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Opera 5 is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Derventzis as Artistic Director of Opera 5. Jessica’s appointment follows the recent departure of Aria Umezawa from the role. Jessica is no stranger to Opera 5. She has worked with Opera 5 since 2016 as Production Manager, as well as co-directing the company’s 2016 production of Die Fledermaus, and directing the ground-breaking production of Suffragette in June 2017. Previous to these positions, Jessica was a volunteer for Opera 5 since 2014. Jessica next directs Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opera 5 in June 2018.

The Board of Directors and the current staff could not be more thrilled to work with Jessica in a deeper artistic way to shape the future direction of Opera 5. Jessica is exactly the collaborative and visionary artist who will help take Opera 5 to the next level.

Since Jessica has been working for years with Opera 5, her transition to Artistic Director has been easy, and Jessica has quickly come up to speed in her new position. The team trusts Jessica to continue to set Opera 5 apart in the independent opera scene in Toronto.

Jessica Derventzis began her career in the arts with studies in piano performance at Queen’s University where she simultaneously worked as an accompanist for opera productions and collaborating with singers in the Voice Department.  Following graduation, Jessica taught theatre studies at the High School level for five years directing over twenty productions while mentoring her students to achieve a well-rounded theatrical education, including acting, designing, technical theatre, and theatre history.  Leaving teaching to pursue a professional career in opera, she has worked as a director and assistant director with Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Winnipeg Opera, Vancouver Opera, Tapestry Opera, Opera Kelowna, Opera McGill, Opera Nuova and more. Jessica is also very active in and has deep connections to the indie opera scene. Under her own company, Stu&Jess Productions, Jessica has produced three programs in Montreal in eclectic and unique venues. She currently holds a place on the executive committee of Indie Opera TO and most recently was awarded the Metcalf Foundation Performing Arts Internship grant for 2018 to work with Tapestry Opera on directing, dramaturgy, and artistic direction.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia

by Rossini

Factory Theatre – Mainspace Theatre – 125 Bathurst St

June 13, 2018 7:30pm – June 15, 2018 7:30pm – June 17, 2018 2pm

Opera 5 presents Rossini’s classic comedy with a larger than life cast and crew that will sizzle. Check out our amazing team!

Creative Team

Jessica Derventzis
Director
Evan Mitchell
Music Director
Melania Radelicki
Stage Manager
Erin Gerofsky
Production Designer
Jennifer Lennon
Lighting Designer
Trevor Chartrand
Repetiteur and Coach
Anna Spencer
Assistant Stage Manager

Cast

Stephanie Tritchew
Rosina
Johnathon Kirby
Figaro
Kevin Myers
Il Conte d'Almaviva
Jeremy Ludwig
Bartolo
Giles Tomkins
Basilio
Megan Miceli
Berta
Danlie Rae Acebuque
Fiorello

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

16 Ryerson Ave
Toronto ON M5T 2P3
Suffragette
Fête Galante and The Boatswain’s Mate
by Dame Ethel Smyth

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.

SUFFRAGETTE

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

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‘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!

Buy Tickets

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:

Buy Tickets

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


The team at Opera 5 is so excited to launch our new website. It has been in the works for a while and we are so happy to provide a place for you where you can discover all things Opera 5, from our upcoming events, to web series, to information on our Symphonic Shows for Pops audiences and Children, to social media pages and ways to support Opera 5. We hope you enjoy!

Trabed’s Opera Training Wheels
April 3, 2016
2:30 p.m.
Grand Theatre, Kingston, ON

More than just ladies in horns, this family-friendly introduction will give you all the tools you need to navigate any opera. Join Trabed the Puppet as he learns the difference between a soprano and a tenor. Discover why mezzo-sopranos always wear pants. Come for the root beer floats, stay for the balloon hammers and fake moustaches. This unique production features the artists of Opera 5, a Toronto-based company known for its tongue-in-cheek interpretations of opera on the internet. Trabed’s Opera Training Wheels is a fun and engaging way to uncover what makes this art form so special.

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Aria Umezawa and Trabed the puppet, hosts

Adrian Kramer, tenor

Rachel Krehm, soprano

Benjamin Covey, baritone

Aidan Ferguson, mezzo-soprano

You can buy tickets here.