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Not many composers can claim that their work directly affected the rights and freedoms of millions of people. While Dame Ethel Smyth’s name may not be known to many even within the classical music sphere, her contributions as an ardent supporter of the suffragette movement in England and her achievements as a woman composer at the turn of the century helped empower and pave the way for many women to demand equal rights and opportunities.

Opera 5 presents Suffragette – a double bill of operas by Dame Ethel Smyth. The evening will showcase the range of Smyth’s work with O5 flair featuring Fête Galante and the feminist opera The Boatswain’s Mate. With the Suffragette movement in mind, Opera 5 has a completely female production team leading Suffragette. Accompanied by a chamber orchestra performing composer-original reductions edited by Valerie Langfield.

Suffragette will be presented at Theatre Passe Muraille – The Mainspace

Suffragette Dates

Thursday June 22 at 7:30pm

Friday June 23 at 7:30pm

Saturday June 24 at 7:30pm

Sunday June 25 at 6pm

Ticket Prices

VIP (Includes entry to post show party): $50*

General Admission: $35

Student: $25

*Available June 22 and 25 only

Tickets available through the Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) Box Office

Tickets are also available by calling the TPM Box Office at 416-504-7529

Suffragette Production Team

Director: Jessica Derventzis

Assistant Director: Madison Angus

Production Designer: Erin Gerofsky

Lighting Designer: Jennifer Lennon

Stage Manager: Brittney Wernicke

Assistant Stage Manager: Madison Angus

Suffragette Musical Team

Music Director: Evan Mitchell

Repetiteur: Trevor Chartrand

Featuring the Opera 5 Chamber Orchestra

Suffragette Cast

Fête Galante

King: Jean-Philippe McClish

Queen: Eugenia Dermentzis

Columbine: Elizabeth Polese

Pierrot: Alan MacDonald

Harlequin: Jonathan MacArthur

The Lover: Kevin Myers

Puppets: Alexandra Smither, Michaela Dickey, Asitha Tennekoon and Jeremy Ludwig

The Boatswain’s Mate

Mrs. Waters: Alexandra Smither

Harry Benn: Asitha Tennekoon

Ned Travers: Jeremy Ludwig

Mary-Ann: Michaela Dickey

The Policeman: Jean-Philippe McClish

Bar regulars: Kevin Myers, Jonathan MacArthur and Alan MacDonald

Opera 5 is excited to announce our production of Suffragette a double bill of “Fête Galante” and “The Boatswain’s Mate” by Dame Ethel Smyth.

The show will be presented in late June 2017 at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace – 16 Ryerson Ave.

Dame Smyth was the first woman composer to have an opera performed at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City (Der Wald, 1903); she composed The March of Women for the Women’s Social and Political Union, which became the anthem for the suffragette movement; and her opera The Wreckers is considered by some to be the most important English opera to be composed between the period of Purcell and Britten.

We have an exciting Canadian cast of singers. The show will be directed by Jessica Derventzis and conducted by Evan Mitchell and will feature a chamber ensemble reduction.

Stay tuned for ticket information and more details on the show!

Opera 5 presents our annual Fundraising event. This time an ugly sweater themed event:

Wednesday December 7, 2016 at 7:30pm

The Extension Room

30 Eastern Ave

‘Tis the season to be jolly! Come get into the holiday spirit at Opera 5’s annual fundraising gala. There will be candy grams (You go, Glen Coco!), carols, and delicious holiday treats! So don your ugliest holiday sweater and come Rock Around the Christmas Tree in support of our upcoming season!

Tickets:

$25-Student/Arts Worker (In advance online only for this price)

$35-General (In advance online only for this price)

$40-At the door

Click on the button to buy your tickets now!

Food and Drink Sponsor: The Merchant Tavern

Opera 5 will be announcing our Main Stage show for the 2016-2017 in December at Sing Along In Support, our Annual Fundraiser. For now we will tell you the show will be later June of 2017. If you want to be the first to know, make sure to get tickets for Sing Along in Support on December 7, 2016.

Buy tickets here:

Artistic Director of Opera 5 Aria Umezawa will be heading to San Fransisco for the year to work with San Fransisco Opera as an Adler Fellow in directing. She is the second ever director to receive this prestigious fellowship and the first Canadian and the first woman! Opera 5 is so proud of her achievement and can’t wait to see what she does in San Fransisco!

Aria will continue on as Artistic Director of Opera 5 during this fellowship.

Read more here