And here's the COC's new season:
The season opens with a revival of Giacomo Puccini’s treasured masterpiece Madama Butterfly. A favourite amongst audiences, Madama Butterfly is the story of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly), a young geisha who marries an American naval officer only to be deserted when he takes an American wife. Her hope for his eventual return and her longing for a lifetime together, make the opera’s tragic ending even more heartbreaking. The cast is led by Romanian soprano Adina Nitescu and former COC Ensemble Studio soprano Yannick-Muriel Noah as the innocent Cio-Cio-San. Ms Nitescu, celebrated for her interpretation of the title roles in Madama Butterfly and Tosca, makes her COC debut. Ms Noah, who recently sang the title role in Catalani’s La Wally with Stadttheater Klagenfurt, also sang Tosca with the COC when she stepped in for two performances last season. Singing the role of Cio-Cio-San’s beloved B. F. Pinkerton are tenors David Pomeroy and Bryan Hymel. Mr. Pomeroy, a former Ensemble member, recently appeared with the COC in the critically-acclaimed From the House of the Dead, and in 2007 he sang the title role in Faust with the COC, as well as performing it at the Metropolitan Opera’s “Met in the Parks.†Mr. Hymel, who makes his COC debut in this role, will appear as Cavaradossi in Tosca with Opéra national de Bordeaux later this month. Mezzo-sopranos Allyson McHardy and Anita Krause sing the role of Cio-Cio-San’s devoted servant Suzuki, while Canadian baritones James Westman and Brett Polegato share the role of the kind-hearted American Consul, Sharpless. Madama Butterfly runs for 15 performances on September 26, 29, 30, October 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, and November 3, 2009 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™. .
The fall season continues with a world premiere of visionary Canadian director Robert Lepage’s new creation of Stravinsky’s works – The Nightingale and Other Short Fables. Mr. Lepage returns to the COC for the first time since the 1993 award-winning production of Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung, considered to be “one of the COC’s finest achievements†(Opera). The Nightingale and Other Short Fables includes The Nightingale, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, as well as the folk-based melodies of his darkly comic barnyard fable The Fox, and the jazz-tinged orchestral piece, Ragtime. This co-production with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Opéra national de Lyon, in collaboration with Robert Lepage’s production company Ex Machina, draws on storytelling traditions from both ancient and contemporary culture, incorporating the charm and mystery of southeast-Asian puppetry. Making her COC debut as the devoted Nightingale is Russian sensation, soprano Olga Peretyatko. Ms Peretyatko began her singing career with the Hamburg State Opera, and in 2007 was awarded the second prize at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition. The Fisherman, is sung by German tenor Lothar Odinius, and the Emperor is sung by bass Ilya Bannik. Rounding out the cast is COC favourite, bass Robert Pomakov as the Bonze, and contralto Maria Radner as Death, who along with Mr. Odinius, makes her COC debut. Former Ensemble baritone Peter Barrett is the Chamberlain. The Nightingale and Other Short Fables runs October 17, 20, 22, 24, 30, and November 1, 4, 5, 2009 and is sung in Russian with English SURTITLES™.
Opening the winter run is a COC revival of one of the world’s most popular operas, Georges Bizet’s Carmen. A tantalizing masterpiece of lyric theatre, Carmen is a tragic love story about the alluring gypsy’s seduction of a young soldier. Mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton, who returns to the COC for the first time since 1998, is the seductive Carmen. Tenor Bryan Hymel returns as the object of her desire, Don José. Micaëla, the young peasant girl in love with Don José, is sung by former Ensemble soprano Jessica Muirhead, who recently sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. French bass-baritone Paul Gay makes his COC debut singing Escamillo, the matador taken with Carmen. Former Ensemble bass Alain Coulombe sings Zuniga. The young and gifted Australian conductor Rory Macdonald leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus, and is joined by Australian director Justin Way, who has worked at numerous opera houses worldwide including the Royal Opera House, Opera Australia, and Washington National Opera.Carmen is a co-production with Opéra de Montréal and San Diego Opera, and runs January 27, 30, February 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, and 27, 2010 and is sung in French with English SURTITLES™.
One of Giuseppe Verdi’s penultimate operas, and considered by many to be his greatest tragedy, Otello continues the winter season. This new co-production with Welsh National Opera brings back some COC favourites both on and off stage. Based on the Shakespearean tragedy, Othello, a former slave has risen to the rank of general and has found love with his devoted wife, Desdemona. Iago, Otello’s lieutenant, plays on Otello’s main weakness, jealousy, and manipulates him causing Otello to lose everything. Returning to the COC to sing Verdi’s most demanding tenor role is COC favourite Clifton Forbis, Siegmund in the COC’s Ring Cycle. Iago is sung by American baritone Scott Hendricks, who last appeared as Rodrigue in the 2007 production of Don Carlos. Singing Desdemona is Italian soprano Tiziana Caruso. Ms Caruso, who recently sang Aida with Baltimore Opera and Teatro Verdi Trieste, makes her Canadian operatic debut. Returning to lead the COC Orchestra and Chorus is Italian conductor Paolo Olmi who was last with the COC for Don Carlos. Also returning to bring this heartwrenching opera to life is Norwegian Opera’s new artistic director Paul Curran, director of the COC’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Tosca. Otello runs February 3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 28, 2010 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™.
A revival of Richard Wagner’s haunting music drama, The Flying Dutchman opens the COC’s spring season. The story of a ship captain condemned by Satan to sail for eternity until he finds salvation in the unconditional love of a woman, is set to some of Wagner’s most gloriously romantic music. Making his COC debut singing the role of the Dutchman is Russian bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin. A specialist in Wagnerian repertoire, Mr. Nikitin has sung in Europe, the United States and Japan. Bass Mats Almgren, Rocco in this season’s Fidelio and Hagen in the COC’s Ring Cycle, sings Daland, a sea captain who gives the Dutchman his daughter’s hand in marriage. Senta, Daland’s daughter, is sung by soprano Julie Makerov, Rusalka in the upcoming production. Eric, in love with Senta, is sung by returning tenor Robert Künzli. Rounding out the cast is mezzo-soprano Barbara Dever as Mary, Senta’s nurse, and tenor Gordon Gietz, Don Ottavio in this season’s Don Giovanni, sings Daland’s Steersman. Making his debut in the orchestra pit as the COC’s Music Director leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus is Johannes Debus. COC resident conductor Derek Bate leads one performance, May 20, 2010. The Flying Dutchman runs April 24, 28, May 2, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 20, 2010 and is sung in German with English SURTITLES™.
Continuing the spring season is a COC premiere and Canada’s first fully-staged production of Gaetano Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. Based on Schiller’s play, Donizetti draws from the historical conflicts between Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Singing the lead role of Maria Stuarda is soprano Serena Farnocchia, Luisa Miller in the COC’s 2007 production. Bulgarian soprano Alexandrina Pendatchanska makes her company debut as Elisabetta. Tenor Eric Cutler makes his COC debut as Roberto, the Earl of Leicester and bass-baritone, Patrick Carfizzi, Doctor Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, is Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury. Music director of Pittsburgh Opera, conductor Anthony Walker makes his COC debut leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Director of the COC’s production of Il Trovatore in 2005, Stephen Lawless brings Donizetti’s compelling tragedy to life. Maria Stuarda, a Dallas Opera production, runs May 1, 4, 10, 13, 22, 26, 28, and 30, 2010 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™.
The 2009/10 season closes with a new production of Mozart’s early masterpiece Idomeneo. Idomeneo, King of Crete, returns home following victory in the Trojan War, when a sudden and violent storm overpowers his ship. He is saved by Neptune, God of the Sea, and in exchange for his life, rashly promises to sacrifice the first mortal he meets, but, when safe on shore he is horrified to encounter his only, and much-loved son Idamante. Making his COC debut singing Idomeneo is tenor Paul Groves, a Mozart specialist. COC favourite, Canadian mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, reprises the role of Idomeneo’s beloved son, Idamante. Ilia, in love with Idamante, a prisoner held on the Island of Crete by the king, is sung by renowned Armenian-Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, who most recently appeared as Mélisande in the COC’s production of Pelléas et Mélisande. American soprano Tamara Wilson, who makes her COC debut in the upcoming production of Simon Boccanegra, sings the role of the fiery Greek princess Elettra. The role of Arbace, the king’s trusted advisor, is sung by former Ensemble Studio tenor Michael Colvin. Returning to lead the COC Orchestra and Chorus is Mozart expert, conductor Harry Bicket, who last appeared with the company with Rodelinda in 2005. French director François de Carpentries, who directed Peter Grimes for Royal Opera House Covent Garden, makes his COC debut with this production. Idomeneo is a co-production with Opéra national du Rhin, and runs May 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 27, and 29, 2010 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLES™.
... and we get Johannes Debus as Music Director!
