FAll 2011 | vOlUmE 19 | number 1 The COC presents Iphigenia in Tauris. A scene from the Lyric Opera of Chicago production, 2006. Photo: Robert Kusel Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Canadian Opera Company 227 Front St. E., Toronto, ON, Canada m5A 1E8 t 416-363-6671 f 416-363-5584 e [email protected] w coc.ca A gift to our friends Approximately 10 to 15 singers will perform in front of a A messagE FROm ThE gENERAl director stars of public audience and COC judges, including Alexander Neef, alexander neef General Director; Roberto Mauro, Artistic Administrator; Sandra Gavinchuk, Music Administrator; and Liz Upchurch, tomorrow Head of the Ensemble Studio. Along with guest panellists, Home to tHe best they will deliberate on location, and announce the CoC opens doors to competition winners at the conclusion of the event. Further and their colleagues to make a great exClusive audition details will be released at a later date. season even more exciting. proCess witH new ensemble Equally rewarding to me is the ability studio Competition to bring the next generation of great artists to the COC. Erin Wall, Quinn For the first time in the history of the Canadian Opera Kelsey, Russell Thomas, Dimitri Pittas, in tHis issue Company, the final auditions for singers seeking to join Katherine Whyte, David Lomelí and Susan Graham: the Ensemble Studio training program will be made public Andriana Chuchman are among The iPhiGeniA Of OuR TiMe through the launch of an annual vocal competition. The many making their debuts with us this inaugural COC Ensemble Studio Competition takes Sandra Gavinchuk Roberto Mauro Liz upchurch season. Some of you may remember has iT Really been place on Nov. 28, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the Richard Bradshaw that Joseph Kaiser was a member five years? Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing The COC Ensemble Studio Competition is presented in part of our Ensemble in 2000/2001 and CeLebratinG canAdA’S Arts, with the winners garnering a variety of awards by RBC Foundation. we’re pleased to welcome him back. gloriOuS home for opera including offers of highly prized positions in the 2012/2013 And, as always, our Ensemble Studio Ensemble Studio. nO exiT: members and graduates, as well as rIgoletto’S AbuSe Of poweR Photo:Michael Cooper our exceptional orchestra and chorus, I have been living with 2011/2012’s led by Johannes Debus and Chorus may we introduCe And program for a long time. In fact, with Master Sandra Horst, are featured welcome back: only one exception, it is the season prominently all season. The 2011/2012 enSeMbLe studiO artists that I proposed to the COC’s search Fostering young talent is always a committee when I was first approached priority at the COC and one of our about the position of General Director hOw we spenT OuR new initiatives this year highlights SummeR holidAy: in early 2008. I felt these operas would future Canadian artists even more – SummeR yOuTh inTenSive offer COC audiences a very exciting the Ensemble Studio Competition. As journey through operatic history, with part of the annual audition process Rochelle de Goias, Trinity Jackman Alexander Josephson and Alexander neef brooke Marion, Lucia Cesaroni productions of value and nuance and, for our Ensemble Studio, this year the and victoria Jackman and Ashleigh Semkiw not incidentally, four COC premieres. final round of Ensemble auditions Now that these productions have will be open to the public (see the Launching the ensembLe been chosen and cast, I am even more article on the opposite page for more circLe membership program convinced that 11/12 truly embodies information). The winners will be Join the Circle what the COC continually strives to be offered a place in the prestigious A gift to our friends – home to the best. program for the following year. As At her family home on the evening that confirmed, in no uncertain terms, as well as a ticket to the company’s Editorial Board: Over the course of this season you will anyone who follows the COC knows, of May 3, 2011, Canadian Opera opera’s relevance to contemporary annual fundraiser, Operanation 8: Robert lamb, Company board member Trinity culture. More broadly, the launch A Muse Ball. A number of special see some of the most sought-after and watching these young artists over Managing Director acclaimed artists in the world. Singers, several seasons and seeing them grow Roberto mauro, Jackman hosted an announcement party showed the exciting potential events designed to enhance the conductors and directors like Susan and develop into formidable talents Artistic Administrator party launching the Ensemble of Ensemble Circle membership operatic experience are also included Jeremy Elbourne, Graham, Adrianne Pieczonka, Sir is a very rewarding experience. Plus, Circle, the COC’s new membership and the opportunity it brings for in the program, taking members Director of Marketing program for younger patrons. The ambassadorship of the art form. The behind-the-scenes with working Andrew Davis, COC Music Director there are few things more exciting than Claudine domingue, Johannes Debus, Catherine Malfitano, telling your friends that you were there Director of Public Relations evening brought together over 150 initiative works to establish stronger rehearsals, the season opening and Russell Braun, Christopher Alden and when a star was born. Christie darville, of Toronto’s arts-and-culture lovers connections between the company closing parties and post-performance Director of Development Robert Carsen need no introduction to share in the exclusive festivities. and our younger audience. toasts with the artists. Join us this fall to see and hear all this Editors: anywhere in the opera world. It is an The highlight of the night was wonderful talent! Suzanne vanstone, undoubtedly a special performance of The 2011/2012 Ensemble Circle is honour to be collaborating with them Senior Communications Manager, Editorial arias and duets from Carmen, Giulio open to an intimate group of 100 gianna Wichelow, members. Membership includes one Senior Communications Manager, Creative Cesare and Lakmé, sung by COC ticket to three mainstage productions: Editors E-mail: [email protected] Ensemble Studio members Ambur for more information on the ensemble Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, Kaija save time, save paper… Design: Endeavour Braid and Wallis Giunta, with bassist Circle, please contact Tracy briggs Saariaho’s Love from Afar and the and save the COC mailing and printing costs! view Prelude online at coc.ca/Publications. Akki Mackay and electric guitarist (416-306-2305/[email protected]) Ensemble Studio performance of Sign up at coc.ca/Prelude with your Patron Number no later than Dec. 23, 2011 to indicate All information is correct at time of printing. Patrick Power accompanying the duo. or Stephanie hunt (416-306-2353/ that you no longer wish to receive a hard copy of Prelude. if we do not hear back from you, George Frideric Handel’s Semele, front Cover: Costume design elements by It was an exhilarating performance [email protected]). we will mail your regular issue of Prelude in mid-January 2012. Michael Levine, set and costume designer for rigoletto. Production originally designed for Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2000. Photo: COC 2 Prelude Magazine Prelude Magazine 3 hugely freeing. “I can go completely “I love the challenge of expressing the inside myself and sort it out human condition within a classical The opera susan GraHam: between me and the audience. form. I love bringing somebody like exchanGe Every performance is different. It’s Cherubino [The Marriage of Figaro] emotionally exhausting, but extremely to contemporary life – to something Multidisciplinary Approaches to Opera ThE iPhigENiA OF OUR TimE gratifying to perform. that people can relate to, but within the confines of classical form. And the “I love the opening storm scene – it’s same is true of Iphigenia. But where delve into the social, political and By Suzanne Vanstone so brilliant. It’s been interpreted it is the strongest is in Handel. The artistic implications of selected COC in many different ways in various operas in this series of three in-depth In the world of opera, the ultimate goal, “Robert and I have talked a lot about heart-squeezing way that Handel has productions that I’ve been in, in something like “Scherza infida” symposia led by an array of academic of course, is to have the best artists in the how to play the character. She’s been specialists. Following a brief formal but in Robert’s production it’s a from Ariodante. On paper it looks so arioAcosta world performing, conducting, directing on the island for a long time, and had lecture, each dynamic speaker d psychological storm. All hell is simple, but if you can squeeze blood and designing. This coming season is an this life thrust upon her while just a breaking loose in her head. It sets engages with the audience during a out of it, that’s the real challenge. question-and-answer period. exciting one for the COC, and in Gluck’s girl. She’s an adult woman but with a everything up so beautifully because Iphigenia in Tauris we are very proud kind of arrested development, and her And that’s what is so enjoyable. To All lectures take place at Walter hall, she’s having a real crisis followed by make semi-predictable music sound to welcome celebrated mezzo-soprano life basically stopped when she was the intense introspection that comes Faculty of music, University of Toronto, unpredictable. 80 Queen’s Park Cres. Susan Graham who makes her debut 14 years old and at the altar to marry after the storm. with us in a role she owns.