The Canadian Opera Company reopens the doors to the recently renovated Canadian Opera Company Theatre with Fantasma, a new work by composer former COC Composer-in-Residence Ian Cusson and playwright Colleen Murphy.

The opera follows best friends Léa and Ivy, as they stumble upon a dark secret when visiting a boisterous, old-fashioned carnival. Their ghostly discovery confronts them with an age-old dilemma: when faced with another person’s suffering, do you turn away, or try to help?

The opera features a number of current Ensemble Studio artists cast in leading roles, and explores the universal themes of death, violence, compassion, and having the courage to insist on being heard.

Former COC Director/Dramaturg-in-Residence Julie McIsaac joins the creative team as director and dramaturg, along with a number of current Ensemble Studio artists cast in leading roles; these include: sopranos Jamie Groote and Midori Marsh as Léa and Ivy; tenor Matthew Cairns as the carnival worker Emile; and soprano Charlotte Siegel in the role of Léa’s mother Manon. Set design and costumes from Camellia Koo, executed by Design Co-ordinator Jung-Hye Kim, and lighting by Mikael Kangas infuse the atmosphere with whimsy, nostalgia, and mystery in this haunting, contemporary ghost story.

FANTASMA

By Ian Cusson

*WORLD PREMIERE*

Four performances:

March 9 and 10, 2022 at 7:30 P.M.

March 12, 2022 at 1 P.M. and 7:30 P.M.

Ticket Information

All performances take place at the Canadian Opera Company Theatre (227 Front St. E., at Berkeley St.). Visit www.coc.ca for more on single-ticket pricing.