PROGRAM SPRING 2016 CARMEN MAOMETTO II Reaching their Someday is music to everyone’s ears. The hard work, perseverance and vision of emerging artists demonstrate the power of having – and the joy of realizing – a Someday™. Together with programs like the Ensemble Studio at the Canadian Opera Company, we support a diverse range of Canadian talent in communities across the country through the RBC Emerging Artists Project. TM ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. VPS93138 39782A (05/2015) CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL DIRECTOR 4 WHAT’S PLAYING: ALEXANDER NEEF CARMEN 10 CARMEN FULL CIRCLE: As we bring our 2015/2016 season to a DIRECTOR JOEL IVANY close, we can look back on a year to be proud of, both on and off the stage. WHAT’S PLAYING: 14 MAOMETTO II The COC continued to cement its 20 SERIOUSLY... reputation as a centre for artistic ROSSINI’S MAOMETTO II excellence and a go-to destination for some of the world’s top operatic talent. 24 GET TO KNOW... This past fall, the world premiere of LUCA PISARONI Pyramus and Thisbe was a landmark production for the COC, while La 26 TOWARDS A NEW ERA OF LOWER TICKET PRICES Traviata met with rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Our 28 BACKSTAGE AND BEYOND Siegfried featured one of the strongest casts you’re likely to hear anywhere 30 SHIFTING INTO HIGH GEAR in the world, and Claus Guth’s take on Mercedes-Benz at the COC The Marriage of Figaro had audiences laughing and talking! 31 BIOGRAPHIES: CARMEN BIOGRAPHIES: MAOMETTO II The unparalleled artistic achievement 35 continues this spring. Our production 38 THE SCENIC TOUR of Bizet’s beloved Carmen returns with Of the COC’s Scene Shop a fresh look from director Joel Ivany, currently taking the Canadian opera We’re also proud of our new initiative, 40 SETTING FOOD TO MUSIC scene by storm with his innovative Opera Access for New Canadians, At Hilton’s Tundra “transladaptations” of classic operas. which aims to make dress rehearsals 41 SUPPORT OUR ORCHESTRA You can read more about Joel’s and select performances accessible to With the Season-End journey from supernumerary to new Canadian citizens and newcomers Campaign director on page 10. to Canada, including immigrants and refugees. Starting this spring we’re 48 MANY THANKS We close our season with what is likely joining the Institute for Canadian Acknowledging our the Canadian premiere of Rossini’s Citizenship’s Cultural Access Pass, many supporters rarely performed Maometto II, an through which 40 free tickets will be 54 PATRON INFORMATION opera which disappeared from the set aside to every COC dress rehearsal AND POLICIES repertoire in its original form until and given to new Canadian citizens Santa Fe Opera premiered this registered with the CAP program. production in 2012. Toronto audiences can count themselves among the As we move into our 2016/2017 GO SCENT FREE lucky few in the world to see this work season, the COC continues to In consideration of performed using Rossini’s original hold itself to the highest artistic patrons with allergies, score. International star, bass-baritone standard. You’ll experience favourites please avoid wearing Luca Pisaroni makes his COC debut as like Tosca and The Magic Flute, Maometto, and shows off his lighter side perfumed beauty star-powered new productions of on page 24. Norma and Ariodante, the final products and fragrances! chapter of Wagner’s Ring Cycle There’s no doubt that the COC with Götterdämmerung, and a new features some of the world’s best production of the iconic Canadian COC Program is published three times a operatic talent on stage, but the opera Louis Riel, to commemorate year by the Canadian Opera Company. All company also boasts exceptional Canada’s 150th birthday festivities. We rights reserved. Reproduction in whole work behind the scenes. As we move or in part without written consent is also mark the 10th anniversary of the prohibited. Contents copyright Canadian forward with COC365, the company’s Four Seasons Centre! Opera Company. Direct all advertising new strategic plan and guiding vision inquiries to [email protected]. for the next five years, we’ll bring you If you haven’t already, we invite you Program edited by Claudine Domingue, closer to the work that goes on year- to renew or purchase a subscription Director of Public Relations; Kristin round at the COC. We start with a visit at one of our desks at intermission McKinnon, Publicist and Publications to our very active Scene Shop, which or following the performance, and Co-ordinator; and, Gianna Wichelow, you can read about on page 38. Senior Manager, Creative and celebrate 16/17 with us. Publications. Layout by Gianna Wichelow. All information is correct at time of printing. Photo credits are on page 53. CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 3 CARMEN BY GEORGES BIZET PRODUCTION SPONSOR Opéra comique in Four Acts w Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée w First performance: Opéra-Comique, Paris, March 3, 1875 w COC Revival COC PRODUCTION Last performed by the COC in 2010 April 12, 17, 20, 23, 28, 30, May 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 2016 Sung in French with English SURTITLES™ THE CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Moralès, an officer .................................................. Peter Barrett^ Micaëla, a peasant girl .......................................... Simone Osborne1 ^ Karine Boucher2†* Don José, a corporal ............................................. Russell Thomas1 David Pomeroy2^ Zuniga, the captain ................................................ Alain Coulombe^ Carmen, gypsy girl ................................................. Anita Rachvelishvili3 Clémentine Margaine4D Frasquita, a gypsy .................................................. Sasha Djihanian^ Mercédès, a gypsy ................................................. Charlotte Burrage^ Escamillo, a toreador ............................................ Christian Van Horn1 Zachary Nelson2 Le Dancaïre, a smuggler ...................................... Iain MacNeil† Le Remendado, a smuggler ............................... Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure†** Conductor ................................................................. Paolo Carignani Director ...................................................................... Joel Ivany Assistant Director .................................................. Brenna CornerD Set Designer ............................................................. Michael Yeargan Costume Designer ................................................. François St-Aubin Lighting Designer................................................... Jason Hand Set & Costume Design Co-ordinator .............. Camellia Koo Chorus Master ......................................................... Sandra Horst^*** Stage Manager ........................................................ Stephanie Marrs SURTITLES™ Producer ......................................... Gunta Dreifelds Performance time is approximately three hours including one intermission * Karine Boucher’s performance is generously sponsored by Colleen Sexsmith ** Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure’s performance is generously sponsored by Margaret Harriett Cameron and the late Gary Smith *** Sandra Horst and the COC Chorus are generously underwritten by Tim and Frances Price 1 April 12, 17, 23, 30, May 4, 6, 13, 15 2 April 20, 28, May 8, 10, 12 3 April 12, 17, 23, 30, May 4, 6, 13 4 April 20, 28, May 8, 10, 12, 15 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. GO SCENT FREE: In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid wearing perfumed beauty products and fragrances. 4 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 Don José (Brian Hymel) arrests Carmen (Rinat Shaham) in the COC’s 2010 production. CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 5 Did you know Carmen has been played in Toronto longer than pro hockey? It’s true! Carmen had its world premiere in 1875 in Paris. Only four years later, on March 5, 1879 it premiered in Toronto, garnering favourable reviews, including this tidbit from the Evening Telegram: “It is as a whole, however, fairly endowed with sprightly passages and pleasing melody… Many passages are interspersed throughout in which the rhythm is most graceful and others are of dashing liveliness.” The Toronto Professional Hockey Club, the city’s first professional ice hockey team, was founded 27 years after Carmen’s premiere, in 1906. 6 CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2015/2016 Director’s Notes Synopsis I am honoured to be making my mainstage directing ACT I debut at the Canadian Opera Company. This is my Micaëla, a young peasant girl, is searching for her beloved, home company and the company that gave me my first the corporal Don José. During the changing of the guard, opportunity. a group of women take a break from their work at a cigar factory. One of them, Carmen, has many admirers but Why Carmen and why now? Carmen is not a new opera. It she tries to attract the attention of Don José who remains has stood the test of time to emerge as one of the best- indifferent to her, despite the flower she has tossed at loved works in the operatic canon. I can’t help but feel that him. A short time later, the beautiful Carmen is arrested this piece was the entertainment of the time. Everything following a fracas with another factory worker, and Don about this show is spectacle, busyness and excitement: José is assigned to arrest her. Falling under her spell, the