What a relief it is to at last be able to talk about our 2011/12 Season and to publish the gorgeous images we’ve created for each production. There are wonderful stories behind the photo shoot for both Don Giovanni and Armide and I look forward to filling you in on some of the details over [...]
Posts under ‘News & Features’
Tickets to Acis and Galatea on sale now!
Finally we are able to offer single tickets for Acis and Galatea to our loyal supporters who have not yet become subscribers! This is something of a relief, given the number of people who, for weeks have been asking me when they may purchase their tickets. We’ve chosen Handel’s ravishing pastorale Acis and Galatea to [...]
First Time Ever! Opera Atelier is having a costume sale…
Opera Atelier is having a costume sale for the first time in the company’s history!!! 25 years ago I would never have believed such a thing could be possible, but now it seems incredible that we have waited this long. The first time I ever encountered a major costume sale was more than a decade [...]
The worst kept secret of the Toronto music scene
Well, I have finally been given permission to announce what must be the worst kept secret of the Toronto music scene, namely, that the Canadian superstar Measha Brueggergosman will be joining Opera Atelier in our 25th anniversary season. She will sing the role of a lifetime – the role of Vitellia in OA’s North American [...]
We have now completed two performances of Figaro and I could not be happier!
We have now completed two performances of Figaro and I could not be happier! The performers have lost none of their edge and the production continues to grow and change every time the artists step onto the stage. The reviews are fantastic but what really thrills me are the number of non official reviews which [...]
Double your gift with OA’s matching campaign
Just a reminder that Anna Guthrie – one of Opera Atelier’s nearest and dearest supporters — has, for the second year in a row, pledged to match all new and increased donations up to $25,000 as a kick start for an OA matching campaign. Make your donation prior to June 30, 2009 and Anna (bless [...]
Relive Poppea from home!
This morning I was standing on the corner of Queen and Yonge waiting for the light to change, and a delightful young woman I had never met before came rushing up to tell me how much she has loved Poppea. She went on to explain that she has been attending OA performances for the past [...]
Tafelmusik enters the scene…
This is an extremely exciting morning for all of us at Opera Atelier. After a week of continuo rehearsals, the entire orchestra has now arrived and Tafelmusik is as excited about playing Poppea as we are staging it. What makes this day doubly thrilling is that we are now able to show you excerpts of [...]
OA artist coming to town…
I’ve just spent the morning and early afternoon watching our archival video of Opera Atelier’s 2003 production of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride. Despite my familiarity with the production I am still astonished by the brave and committed performances of our three principal characters, Kristina Szabo (Iphigénie), Daniel Belcher (Oreste), and Colin Ainsworth (Pylade). They broke [...]
OA favourites in 09/10 photoshoot
While we were busy photographing Jack, Jeannette and Curtis (my favourite “models”) were getting into wigs and makeup for the next photo session which took place downstairs in the beautiful Great Hall of our building. Having had a large bed, antique linen and hundreds of yards of silk delivered, Gerard Gauci worked his usual magic [...]