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Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and one of the largest opera producers in North America. The COC performs at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, which was purpose-built for opera and ballet and is shared with the National Ballet of Canada.
The company was founded out of the University of Toronto's opera school in 1950 for commercial opera productions at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 1961, the company moved its home stage to the O'Keefe Centre (now known as Meridian Hall). In 2006, the company moved to the Four Seasons Centre.
After World War II, Arnold Walter, head of the Senior School at the University of Toronto's Toronto Conservatory, started an opera school at the Conservatory. He appointed Nicholas Goldschmidt as its pianist-conductor, and Broadway director Felix Brentano as its stage director. The opera school's first performance was an opera excerpt show at Hart House Theatre. This was followed by performances at the Eaton Auditorium, the Art Gallery of Toronto and the Royal Alexandra Theatre (Royal Alex). Brentano left in 1948, and Herman Geiger-Torel was hired as the stage director and professor at the school. The opera school collaborated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to create the CBC Opera Company, which produced radio productions using the opera school's students and staff. In 1949, the CBC Opera produced two live performances of Carmen at Massey Hall.
In 1949, Walter, Goldschmidt and Geiger-Torel announced that the "Royal Conservatory Opera Company" would mount an eight-day festival of three operas at the Royal Alex. Although its orchestra capacity was limited, the theatre was the closest that Toronto had to an opera house. Tympani, percussion and double basses had to be placed in box seats. The first Toronto Opera Festival was held from February 3–11, 1950, performing La Bohème, Rigoletto and Don Giovanni, directed by Goldschmidt and Geiger-Torel. The festival produced a profit of CA$2,000 (equivalent to $26,272 in 2025)
In November 1950, the University of Toronto forbade the Conservatory from being financially responsible for commercial productions. To continue to use the Conservatory's facilities, an independent opera company should be incorporated. This was the beginning of the company, and it was incorporated under the name of the "Opera Festival Association of Toronto." Goldschmidt was musical director, Geiger-Torel was stage director, and Ernest Rawley of the Royal Alex was the general manager. In 1951, the company decided going forth that it would produce three operas per festival, look for a rehearsal space independent of the Conservatory, and take productions on tour in Ontario.
In 1952, the Conservatory and the opera company hired Italian Ernesto Barbini (who had experience at the Metropolitan Opera [The Met]) as coach and conductor, and he conducted Madama Butterfly in the 1953 festival. That year, the company toured for the first time, taking Cosi fan tutte with piano accompaniment, to Peterborough. As well, the production of The Consul with soprano Theresa Gray, was considered a "ground-breaking triumph." In 1954, the company started a full tour of productions around Ontario to Hamilton, Kitchener and London. It branded itself as the Royal Conservatory Opera Company. The 1954 season hurt the company, leading to a loss of CA$10,000, which its guarantors had to pay.
The 1956 festival season was another disappointment, having its lowest income and poorest attendance (76 per cent). It lost CA$30,000, substantial for the time. The company added Ottawa to its tour. Geiger-Torel, offered a position at the Met, was given a raise and became the company's artistic director.
In 1957, the company again changed its branding, this time to "Canadian Opera Company (of Toronto)", retaining its Opera Festival Association legal name. It changed the festival's dates from February to October. This would enable Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) musicians to join the opera orchestra for performances. To help the board's finances, the Metropolitan Toronto government began giving an annual grant of CA$10,000. The Canadian Council for the Arts (Canada Council) gave CA$10,000 to help with touring. The 1957 tour added Montreal to its list of stops.
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Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and one of the largest opera producers in North America. The COC performs at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, which was purpose-built for opera and ballet and is shared with the National Ballet of Canada.
The company was founded out of the University of Toronto's opera school in 1950 for commercial opera productions at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 1961, the company moved its home stage to the O'Keefe Centre (now known as Meridian Hall). In 2006, the company moved to the Four Seasons Centre.
After World War II, Arnold Walter, head of the Senior School at the University of Toronto's Toronto Conservatory, started an opera school at the Conservatory. He appointed Nicholas Goldschmidt as its pianist-conductor, and Broadway director Felix Brentano as its stage director. The opera school's first performance was an opera excerpt show at Hart House Theatre. This was followed by performances at the Eaton Auditorium, the Art Gallery of Toronto and the Royal Alexandra Theatre (Royal Alex). Brentano left in 1948, and Herman Geiger-Torel was hired as the stage director and professor at the school. The opera school collaborated with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to create the CBC Opera Company, which produced radio productions using the opera school's students and staff. In 1949, the CBC Opera produced two live performances of Carmen at Massey Hall.
In 1949, Walter, Goldschmidt and Geiger-Torel announced that the "Royal Conservatory Opera Company" would mount an eight-day festival of three operas at the Royal Alex. Although its orchestra capacity was limited, the theatre was the closest that Toronto had to an opera house. Tympani, percussion and double basses had to be placed in box seats. The first Toronto Opera Festival was held from February 3–11, 1950, performing La Bohème, Rigoletto and Don Giovanni, directed by Goldschmidt and Geiger-Torel. The festival produced a profit of CA$2,000 (equivalent to $26,272 in 2025)
In November 1950, the University of Toronto forbade the Conservatory from being financially responsible for commercial productions. To continue to use the Conservatory's facilities, an independent opera company should be incorporated. This was the beginning of the company, and it was incorporated under the name of the "Opera Festival Association of Toronto." Goldschmidt was musical director, Geiger-Torel was stage director, and Ernest Rawley of the Royal Alex was the general manager. In 1951, the company decided going forth that it would produce three operas per festival, look for a rehearsal space independent of the Conservatory, and take productions on tour in Ontario.
In 1952, the Conservatory and the opera company hired Italian Ernesto Barbini (who had experience at the Metropolitan Opera [The Met]) as coach and conductor, and he conducted Madama Butterfly in the 1953 festival. That year, the company toured for the first time, taking Cosi fan tutte with piano accompaniment, to Peterborough. As well, the production of The Consul with soprano Theresa Gray, was considered a "ground-breaking triumph." In 1954, the company started a full tour of productions around Ontario to Hamilton, Kitchener and London. It branded itself as the Royal Conservatory Opera Company. The 1954 season hurt the company, leading to a loss of CA$10,000, which its guarantors had to pay.
The 1956 festival season was another disappointment, having its lowest income and poorest attendance (76 per cent). It lost CA$30,000, substantial for the time. The company added Ottawa to its tour. Geiger-Torel, offered a position at the Met, was given a raise and became the company's artistic director.
In 1957, the company again changed its branding, this time to "Canadian Opera Company (of Toronto)", retaining its Opera Festival Association legal name. It changed the festival's dates from February to October. This would enable Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) musicians to join the opera orchestra for performances. To help the board's finances, the Metropolitan Toronto government began giving an annual grant of CA$10,000. The Canadian Council for the Arts (Canada Council) gave CA$10,000 to help with touring. The 1957 tour added Montreal to its list of stops.
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