Who We Are

Opera Atelier – Toronto’s Premier Period Opera and Ballet Company

Opera Atelier is a renowned opera and ballet company dedicated to creating historically-informed, period productions that serve as complete artistic statements. Each production is meticulously crafted from the ground up, with equal focus on music, dance, acting, and design—all performed on authentic period instruments.

Committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Opera Atelier integrates these principles into every facet of its administrative and artistic initiatives, fostering a welcoming and diverse environment.

While Opera Atelier’s core repertoire spans from Monteverdi to Mozart, the company also explores later works by composers such as Beethoven, Massenet, and Debussy. By doing so, Opera Atelier aligns itself with leading international ensembles and conductors who perform period-instrument productions at major venues worldwide to critical acclaim.

The company is also passionate about commissioning new music for period instruments and developing original works. At Opera Atelier, the heart of period production lies in deeply understanding the original intentions of composers, choreographers, and librettists—enabling artists to challenge themselves creatively in the 21st century. Rather than a museum piece, each period production is a fresh creation with its own place in history.

Opera Atelier collaborates closely with Tafelmusik, Canada’s internationally acclaimed period-instrument orchestra. Recently, the company has partnered with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music across classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk, and blues styles.

Since its founding, Opera Atelier has championed a diverse group of Canadian artists and remains dedicated to training the next generation of Canadian singers, dancers, designers, and technicians through apprenticeships and intensive workshops focused on historically informed performance practices.

Opera Atelier is committed to expanding its audience and making period opera and ballet accessible to a broad and diverse public through national touring, community education programs, and innovative use of media.

Led since 1985 by founding Artistic Directors Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, Opera Atelier has earned international acclaim with performances across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Continuously evolving, Opera Atelier embraces artistic risks and reimagines opera and ballet as compelling, modern storytelling for today’s audiences.