CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY LAUNCHES SHOWCASE SERIES WITH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAMMING
Programming kicks off May 2 with performance spotlighting Chinese calligraphy and dance
The Canadian Opera Company is proud to announce the Showcase Series, a new slate of programming that spotlights a variety of cultural identities through curating performance opportunities that comprise Toronto’s unique cultural landscape. In May, the company celebrates Asian Heritage Month with a month-long calendar of events that highlights the beauty of music, cultural identity, and language, and also support an understanding of the vast range of Asian communities throughout the city.
“The Showcase Series aims to improve representation and inclusivity within opera in more authentic ways,” says Makenzie Morgan, Director of Community Partnerships & Programs. “Through this series, we are looking to explore and build new relationships with artists across the city and champion culturally responsive programming opportunities.”
Throughout the following month, the Showcase Series will feature familiar artists to the COC community, as well as collaborations with all new artists performing in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from 12 - 1 p.m. All events are free but will require registration, and additional resources will be made available following certain sessions.
For more information on performances and how to register for a free ticket, please visit coc.ca/Showcase.
PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
Master Wong shufa WRITING chinese calligraphy
書舞共鳴 神采飛揚
The Vibrant Resonance of Shufa and Dance
May 2, 2022 12 -1 p.m.
Chinese calligraphy (Shufa) Master Man Kuen Wong and contemporary choreographer Naishi Wang pair together in a session focused on the alignment between movement, rhythm, the body, and traditional principles rooted in the art of Shufa.
Ancient Rhythms | Future Echoes
May 17, 2022 12 -1 p.m.
Japanese taiko drumming ensemble Nagata Shachu takes audiences on a musical journey beyond all borders in a performance featuring an arsenal of taiko, bamboo flutes, gongs, cymbals, and wood blocks.
From left to right: Keith lam, midori match, timothy cheung and saeideh rajbzadeh.
May 19, 2022 12 -1 p.m.
Several COC community members reflect on their experiences and relationships with their Asian identity as it intersects with music and opera. This event includes a recital where our artists perform a song selection that relates to their personal journey and story.
“Rasa Sayang” – From Malaysia, With Love
May 26, 2022 12 -1 p.m.
This interactive lecture explores composer Tracy Wong’s lived experience as a first-generation Canadian immigrant, conductor, and musician, and provides audiences the opportunity to explore and sing well-known Malaysian folk songs. Wong is joined by members of the Hamilton Children's Choir.
From left to right: jialiang zhu and zi xin emily lapin.
古韻新唱 Singing Chinese Classical Poetry
May 31, 2022 12 -1 p.m.
Collaborative pianist Jialiang Zhu introduces art songs based on classical Chinese poetry, set to music by contemporary composers from different Chinese-speaking communities around the world. Sopranos Zi Xin Emily Lapin and Maeve Palmer demonstrate how composers utilize the musicality in Chinese poetry and language, and how they impact one’s musical interpretation.
Season Sponsor: BMO Financial Group
Thank you to the entire COC community, including our COC Board of Directors, our Corporate Sponsors and Foundation Supporters, generous public funders, union partners, and—most critically—our audience. Your inspiring support ensures that opera flourishes, uniting global audiences and paving the way for a vibrant future.
Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. General Director Perryn Leech joined the company in 2021, forming a leadership team with Music Director Johannes Debus and Deputy General Director Christie Darville. The COC enjoys a loyal audience, including a dedicated base of subscribers, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. Its diverse repertoire includes new commissions and productions, local and international collaborations with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracts the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists. The company is an incubator for the future of the art form, nurturing Canada’s new wave of opera performers and creators with customized training and support. The COC’s purpose-built opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, is hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. For more information, visit coc.ca.
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