Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Canadian Children’s Opera Company is thrilled to announce the exciting lineup of it’s 2016/2017 Season. Founded by Ruby Mercer and Lloyd Bradshaw in 1968 to provide the children’s chorus for the Canadian Opera Company, the CCOC has gone on to become an internationally-recognized organization in the field of children’s opera.
The 2016/2017 season will see numerous collaborations with Toronto’s top performing arts organizations. Members of the CCOC will make two appearances with the Canadian Opera Company (The Magic Flute and Tosca), two with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Rings In Concert and Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton), and a repeat collaboration with The Art of Time Ensemble (To All a Good Night 2).
The Junior Divisions (children aged 3-10) will be presenting the world premiere of Mulligan’s Toy Shop, by Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum. CCOC Artistic Director Dean Burry discovered the work, written in 1987, at the Canadian Music Centre and has invited the composer to participate in the premiere.
The Canadian Youth Opera Chorus of the CCOC (for older choristers and changed male voices) will present Commedia, a celebration of commedia dell’arte, it’s connection to the world of opera and exploration of the timely fact that the Italian genre was the first in Europe to allow female performers.
The season continues with the main stage production of Brundibár by composer Hans Krása at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, March 2-5, 2017. Brundibár (Czech for bumblebee) premiered 75 years ago in an orphanage in Prague and was subsequently smuggled in to the Terezin Concentration Camp, where prisoners were allowed to continue creating and presenting music and art. The children’s opera was performed over 40 times providing moments of lightness in an otherwise bleak situation.
The CCOC is happy to announce a partnership with world-renowned filmmaker Malcolm Clarke, whose 2013 film The Lady in No. 6 won the Academy Award for Best Short Documentary for detailing the experiences of Terezin survivor Alice Herz-Sommer. The 2017 CCOC production of Brundibár will figure prominently in the production.
The opera will be conducted by CCOC Music Director Teri Dunn, and directed by innovative Toronto-based director Joel Ivany.
"I’m very excited to be returning to the Canadian Children’s Opera Company. This is a company that is dedicated to showing the incredible musical and theatrical gifts of children at all ages. This particular project is one of great importance. We remember our past, honour what they did, but also move forward and show what we have learned. Brundibár will have many layers and speak with such depth. I think this is such a meaningful project that Dean and the CCOC have dreamed up and I am looking forward to working on it." - Joel Ivany
The season wraps up with an international tour to Prague, Terezin, Kraków, Budapest and Vienna. The tour will include performances of Brundibár to mark the 75-anniversary of its premiere.
About the Canadian Children’s Opera Company
Currently in its 48th season, the CCOC consists of six choruses for ages 3 to 19 and is the only permanent children’s opera company in Canada. Led by Artistic Director Dean Burry, Managing Director Ken Hall, and Music Director Teri Dunn, the company engages young people in the vibrant world of opera by offering intensive musical and dramatic training and numerous professional performing experiences. In addition to their own concerts and opera productions, members regularly perform with the Canadian Opera Company and other major professional organizations, record, and tour nationally and internationally.
Our current season wraps up with The Hobbit, June 9-12, part of the CCOC-led Toronto Festival of Children’s Opera. For more details, visit www.canadianchildrensopera.com
Photo: CCOC member at the Musikverein, Vienna. ©Christine Okumura.
2016-05-09
Toronto: Canadian Children’s Opera Company announces its 49th season