COC Ensemble Studio Competition Winner

The Canadian Opera Company held the first ever Ensemble Studio Competition last night, at the Four Seasons Centre. Here are the details from this mornings press release:

MONTREAL’S SASHA DJIHANIAN WINS INAUGURAL COC ENSEMBLE STUDIO COMPETITION

Toronto – Soprano Sasha Djihanian, a native of Montreal, claimed the top prize last night at the inaugural Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, selected from 10 finalists to receive the $5,000 award. Soprano Claire de Sévigné, also from Montreal, won the second prize of $3,000 and tenor Owen McCausland from Saint John, New Brunswick was awarded the third prize of $1,500. In addition, Sudbury soprano Lindsay Barrett was selected by the audience as the winner of the Audience Choice Award, worth $1,500.

The 10 finalists from across Canada were selected from over 160 singers in preliminary auditions in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and New York. Each finalist performed two arias with piano accompaniment in front of a live audience and an adjudicator panel comprised of COC General DirectorAlexander Neef, Music Administrator Sandra Gavinchuk, Head of the Ensemble Studio Liz Upchurch, and guest judges Opera Canada editor Wayne Gooding, and Canadian soprano, voice teacher, and Ensemble Studio alumna Wendy Nielsen.

“The audience at last night’s competition was treated to an exclusive preview of the exceptionally bright future of Canadian operatic talent,” says COC General Director Alexander Neef. “All of the finalists tonight demonstrated remarkable skill, and the prize winners impressed the judges and tonight’s audience with their technique and rich tone, as well their intelligent and emotional delivery. Following all of these young artists’ careers is going to be a pleasure for me personally and for our audiences as well.”

In addition to the four cash prizes, the finalists were competing for highly coveted positions in the2012/2013 COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. The competition marked the first time in COC history that the final auditions for the Ensemble Studio were held in front of a public audience. Taking into account the performances at last night’s Ensemble Studio Competition, COC artistic staff will now finalize the lineup of the 12/13 Ensemble Studio. The full lineup will be announced in the new year. The 12/13 Ensemble Studio members will be joining an illustrious program that, since its inception in 1980, has launched the careers of over 150 Canadian singers, opera coaches, stage directors and conductors, including Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, David Pomeroy, Joseph Kaiser, Lauren Segal and Krisztina Szabó.

Click the header for more details about the event.


Check out the photos from the night here.

Preview: Iphigenia in Tauris

Opera is back! Opening tomorrow night at the COC, for eight performances only, is Gluck's incredibly moving, Iphigenia in Tauris. This electrifying opera sees the return of Robert Carsen to the COC as director. The stelar cast includes Susan Graham, Russell Braun, Joseph Kaiser and Mark S Doss. Several of whom, including Carsen, Graham and Doss, performed Iphigenia in Tauris to critical acclaim in the San Francisco Opera Company production, in 2007. The show has since travelled the world, with stops in Chicago and London. This production is produced in part by Lyric Opera of Chicago, The San Francisco Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Graham, in her COC debut, is said to be unmissable in this one, so if you are a fan of the opera, or would just like to try it out, this is your chance. Iphigenia in Tauris launches what is sure to be a terrific 2011/12 season at the COC. Don't forget if you are under 30 you can get tickets as cheap as $22 dollars. Single tickets for any opera this season are also available. Click the header for more information or call 416.363.8231.

Check out what conductor Pablo-Heras Casado has to say about the show below.

Preview: Ariadne auf Naxos

Coming at the end of the month, for eight performances, to the Four Season's is Strauss's opera Ariadne auf Naxos. Ariadne marks the debut of legendary conductor Sir. Andrew Davis, at the COC.

In this madcap opera, the backstage antics are brought forth for the audiences' delight. Comedy, romance and drama clash in this opera inside of an opera. One of Strauss's most memorable operas it is a delight for both seasoned opera fans and novices. And with all of the exciting ticket offers on at the COC everyone can enjoy a night out at the opera.

Ariadne auf Naxos opens April 30th with productions running on various dates throughout May. Click the header for specific dates and ticket information. And check out the preview below.

The Canadian Opera Company - La Cenerentola

The Canadian Opera Company spring season starts off with a bang next month. Gioacchino Rossini's classic rendition of Cinderella, La Cenerentola kicks things off, beginning April 23rd and running on various dates until the end of May. The opera hasn't been seen at the COC since 1996. This version, of La Cenerentola, come from the acclaimed Houston Grand Opera production, which was described as, "a riot of color with sophisticated comedy, just oozing with mirth." (Houston Chronicle). Italian conductor Leonardo Vordoni is making its COC debut with this production, as is the Spanish theatre trope Els Comediants and director Joan Font.

It is also exciting to note that this season the COC is introducing standing room tickets for $12.00 a piece, available beginning at 11 am on the morning of each performance, at the Four Seasons Box Office. Standing room isn't for the fair-weather opera fan. But for serious opera lovers getting to see world class opera for such a good price is going to be amazing. Patrons fifteen and under can also get great deals when accompanied by a sitting adult. Tickets go as low as $31.00. And for Patron's under thirty, $22.00 tickets are available online and at the box office beginning Saturday April 9th at 10 am . Rush tickets can be purchased, subject to availability, at the box office the morning of each performance beginning at 11 am. Rush tickets are also $22.00 each.

And for all of you designers and creative types out there, click here to learn more about the COC's Cinderella outfit challenge. The winner gets an opera package worth over $3,000. The contest involves creating a doll's dress inspired by Cinderella, and submitting it to the COC, by April 3rd. Check out the cute promo below.

Special Event at the COC

This Thursday evening, the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio is presenting, The Magic Flute, with the full COC orchestra. Thursday's performance is a special addition to the season, and if our experience at Operanation is anything to go on, it is sure to be an amazing night of opera. Ambur Braid, who we saw live at the Operanation event with Broken Social Scene, is singing the iconic Queen of the Night role. She heads a cast full of up-and-comers in the company. These singers might still be considered opera apprentices but you could have fooled us. The talent level within the Ensemble Studio is considerable. Even if you are an opera novice, The Magic Flute is a great night of music and spectacle. And with tickets starting as low as $20, we'd say it is a not to be missed event.

Click the header for ticket information.