Thoughts About the Production: Saturday January 18, 2014

The Canadian Opera Company's production of 'Cosi Fan Tutte' opens tonight. One of the best operatic productions I've seen to this day was a performance of the work by the COC back in the early 1990's.

The music lends itself to narrative flows Directors seek to achieve magnificently. As is always the case with Mozart, it's filled with character insight but also leaves plenty of space to incorporate the movement needed to keep a production from becoming static. There's less athleticism required of the singers and no extreme effects such as having the gates of hell opening so keeping the staging plausible while keeping the story flowing is simpler. Belief does have to be suspended to accept the idea the women wouldn't recognize their lovers but that's part of the fun.

Either that or there's plenty of material for a slew of new blonde jokes. Viewers choice.

The singers whose work I'm familiar with in this production are fabulous. Robert Gleadow gave the character of 'Publio' in last years production of 'La Clemenza di Tito' an unprecedented amount of depth, and also, a comic presence that worked beautifully. Wallis Guinta is a chameleon. Her transformation for the character 'Annio', in the same production, was astounding. Sir Thomas Allen has graced stages and recordings with his fabulous presence for ages. It'll be great to see him on the stage of The Four Season's Centre.

Director Atom Egoyan's work often explores dark material and he has a perfect vehicle here. In may ways this late opera by Mozart makes the darkest statement because the characters are so down to earth. The score has been described as the most perfectly symmetrical of all his operas and it lends itself to stagings beautifully.

This will be great.

Brian Hay, January 18, 2014

The COC's Production of 'Cosi Fan Tutte' at a Glance

Renowned Canadian film and stage director Atom Egoyan (directing Salome, 2013) returns to the COC with a new production of Mozart’s sublime musical depiction of the frailties of the human condition, Così fan tutte. Egoyan’s concept takes its inspiration from the opera’s subtitle, The School for Lovers. He approaches the production as one where love is examined, dissected and manipulated, exploring the themes of love, temptation and deceit in this wry comedy about two couples gambling with one another’s faith and desire. Award-winning set and costume designer Debra Hanson makes her opera debut with Così fan tutte and, with Egoyan, creates a production that stylistically progresses through time from the 18th-century to present day. Led by COC Music Director Johannes Debus with the COC Orchestra and Chorus, this new production features a cast of up-and-coming opera talent in the roles of the young lovers, alongside distinguished veterans. Cast as the sisters are two Canadians: soprano Layla Claire in her COC debut as Fiordiligi and Ensemble Studio graduate mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta (Annio in La clemenza di Tito, 2013) as Dorabella. Singing the roles of the sisters’ two suitors are American tenor Paul Appleby in his COC debut as Ferrando and COC Ensemble graduate bass-baritone Robert Gleadow (Steersman in Tristan und Isolde, 2013; Publio in La clemenza di Tito, 2013) as Guglielmo. World-renowned Canadian soprano Tracy Dahl makes a highly anticipated return to the COC stage after a 19-year-long absence, in the role of the conniving Despina. Sir Thomas Allen, one of the finest lyric baritones on the world stage, makes his COC debut as the wily Don Alfonso. COC resident conductor Derek Bate leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus for one performance. Così fan tutte was last performed on the COC mainstage in 2006 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM. The production runs for 10 performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on January 18, 24, 29, February 1, 6, 7*, 9, 15, 18, 21, 2014

* Ensemble Studio Performance of Cosi Fan Tutte on Friday February 2, 2014

The young singers of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio perform Mozart’s Così fan tutte on February 7, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. on the mainstage. This special performance stars the Ensemble members with the full COC Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of Così fan tutte’s conductor Johannes Debus and director Atom Egoyan. For casting, please visit the COC website at coc.ca. Tickets are accessibly priced at $25 and $55 per person.

Ticket Information

Now on sale, subscriptions to the seven mainstage productions for the COC’s 13/14 season range from $184 to $1,311, with Grand Ring (box level) seat subscriptions available at $1,913, and may be purchased online at coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office, 145 Queen St. W., Toronto. Prices include HST.

Single tickets to all of the COC’s 13/14 season productions are available to the public as of August 24, 2013. Single ticket prices range from $45 to $224 ($49 to $246 for La Bohème), with Grand Ring (box level) seat tickets available at $271 and $332 ($298 and $365 for La Bohème). Prices include HST.

Young People

Special young people’s tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $24 to $112 ($26 to $123 for La Bohème), including HST. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15 years of age or under, accompanied by, and sitting next to an adult.

Opera Under 30

Young adults between the ages of 16 and 29 may purchase specially priced $22 tickets through the COC’s Opera Under 30 program approximately two weeks prior to each of the fall, winter and spring seasons: September 21, 2013; December 7, 2013; and March 22, 2014. Program patrons may opt to pay $35, whereby their tickets are automatically upgraded to the best available the morning of the performance they are attending. A total of 150 seats for Opera Under 30, each priced at $22, will be available for every COC performance. Opera Under 30 is presented by TD Bank Group.

Standing Room

Standing Room tickets, priced at $12, go on sale at 11 a.m. the day of a performance.

Rush Seats

Rush seats, starting at $25, go on sale at 11 a.m. on the morning of each performance at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office, subject to availability.

Acknowledgements

The COC’s new production of Così fan tutte has been generously underwritten in part by BMO Financial Group

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLES™: Sun Life Financial

Official Automotive Sponsor of the COC at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: Jaguar Land Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

Digital Marketing Sponsor: Delvinia

The COC Ensemble Studio, underwritten in part by Peter M. Deeb and The Slaight Family Foundation, is Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is also supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Foundation and other generous donors.

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The COC enjoys a loyal audience support-base and one of the highest attendance and subscription rates in North America. Under its leadership team of General Director Alexander Neef and Music Director Johannes Debus, the COC is increasingly capturing the opera world’s attention. The COC maintains its international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation by creating new productions within its diverse repertoire, collaborating with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracting the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the Four Seasons Centre opened in 2006, and is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada. For more information on the COC, visit its award-winning website, coc.ca

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