Today, Opéra de Montréal released an end-of-season round-up of facts and figures, also looking forward to next season, which will include a cross-Québec screening of the company’s recent Carmen production.
As mentioned in their press release, “A presentation of Carmen, which was recorded live last May, will be broadcast simultaneously in nearly 30 concert halls across Québec in the winter of 2020. Directed by filmmaker Charles Binamé, the opera showcases an all-Canadian cast and creative team—a great opportunity to showcase our local talent.”
Magali Simard-Galdès (Frasquita), Krista De Silva (Carmen) & Pascale Spinney (Mercédès) in Opéra de Montréal’s Carmen. Photo: Yves Renaud
This is a welcome follow-up to Opera Canada‘s recent, Fall 2018 cover story “Nowhere in sight…why are Canadian opera productions missing from the world of live-streaming?”
While this Opéra de Montréal Carmen endeavor may not technically be labeled a ‘live-stream’ it is a significant step forward for the case of opera on the big screen in Canada. As highlighted in our in-depth report on the state of opera live-streaming in Canada, it has been very difficult for any of our companies to achieve an ongoing streaming program.
It will be interesting to see if any other Canadian opera companies will be able to build on Opéra de Montréal’s example and establish a more sustained presence on the big screen.
Angela Bell is Opera Canada’s Digital Media Specialist. She has held digital and PR roles with various businesses including the Walt Disney Company, Sullivan Entertainment and Toronto International Film Festival.
