Following the recent state of emergency declared in Ontario and the ongoing public closures due to precautions around the spread of COVID-19, the Canadian Opera Company is cancelling all upcoming performances and events for the remainder of the 2019/2020 season. 

Cancellations include the company’s mainstage productions of Aida and The Flying Dutchman, which had been set to run for seven performances each, from April 18 to May 16. 

All 23 remaining performances in the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre have also been cancelled, along with a number of community programs and events. The COC’s spring fundraising events, Operanation and the Fine Wine Auction, will not take place as scheduled, but are slated to resume in the company’s 2020/2021 season.

Both the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and the company’s administrative office at 227 Front St. E. remain closed to the public until further notice, with full-time staff continuing to work off-site.

The COC Box Office is currently operating remotely, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to  2 p.m. on Saturdays. Ticketing requests and subscription orders will be processed through online forms and email only, and all ticketing inquiries can be directed to tickets@coc.ca.

Members of the COC Ensemble Studio are continuing their training remotely, using video conferencing and other online tools to access and interact with instructors and staff advisers. The young artists will also take part in a virtual roundtable with cast members of the COC’s Aida, giving them the opportunity to learn from the visiting artists’ expertise. 

Throughout these closures, the company is exploring new and innovative ways to connect with audiences virtually. This includes #OperaAtHome, a digital initiative that highlights favourite moments from past COC productions, as well as new performances and tutorials, safely recorded and shared by COC artists and friends from their homes. In the weeks to follow, the COC will share more about planned lectures and panels that are being re-imagined for an online experience.

For more information, visit coc.ca.