Tapestry Opera is driving live music to Toronto’s neighbourhoods this summer with an innovative curbside delivery program, Box Concerts (#BoxConcerts), a core initiative of Tapestry’s “Immune to Cancellation” Season.

In collaboration, Distillery District neighbours Soulpepper Theatre Company  and Tapestry Opera have built a compact travelling “box stage” to deliver singers and instrumentalists across the city. Box Concerts will offer free curbside concerts to community centres, carehomes and frontline workers, delivering world-class performers to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Torontonians who are missing the thrill of live music and theatre can book a performance to enjoy from their own porches, or donate a performance to a worthy health facility or community area.

The pilot project offers two concerts: Classic Musical Theatre & Opera and Classical Cello. Private performances can be booked for $150 per performance.

Artistic Directors Michael Hidetoshi  Mori of Tapestry Opera and Weyni Mengesha of Soulpepper were enthusiastic about new possibilities for safe, outdoor live performance and for finding ways to reach communities and people in need of connection, music and inspiration.

“So many of us are stuck at home feeling isolated and screen-saturated. This innovative “boxed” stage goes a long way towards helping us feel connected and engaged. It’s also acreative way for Tapestry Opera and Soulpepper to keep artists employed during this time of massive cancellations.”

- Michael Hidetoshi Mori, General and Artistic Director, Tapestry Opera

“It is more important than ever to find ways to safely bring humans together and to use theatre and music to help our communities and front line workers heal and recover. We are happy to support our neighbours Tapestry Opera in building this stage and look forward to bringing music and joy to those in need of it.”

- Weyni Mengesha, Artistic Director, Soulpepper

To learn more or to donate or book a Box Concert to a curbside near you, visit our website tapestryopera.com.

ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA
Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company that is dedicated solely to creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world class singers and musicians. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera.

Photo: Mock-up for “Box Concerts”. © 2020 Rachel Forbes.