Opera 5 has loved working with so many incredible artists, creatives, and production teams over the years. Check out what we’ve been up to!

Our Past Seasons

2023 /

2024

"Threepenny Submarine Season 1 Trailer" with two puppet characters, a fox and a duck, and a red submarine.
Poster for "The Turn of the Screw" by Benjamin Britten, featuring a Victorian house illustration with a figure in a red cloak standing in front. Event dates June 12-15, 2024, at Theatre Passe Muraille, Mainspace. Supported by Ontario Arts Council. Opera 5 logo at bottom.

THREEPENNY SUBMARINE SEASON 1

Our 2023/2024 featured the release of season 1 of Threepenny Submarine! Click here to watch Iona and Lydian’s deep-sea adventure!

THE TURN OF THE SCREW

The Turn of the Screw brought together an exceptional team of Canadian artists and creatives for a fresh take on Britten’s spooky psychological thriller. The Turn of the Screw marked Opera 5’s return to live performance after Covid-19, and introduced the Opera Intern Program in partnership with Opera McGill. This exciting new program welcome six students into the production, allowing them to each cover a role, perform on one evening, participate in professional development learning, and develop a secondary skill in production, design, or administration.

2020 /

2021

Promotional image for "Threepenny Submarine" Season 1 Trailer featuring two puppet characters and a red submarine with a yellow stripe.

THREEPENNY SUBMARINE PILOT

Created in isolation as a co-production with Gazelle Automations,Threepenny Submarine combines practical puppetry, film, opera, and classical music, with a hint of nostalgia. Threepenny is meant to be enjoyed by kids, families, and the young at heart! View the episode here: www.threepennysubmarine.com

Purple graphic promoting 'Opera Con Digital Pop-up' event with a lightbulb illustration and dates 'Nov 27-29'. Logos of Musique 3 Femmes, Opera 5, and Opera McGill are included.

OPERACON

Musique 3 Femmes and Opera 5 presents the first ever “OperaCon” a digital pop-up connecting students, artists, and innovation in opera. Hosted by Opera McGill at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, this 3 day event featured artist-led discussions from across the country, exploring technology and its role in the arts, emerging arts leadership/entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

2018 /

2019

Poster for Open Chambers concert featuring Hindemith and Shostakovich, held by Opera 5. Includes details such as performance dates, times, ticket prices, venue location at Studio Theatre, Factory Theatre, Toronto, and guest artist names. Contact information for booking and a website link are also provided.

OPEN CHAMBERS: HINDEMITH & SHOSTAKOVICH

A Dora nominated success exploring staging vocal chamber music of Hindemith and Shostakovich featuring Jacqueline Woodley and Trio Ink.

REVIEWS

OperaRamblings: Open Chambers

“The performances were of a very high quality…”

“Hansen’s staging was quite striking.”

“…very enjoyable and I’d highly recommend it.”

2017 /

2018

Poster for "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" by Gioachino Rossini presented by Opera 5, featuring a caged woman and two men in costume, with performance dates and venue details at Factory Theatre, Toronto.

IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA

A critical success and audience favourite of this classic Rossini comedy, which was bursting with Canadian talent. This show received 2 Dora nominations.

REVIEW

Opera Canada Review

“Opera 5’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia is a simple and successful adaptation. By using the small theatre space to their advantage it was easy to be drawn into the story, and the cast breathes new life into some of the most well-known characters in opera.” - Opera Canada

2016 /

2017

Flyer for "Sing Along in Support" by Opera 5, an ugly sweater holiday-themed fundraiser with games, songs, and treats, held on Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30 pm at The Extension Room, 30 Eastern Ave. Ticket prices: $25 for Arts Workers/Students in advance, $35 for General Admission in advance, $40 at the door. Food and drink sponsored by The Merchant Tavern. Tickets available at opera5.ca/uglysweater.

SINGING ALONG IN SUPPORT

Opera 5’s fourth annual fundraising gala.

Illustrated opera poster for "Suffragette" by Opera 5, featuring a historical figure holding a torch, with the words "Join the March" and "Votes 4 Women" in graffiti style, highlighting feminist themes and the work of Dame Ethel Smyth.

SUFFRAGETTE

A double bill of Dame Ethel Smyth’s “Fête Galante” and “The Boatswain’s Mate.” Both shows were Canadian premieres and explored the music of this under appreciated female composer.

2015 /

2016

Poster for 'Opera 500' fundraising event with a graphic of a running person. Event details: The Extension Room, 30 Eastern Ave, September 29th, 7:00 PM, $25.00.

THE OPERA 500

Opera 5’s third annual fundraising gala.

A man in a red Star Trek uniform holding a futuristic prop and a woman wearing a Viking helmet, both smiling with a starry space background.

OPERA AT WARP SPEED

A hysterically funny Opera primer for adults, and a journey through Opera’s greatest hits with a sci-fi twist! This is a show for all ages, sending up the goofiest aspects of Opera, Star Trek and Star Wars, complete with Opera 5 and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra.

Poster for "Trabed's Opera Training Wheels" featuring a puppet photo and event details. Includes a call to buy tickets for April 3, 2016, and promotional text for Opera 5.

TRABED’S OPERA TRAINING WHEELS

Opera is for everybody, even kids! Let Opera 5 and the Kingston Symphony help you with this A to Z of everything Opera, while having a great time on a Sunday afternoon!

Poster for "Die Fledermaus" opera by Johann Strauss II, featuring illustrations of characters: a man with a bat, a woman in a mask, and a man holding a watch. Performance details: June 8-11, 2016, at 918 Bathurst St, tickets available at specified prices. Presented by Opera 5.

DIE FLEDERMAUS

Opera 5’s immersive take on Strauss’ classic operetta! The smash success of 2016, hailed as a triumph, was described as “Daring… there was nothing from the COC this year with the confident swagger of this show.”

2014 /

2015

A flyer for "Equinox: Day vs. Night" event at Atelier Rosemarie Umetsu, featuring various makeup and accessories including a gold clutch, lipstick, perfume, sunglasses, foundation, and a necklace. Scheduled for September 9th at 6pm, tickets $25, with performances by Lucia Cesaroni and others.

EQUINOX: DAY VS NIGHT

Opera 5’s second annual fundraising gala.

Promotional poster for "Offenbach & Hahn" opera featuring "Ba-ta-clan" by Jacques Offenbach and "L'ile du rêve" by Reynaldo Hahn, performed at Alliance Française, Toronto, on May 1-3, 7:30 PM, with ticket prices listed.

OFFENBACH & HAHN

Two French operas presented in collaboration with the Alliance Francais de Toronto. L’ile du reve by Reynaldo Hahn, and Ba-ta-clan by Jacques Offenbach. Production gallery here.

Poster for 'Modern (Family) Opera' by Opera 5 featuring a house on fire with a cigarette stub. Event details include performances on January 23, 24, and 25 at The Arts and Letters Club in Toronto, Ontario. Design includes credits for conductor Evan Mitchell, stage directors Aria Umezawa and Grace Smith, and production designer Matthew Vaile. Supported by the Toronto Arts Council and the City of Toronto.

MODERN (FAMILY) OPERA

Featuring the world premier of Storybook by Darren Russo, and Il segretto di Susanna by Ermano Wolf-Ferrari, this show explored the dysfunctions of the modern family. Production photos here.

2013 /

2014

Opera5 promotional poster for 'Action' event featuring a man in a tuxedo and a woman in red silhouette, with event details for September 10, 2013 at Atelier Rosemarie Umetsu.

ACTION!

Opera 5’s first annual fundraising gala, with a Hollywood theme. Check out pictures from the star-studded night here. 

Poster for Opera5's event featuring "In Pace Requiescat." The design includes a stylized white ornamental skull over a purple mask pattern. Text details three Edgar Allan Poe operas: "Cask of Amontillado," "La Chute de la Maison d’Usher," and "The Masque of the Red Death," with performance dates, location at The Arts and Letters Club, Toronto, and ticket information.

IN PACE REQUIESCAT

A spooky evening of operas based on stories by Edgar Allen Poe. The Cask of the Amontialldo by Daniel Pinkham, La chute de la maison usher by Claude Debussy, and the world premier of The Masque of the Red Death by Cecilia Livingston. Click here for production photos.

A puppet with orange-red skin and black hair peeking over a black curtain.

TENORS, TRUMPETS, AND LA TRAVIATA

In collaboration with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Trabed the puppet learns the ABC’s of opera with help from his good friend, Hannah, and the Opera 5 gang. Photos can be found here.

2012 /

2013

Man holding a camera stands in front of a projected image of a woman and a man. His shadow is cast on the projection, creating a silhouette effect. The scene is indoors with decorative carpet and artistic lighting.

LA VOIX HUMAINE / BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE

This double bill featured La voix humaine by Francis Poulenc and Bluebeard’s Castle by Bela Bartok, and took place at the Arts&Letters Club in Toronto in May of 2012. Click here to see the production gallery.

Poster for Bésame Ópera event; features red lips graphic, several names including director Aria Umezawa, event dates April 29, May 1, 2 at 7:30 PM, venue Gallery 345, and operas "El Retablo de Maese Pedro" by Manuel de Falla and "Goyescas" by Enrique Granados. Ticket prices listed.

BESAME OPERA

An evening of Spanish opera and sangria. Featuring El retablo de maese Pedro by Manuel de Falla, and Goyescas by Enrique Granados. Find the gallery here.

Three people performing a comedic play scene. A person dressed in white holds up a sign with "THWARK" in colorful comic book style letters. Two others, a man and a woman, stand on either side, reacting dramatically. The stage is set like a dining scene with a red checkered tablecloth and a vase of flowers.

OPERA EATS

This three course opera and food pairing featured Hin und Zuruck by Paul Hindemith, Aleko by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Talk Opera by Milton Granger. Find the full production album here.

A woman with curly red hair, wearing a dark floral robe, is sitting at a cluttered table. She is holding a prescription pill bottle while talking on the phone. Nearby, there is a black mug and various scattered papers. In the background, a red chair and a patterned rug are visible.

OPERA 5 AT THE OTTAWA FRINGE

Opera 5 took its production of La voix humaine to the Ottawa Fringe Festival and won the Capital City Critics’ Choice Award for Best Overall Production. Check out our gallery here.