Events: Free Concert Series, Canadian Opera Copmany

For immediate release: December 12, 2012

 

JANUARY 2013

 

OPERAS

 

Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner  

7 performances: January 29, February 2, 8, 14, 17, 20, 23, 2013

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

 

The Canadian Opera Company opens its winter season with one of music history’s most influential works, Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.  Legendary director Peter Sellars brings the fully-staged version of his original, awe-inspiring production to North America for the first time.  This multi-sensory experience features video imagery by internationally renowned video artist Bill Viola, who “has come up with an image of the scale and scope, grandeur and immensity, and genuine transcendence that Wagner was imagining,” says Sellars.  COC Music Director Johannes Debus leads the COC Orchestra and Chorus through this rapturous, landmark score.  Celebrated Canadian tenor Ben Heppner makes his long-awaited return to the COC mainstage as Tristan, and German soprano Melanie Diener sings Isolde in her company debut.  German tenor Michael Baba and American soprano Margaret Jane Wray will sing the title roles for two performances.

 

Single tickets for Tristan und Isolde are $12 – $390 (with specially priced $22 tickets available for people under the age of 30).  To purchase go to coc.ca, call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231, or visit the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

FREE CONCERT SERIES IN THE RICHARD BRADSHAW AMPHITHEATRE

January 8 – 31, 2013

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)

The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is a unique opportunity to experience diverse artistic programming in what has become one of Toronto’s most exciting cultural hubs.  Six inspiring series offer concerts, dance performances and engaging presentations that feature both up-and-coming young artists and established international stars.  All performances are FREE to the public, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis.  Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early as late seating is not available. 

Date	Series	Artist
January 8, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Mozart and Salieri Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio perform a selection of arias and art songs by Mozart and his peer and secret rival, Antonio Salieri.
January 9, 2013 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.	Jazz Series	Place to Place Powerhouse pianist Robi Botos – joined by his regular sidemen Frank Botos on drums and Attila Darvas on bass – weaves his magic in a swinging hour of jazz standards and original compositions infused with the flavour of his Romani roots.
January 10, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Dance Series	Poppin’, Lockin’ and Breakin’ Under the leadership of Jade Jager Clark, Jade’s Hip Hop Academy Performance Company is a dynamic and highly entertaining youth dance company that inspires and captivates any audience.  The talented and passionate young dancers from over five continents showcase authentic Hip Hop techniques including poppin’, lockin’, breakin’, house and krump.
January 15, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Jazz Series	Salsa Goes With Everything! Under the direction of one of Cuba’s greatest exports, Luis Mario Ochoa, Humber College’s ultra-hot Latin Big Band treats you to musical treasures from the giants of salsa.  Guaranteed to cure the winter doldrums.
January 17, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Piano Virtuoso Series	Romantic Reveries Algerian-born pianist Mehdi Ghazi presents an evocative hour of music featuring Glenn Gould’s inspired transcription of Wagner’s Siegfried-Idyll.
January 22, 2013  12 – 1 p.m.	Chamber Music Series	Meditations on East and West Under the direction of Barry Shiffman, artists of The Glenn Gould School explore the confluence of East and West in a program of chamber works that includes Bryce, Toru Takemitsu’s evocative work for flute, harp and percussion, Ravel’s enchanting Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé and Stravinsky’s Three Japanese Lyrics.
January 24, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Vocal Series	Journeys of the Soul Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio perform a program of art songs on the theme of travel and homeland.
January 29, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Piano Virtuoso Series	Meditations and Miniatures American pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough presents a vibrant program of works by Canadian and American composers, featuring Claude Vivier’s Pianoforte and the world premieres of John Liberatore’s Nemo Sleeps, Jenny Beck’s Stand Still Here, and Dante De Silva’s Drive-Thru Etudes.
January 31, 2013 12 – 1 p.m.	Chamber Music Series	A Wagner Celebration Kicking off the 200th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Richard Wagner, artists of the COC Orchestra present the exquisite chamber work Siegfried-Idyll, composed as a birthday present for Wagner’s second wife Cosima after the birth of their son Siegfried.  The concert also pays tribute to one of Wagner’s most revered predecessors with the Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano and Winds by Mozart, of whom Wagner said “certain things in Mozart can and will never be excelled.”

 

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For more information, please contact:

Nikita Gourski, Development Communications Officer, tel: 416-306-2329, e-mail: nikitag@coc.ca

Kristin McKinnon, Assistant Publicist, tel: 416-306-2383, e-mail: kmckinnon@coc.ca

Jennifer Pugsley, Media Relations Manager, tel: 416-306-2303, e-mail: jenniferp@coc.ca

 

Call for Submissions: Nominations for Second Annual Gina Wilkinson Prize Now Being Accepted, Ontario Arts Foundation

Nominations for the second annual Gina Wilkinson Prize will open October 15, 2012. The Gina Wilkinson Prize pays tribute to Canadian actor, playwright and director Gina Wilkinson and her unyielding dedication, vision and indomitable spirit that imbued her work and her life. The prize is intended to recognize and assist female theatre artists who have spent several years in a theatre discipline other than directing (acting, stage management, design, theatre administration, etc.) and who are now attempting to transition into directing. The recipient will be chosen from nominations brought forward by members of the Canadian theatre community. The nomination deadline is December 15, 2012. The six-member Gina Wilkinson Prize Jury will review all eligible nominations and announce the recipient of the Gina Wilkinson Prize on March 10, 2013.

An actor for over twenty years, Ms. Wilkinson began turning her attention to both writing and directing and, in the last few years of her too short life, established herself as a daring, strong, inventive and important director and collaborator in the Canadian theatre community. Shortly after Ms. Wilkinson died in December 2010, this prize was established in her name and was made possible by the generous support of over 200 people from across Canada. In the spirit of Ms. Wilkinson’s generosity and appetite for life, this prize is a gift to be used in any way that the recipient chooses.

“When I first won, I had a flood of people write to me that knew and loved Gina. Some of them I knew too, some I didn’t,” describes Ann-Marie Kerr of Halifax, the inaugural Gina Wilkinson Prize recipient. “This experience has lifted me, and carried me into making some new shows; given me a directing job that I would not have had before and I even made a trip to Stratford and Shaw in honour of this prize. I have been able to redefine myself through this, and stretch into new places, I’ll be forever grateful.”

The Gina Wilkinson Prize is administered by the Ontario Arts Foundation. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund may do so by visiting the Ontario Arts Foundation website at www.ontarioartsfoundation.on.ca.

Award Details:

Eligibility:
Nominees must be members of the Canadian professional theatre community and must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The Prize:
A prize of $2000 will be awarded to the winning nominee.

The Process:
The nomination should consist of:

1. A nomination letter from a recognized theatre professional in support of the nominee.
2. Acknowledgement from the nominee.
3. The nominee’s resume

*Anyone wishing to re-nominate their past nominee is encouraged to do so.

All nominations must be submitted electronically to ginasprize@gmail.com. Nomination deadline is December 15, 2012. The recipient will be announced March 10, 2013. The nomination will be reviewed by the Gina Wilkinson Prize Jury: Micheline Chevrier, Bonnie Green, Eda Holmes, Jackie Maxwell, Tom Rooney and Bob White.

Gina Wilkinson – Bio
Born on March 10, 1960, in Victoria, B.C. to visual artist, Jack Wilkinson, and ballet teacher, Marie Wilkinson, Gina Clare Wilkinson graduated from the National Theatre School in Montreal and spent the first 20 years of her career as an actor working in theatres across Canada. Her innate understanding of storytelling in the theatre was an invaluable asset when working on new plays and made her transition from actor to director a natural one.

Her incredible ability to communicate with everyone involved in the making of a play – actors, designers, technicians – made her a successful director and theatre collaborator. Ms. Wilkinson’s dedication, her imagination, humour and unique visual sensibility were some of her many strengths.  But it was her understanding and compassion for all things human – both the beautiful and the ugly – that made her a true artist.

Announcement: December TAPA Ticket Wiki Offers, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts

Are you an Arts/Industry Worker? Would you like discounted tickets to a variety of theatre, dance and opera productions? If so check out the TAPA Ticket Wiki! On the TAPA Tcket Wiki you will find a variety of discounted and complimentary tickets for Artists and Arts Workers to TAPA Member company productions for the 2012/13 season.

There are currently 5 offers posted to the TAPA Ticket Wiki for December including:

• BOBLO, Kitchenband and The Theatre Centre
• Ordinary Days, Angelwalk Theatre
• Fare Game: Life in Toronto’s Taxis, Theatre Passe Muraille
• Binti’s Journey, Young People’s Theatre
• Cinderella (a RATical retelling), Young People’s Theatre

The TAPA Ticket Wiki is updated on an ongoing basis so make sure to check back often!

For more information about TAPA click Here

Events: Hear the Next Generation of Opera Stars: COC Ensemble Studio Competition, Canadian Opera Company

COC Ensemble Studio Competition November 29, 2012 at 6 p.m.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St. W. (at University Avenue)
Tickets: $15 – $40

The Canadian Opera Company hosts its second annual Ensemble Studio Competition on November 29, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the intimate Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.  The Ensemble Studio Competition is the final round of national auditions for the COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals.  An exclusive insiders’ experience, the Ensemble Studio Competition opens up a behind-the-scenes audition process and introduces the stars of tomorrow well before they step onto the COC stage.  The finalists compete in front of a public audience for four cash prizes and the offer of a coveted position in the 2013/2014 Ensemble Studio.

Tickets to the second annual Ensemble Studio Competition are $15 – $40 and are on sale as of November 1, 2012.  Tickets are available online at coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office, located at 145 Queen St. W., Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About the Canadian Opera Company
Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America.  The COC enjoys a loyal audience support-base and one of the highest attendance and subscription rates in North America.  Under its leadership team of General Director Alexander Neef and Music Director Johannes Debus, the COC is increasingly capturing the opera world’s attention.  The COC maintains its international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation by creating new productions within its diverse repertoire, collaborating with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracting the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists.  The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world.  Designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects, the Four Seasons Centre opened in 2006, and is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.  For more information on the COC, visit its award-winning website, coc.ca.

Announcement: November TAPA Ticket Wiki Offers, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts

Are you an Arts/Industry Worker? Would you like discounted tickets to a variety of theatre, dance and opera productions? If so check out the TAPA Ticket Wiki! On the TAPA Tcket Wiki you will find a variety of discounted and complimentary tickets for Artists and Arts Workers to TAPA Member company productions for the 2012/13 season.

There are currently 7 offers posted to the TAPA Ticket Wiki for November including:

• BOBLO, Kitchenband and The Theatre Centre
• The Drowning Girls, Alumnae Theatre
• Ordinary Days, Angelwalk Theatre
• Fare Game: Life in Toronto’s Taxis, Theatre Passe Muraille
• Speaking in Tongues, The Company Theatre Production in Association with Canadian Stage
• Binti’s Journey, Young People’s Theatre
• Cinderella (a RATical retelling), Young People’s Theatre

The TAPA Ticket Wiki is updated on an ongoing basis so make sure to check back often!

For more information about TAPA click Here

Workshop: The Next Step with Judith Thompson, Nightwood Theatre

In her Say It, Shout It, Move It workshop, Judith Thompson encouraged participants to tell true stories and to make others’ true stories their own. The material that emerged was raw, surprising, and often brilliant. But where does a playwright go from there? Whether you’re getting back in the room with Judith, or are entering for the first time, this workshop will help take you to the next step! Participants will look at innovation, structure and character paths, combining organic intuition with “hammer and nails” narrative work.

DATE: November 17th and 18th, 10-5pm
COST: $150 + HST
LOCATION: Nightwood/Tapestry Studio, 9 Trinity Street, Studio 315, Distillery Historic District

To register for any of our Masterclasses, please use the registration form, downloadable here and email to Laura Pomeroy at laura@nightwoodtheatre.net.

Announcement: November TAPA Ticket Wiki Offers, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts

Are you an Arts/Industry Worker? Would you like discounted tickets to a variety of theatre, dance and opera productions? If so check out the TAPA Ticket Wiki! On the TAPA Tcket Wiki you will find a variety of discounted and complimentary tickets for Artists and Arts Workers to TAPA Member company productions for the 2012/13 season.

There are currently 8 offers posted to the TAPA Ticket Wiki for November including:

• Rare Mix, Toronto Dance Theatre
• BOBLO, Kitchenband and The Theatre Centre
• The Drowning Girls, Alumnae Theatre
• Ordinary Days, Angelwalk Theatre
• Fare Game: Life in Toronto’s Taxis, Theatre Passe Muraille
• Speaking in Tongues, The Company Theatre Production in Association with Canadian Stage
• Binti’s Journey, Young People’s Theatre
• Cinderella (a RATical retelling), Young People’s Theatre

The TAPA Ticket Wiki is updated on an ongoing basis so make sure to check back often!

For more information about TAPA click Here

Announcement: October TAPA Ticket Wiki Offers, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts

Are you an Arts/Industry Worker? Would you like discounted tickets to a variety of theatre, dance and opera productions? If so check out the TAPA Ticket Wiki! On the TAPA Tcket Wiki you will find a variety of discounted and complimentary tickets for Artists and Arts Workers to TAPA Member company productions for the 2012/13 season.

There are currently 3 offers posted to the TAPA Ticket Wiki for October including:

• You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Stratford Shakespeare Festival
• Der Freischütz (The Marksman), Opera Atelier

The TAPA Ticket Wiki is updated on an ongoing basis so make sure to check back often!

For more information about TAPA click Here

Call for Submissions: 2013 Fringe New Play Contest, The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival

Applications for the 2013 Fringe New Play Contest are now open!

Remember Kim’s Convenience? Remember Help Yourself? These Fringe shows were brought into the spotlight by the Fringe New Play Contest, sponsored by Exclamation Foundation and macIDeas. If you’re a playwright and want to be a household name, the Fringe New Play Contest is the best way to fast-track that success. Even better – this year is Fringe’s 25^th Anniversary, so the media attention will be bigger and bolder than ever!

Details are available on our website.

First Place Winner will receive the following:

1. A free spot in the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival.
2. A cash prize of $1250 courtesy of Exclamation Foundation Inc. and macIDeas.
3. Production consultation courtesy of Exclamation Foundation and macIDeas.

Applications close on Friday October 26^th at 5pm, or when 80 applications are received.

Contact Claire Wynveen 416-966-1062 x 3 or creation@fringetoronto.com for more information.

Job Posting: Responsable du Financement Privé, Le Théâtre français de Toronto

Le Théâtre français de Toronto est à la recherche d’un(e) RESPONSABLE DU FINANCEMENT PRIVÉ CONDITIONS

Statut: Remplacement congé maternité temps plein du 7 janvier au 26 juillet 2013 (incluant quelques jours de formation début décembre 2012)
Région: Toronto métropolitain
Lieu de travail: College et Yonge
Années d’expérience: 2 ans
Échelle salariale: 40 000 $ à 56 000 $ sur une base annuelle
Date limite pour postuler: 7 novembre 2012 à 17 h

RESPONSABILITÉS

Financement

• Élabore et met en œuvre avec la Direction les stratégies de financement qui contribueront à renforcer l’autonomie financière du TfT
• Assiste et met au point avec la Direction un plan triennal et annuel de collecte de fonds selon des stratégies précises
• Agit comme principal responsable des campagnes de dons auprès des fondations et sociétés
• En charge des recherches de nouvelles commandites et des relations avec les commanditaires existants
• Maintient la banque de données informatiques des fondations et sociétés et contacts potentiels par catégorie
• Agit comme principal responsable des campagnes de dons auprès des donateurs individuels du TfT et prépare la documentation relative à ces activités
• Maintient la banque de données informatiques des donateurs individuels
• Développe avec la Direction le programme de dons planifiés du TfT
• Prépare tous les documents relatifs à la mise en œuvre des activités qui lui sont confiées

Planification

• Participe à la planification stratégique et opérationnelle avec la Direction pour s’assurer d’atteindre des objectifs communs
• Prépare un rapport détaillé des résultats intérimaires et des différentes démarches entreprises au conseil d’administration
• Se conforme aux budgets établis pour les activités sous sa responsabilité

Marketing/communications

• Assiste la Direction dans la gestion du marketing et des communications : signature d’ententes avec les partenaires média, vente d’espaces publicitaires
• Assiste l’équipe lors de la préparation d’évènements spéciaux

Connaissances et aptitudes

• Démontre des aptitudes manifestes, un sens des affaires, de l’organisation et de la gestion du temps
• Démontre un esprit stratégique et un sens de l’initiative
• Fait preuve de tact, diplomatie, capacité à collaborer avec ses collègues et avec de nombreux partenaires
• Possède une connaissance pratique de collectes de fonds et de marketing
• Comprend le processus de création artistique et des méthodes de production
• Possède une bonne culture générale et connaissance approfondie de l’activité artistique au Canada français et plus particulièrement en Ontario
• A une excellente maîtrise du français et de l’anglais, parlé et écrit
• Possède une connaissance informatique approfondie des systèmes de base de données, de collectes de fonds, de marketing et de l’Internet

Pour postuler, envoyez votre CV et une lettre de motivation à Ghislain Caron, Directeur administratif et de financement : gcaron@theatrefrancais.com.

Seules les personnes dont le profil correspond aux exigences du poste seront contactées pour une entrevue.

Pour en savoir plus sur le TfT visitez le www.theatrefrancais.com.