The season continues in the spring of 2009 with the return of Opera Atelier’s internationally acclaimed production of The Coronation of Poppea, Claudio Monteverdi’s final masterpiece.  This lavish spectacle of love, power and greed is based on the true story of Poppea, Nero’s fiercely ambitious mistress, who aspires to be Empress of the Roman Empire and who will resort to any means – treachery, seduction, and murder – in order to realize her goal.

Canadian mezzo soprano Kimberly Barber makes her Opera Atelier debut in the role of Nero and soprano Peggy Kriha Dye returns to sing the role of Poppea.  They are joined byOlivier Laquerre (Ottone), Laura Pudwell (Arnalta/Virtue), João Fernandes (Seneca), Carla Huhtanen (Drusilla), Jennie Such (Fortune/Venus), Vicki St. Pierre (Nurse), Curtis Sullivan (Liberto), Artists of Atelier Ballet, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir under the baton of conductor David Fallis.  The Coronation of Poppea will besung in Italian with English SURTITLES^TM and runs April 25, 26, 28, 29, May 1 and 2, 2009.