English pianist, coach, and mentor Liz Upchurch has much to celebrate this season. 2019 marks her 20th year as Head of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio—a position that has confirmed her place as a central figure and mentor among Canada’s opera artists. It’s...
Edmonton composer John Estacio’s immigrant Portuguese family lived on a farm north of Toronto. When John was a child his family’s budget precluded music lessons at first, but at age eleven they purchased him an accordion. In junior high a teacher he’d known since...
Opera Canada is proud to announce the three distinguished honourees who will receive the 2019 Opera Canada Awards for their exemplary contributions to the industry: Benjamin Butterfield, tenor and vocal pedagogue Liz Upchurch, Head, Canadian Opera Company Ensemble...
October 22, 2018 - The 18th annual Opera Canada Awards — 'The Rubies,' was a stupendous success. Our sold out gala brought together members of the opera community from across the country including Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montréal, Victoria, as well as guests from across...
For the first time in its 18-year history, the 2018 Rubies is honouring one of its own. Fittingly it’s Wayne Gooding, the recently retired editor of Opera Canada. Wayne joined OC in 1992 as a volunteer board member. Soon he was drafted to assume the role of Chair of...
Soprano and vocal pedagogue Dominique Labelle feels honoured to receive one of this year’s Opera Canada Awards (a ‘Ruby’). “It is humbling but heart-warming to be recognised by your country and your peers.” Dominique Labelle adds with a wistful grin, “in addition the...
Opera Canada Awards 2018 honouree, Alexander Neef, is in a thoughtful mood as he looks back on his time with the Canadian Opera Company. “It was a pretty unique situation,” he says, recalling his arrival in Toronto in 2008, “of a company that had just built one of the...
Our 2018 Opera Canada Awards: The Rubies honoree Dominique Labelle was recognized in a New York Times article last week for her vocal artistry and depth of character portrayal (with a nice shout-out to Opera Canada!) Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, a classical music...
Opera Canada is proud to announce the three distinguished honourees who will receive the 2018 Opera Canada Awards for their exemplary contributions to the industry: Wayne Gooding, opera educator and Editor, Opera Canada (1994-2017) Dominique Labelle, soprano and vocal...
On Mon. Oct. 31, Opera Canada Publications held its 17th annual Opera Canada Awards, a.k.a. the 'Rubies'. Each year, this event honours three outstanding contributors to opera in Canada, or those who further the cause of Canadians working in opera abroad. The 2017...
Opera Canada's 18th annual awards gala The Rubies is quickly approaching. On October 30, three honourees will be recognised for their contributions to Canadian opera, and among the recipients is accomplished director and librettist Michael Patrick Albano. As Associate...
On October 30, Opera Canada hosts its 18th annual awards gala The Rubies. One of this year’s three honourees is Yves Abel, Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philarmonie. Originally from Toronto, Abel’s career spans over twenty years and is truly international....