Gibbens and his wife Julie N. R. Jackman Lounge, an intimate Q&A session with the 12 Opera Club members attended the Season-Opening Party at the artists and brought nearly 1,000 people together to discover and Lassonde enjoy drinks prior to Centre Stage alongside Canadian production’s creative team, as well as a sneak peek at a portion Four Seasons Centre. celebrate Canada’s emerging opera voices. Opera Foundation Chair Phil Deck. of a working rehearsal. 13 Sandra Corazza, COC costume supervisor, at the “La Traviata 2 Production underwriter Gail Appel with Canadian composer 6 Young superheroes hard at work designing and making their 9 The hundreds of thousands of honey bees who live on and the History of the Ball Gown” event, part of the new free Opera Barbara Monk Feldman and director Christopher Alden toast the own capes as part of the public performance of the new Glencore the roof of the Four Seasons Centre won a sweet victory! Insights series. This event featured a spectacular array of gowns, Canadian world premiere of Pyramus and Thisbe. Ensemble Studio School Tour production of Operation Superpower. Beekeeper Fred Davis entered the bees’ honey into the Royal including many lent from some of the world’s most stylish women. Agricultural Winter Fair’s amber honey category and took first 3 Ensemble Studio graduate, bass Robert Gleadow, his wife Yvonne 7 The COC showed its solidarity with the Toronto Blue Jays, place! You can buy this award-winning honey at Four Seasons 14 Ticket services manager Andrea Salin and chief Schut, and baritone Quinn Kelsey at opening night party of La hanging a huge banner in the front window of the Four Seasons Centre bars during performances. communications officer Steve Kelley joined the rest of the Traviata. Centre for the fall run. The Jays didn’t win the World Series, but we Communications team to celebrate the holidays with a cooking know they will in 2016! 10 Alexander Neef and COC Board Chair Colleen Sexsmith class in a professional kitchen. In all, 16 delicious dishes were provide four-hand piano accompaniment during a rendition prepared in four hours! of “O Tannenbaum” at Cocktails & Carols, the annual Golden

28 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 Circle Holiday Party. CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 29 THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Opera Buffa in Four Acts w Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, after Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais’ comedy, La folle journée, ou Le mariage de Figaro First performance: Burgtheater, Vienna, May 1, 1786

NEW COC PRODUCTION Production created by the Salzburg Festival Last performed by the COC in 2007

Sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™

Conductor...... Johannes Debus* Jordan de Souza (Feb. 23 and 25) Director...... Claus GuthD Associate Director...... Aglaja NicoletD Set and Costume Designer...... Christian SchmidtD Lighting Designer...... Olaf WinterD Video Designer...... Andi A. MüllerD Choreographer...... Ramses SiglD Chorus Master...... Sandra Horst^**** Stage Manager...... Jenifer Kowal SURTITLES™ Producer...... Gunta Dreifelds

Performance time is approximately three hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission Generously underwritten in part by Sarah Billinghurst Solomon and Howard Solomon in memory of Gerard Mortier

THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) February 4, 7, 9, 13, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 2016

Figaro, Count Almaviva’s valet...... Josef WagnerD Susanna, Countess Almaviva’s maid, engaged to Figaro...... Jane Archibald Bartolo...... Robert Pomakov Marcellina...... Helene SchneidermanD Cherubino, a page...... Emily FonsD Count Almaviva...... Russell Braun** Don Basilio, a music-master...... Michael Colvin^ Countess Almaviva...... Erin Wall Antonio, the gardener...... Doug MacNaughton^ Don Curzio, counsellor-at-law...... Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure†*** Barbarina, Antonio’s niece...... Sasha Djihanian^ Cherubim...... Uli KirschD

*Johannes Debus is generously underwritten by George & Kathy Dembroski **Russell Braun’s performance is generously sponsored by Earlaine Collins ***Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure’s performance is generously sponsored by Margaret Harriett GO SCENT FREE: In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid wearing Cameron and the late Gary Smith strongly perfumed beauty products and fragrances. ****Sandra Horst and the COC Chorus are generously underwritten by Tim and Frances Price D COC Debut ^ Graduate of COC Ensemble Studio Program information is correct at time of printing. All casting is subject to change. A scene from the COC’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro (Salzburg Festival, 2011)

30 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 31 THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Ensemble Studio Performance: February 22, 2016 Director’s Notes

Figaro, Count Almaviva’s valet...... Iain MacNeil† Susanna, Countess Almaviva’s maid, engaged to Figaro...... Karine Boucher†** With The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart Bartolo...... Robert Pomakov created a world theatre of human Marcellina...... Megan Latham passions that testifies to the elemental Cherubino, a page...... Jacqueline Woodley^ Count Almaviva...... Gordon Bintner†* force of eroticism. All forms of love Don Basilio, a music-master...... Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure†***** and desire are found in this opera, and Countess Almaviva...... Aviva Fortunata†*** the four generations of characters— Antonio, the gardener...... Doug MacNaughton^ presented in exemplary fashion—are Don Curzio, counsellor at law...... Aaron Sheppard†D**** Barbarina, Antonio’s niece...... Sasha Djihanian^ completely torn between morality, Cherubim...... Uli KirschD desire and impulse. In Figaro, Mozart not only allows all kinds of intense Generously underwritten in part by Roy and Marjorie Linden human passions but also portrays how they can get out of control and * Gordon Bintner’s performance generously sponsored by Marcia Lewis Brown escalate to extremes, thus setting his ** Karine Boucher’s performance generously sponsored by Colleen Sexsmith opera far apart from the comedy by *** Aviva Fortunata’s performance is generously sponsored by COVC Jean A. Chalmers Award Beaumarchais. **** Aaron Sheppard’s performance is generously sponsored by Tony & Anne Arrell ***** Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure’s performance is generously sponsored by Margaret Harriett That was why I wanted, on the one Cameron and the late Gary Smith hand, to follow the characters into their darkest psychological depths, D COC Debut † Current member of the COC Ensemble Studio ^ Graduate of COC Ensemble Studio Program information is correct at time of printing. All casting is subject to change. but at the same time leave space for exploring the utopian moments in Mozart’s music, which for me are so special in the score of Figaro. An GO SCENT FREE: In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid wearing invented character, a kind of Eros strongly perfumed beauty products and fragrances. angel, indicates this confusing other dimension that pervades the opera. He always appears when the characters find themselves in situations that are diametrically opposed to their

intentions when guided by reason. MUSIC STAFF Rachel Andrist (Head Coach) Claus Guth, Salzburg, 2011 Michael Shannon Hyejin Kwon (Ensemble Studio Intern Coach) Jennifer Szeto (Ensemble Studio Intern Coach)

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Jordan de Souza

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Allison Grant

FIGHT DIRECTOR James Binkley

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Tiffany Fraser Kate Porter

ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNERS Andrea Nelson Davida Tkach

Wally Russell Lighting Intern Wesley McKenzie

UNDERSTUDIES Susanna Karine Boucher Countess Almaviva Aviva Fortunata Count Almaviva Gordon Bintner Figaro Iain MacNeil Cherubino Jacqueline Woodley A scene from the COC’s new production of Marcellina Megan Latham The Marriage of Figaro (Salzburg Festival, 2011) Don Basilio Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure Don Curzio Aaron Sheppard

32 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 33 Synopsis Orchestra IN MEMORIAM: ACT I VIOLIN I BASS chamber, claiming Susanna mark as belonging to their Marie Bérard, Concertmaster BRUCE SCHAEF Susanna informs her fiancé Alan Molitz, Principal is inside trying on her son, and the three joyfully The Concertmaster’s chair has Robert Speer, Assistant Principal Figaro that the Count is wedding dress. The Count reunite. Susanna rejoins been endowed in perpetuity by Tom Hazlitt On January 2, 2016, the making advances to her. Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Paul Langley leaves with the Countess to them, having secured the Aaron Schwebel, Associate COC lost a beloved friend. Figaro leaves intent on get a crowbar. Susanna hides money from the Countess to Concertmaster FLUTE Baritone Bruce Schaef was revenge. Bartolo and herself in the locked inner pay off Figaro’s debt. At first Jamie Kruspe, Assistant Douglas Stewart, Principal a 30-plus-year member Marcellina enter, the latter Concertmaster Shelley Brown chamber and Cherubino angry, Susanna is overjoyed Anne Armstrong of the COC chorus and a baiting Susanna because she escapes through the at the news. Everyone is Sandra Baron (leave of absence) OBOE loyal subscriber and donor. wants Figaro for herself, window. Upon their return, happy except the Count, who Bethany Bergman Mark Rogers, Principal while Bartolo is still Catherine Cosbey* Lesley Young the Countess decides to is sure he’s still being played. Nancy Kershaw smarting at Figaro for confess everything to her The Countess dictates a Dominique Laplante (leave of CLARINET From COC chorus master Sandra Horst: making a fool of him in husband and is shocked letter from Susanna to the absence) James T. Shields, Principal the past. They leave and Yakov Lerner Colleen Cook In addition to being a wonderful singer and when Susanna exits the Count. She plans to surprise Jayne Maddison Cherubino enters, seeking locked room. The Count her husband in the garden Neria Mayer BASSOON captivating performer Bruce will be remembered advice from Susanna begs forgiveness for his herself. Figaro returns to Eric Hall, Principal for his fabulous, ever-present smile and positive VIOLIN II Elizabeth Gowen because, after being caught suspicions. Figaro arrives once more gather everyone Paul Zevenhuizen, Principal approach to life. It was sheer joy to see Bruce dallying with the gardener’s to gather up the group for the wedding. During the Csaba Koczó, Assistant Principal HORN in chorus rehearsals struggling with memory niece, he is to be sent away. once more for the wedding. dancing, Susanna slips the James Aylesworth Mikhailo Babiak, Principal or complicated staging or dance steps, yet still Elizabeth Johnston Gary Pattison He hides himself as they He is followed by Antonio Count her letter. Lynn Kuo* flashing that beautiful smile and refusing to give hear the Count approaching. who reports that someone Aya Miyagawa TRUMPET up... an inspiration to me and everyone he worked The Count, too, is forced jumping from the Countess’ ACT IV Louise Tardif Robert Grim, Principal with! Marianne Urke Robert Weymouth to hide as Don Basilio balcony has crushed his In the garden, Figaro Joanna Zabrowarna enters. Basilio mentions flowers. After prompting meets the gardener’s niece TIMPANI Words cannot express the sense of loss we are Cherubino’s crush on from the women, Figaro Barbarina, who the Count VIOLA Michael Perry, Principal all feeling and he will be sorely missed. He was the Countess to Susanna Keith Hamm, Principal claims it was he who jumped. has entrusted to return the Joshua Greenlaw, Assistant CONTINUO PIANO adventurous, courageous, resilient in adversity, and the enraged Count The gardener shows him brooch Susanna pinned to Principal Michael Shannon* talented, empathetic, selfless, and a true friend to reveals himself. He informs Cherubino’s dropped the letter. Figaro assumes Carolyn Blackwell* so many. them that he is sending Sheila Jaffé commission, which Figaro Susanna is cheating on him, Beverley Spotton LIBRARIAN Cherubino away, at which claims he was holding and invites Bartolo and Yosef Tamir Wayne Vogan point he finds the hidden to get the Count’s seal. Don Basilio to join him for CELLO page. Furious, he swears to ASSISTANT MUSIC LIBRARIAN Marcellina, Bartolo and her public humiliation. As Bryan Epperson, Principal Ondrej Golias get rid of Cherubino with a Basilio enter, and the Count, they leave, the Countess Alastair Eng, Associate Principal military commission. Figaro still suspicious, hears their and Susanna appear, Paul Widner, Assistant Principal STAGE LIBRARIAN Maurizio Baccante Paul Langley returns with celebrating claim that Figaro is obliged each dressed as the other. Olga Laktionova townsfolk and asks the to marry Marcellina to pay Cherubino is also in the Elaine Thompson PERSONNEL MANAGER Count to unite Susanna and off an outstanding debt. garden meeting with Ian Cowie him in marriage. The Count Barbarina. He spies the * extra musician postpones the proceedings. INTERMISSION Countess and, thinking she is Susanna, leans in to kiss ACT II ACT III her. Instead he kisses the Susanna tells the Countess Susanna agrees to meet Count, who swats Figaro. that she and Figaro have a the Count in the garden. The Count declares his Chorus plan to teach the Count a The Count then overhears love for Susanna, who is lesson: Susanna will set up a Susanna tell Figaro that really the Countess, while SOPRANOS TENORS rendezvous with the Count, Figaro tells the Countess, Lindsay Barrett Vanya Abrahams his legal troubles will soon Alexandra Lennox-Pomeroy Stephen Bell but will send Cherubino in be over. He is furious at who is really Susanna, about Eve Rachel McLeod Taras Chmil her place, disguised as a girl. the apparent deception. the tryst. Susanna forgets Katie Murphy Sam Chung The page enters with a song Jennifer Robinson Sean Clark Marcellina and Bartolo, to disguise her voice, and Teresa van der Hoeven Stephen Erickson of love for the Countess and their attorney Don Curzio Figaro figures out it is she a commission letter that the in tow, confront Figaro, under the Countess’s cloak. MEZZO-SOPRANOS BARITONES/BASSES Count forgot to seal. They Susan Black James Baldwin who tells them that being Their embrace is noticed by Sandra Boyes Bruno Cormier hear the Count approaching of noble birth—though the Count, who is about to Erica Iris Huang Michael Downie and quickly hide Cherubino stolen away by thieves as an expose them when his wife Laura McAlpine Jason Nedecky in an inner chamber and Marianne Sasso Jan Vaculik This page: Simon Keenlyside as infant—he can only marry takes off her own disguise. Cindy Won Gene Wu Count Almaviva and (opposite) Susanna elsewhere in the with the consent of his Almaviva is shamed and Marlis Petersen as Susanna room. The Count is instantly family. As proof, he reveals apologizes to his wife for in The Marriage of Figaro suspicious. The Countess (Salzburg Festival, 2011). his birthmark. Marcellina both his jealousy and his refuses to unlock the inner and Bartolo recognize the infidelity. They all return to the celebration.

34 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 35 Speaking by telephone from her home quickly as I can, and as high as I can,” Figaro, but they had never seen Moreover, the COC’s new production— in Halifax, Nova Scotia, soprano Jane she notes. But while Mozart’s tempos them represented the way Figaro originally conceived at the Salzburg Archibald is looking for the right words and vocal writing demand fewer and Susanna are, transcending their Festival as part of the celebrations HOLDING A to describe Mozart’s The Marriage of show-stopping fireworks, they offer cartoonish antecedents in opera buffa; surrounding Mozart’s 250th birthday Figaro. “‘Masterpiece’ doesn’t really “these moments of beautiful calm. audiences had never seen characters and hailed for opening “a new do it justice,” she says. “I would hazard Susanna’s aria “Deh vieni” [in Act IV] like the Count and Countess, who defy perspective on an opera that is a guess that for anyone who sings is stunning in its simplicity,” says Jane. their genealogy as predictable stock normally staged as a lightweight, MIRROR UP professionally, discovering this opera “She drops down to the low notes, to characters to emerge as real people: turbulent farce” (Zeit Online)—gives for the first time... It’s a ‘beforeFigaro ’ the chest voice, and there’s something flawed and conflicted, with music that Erin the opportunity to explore the and ‘after Figaro’ scenario.” so assured and calm in that moment. enacts the full range and ambiguity of Countess’ role even more substantially. For most of the opera she’s been at the their human experience. Watching the production on DVD, she TO NATURE Even by the lofty standards of Mozart’s whim of just about everyone else, but was intrigued by the “dark and serious oeuvre, which includes The Magic at this moment, she’s in control. Time “I love the Countess,” Erin says. psychological current running through Flute, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte, slows down.” “Her music is exquisite, and full of it, balanced with whimsical elements. The Marriage of Figaro stands apart as challenges, but an absolute delight The relationship between the Count JANE ARCHIBALD a pinnacle achievement: possibly the Both Jane and Erin agree that Mozart to sing. She is so relatable, so human, and Countess is far more interesting AND ERIN WALL best opera ever written. continues to delight and engage us and so easy to sympathize with. She in this production—she seems much DISCUSS because the material is so universal finds herself in a situation that is more tortured and neurotic, and their “My heart still beats faster every time and timeless. “The marriage that’s uncomfortable and sad, but she doesn't relationship is quite charged and TACKLING THE I hear the overture,” says Canadian in trouble, the boss who’s a jerk, the just sit around moping—she wants intense, whereas in many stagings the ROLES OF soprano Erin Wall (Clémence in Love power of attraction and how people act her husband [the Count] back, and Count has simply lost all interest in her from Afar and Antonia in The Tales (or don’t act) on those impulses. These she spends the majority of the opera and is cold and distant.” SUSANNA AND of Hoffmann, both 2011/2012), who are universal elements,” Erin says. working to make this happen, going THE COUNTESS, portrays the Countess in the COC’s to some fairly extreme measures. The Count and Countess ultimately new production of the opera. “I still She’s smart, and almost always one experience an understanding and the AND THE have to fight off the tears onstage when Stock characters step ahead of her husband. Of all opera ends with a jubilant finale, but ENDURING I hear ‘Contessa, perdono’ [in which emerge as real the Mozart roles I’ve sung, it’s my Mozart weaves a thread of uncertainty RESONANCE OF the Count apologizes to his wife for his favourite.” into the whole. His genius is as much failures as a husband]. To me it’s one of people: flawed and about giving us a taste of perfection MOZART’S FIGARO the greatest moments in all opera.” Portraying the Countess’ husband is as it is about recognizing the sad conflicted, with music COC favourite, baritone Russell Braun. sweetness of life, the instability of love, In a similar vein, Jane calls Figaro that enacts the full “We’ve sung together a lot over the which is why the moments of musical BY NIKITA her “favourite Mozart opera,” and last couple of years,” Erin says. “He is transcendence in the opera fade almost GOURSKI recalls how thrilled she was to be range and ambiguity a wonderful musician, and I find he’s as quickly as they are drawn. offered the part. She has sung the role of their human always open to discussion and truly of Susanna—Figaro’s fiancée and the interested in collaboration. We’ve “Life. Love. It’s ephemeral,” Jane object of the Count’s extracurricular experience. sung two operas together, Dido and notes, “the way you come to recognize attentions—only once before, a decade Aeneas and Love from Afar, but in the perfection of a moment only ago with the Chicago Opera Theater. Indeed, Figaro is—quite possibly—the those instances, our characters never when its edges are already kind of “It’s been simmering on the back first opera in music history written sang together in ensembles and didn’t disappearing.” burner for 10 years,” she says, noting about us, which is to say, ordinary interact a great deal. Figaro will be that her life has changed radically in people. Serious operatic works in the very different, so I’m looking forward the interim. She is now married and a 18th century drew their subject matter to that.” Nikita Gourski is Development mother, so “maybe aspects of Susanna from mythological or Biblical sources, Communications Officer at the COC. that are more knowing, more mature relegating the ordinary affairs of men JANE ARCHIBALD will come to the fore.” and women to the merely comic genre (opera buffa). For Jane, who is known to COC audiences for her mastery of roles The breakthrough of Figaro was to requiring high-wire vocal acrobatics examine ordinary human relationships and exquisite ornamentation—recall within the conventions of comic her rendition of Zerbinetta in Strauss’ opera, but to exceed the limitations Ariadne auf Naxos (spring 2011) or the of that genre, to offer a sophistication title role in Handel’s Semele (spring of musical writing and character This page: Genia Kühmeier as the Countess. 2012)—Susanna’s music represents a development that was, in an important Next page: Marlis Petersen as Susanna. Both images are from the COC’s new production significant departure. “This is not one way, brand new. An 18th-century ERIN WALL of The Marriage of Figaro when it was of my bread and butter roles, where opera audience had seen common staged at the Salzburg Festival in 2011. I sing as many notes as possible, as people depicted on stage prior to

36 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 37 Claus Guth’s production of The character types within the Mozart/ an agent of chaos and his symbolic Marriage of Figaro has had a da Ponte trilogy. For example, Guth threat is dispensed with when Guth has DARKNESS AND JOY: lengthier gestation period than most. came to view Figaro’s philandering him killed by his alter-ego, Cherubim, It premiered at the 2006 Salzburg Count Almaviva as a double for the at the end of the opera. Festival, was quickly revived there in womanizing anti-hero, Don Giovanni. EXPLORING THE HUMANITY 2007 and 2009, and culminated in the Accordingly, he portrays the Count as Guth notes a prevailing pessimism OF CLAUS GUTH’S FIGARO German director staging all three of a middle-aged, sex-obsessed roué who that pervades Mozart’s world view— Mozart’s collaborations with librettist despite carrying on an affair with his in Figaro it has not yet completely BY GIANMARCO SEGATO Lorenzo da Ponte at the 2011 festival wife’s maid, Susanna, still struggles taken over and so, “the more amusing (Don Giovanni being added in 2008 to maintain a degree of bourgeois elements are roughly equal to what and Così fan tutte in 2009). Initially, domesticity. He constantly mops his frightens and depresses human Guth resisted Mozart’s iconic comedy, sweaty brow with a white handkerchief, beings.”* Darkness is always rumbling questioning whether it was possible panic-stricken he will be caught in the just beneath the surface, even in for him to confront the dangerous act. unexpected places like the opera’s elements in a work whose music grand finale. In most stagings, this he had enjoyed with “uncontrolled This production’s most striking moment is an excuse for general excess”* while growing up. It was the directorial intervention comes in the rejoicing despite the betrayals, both Salzburg production’s first conductor, form of a non-speaking character, real and perceived, that have preceded Nikolaus Harnoncourt, who managed Cherubim, costumed exactly like it. Guth “found it rather attractive to to shift Guth’s focus away from the page, Cherubino. His silent, add to this slightly mad jubilation, Figaro’s distractingly glittery musical trickster-like presence (he has been something rather like slightly delights towards its intelligent, portrayed by dancer and champion hysterical laughter in view of the witty exploration of real, human unicyclist Uli Kirsch in all iterations abyss.”* relationships—the very elements that of the production) functions a lot like pushed comic opera beyond its more the personification of Love/Eros in If the happiness of Figaro’s all-too formulaic, slapstick Italian commedia early Baroque opera; he is invisible to recognizably human characters is not dell’arte roots. the other characters and frequently a complete and outright lie, it is at the manipulates them, pushing them very least, deeply conflicted. From this emerged an interpretation together or pulling them apart. Guth’s that relocates the action from 18th- Cherubim symbolizes the engine century Andalusia to fin-de-siècle which drives Mozart’s complex musico- * From an interview with Claus Guth by Monika Central Europe by way of the intense, dramatic creation: Eros (love/lust), Mertl in the 2011 Salzburg Festival house program modernist stage dramas of Ibsen and and therefore expands and magnifies Strindberg, and the films of Ingmar the real Cherubino’s function. Within Gianmarco Segato is Adult Programs Bergman. Figaro’s world, the randy young page Manager at the COC. stands apart as the only character not Guth’s concept for his Figaro was by no yet shoehorned into a clearly defined The COC production of The Marriage means static, enmeshed as it became societal role; as one who wears his of Figaro is generously underwritten with his simultaneous stagings of Don heart on his sleeve and manages to in part by Sarah Billinghurst Solomon Uli Kirsch as Cherubim and Marlis Petersen Giovanni and Così fan tutte. He began remind the women (the Countess, and Howard Solomon in memory of as Susanna from the COC’s new production Gerard Mortier of The Marriage of Figaro when it was to identify fascinating crossovers Susanna and Barbarina) of their buried staged at the Salzburg Festival in 2011. and linkages between specific sexual desires. As such, he is deemed

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Opera_Ad_4.indd 1 2015-12-18 10:40 AM COC Board of Directors OFFICERS MEMBERS OPERA’S NEXT GENERATION Mr. Jeff Lloyd Ms. Colleen Sexsmith, Chair Mr. Tony Arrell Mr. Timothy Loftgard Mr. Justin Linden, Vice-Chair Ms. Nora Aufreiter Ms. Anne Maggisano Mr. Paul A. Bernards, Treasurer Ms. Marcia Lewis Brown The COC is committed to fostering the careers of over 215 Canadian singers, On January 6, the COC Orchestra Ms. Judy Matthews Mr. John H. Macfarlane, Ms. Helen Burstyn Mr. Jonathan Morgan development of the next generation opera coaches, mainstage directors and Academy returned for its third year and Secretary Mr. Philip C. Deck Ms. Frances Price of opera stars and the future looks conductors. five student musicians were immersed Mr. Alexander Neef, General Mr. Peter M. Deeb Mr. J. Allen Smith bright! In 2016, we look forward to in this three-week intensive training Director Mr. George S. Dembroski Mr. Philip S. W. Smith welcoming several young artists to our D’Angelo, Eberwein and Roy were the program: cellist Drew Comstock, (ex officio) Mr. William Fearn Mr. Paul B. Spafford Mr. Robert Lamb, Managing Mr. David Ferguson (ex officio) two prestigious training programs, the top prize winners this past November at violinist Hua-Chu Huang, violinist Ms. Kristine (Kris) Vikmanis Director Mr. Michael Gibbens COC Ensemble Studio and the COC the COC’s fifth annual Ensemble Studio Yada Lee, bassist Doug Ohashi, and Mr. Graham Watchorn (ex officio) Mr. Peter Hinman Orchestra Academy. Competition, a vocal showcase of young violist Meagan Turner. Led by COC Mr. John H. (Jack) Whiteside Dr. Linda Hutcheon Ms. Yael Woodward artists vying for a spot in the program. Music Director Johannes Debus, Ms. Carolyn Jarvis The COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s Pickett is a fellow 2015 competition and developed in collaboration with premier training program for young finalist, and Lorèn and Quick are The Glenn Gould School at the opera professionals, welcomes seven two singers who impressed the COC Royal Conservatory of Music and the outstanding artists for the 2016/2017 artistic administration during the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, Canadian Opera Foundation Directors season: sopranos Danika Lorèn and preliminary auditions for the Ensemble the COC Orchestra Academy offers its Mr. Tony Arrell Mr. Philip C. Deck, Chair Ms. Colleen Sexsmith Samantha Pickett, mezzo-sopranos Studio this past fall. These new artists student musicians professional insight, Mr. Jonathan Bloomberg Mr. Gary Grad Mr. David Spiro, Secretary Emily D’Angelo, Lauren Eberwein join four returning members of the mentorship and experience in the Mr. J. Rob Collins Mr. Christopher Hoffmann and Megan Quick, baritone Bruno Ensemble Studio for the 16/17 season: pursuit of a career in an opera orchestra. Roy, and pianist Stéphane Mayer. The soprano Karine Boucher, tenors Aaron As part of the Academy experience, seven artists join the Ensemble Studio Sheppard and Charles Sy, and pianist students are featured in multiple public in August 2016 and become part of Hyejin Kwon. performances, including the opening COC Opera Guilds Credits and an illustrious program that, since its night of Siegfried on January 23. inception in 1980, has launched the Brantford Opera Guild Acknowledgments David M. Cullen, President Kingston Opera Guild The Canadian Opera Company would like Grace Orzech, President to thank all those who volunteer both on a London Opera Guild daily basis and for special events with the Ernest H. Redekop, President company. Muskoka Opera Guild Dr. Hans Heeneman, President Michael Cooper, Official Photographer Northumberland Opera Guild 16/17 Thais Donald, President Musical excerpts provided ENSEMBLE Oakville Opera Guild by Universal Classics Maureen (Mo) Crossman, President STUDIO Sudbury Opera Guild Dianne Moore, President The COC is a member of Opera America, KARINE BOUCHER EMILY D’ANGELO LAUREN EBERWEIN HYEJIN KWON DANIKA LORÈN Western New York Opera Guild Opera.ca and TAPA. Soprano Mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano Pianist Soprano Dorothy K. Piepke, President The COC operates in agreement with For more information, visit coc.ca/Guilds. Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

The COC operates in agreement with I.A.T.S.E., Local #58, Local #822, Local #828.

STÉPHANE MAYER SAMANTHA PICKETT MEGAN QUICK BRUNO ROY CHARLES SY AARON SHEPPARD Supernumeraries Pianist Soprano Mezzo-soprano Baritone Tenor Tenor SIEGFRIED: Doug Hamilton Vladimir Pajovic John Allemang Ward Jardine Ryan Reeve Matt Bernstein David Johnston Yuan Ren Liz Birss Gerald King Patrick Stepien-Scanlon Marie Colucci Graham Leather Kim Twohig Jackie Doig Jim Lucas Jim Vanderlip Mark Garlin Colleen Mathieu Jim Warrington Art Grierson Ian McIntosh Jamie Whitaker 2016 ORCHESTRA THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO: ACADEMY Isobel Arseneau Ella McCollum Siegfried Isla Parekh Annie Harsfai Amelia Mendoza Chiara Urban DREW COMSTOCK HUA-CHU HUANG YADA LEE DOUG OHASHI MEAGAN TURNER Cello Violin Violin Bass Viola

CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 41 Costume Supervisor Senior Development Officer, TICKET SERVICES FOUR SEASONS CENTRE FOR Administration and Staff Sandra Corazza Stewardship THE PERFORMING ARTS Emma Noakes Ticket Services Manager ALEXANDER NEEF, General Director Costume Co-ordinators Andrea Salin Director, Four Seasons Centre for Chloe Anderson Senior Development Officer, the Performing Arts Cassandra Spence Annual Programs & Patron Assistant Ticket Services Manager Alfred Caron Engagement Nikki Tremblay Managing Director PRODUCTION Costume Assistants Natalie Sandassie Associate Director, Business Robert Lamb Natassia Brunato Group Sales Co-ordinator Development Director of Production Christina Del Monte Co-ordinator, Annual Programs & David Nimmo Elizabeth Jones Music Director Peter W. Lamb Patron Engagement Johannes Debus Resident Tailor Brianna Chase Ticket Services Supervisor Business & Events Co-ordinator Production Manager Sue Furlong Lillian Fung Shannon Churm Lee Milliken Co-ordinator, Annual Programs & EXECUTIVE OFFICE Assisted by Patron Engagement Ticket Services Supervisor Administrator Executive Assistant to the General Technical Director Gulay Cokgezen Eileen Hanratty Maureen Gualtieri Jennifer Toulmin Director Chuck Giles Karen Hancock Marguerite Schabas Rebecca Zimmerman Senior Development Officer, Ticket Services Representatives Manager, Front of House Associate Technical Director Friends of the COC James Baldwin Julia Somerville Barney Bayliss Additional Costumes by Victor Widjaja Ernest Cayemen MUSIC AND ARTISTIC Industry Costumes Nick Davis Manager, Food & Beverage ADMINISTRATION Lighting Co-ordinator Martino Nyugen Individual Giving Co-ordinator, Aurelie Dufour Brigitte Lang Daniele Guevara Avril Stevenson Friends of the COC Anna Kay Eldridge Director of Music & Artistic Soojin Ahn Peter Genoway Assistant Manager, Patron Administration Assistant Technical Directors Additional hats by Cat Haywood Services Roberto Mauro Autumn Coppaway Kaz Chopcian Senior Development Officer, Karla Kampars Kim Hutchinson-Barber Melynda Jurgenson Institutional Gifts Manda Kennedy Contracts Manager Additional Painting and Dyeing by Francesco Corsaro Keith Lam Patron Services Supervisors Karen Olinyk Head Electrician Marjory Fielding Megan Miles Karol Carstensen Janice Fraser Senior Development Officer, Kevin Morris Stuart Constable Company Manager Head of Wardrobe Partnerships Rafael Renderos Jamieson Eakin Olwyn Lewis Assistant Electrician Nancy Hawkins Sarah Heim Paulina Saliba Christine Groom Joel Thoman Kat Smiley Lori MacDonald Chorus Master Wardrobe Assistant Development Communications Darcy Stoop Melissa McDonnell Sandra Horst Head of Sound Leslie Brown Officer Evan Steingarten Bob Shindle Nikita Gourski Sophia Wiens Assistant to the Music Director Wig & Make-up Supervisor CALL CENTRE Rosemary Williams Derek Bate Assistant Sound Sharon Ryman Donations Database Officer Kimberly Wu Craig Kadoke John Kriter Call Centre Manager Scheduling Manager Head of Wig & Make-up Crew Richard Paradiso Patron Services Leads Kathryn Garnett Head Carpenter Cori Ferguson Grace Cacciatore Paul Watkinson COMMUNICATIONS Call Centre Representatives Amelia Smart Production Assistants Production Co-ordinator Dona Arbabzadeh Kate Werneburg Caitlyn Albanese Assistant Carpenter Shawna Green Chief Communications Officer Catherine Belyea Kaitlyn Smith David Middleton Steve Kelley Denis Lam SURTITLES™ Producer Margaret Terry BUILDING SERVICES Orchestra Personnel Manager Head Flyman Gunta Dreifelds Director of Public Relations Ian Cowie David Alexander Claudine Domingue Associate Director, Facilities SURTITLES™ Editor FINANCE AND Management Music Librarian, Coach Head of Properties Zane Kaneps Senior Manager, Creative & ADMINISTRATION Joe Waldherr Wayne Vogan Daniel Graham Publications SURTITLES™ Assistants Gianna Wichelow Director of Finance & Assistant Manager, Operations Assistant Librarian Core Crew Olwyn Lewis Administration Christian Coulter Ondrej Golias Scott Clarke John Sharpe Media Relations Manager Lindy Cowan, CPA, CA Doug Closs Jennifer Pugsley Maintenance Assistants Music Staff Terry Hurley Supernumeraries Co-ordinators Human Resources Manager Ryszard Gad (COC) Rachel Andrist (The Marriage of Paul Otis Analee Stein Associate Manager, Digital Lorraine O’Connor, CHRP Branislav Peterman (COC) Figaro) Elizabeth Walker Marketing Julian Peters (COC) Anne Larlee (Siegfried) Scene Shop Co-ordinator Meighan Szigeti Finance Manager James Esposito (FSCPA) Michael Shannon (The Marriage Amy Cummings Amalie Vanderzwet, CPA, CA Enrique Covarrubias Cortes of Figaro) ADVANCEMENT Assistant Manager, Marketing & (FSCPA) Eric Weimer (Siegfried) Head Scene Shop Carpenter Customer Service General Accountants Piotr Wiench (FSCPA) David Retzleff Chief Advancement Officer Eldon Earle Florence Huang Christie Darville Zoran Orlic (FSCPA) Security Supervisor COC ENSEMBLE STUDIO AND Assistant Scene Shop Carpenter Digital Marketing Co-ordinator Dave Samuels ORCHESTRA ACADEMY Andrew Walker Executive Assistant to the Chief Kiersten Hay Accounting Clerk Advancement Officer Vera Brjozovskaia Security Officers Director, COC Ensemble Studio Head Scenic Artist Elizabeth Scott Assistant Publicist George Balyasin and Orchestra Academy Richard Gordon Kristin McKinnon Payroll Accountants Abdi Gulleed Nina Draganic Manager, Government Relations Jovana Bojovic Natalia Juzyc Assistant Head Scenic Artist Amy Mushinski Jeanny Won Usman Khalid Head of the Ensemble Studio & Carolina Valenzuela EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Nicholas Martin Coach Foundation Development Manager, IT Services Kathleen Minor Elizabeth Upchurch Rehearsal Head Technician Janet Stubbs Associate Director, Education & Steven Sherwood Heather Reid Scott Williamson Outreach Head Vocal Consultant Director of Development Katherine Semcesen Database Reporting Specialist Building Operators Wendy Nielsen Properties Supervisor Stephen Gilles Brad Staples Dan Bisca Guy Nokes Program Manager, Free Concert Dan Popescu COC Ensemble Studio Senior Manager, Advancement Series IT Services Assistant Adrian Tudoran Gordon Bintner Resident Properties Builder/ Operations Claire Morley Tony Sandy Karine Boucher Co-ordinator Peter Hussell Eurest Services Supervisor Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure Stephanie Tjelios Adult Programs Manager Archivist, Joan Baillie Archives Paula Da Costa Aviva Fortunata Senior Manager, Events & Gianmarco Segato Birthe Joergensen Andrew Haji Resident Properties Buyer/ Engagement Eurest Services Team Hyejin Kwon Co-ordinator Tracy Abergel School Programs Manager Receptionist/Switchboard Jennifer Barros Iain MacNeil Kathy Frost Vanessa Smith Katarina Božovic Malaku Godana Aaron Sheppard Senior Development Officer, Nash Lim Charles Sy Properties Builder/Co-ordinator Events & Engagement Children & Youth Programs Mailroom Clerk/Courier Jimmy Pacheco Jennifer Szeto Tracy Taylor Erin Koth Co-ordinator Branka Hrsum Sugey Torres Amber Yared Properties Builders Development Officer, Events & Carolyn Choo Engagement Wulf Alexandra Folkes

42 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 Two winters ago, Veronika Roux- Ms. Roux-Vlachova also requested Vlachova was at a performance of Così that each singer provide an aria that is OPERA: fan tutte—a work about the dissolving personally meaningful to them, and the boundaries between authenticity and text is included alongside the paired SPRING SIZZLES deception—when a line in the libretto photographs. In combining words and prompted a series of ruminations: images to enhance our understanding FACES & during an aria, who is the true self? of the subject, Ms. Roux-Vlachova The performer as she is on stage, was inspired by works like Miroirs AT THE COC! embodying a role? Or the individual autoportraits (1973), a collaboration as she is in “real life,” beyond the of French photographer Édouard WORDS proscenium? And how do these two Boubat and the writer Michel Tournier, selves interact through the text of an presenting photographs of French opera? authors and the authors’ descriptions of In an ambitious, their photographs. large-scale work, These questions continued to percolate, and prompted Ms. Roux-Vlachova to To date, Ms. Roux-Vlachova has taken portrait photographer, undertake an ambitious photography portraits of 14 singers, and the COC project called Opera: Faces & Words. presents a selection of six during the President’s Council winter run. Moreover, Opera: Faces & member, and COC For the duration of our winter run, the Words is highlighted in the Winter 2016 COC is proud to showcase a portion issue of Opera Canada. subscriber Veronika of this ongoing project at the Four Roux-Vlachova, Seasons Centre for the Performing Ms. Roux-Vlachova hopes to continue Arts. A business strategist and portrait her work with this venture, adding more turns her camera photographer with a multinational subjects, and perhaps revisiting them practice operating out of Toronto, New after five, 10, or 15 years, to incorporate on internationally York, and Paris, Ms. Roux-Vlachova has temporality into our evolving acclaimed opera spent several months photographing perception of the people who bring opera singers, producing a series of opera to life. singers to explore double-portraits: one in which the the many sides of an subject is situated and attired formally, To learn more about the as a performer, and one in which we ongoing photo project, visit artist’s personality. glimpse another side of them, their off- operafacesandwords.com. stage selves. The paired photographs reveal not only subtle shift in self- BY NIKITA GOURSKI presentation, but also the continuities Nikita Gourski is Development of an artist’s multi-sided essence. Communications Officer at the COC.

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44 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 45 MEMORIAL AND HONORARY DONATIONS Life Trustees Council The COC expresses its sincere appreciation to all donors who have made memorial and honorary donations. The Life Trustees Council salutes the leaders of the COC community whose efforts have been integral to the company’s artistic evolution and transformative history of accomplishment. In Memory of Patricia Johnson In Honour of John Freund Tony Andrejicka William G. Mitchell Charlie Andrews Julie and Michael Gibbens Earlaine Collins Jerry and Geraldine Heffernan Adrianne Pieczonka Richard Bradshaw Marjorie Pepper Nora Aufreiter Ruth Watts–Gransden J. Rob Collins Ben Heppner Arthur R. A. Scace, C. M. Clarice Carson Emily Rankin Walter and Anneliese Blackwell Anitta Lantos David Ferguson (Chair) Henry N. R. Jackman David Stanley-Porter Norman Coxall John Henry Rogers Walter and Lisa Bowen Justin Linden Shelagh and Nicholas Goldschmidt Martin Ruckpaul Earlaine Collins Vivian Rosenberg Dr. Wilfred Stephan Goodman Darco Seifert Rob Collins and Janet Cottrelle Mischi Schwertzer C. Roy Horney Joan Watson Ronald Cooper E. Louise Morgan Society Anthony C. J. Humphreys As of January 5, 2016 The E. Louise Morgan Society was created to reflect the vision and commitment of its founder and the members who have created a legacy of leadership, passion and philanthropy in support of the goals of the Canadian Opera Company. Ms Anne Maggisano Margaret Harriett Cameron**** Dr. M. L. Myers & the late Each of these donors has contributed a cumulative total of more than one million dollars over the past 15 years. Their support is Individual Giving Judy & Wilmot Matthews* Sharon & Howard Campbell** Dr. W. P. Hayman*** critical to the company’s success and we are forever indebted to their commitment and generosity. Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain*** Cesaroni Management Limited*** Dr. Shirley C. Neuman** Annual Support John & Esther McNeil**** Frank Ciccolini Jr.**** Eileen Patricia Newell*** Don McQueen & The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson* Sally-Ann Noznesky**** Tony and Anne Arrell Kolter Communities Trina McQueen, O.C. ** Mr. & Mrs. William J. Corcoran*** Simon Nyilassy* The Estate of Dr. Larry M. Agranove The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation GOLDEN CIRCLE John McVicker & B. W. Thomas**** Lindy Cowan† & Chris Hatley*** E. Oliana & A. Iu*** ARIAS: Canadian Opera Student Development Fund Delia M. Moog*** Brian J. Dawson*** Janice Oliver*** Roger D. Moore GOLD, $50,000 + Jonathan Morgan & Shurla Gittens** Peter Deeb* Keith & Brenda Ottaway*** The Gerard & Earlaine Collins Foundation E. Louise Morgan Anne & Tony Arrell**** Sue Mortimer in memory of Dr. Jeanne Deinum**** The Ouellette Family Foundation The late John A. Cook Tim & Frances Price Cecily & Robert Bradshaw* Clive Bennett Mortimer**** Angelo & Carol DelZotto*** Julia & Liza Overs**** The Estate of Horst Dantz and Don Quick David G. Broadhurst** Donald O’Born*** Carol Derk & David Giles** Dr. & Mrs. William M. Park**** Colleen Sexsmith In memory of Gerard H. Collins**** Peter M. Partridge**** Mrs. Shirley Diamond & Family**** John & Gwen Pattison** Jerry and Geraldine Heffernan Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Jerry & Geraldine Heffernan**** Mr. Tim & Mrs. Frances Price**** Peter & Anne Dotsikas** John & Carol Peterson*** Anonymous (3) The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Ms R. Raso**** Jeffrey Douglas June C. Pinkney**** Foundation**** David Roffey & Karen Walsh**** Vreni & Marc Ducommun*** Polk Family Charitable Fund** Colleen Sexsmith*** Barrie D. Rose & Family*** Mr. Albert D. Dunn* Julian & Anna Porter Anonymous (1) J. Allen Smith & Joseph Fantl & Moira Bartram** Margrit & Tony Rahilly**** Katherine Megue-Smith Mr. & Mrs. Fraser M. Fell**** Mrs. Richard Gavin Reid** Major Gifts and Special Projects SILVER, $25,000 – $49,999 Philip & Maria Smith** Margaret & David Fountain**** Douglas L. Ludwig & Mark & Gail Appel*** Stephen & Jane Smith**** Ms Lindsay Dale-Harris & Karen J. Rice*** The COC offers its sincere thanks to the individuals listed below for their extraordinary support. Paul Bernards*** Marion & Gerald Soloway** Mr. Rupert Field-Marsham**** Rob & Penny Richards*** Barbara Black** David E. Spiro*** Dr. & Mrs. Wm. O. Geisler*** Margaret A. Riggin* Philip Deck & Kimberley Bozak*** Ryerson & Michele Symons Ann J. Gibson**** Gordon Robison & David Grant* PRODUCTION ENSEMBLE STUDIO June Shaw and the late Michael W. & Wanda Plachta Michael Gibbens & Julie Lassonde* Kiersten Taylor & Tim Loftsgard Rose & Roger Goldstein**** Judy & Hy Sarick**** UNDERWRITERS SUPPORTERS Dr. Ralph Shaw Endowment Fund Douglas E. Hodgson**** Riki Turofsky & Charles Petersen** Michael & Anne Gough**** Sam & Esther Sarick**** Demonstrating their leadership Encouraging the next Jack Whiteside Janet Stubbs Rennie & Bill Humphries**** Ms Kristine Vikmanis & Dr. Noëlle Grace & Helen & John Scott** and generosity, these donors generation of artists, these Brian Wilks Ronald Kimel & Mr. Denton Creighton**** Mr. Morris Shohet**** June Shaw & the late Vanessa LaPerriere**** The Youssef-Warren Foundation**** Ronald & Birgitte Granofsky**** Dr. Ralph Shaw**** have underwritten the COC’s donors support the COC Anonymous (2) Up to $24,999 Susan Loube & William Acton** Douglas & Ruth Grant* Allan & Helaine Shiff**** mainstage productions. Ensemble Studio. June McLean James & Christine Nicol John & Judith Grant** David & Hilary Short*** Anonymous (1) Jack Whiteside*** PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Al & Malka Green** Hume Smith**** $500,000 + $1,000,000 GENERAL PROGRAM Anonymous (1) John Groves & Vera Del Vecchio**** Dr. Harley Smyth & Jerry & Geraldine Heffernan Peter M. Deeb SUPPORTERS TRUSTEE, $7,500 – $12,499 Dr. Albert Haddad Carolyn McIntire Smyth** BRONZE, $12,500 – $24,999 à la Carte Kitchen Inc. George & Irene Hamilton**** Philip Somerville* The Catherine and Maxwell Providing general program LEGACY AND BEQUEST GIFTS Dr. & Mrs. Hans G. Abromeit**** Margaret Atwood & Scott & Ellen Hand*** Cameron Rusaw & Meighen Foundation $100,000 + support is critical to the COC’s The COC honours the memory Ms Nora Aufreiter* Graeme Gibson*** Mr. Harquail & Dr. Sigfridsson* Anne-Marie Sorrenti Colleen Sexsmith The Slaight Family Foundation artistic mission. of the following patrons whose Mr. Philip J. Boswell**** Mr. & Mrs. Avie Bennett**** Maggie Hayes** Dr. John Stanley & vision and generosity has Walter M. & Lisa Balfour Bowen**** Marilyn Cook* Hon. & Mrs. Paul Hellyer**** Dr. Helmut Reichenbächer*** $1,000,000+ provided lasting support. Susanne Boyce & Bud & Leigh Eisenberg*** Michiel Horn & Cornelia Schuh**** Wayne Stanley & Marina Pretorius* $100,000 – $499,999 $25,000 – $99,999 Brendan Mullen**** Andrew Fleming** Ken Hugessen & Jennifer Connolly** David Stanley-Porter**** Mark & Gail Appel Ethel Harris & the late Tim & Frances Price Marcia Lewis Brown* Peter & Shelagh Godsoe** Dr. Melvyn L. Iscove*** Doreen L. Stanton**** Paul Bernards Milton E. Harris Anonymous (1) Estate of Horst Dantz and Stewart & Gina Burton* Chris Hoffmann & Joan Eakin** Mr. Robert C. Jefferies**** Janet Stubbs†** David Roffey & Karen Walsh Hal Jackman Foundation Don Quick‡ Helen Burstyn & Family J. Hans Kluge** Ms Elizabeth Johnson** Wendy J. Thompson**** Barbara Keenan $100,000+ Wendy M. Cecil & Jack Cockwell**** Paul Lee & Jill Maynard**** Alexandra Jonsson Anthea Thorp**** Estate of Anne Margaret Dr. John Chiu in memory of Anne Lewitt** Dr. Joshua Josephson & Ian Turner*** PERFORMANCE AND ARTIST Roy and Marjorie Linden Anne & Tony Arrell Delicaet Yvonne Chiu, C.M.**** Jerry & Joan Lozinski**** Ms Elaine Lewis**** Sandra & Guy Upjohn*** SPONSORS The Stratton Trust Estate of Marion Gertrude Farr‡ Stephen Clarke & Elizabeth Black** Mr. & Mrs. J. S. A. MacDonald**** Lorraine Kaake**** Dita Vadron & James Catty** The following donors extend W. Garfield Weston Foundation $25,000 – $50,000 Estate of Egon Homburger‡ The Max Clarkson Family Amy & John Macfarlane* The Patrick & Barbara Keenan Donald & Margaret Walter**** Simon Nyilassy Foundation**** Kathleen McLaughlin & Foundation**** Hugh & Colleen Washington** their generous support Estate of Eluned J. MacMillan to individual artists and Up to $24,999 J. Rob Collins & Janet Cottrelle**** Tim Costigan* James & Diane King** William R. Waters**** Estate of Vida Peene Sydney & Florence Cooper** Dr. Judith A. Miller*** Dr. Elizabeth Kocmur**** Ruth Watts-Gransden**** productions ARIAS: Canadian Opera Up to $24,999 Estate of J.M. (Doc) Savage‡ Ninalee Craig*** Douglas L. Parker**** Kimberley Fobert & Dr. Virginia Wesson*** Student Development Fund Bruce C. Bailey Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Dan*** Annie & Ian Sale* Robert Lamb†**** Mr. Brian Wilks* Estate of Helen Allen Stacey $100,000 + In honour of Walter and James & Christine Nicol Jean Davidson & Paul Spafford**** Dr. David Shaw** Mr. Philip Lanouette** Ms Lilly Wong* George & Kathy Dembroski Anneliese Blackwell Estate of James Drewry David & Kristin Ferguson**** Françoise Sutton*** John B. Lawson, C.M. Q.C. **** Mrs. Richard Wookey**** Gretchen & Donald Ross George Fierheller**** Carol Swallow*** Mr. J. Levitt & Ms E. Mah** Linda Young* Jack Whiteside Marcia Lewis Brown Stewart Estate of Jeanie Irwin Walker Lloyd & Gladys Fogler*** Daniel & Janet Li** Helen Ziegler*** Margaret Harriett Cameron and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts*** PATRON, $3,750 – $7,499 Peter H. Lunney* Susan Zorzi** $50,000 – $99,999 the late Gary Smith ENDOWMENT SUPPORT Estate of Marion Caroline Robert Fung** Sue Armstrong**** James & Connie MacDougall**** Sharon Zuckerman**** Sarah Billinghurst Solomon & Earlaine Collins Making a gift to the Wilson‡ The Hon. William C. Graham & Ron Atkinson & Bruce Blandford**** Mr. Jed MacKay**** Anonymous (4) Howard Solomon Ninalee Craig Anonymous‡ Mrs. Catherine Graham**** Mona H. Bandeen, C. M. ** Mrs. R. MacMillan **** Endowment ensures the long- Ira Gluskin & Henk Bartelink in memory of Dr. Colin McGregor Mailer**** MEMBER, $2,250 – $3,749 Catherine Fauquier term stability for the COC and Maxine Granovsky Gluskin*** Oskar & Irmgard Gaube*** Mrs. J. L. Malcolm* D. C. Adamson-Brdar**** $25,000 – $49,999 Patrick Hodgson Family its artists. ‡ designates funds directed to the COC’s Ethel Harris & the late Dr. Frank Bartoszek & Dr. & Mrs. M. A. Manuel* Donna & Lorne Albaum** Earlaine Collins Foundation Endowment Milton Harris**** Mr. Daniel O’Brien**** Frederick J. Marker & Mr. & Mrs. Roberto & Françoise Sutton Alexandra Jonsson $100,000 + William & Nona Heaslip Dr. Thomas H. Beechy**** Anne W. Dupré Nancy Albis*** Foundation**** Mr. & Mrs. Eric Belli-Bivar*** Fernando Martinez-Caro Clive & Barbara Allen**** Anonymous (1) Jo Lander Hon. Henry N. R. Jackman Mr. Peter Hinman & Dr. Catherine Bergeron*** Dr. & Mrs. Donald C. McGillivray**** Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Claire Allen** Tom C. Logan Ms Kristi Stangeland Tom Bogart & Kathy Tamaki** Paul & Jean McGrath**** Dr. D. Amato & Ms J. Hodges**** Up to $24,999 Dr. & Mrs. Donald C. McGillivray $25,000 – $99,999 Michael & Linda Hutcheon**** Dr. David & Constance Briant**** Ronan McGrath & Sarah Perry* Anne-Marie H. Applin*** Peter & Hélène Hunt Roger D. Moore The Bennett Family Foundation Justin S. Linden* Dr. Jane Brissenden & June McLean**** Valerie Armstrong**** Robert Sherrin Colleen Sexsmith Jeff Lloyd & Barbara Henders* Dr. Janet Roscoe**** Mr. Ian McWalter* Philip Arthur & Mary Wilson* Dr. Rodney C. Ellis Bernhard & Hannelore Kaeser**** Mrs. Donna Brock*** Mr. Ulrich Menzefricke**** Virginia Atkin*** Kristine Vikmanis & Dr. David Shaw John B. Lawson C.M., Q.C. Bobby & Gordon MacNeill** Alice Burton*** Bruce & Vladka Mitchell* Denton Creighton

46 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 47 Mr. Jeff Axelrod & Dr. Eudice Goldberg* Mr. Timothy McNicholas* John D. Stevenson**** Dr. John Goodhew Aviva & Andrew Goldenberg** Mark & Andrea McQueen**** James H. Stonehouse** K.R.I. Bailey* Dr. Fay Goldstep & Shawn McReynolds & William Siegel & Margaret Swaine** John Bailey** Dr. George Freedman** Elaine Kierans* Eric Tang & Dr. James Miller** James C. Baillie** Deanna A. Gontard**** Dr. Don Melady & Peter A. Roy & Leah Taylor Roy Marilyn & Charles Baillie**** Tina & Michael Gooding*** Mr. Rowley Mossop*** Tesari Charitable Foundation** Andrew & Cornelia Baines**** Wayne A. Gooding**** Eileen Mercier**** Mr. Ronald L. W. Till**** Janice A. Baker**** Bryan Grant Lee Milliken† & Elizabeth Tory**** Richard J. Balfour**** Mr. Finn Greflund & Mrs. M. Ortner** Doug MacNaughton** Mr. Alex Tosheff* Karen & Bill Barnett* Mr. Carmen & Patricia & Frank Mills*** Dr. R. B. Van Winckle* Alice & Tom Bastedo*** Mrs. Vittoria Guglietti** Dr. & Mrs. Steven Millward** Dory Vanderhoof & Rosalind Bell** Ms Marie Bérard†*** Ellen & Simon Gulden**** Florence Minz Edmond & Sylvia Vanhaverbeke**** Nani & Austin Beutel**** James & Joyce Gutmann**** Audrey & David Mirvish*** Stefan Varga & Dr. Marica Varga* Dody Bienenstock** Dan Hagler & Family*** Dr. David N. Mitchell & Dr. Yvonne Verbeeten** John & Mandy Birch* Mrs. Pamela Hallisey Dr. Susan M. Till*** Dr. Helen Vosu & Donald Milner**** Douglas Birkenshaw & Francess G. Halpenny**** Mr. Donald Mitchell Richard & Nathalie Wachsberg* Ginger Sorbara Mr. Adrian J. Hamel Eva Mocarski* Elizabeth & Michael Walker*** Anneliese & Walter Blackwell**** Beverly Hargraft** Mr. Robert Morassutti**** Peter Webb & Joan York**** Ian & Janet Blue*** Michael Harris & Carol Rak** Alice Janet Morgan*** Dr. Bogomila Welsh** John & Ila Bossons** Paul & Natalie Hartman* Ms Rosalind Morrow** Ms Eleanor Westney** Mr. W. Bowen & Caroline Helbronner*** Drs. Christopher & Pippa Moss*** Melanie Whitehead*** THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016 Ms. S. Gavinchuk†**** Jacques & Elizabeth Helbronner*** Gael Mourant & Elizabeth Wilson & Mr. Stephen Bradley Thea Herman & Gregory King*** Caroline Hubberstey* Ian Montagnes**** Mrs. Carolyn Bradley-Hall & William E. Hewitt*** Mr. Joseph Mulder** Gregory Wilson FOUR SEASONS CENTRE Mr. William Bradley*** Pamela Hoiles Marilyn & Amy Mushinski† Robert Elliott & Paul Wilson** Mrs. Richard Bradshaw*** Richard & Donna Holbrook**** Matt & Debbie Mysak*** John Wright & Chung-Wai Chow* FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Rob & Teresa Brouwer** Sally Holton**** David & Mary Neelands*** Dr. Jackson Wu & Brian Bucknall & Ms Judith Hull Dr. Steven Nitzkin**** Dr. Viviana Chang* Mary Jane Mossman**** In memory of Dr. James & Ms June Yee** TICKETS $100 Christopher & Elizabeth Buller Anthony C. J. Humphreys**** Mrs. Valda Oestreicher*** Morden Yolles**** Thomas J. Burton** Peter & Hélène Hunt**** Marwan Osseiran Walter Zwig**** Maureen Callahan & Douglas Gray** Eva Innes & David Medhurst* Eileen & Ralph Overend* Anonymous (25) Ken & Denise Cargill** Elliott Jacobson & Judy Malkin** Clarence & Mary Pace** Brian & Ellen Carr**** Lynne Jeffrey**** Dr. & Mrs. N. Pairaudeau**** coc.ca/wine Gail Carson**** Laurence Jewell** Lee Parsons* FRIENDS OF THE COC Drs. Carol & David Cass The Norman & Margaret Jewison Dr. Roger D. Pearce*** Lee Chambers Charitable Foundation**** Dr. A. Angus Peller* SUSTAINING FRIENDS Prof. Alfred L. Chan & In Memory of Patricia Johnson** John & Penelope Pepperell* $1,600 – $2,249 Mr. Michael Farewell*** Dr. Albert & Bette Johnston** Dr. R. G. Perrin** Carol & Ernest Albright**** Dr. & Mrs. Albert Cheskes*** Joyce Johnston*** M. J. Phillips**** Gail Asper & Michael Paterson 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception John D. Church Miriam Kagan Robin B. Pitcher**** Iivi Campbell**** Dr. Howard M. Clarke*** H. L. Katarynych*** Wanda Plachta**** Jayne & Ted Dawson**** & Silent Auction Edward Cole & Adrienne Hood*** Dr. Joel Keenleyside**** Mr. & Mrs. Domenic Porporo** Mr. Steven D. Donohoe**** Brian Collins & Amanda Demers* David W. & Sheryl L. Kerr* Mary Jean & Frank Potter*** Ricardo Gomez-Insausti* Tony & Elizabeth Comper* Joseph Kerzner & Lisa Koeper**** Georgia Prassas**** Mr. James Hamilton* 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Studio Murray & Katherine Corlett**** Inta Kierans**** Ms Jill Presser & Mr. John Duffy* Bill Heaslip**** Anita Corrigan*** Ellen & Hermann Kircher**** Alan & Gwendoline Pyatt Frieda and Vern Heinrichs Performance & Live Auction Dr. Lesley S. Corrin**** Mr. Martin Kirr & Dr. Mark Quigley**** Mr. Josef Hrdina* Bram & Beth Costin Ms Suzanne McCuaig* Stephen Ralls & Bruce Ubukata*** Mr. Sumant Inamdar** Gay & Derek Cowbourne** Mr. Douglas Klaassen** The Carol & Morton Rapp Dr. Paul & Mrs. Marcia Kavanagh Mary & John Crocker**** Michael & Sonja Koerner*** Foundation**** Duncan & Sondra Lear Ruth & John Crow*** Valarie Koziol* Lola Rasminsky & Bob Presner Mrs. Mary Liitoja**** Mary Beth Currie & Jeff Rintoul William & Eva Krangle**** Dr. Reza Rastegar Georgina McLennan**** Carrol Anne Curry*** Richard T. La Prairie* C. Edward Rathé**** Barbara & Peter Pauly** Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Ute Davis** Elizabeth & Goulding Lambert*** Kenneth F. Read**** Norbert & Elizabeth Perera**** Michael & Honor de Pencier**** Jo Lander**** Grant L. Reuber**** Ms Joan Sinclair** For donations and tickets, please contact Charles Dennis & Steve Kelley† The Hon. Dennis Lane, Q.C. & Mrs. Gabrielle Richards** David Smukler & Patricia Kern** Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Diamond* Mrs. Sandra Lane**** Carolyn Ricketts**** The Sorbara Group of Tracy Abergel at 416-306-2305 or J. DiGiovanni* M. J. Horsfall Large** Ms Nada Ristich* Companies**** Olwen & Frank Dixon** Marc Lebeau & Guylaine Lefebvre Emily & Fred Rizner** Georgina S. Steinsky [email protected] Sandra Z. Doblinger** Dr. Connie Lee*** Clara Robert* Ms Peg Thoen** Ms Petrina Dolby*** Linda Lee & Michael Pharoah**** Steve & Richa Roder Dr. M. Lynne Thurling & Dr. James & Mrs. Ellen Downey** Neal & Dominique Lee** Dr. Michael & Mary Romeo**** Dr. John Treilhard*** Bernita Drenth Dr. Richard Lee & John & Hannah Rosen* Vernon & Beryl Turner**** Marko Duic and Gabriel Lau**** Mr. Gary Van Haren** Mrs. Gertrude Rosenthal**** Gordon Waugh**** William & Gwenda Echard**** Alexander & Anna Leggatt*** Ken & Helen Rotenberg** F. Whittaker** Jean Patterson Edwards** Joy Levine*** Rainer & Sharyn Rothfuss**** Carole & Bernie Zucker*** Wendy & Elliott Eisen**** Mr. Peter Levitt & Ms Mai Why*** The Roux Family Anonymous (2) Jordan Elliott & Lynne Griffin* Mr. Kejun Liang Drs. Orest & Maureen Rudzik**** Christoph Emmrich & Srilata Raman L. Liivamagi & Dr. D. N. Cash* David A. Ruston*** ASSOCIATE FRIENDS Dr. & Mrs. John Evans*** Marjorie & Roy Linden**** Ms Sharon Cookie Sandler**** $1,100 – $1,599 Fabris Inc.* Dr. & Mrs. W. G. Lindley**** Mallory Morris Sartz & Michael & Janet Barnard** George A. Farkass** Janet & Sid Lindsay*** John Sartz**** Michael Benedict & Mrs. Rosario de Wit-Farro*** Anthony J. Lisanti*** Go Sato**** Martha Lowrie**** Darren Farwell Tom C. Logan* Bruce Schaef**** Don Biderman**** Catherine Fauquier*** Dr. Vance Logan**** Fred & Mary Schulz** Darlene & Peter Blenich* Bill Fearn & Claudia Rogers**** Jonathan & Dr. Marianne Seger**** Ms Marlene Bohn* Lee & Shannon Ferrier**** Dorothea Lovat Dickson** Carol Seifert & Bruno Tesan*** Dr. Wendy C. Chan* William & Rosemary Fillmore*** Dr. & Mrs. Richard Mackenzie**** Robert & Geraldine Sharpe**** Patricia Clarke** David & Wendy Flores-Gordon* Tom MacMillan**** Milton & Joyce Shier**** Robert D. Cook** SAVE THE DATE Goshka Folda* Macro Properties Ltd. ** Dr. Bernie & Mr. Neil Crawford* J. E. Fordyce**** Mr. A. Mafrici**** Mrs. Bobbie Silverman** Mr. Stuart Davidson* Robert & Julia Foster** R. Manke**** Rod & Christina Simpson Mr. Darren Day*** Mrs. Ingrid Fratzl Mr. & Mrs. R. Gordon Marantz**** In memory of Dr. Bernard Slatt* Mr. Rohan D’souza Rev. Ivars Gaide & Roberto Mauro† & Erin Wall Dr. & Mrs. Jeremy Sloan** Dr. Christine Dunbar** Rev. Dr. Anita Gaide*** Mrs. Ettore Mazzoleni*** Jay Smith & Laura Rapp* Howard & Kathrine Eckler*** Judy & David Galloway Diane McArthur Ms Muriel Smith & Mr. Eric Ojala**** Lawrence Enkin** Ann Gawman*** Dr. & Mrs. John A. McCallum**** Dr. Joseph So*** R. Dalton Fowler**** OPERANATION Dr. Barry A. Gayle**** Darcy & Joyce McKeough* John & Ellen Spears**** John H. Galloway**** Susan Gerhard** Mr. Brent Mclaughlin Martha E. Spears*** Mr. Osvaldo & THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 The Honourable Irving Gerstein & Don McLean & Diane Martello Rosemary Speirs Mrs. Joanne Girimonte Mrs. Gail Gerstein** Guy & Joanne McLean**** Ms Gillian Stacey Alison Girling & Paul Schabas** Ben & Sarah Glatt**** M. E. McLeod**** Oksana R. Stein*** Roy & Gail Harrison**** JOIN US FOR NORTH AMERICA’S BIGGEST OPERA PARTY!

48 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 OPERANATION.CA

Date: Jan 05, 2016 Filename_ Version# COC151719_WineAuction_Prfrmnce_FP_4C_Wntr2016_FNL Client: COC Artist: SB Desc: Wine Ad Acct. Mgr: Melissa Pub: Performance Insertion Date: Winter 2016 559 College Street, Suite 401 Trim: 8.375" x 10.875" Ship Date: Jan. 6, 2016 Toronto, ON M6G 1A9 # Colours: 4C 416-323-3282 Bleed: .125" Safety/Live: 7.875" x 10.375" File Built at: 100% (1:1) PMS PMS INK DENSITY FOR NEWSPAPER: 240 INK DENSITY FOR MAGAZINE: 300 Ms Alison Harvison Young & W. L. B. Heath**** Sylvia M. McPhee Mr. Herman J. Wilton-Siegel* Dr. Paul Cooper & Mr. David Hiebert The Encore Legacy John McVicker & B. W. Thomas Sylvie Hatch**** In memory of Pauline Hinch** The Encore Legacy is the planned Dr. Alan C. Middleton ® David Holdsworth & Nicole Senécal* Dr. Ivan & Mrs. Diana Hronsky**** giving program of the Canadian Eleanor Miller Richard & Susan Horner**** In loving memory of Opera Company. Sigmund & Elaine Mintz 15. 16 James Hughes*** Joyce Whitney Hughes* Donald Morse Mr. David Hutton*** Mr. Chris Ibey*** Planned giving is making the Sue Mortimer Mr. Kazik Jedrzejczak**** Xiao Jiang decision today to provide a gift for Mr. & Mrs. James D. Patterson Ms Suanne Kelman & Douglas & Dorothy Joyce**** the Canadian Opera Company that Mervyn Pickering SEASON Dr. Allan J. Fox** Lilian Kilianski+ & Brian Pritchard* may not be realized until after your Gunther & Dorothy Piepke Dr. & Mrs. L. A. Kitchell**** Mai Kirch**** lifetime. Wanda Plachta WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART’S Murray & Marvelle Koffler**** June Knudsen**** Ms Georgia Prassas Andrew & Harriet Lyons Mr. & Mrs. I. P. & O. M. Komarnicky*** Gifts planned today, that will K. F. Read P. Anne Mackay**** Adrian Kos & Olga Repryntseva ultimately affect your estate, allow Dr. John Reeve-Newson COSÌ FAN TUTTE Mrs. Janet Maggiacomo** Mr. Christopher J. Kowal* you to make a statement of support John & Norma Rogers Karen & Craig** Dr. Milos Krajny**** that will become a lasting legacy to Mrs. Margaret Russell Mary McClymont**** Ms Eva Kukiel* the COC. Sharon Ryman† Janina Milisiewicz**** Gediminas P. Kurpis**** Cookie & Stephen Sandler FRI • FEB 19, 2016 • 8PM Mr. David Milovanovic & Mr. James R. Lake**** The Canadian Opera Company Fred & Mary Schulz Dr. Cinda Dyer Harry Lane*** gratefully acknowledges and thanks John & Helen Scott SUN • FEB 21, 2016 • 2PM Mr. Carl Morey**** Alan & Marti Latta**** the following individuals who have Claire Shaw . Sean O’Neill & Victoria Cowling**** Giles le Riche & included the COC in their estate R. Bonnie Shettler FERGUSON HALL Justice Michael & Susan Phelan Rosemary Polczer*** planning: William Siegel & Margaret Swaine Ms Victoria Pinnington*** David E. Spiro 1516 SEASON Mr. Tom Le Seelleur** Brayton Polka Mr. Martin Leistner Marie Agay Dr. D. P. Stanley-Porter Mr. Andrew Prodanyk Claus & Heather Lenk* Susan Agranove & Estate of Doreen L. Stanton Dr. Peter Ray**** Yakov Lerner* Dr. Larry M. Agranove Drs. W. & K. Stavraky GIUSEPPE VERDI’S Dr. Shelley Rechner**** Gil & Dorota Lorenson Ken R. Alexander Lilly Offenbach-Strauss Robert & Dorothy Ross*** Isobel Allen Janet Stubbs† Amye & DeeAnn Hagler Sagar Ms Elizabeth Lorimer* Ms Sandra Alston Ann Sutton Mr. Michael Samborsky** Dr. Francois Loubert* Ms Ann Andrusyszyn Ronald Taber Deidre Lynch & Thomas Keirstead* LA TRAVIATA William & Meredith Saunderson**** Callie Archer Susanne Tabur Dr. Anabel M. Scaranelo David Macfarlane Renata Arens & Elizabeth Frey Mrs. Ann C. Timpson Ms Elisabeth Scarff**** Kathy Marton* Mrs. Rosalen Armstrong Riki Turofsky & Charles Petersen Dr. & Mrs. W. K. Stavraky*** Dr. Lynn McAslan Ron Atkinson & Bruce Blandford Tony & Mary van Straubenzee FRI • MAR 11, 2016 • 8PM Mr. Paul Steep & Ms Anne McNeilly* Mary McGowan**** Mr. L. H. Bartelink N. Suzanne Vanstone Norma & George Steiner**** Jil McIntosh** J. Linden Best & James G. Kerr Marie-Laure Wagner SUN • MAR 13, 2016 • 2PM Mr. & Mrs. David G. Trent**** Mr. Bruce McKeown**** Mr. Philip J. Boswell Hugh & Colleen Washington Dr. & Mrs. Martin & LUST. Dr. Peter Voore**** David Bowen William R. Waters MORSANI HALL Ms Virginia Wai Deborah McKneally** Marnie M. Bracht Marion York Nina & Norman Wright*** Sylvia McPhee**** Gregory Brandt Tricia Younger Anonymous (5) Janis Medland* Ms Cindy Breslin-Carere Anonymous (39) Dr. Alan C. Middleton*** Brian Bucknall & CONTRIBUTING FRIENDS Randy Mills* Mary Jane Mossman WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART’S $700 – $1,099 Kamini & Lynne Milnes* Dita Vadron & Jim Catty Opera Tours Donors Dr. I. L. Babb Fund at the Toronto John Mogan* Mrs. Ann Christie Community Foundation**** Frank & Anne Moir*** Earl Clark $700 + Peter Naylor From March to December, 2015 Karen & Bill Barnett* Stephen Clarke & Elizabeth Black DON GIOVANNI Larry Nevard The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson Ms E. Burton*** LOVE. Peter & Leslie Barton** Ms Cristina Oke*** Brian Collins & Amanda Demers William & Rosemary Fillmore*** Mrs. Lynn Bayer*** Karen Olinyk†* Janice Oliver*** Mr. N. Beilstein & Mr. A. Lee Earlaine Collins FRI • APR 8, 2016 • 8PM Mr. Vlad Ovchinnikov & David H. Cormack Joan Pape**** Catherine Belyea+ Mrs. Lesia Menchynska* Rainer & Sharyn Rothfuss**** Jeniva Berger**** Ninalee Craig Joan Pape**** Anita Day & Robert McDonald Melanie Whitehead*** SUN • APR 10, 2016 • 2PM Anthony Bird**** Mr. James C. Pappas**** Ms June Yee** Staunton Bowen Ann De Brouwer Mr. Joseph & Mrs. Letizia Paradiso*** Helen Drake MORSANI HALL Mary Brock & Brian Iler**** Dr. Wadermar A. Pieczonka**** James E. Brown* Yvonne Earle Ed & Beth Price*** Carol Fordyce Ms Judith Burrows*** Robert Radke Corporate Ms E. Burton*** Rowland D. Galbraith LOSS. 2015•2016 Festival Sponsors and Underwriters: James Rausch Mr. Bill Cameron** Douglas G. Gardner Marat Ressin Ann J. Gibson Matching Partners Helen Torres Foundation; Dr. Zena Lansky and Mr. Warren Rodgers; Mary Campbell**** Mr. Jason Roberts*** Dr. Yi-Hwa Outerbridge and Mr. Felix Cannella, Jr.; Charlene and Betty Carlyle**** Tina & Michael Gooding The Canadian Opera Company Ms Virginia Robeson** Michael & Anne Gough gratefully acknowledges the Mardy Gordon; Mary Ann and Brad Morse; Greenberg Traurig, P.A.; Jack A. Carr**** Patti & Richard Schabas** Mark Cestnik & Natercia Sousa**** Donald I. F. Graham following organizations that have Florida Health Care News/Dr. Barry Levine and Gina d’Angelo; Geoffrey & Bilgi Chapman**** Front Desk Ltd./Toby Schertzer L. A. Grover matched gifts by their employees: Raymond James; Neiman Marcus Harold Chmara & Danny Hoy**** Valerie Schweritzer & Chris Reed**** Colin Gruchy Joe T. R. Clarke**** Marlene Pollock Sheff* David G. Hallman Canadian Tire Corporation Limited William Cowan & Elodie Fourquet** Mrs. Pamela Smith*** George & Irene Hamilton IBM Canada Ltd. Sylvain Crozon John Spears**** Joan L. Harris Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc Peter and Elly Daniels Phil Spencer**** William E. Hewitt Goodman & Company, Investment Anita Day Helga & Klaus Stegemann*** James Hewson Counsel Ltd. Don DeBoer & Brent Vickar*** Pavel and Vera Straka*** John R. Higgins FM Global Foundation Mr. Michael Disney* Ms Grace Szczerbowski Mr. Kim Yim Ho & Wendy Drahovzal Anna Talenti**** Walter Frederic Thommen STRAZ CENTER Ms Eleanor L. Ellins**** Larry & Judy Tanenbaum**** Douglas E. Hodgson IT’S GRAND OPERA AT ITS GRANDEST! Susan Elliott Ria Tietz**** Matt Hughes The above Individual Support Gifts were Joe & Helen Feldmann*** Dr. Claude Tousignant** Michael & Linda Hutcheon made as of January 5, 2016 Brian A. Ferguson**** Dr. Nancy F. Vogan**** Elaine Iannuzziello Dr. James Ferguson Mr. Wayne Vogan+**** Dr. Ingrid Jarvis * five to nine years of support Bruce & Mary Fillier George Vona & Lark Popov** Lynne Jeffrey ** 10 to 14 years of support @Tickets and dining: 813.229.STAR (7827) Angela & Michael Vuchnich**** Russell Finch Ann Kadrnka *** 15 to 19 years of support Outside Tampa Bay: 800.955.1045 Tom Flemming**** Mr. John M. Welch**** Ben W. Kizemchuk and **** 20 or more years of support Jennifer & Frank Flower*** James & Margaret Whitby**** Lauren Oberson † COC administration, chorus or orchestra Group Sales (10+ get a discount): 813.222.1018 Angelo Furgiuele & Family* Joan Williams**** Kathryn Kossow member Douglas G. Gardner**** Mr. Takahiro Yamanaka Jo Lander ‡ Endowment OPERATAMPA.ORG David A. Young Marjorie & Roy Linden Mr. M. Gerwin & Mrs. J. Rutledge** Photo of Cecilia Violetta López by Vanessa Preziose Photography Dr. Wilfred S. Goodman**** Ms Iris Zawadowski* Tom C. Logan, A.R.C.T. Despite the staff’s extensive efforts to Les & Marion Green**** Yvonne Zhang Ms Lenore MacDonald avoid errors and omissions, mistakes can Dr. & Mrs. Voldemars Gulens**** Anonymous (10) Dr. Colin M. Mailer occur. If your name was omitted, listed Dr. & Mrs. Brian & Cynthia Hands**** R. Manke incorrectly or misspelled, we apologize for ANDREA BOCELLI IL VOLO Sandra Hausman** Tim & Jane Marlatt any inconvenience this may have caused. Mrs. Hana Havlicek-Martinek* Mr. Shawn Martin We would appreciate being notified of Presented by the Florida Opera Festival SUN • MAR 6 • 7:30PM any errors at 416-847-4949. Margaret McKee THU • FEB 11 • 7:30PM MORSANI HALL AMALIE ARENA Il Volo and Andrea Bocelli are not part of the season ticket package. 50 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 $100,000 + HOSTING SPONSORS Event Supporters 2015/2016 Corporate Sponsors and Foundation Supporters The Peter Cundill Foundation Drake One Fifty BT/A The Slaight Family Foundation Nota Bene Restaurant Chairman Mills Mill St. $50,000 – $99,999 PREFERRED PIANO PROVIDER Perrier BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats The Hal Jackman Foundation at the Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto Quince Flowers BMO Financial Group Student Dress Rehearsals Ontario Arts Foundation Ryan Emberley Photography Verdi’s La Traviata generously underwritten in part by PREFERRED FLORISTS 10tation Event Catering $10,000 – $49,999 Bloom The Flower Company The Knot Group Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation Quince Flowers The Room Barrick Gold Toronto Life Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Trius Wines Burgundy Asset Management Limited CENTRE STAGE: ENSEMBLE Wellington Printworks Creeds Dry Cleaning STUDIO COMPETITION 2015 J.P. Wiser’s ® Canadian Whisky Presenting Sponsor Davies Ward Philips Vineberg Lot No. 40™ Canadian Whisky Official Automotive Sponsor Presenting Sponsor Opera Under 30, Preferred Credit Card Goldman Sachs Pike Creek™ Canadian Whisky TM ® ® Platinum Supporters of the COC at the FSCPA of SURTITLES Operanation, and Centre Stage TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege* Great-West Life Assurance Company Peter M. Deeb Jameson® Irish Whiskey J.P. Bickell Foundation Mercedes Benz The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky Linden and Associates RBC and RBC Foundation Aberlour® Single Malt Scotch Whisky McCarthy Tetrault Beefeater® Gin Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP Opera Under 30 Sponsor Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP TD Bank Group Shangri-la Hotel SEASON LAUNCH CELEBRATION The Chawkers Foundation Competition Supporter 2016 The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation Hal Jackman Foundation The Mclean Foundation Supporter of Ensemble Studio and Centre Stage Glencore Ensemble Studio School Tour Lead Sponsor Gold Sponsors TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card $5,000 – $9,999 Brookfield Asset Management Local 58 Charitable Benefit Fund Philip Deck & Kimberley Bozak Mill St. Brewery Linden & Associates Shinex Window Cleaning Inc. Scotiabank FINE WINE AUCTION 2015 The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation Presenting Sponsor The Hope Charitable Foundation Graywood Group Torres Coffee OPERANATI0N 2015 Official Canadian Wine Production Sponsor Production Sponsor Unit Park Holdings Inc. Partnering Sponsors Presenting Sponsor of the COC at the FSCPA Rossini’s Maometto II Bizet’s Carmen Element Financial $2,500 – $4,999 TD Bank Group Gillam Group Inc. Calgary Foundation – Hicks Memorial RR Donnelley Canada Inc. Fund Dinner Sponsor Canada Council for the Arts – Vida Peene Hampton Securities Supporting Sponsor Fund Geoffrey Pennal of CIBC Wood Gundy Milgram & Company Ltd Preferred Fragrance Tesari Charitable Foundation REVEAL by Calvin Klein Wine Sponsor Unit Park Holdings Inc. Trius Wines Jewellery Partner Program Sponsor Preferred Hospitality Sponsor Preferred Dry Cleaner $1,000 - $2,499 Maison Birks Catering After School Opera Program D’avignon Freight Services Inc. 10tation Event Catering Gill Ratcliffe Foundation Partnering Sponsor Jarvis & Associates Burgundy Asset Management Cheese Sponsor Judith Teller Foundation The Cheese Boutique Loch-Sloy Holdings Limited Contributing Sponsors O’Shanter Development Company Ltd Bloomberg Auctioneer The Powis Family Foundation Bonnie Shore Stephen Ranger Fine Art Valuation Canaccord Genuity & Consultancy Element Financial Corp. Torkin Manes LLP GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The Canadian Opera Company gratefully acknowledges the generous support through operating grants from these government agencies and departments:

OPERATING SUPPORT ENSEMBLE STUDIO

an Ontario government agency un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country. \ PHOTO CREDITS Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi $153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des COVER: R. Fraser Elliott Hall, photo: Lucia Graca, 2014. PAGE 3: Alexander Neef, photo: bohuang.ca. PAGE 4: Johannes Debus, photo: bohuang.ca. PAGE Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays. 5, photos: Chris Hutcheson. PAGE 7: Stage door of the Four Seasons Centre, photo: COC. PAGES 16 to 23, photos: Michael Cooper. PAGE 24: photo courtesy of Stefan Vinke. PAGE 26, top: Anjelica Scannura in performance at the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, 2015, photo: SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDING Chris Hutcheson; bottom: Summer Opera Camp, photo: COC. PAGES 28 and 29: 1: Michael Cooper; 2, 4: Chris Hutcheson; 3: Joey Lopez; 5: IKONICA; 6: Inna Yasinka; 7. 14: COC; 8: Jeff Higgins Photography; 9: Courtesy of Fred Davis; 10: Sam Gaetz; 11: Jennifer Szeto; 12: Henry Chan; 13: Karen E. Reeves; For many programs and special initiatives undertaken each year by the Canadian Opera Company, we gratefully acknowledge project funding from: PAGES 30 to 39: photos: Monika Rittershaus. PAGE 45, left: Luca Pisaroni in the title role of Maometto II (Santa Fe Opera, 2012), photo: Ken Howard; right: Rinat Shaham and Alain Coulombe in Carmen (COC, 2010), photo: Michael Cooper. PAGE 54: A bar at the Four Seasons Centre, photo: Joey Lopez Department of Canadian Heritage Employment and Social Development Canada

52 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 53 Food and Beverage Service

We are pleased to offer, for the convenience of all our patrons, a pre-order system for intermission purchases. Our pre-order system is designed to decrease your wait time at the bar during intermisison and we invite you to make use of it at every COC performance. Bars are located throughout the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room’s many levels.

Food and beverages are not permitted in R. Fraser Elliott Hall.

Patron Information and Policies

COAT AND PARCEL CHECK MEDICAL EMERGENCIES AND FIRST AID To uphold the safety of the building, oversized bags and parcels A house doctor is present at all performances. Please contact an may be prohibited from entering R. Fraser Elliott Hall. Patrons usher if medical services are required. attending COC performances are now eligible for complimentary parcel check. Coat check is located in the Lower Lobby, where LOST AND FOUND the following services are also available: booster seats, back During performances please speak with an usher or visit supports, infrared hearing-assistive devices and rental of Patron Services at the Coat Check in the Lower Lobby. binoculars, on a first-come, first-served basis. Following performances, please e-mail [email protected] or call 416-342-5200 for information. GO SCENT FREE In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid wearing TICKET SERVICES strongly perfumed beauty products and fragrances. Canadian Opera Company subscriptions and individual tickets are available through COC Ticket Services ETIQUETTE ONLINE: coc.ca Patrons are reminded that R. Fraser Elliott Hall is an extremely BY PHONE: 416-363-8231 or long distance 1-800-250-4653 lively auditorium and that all audience noise will be accentuated Monday to Friday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and audible to other patrons. Turn off all electronic devices, Saturday – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. avoid talking, coughing, humming, moving loose seats, kicking IN PERSON: Four Seasons Centre Box Office the backs of seats, rustling programs, and unwrapping candies 145 Queen St. W. or cough drops. Please remain in your seat until the performance Monday to Saturday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or through has completely ended and the house lights have been turned on. first intermission Sunday (performance days only) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ELECTRONIC DEVICES or through first intermission The use of mobile and smartphones and all other electronic The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office also devices is extremely disruptive and is strictly prohibited during services ticketing needs for The National Ballet of Canada and all performances. If a patron has an emergency and needs to be other Four Seasons Centre events. contacted during a performance, he or she should contact Patron Services for assistance before the performance. GROUP SALES Groups of 10 or more enjoy savings on regular individual ticket CAMERAS/RECORDING DEVICES prices. For more information or to reserve seats call The use of cameras, video cameras or sound-recording 416-306-2356. devices of any kind is prohibited in R. Fraser Elliott Hall during performances. If you’d like to get a picture inside the auditorium, PARKING do so before the performance begins. However, the design There is parking on a first-come, first-served basis for about 200 and direction of the production is restricted under intellectual vehicles underneath the Four Seasons Centre. The entrance is property law, so patrons must have the permission of the COC located on the west side of York Street, south of Queen Street. to take pictures of the production’s set or the stage before or Additional parking is conveniently located just steps away in the during performances. Be sure to take a look at our Facebook Green P lot underneath Nathan Phillips Square. For directions page for official photos of our productions! visit greenp.com.

LATECOMERS FOUR SEASONS CENTRE FACILITY TOURS In the interest of safety and for the comfort of all patrons Tours of the Four Seasons Centre include backstage access! For and performers, latecomers may not enter the auditorium or more information, visit fourseasonscentre.ca. be seated unless there is a suitable break in the performance (usually intermission). Patrons leaving the auditorium during BMO FINANCIAL GROUP PRE-PERFORMANCE OPERA CHATS the performance or returning late after intermission may not be COC Education and Outreach staff and guest speakers offer free, readmitted or may be accommodated in an alternate viewing insightful chats about the stories, music and background of all location. COC productions, 45 minutes prior to each performance in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. CHILDREN AND BABES-IN-ARMS All patrons, including children, must have a ticket for SPECIAL EVENTS AND CATERING the performance. All children must be seated next to an The Four Seasons Centre is available for rental for all of your accompanying adult. Young children should be able to sit quietly presentation, meeting or special events needs, with spaces throughout the performance. If unable to do so, children and accommodating from 20 to 2,000 people and full catering their accompanying adult will be asked to leave the auditorium. services. For further details visit fourseasonscentre.ca or call Babes-in-arms will not be admitted. 416-342-5233.

54 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 488university.com Take centrestage. Mercedes-Benz Canadaandthe showstopping 2016 GLEareproud at the Four SeasonsCentrefor Arts. the Performing to be the Official Automotiveto betheSponsorof Company Official CanadianOpera © 2016 Mercedes-BenzCanada Inc. File Location: SGL_MercedesBenzCanada:Volumes:SGL_MercedesBenzCanada:Magazine Ads:2015:O55593_GLE_COC Winter HouseProgram:MBZ_ Ads:2015:O55593_GLE_COC SGL_MercedesBenzCanada:Volumes:SGL_MercedesBenzCanada:Magazine File Location: rn cl: 100% x11.125” 8.625” Print Scale: 1:1 Scale: Artwork Bleed: JanoK Trim: Live: Retoucher: None Tom Burton Print Production: Paul Wiersma Copy Writer: Director: Art Mercedes-Benz O55593 COR SMZ Main Docket#: Docket#: Agency O55593 GLE OOS COC MBZ Creative Name: Client: JOB SPECIFICS ulcto() CanadianOperaCompanyWinter HouseProgram Communications This adpreparedby:SGL Publication(s): Ad Number:

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