Opera Atelier Tickets

Costumes were gorgeous, singing was top-notch and choreography beautiful. A classic German Opera beautifully performed.

This was the second time I have seen an Opera Atelier production, and like the first, this time was terrific! Attention to choreography, costume, and set design is what sets OA productions apart from many of the modernist reinterpretations in opera today. This opera is thematically darker than many and is much like Gounod's Faust in terms of storyline, centring on foibles of the hero and his redemption (with many obvious Christian religious overtones). As such, the sets are all cast in lower lighting, and the ambiance is gothic and very fitting. The cast are good selections, though some are perhaps not the strongest voices I have heard, which may be the only tarnish I could think of. If you want to witness a very period fitting production of an early romantic era work, you can't go wrong seeing Der Freischutz.

I can hardly express how great Armide was. It just kept getting better and better as it went on. The singers were heart-wrenching. The dancers were beautiful beyond compare. Tafelmusik was flawless. The choir was amazing. The conductor looked so happy to be there. The intro by the director was inspiring. The sets were beautiful and the transitions were seamless. It should have gotten a standing ovation but I think everyone is shy. I loved it so much.

First time seeing opera. It was amazing. Great singing, dancing and costumes. There was also subtitles so it was easy to follow what was going on.

I thought the event was highly overrated. The voices, except Renaud, were NOT the greatest; besides, the theatre was COMPLETELY unsuitable for opera! We could not hear the full voices because of the balcony. They should NOT mix ballet with opera, it turned out to be neither, just an ordinary musical play. Overall, a rating of 3. Needs work - on the cast, the production and the venue! Disappointed..

The Opera Atelier production was a visual and aural delight! The singing was superb and the dancing was delightful. The costumes were enchanting, like a rainbow on steroids! There were many magical and breathtaking moments, especially when the glitter rained down on to the actors in the spotlight. The woman playing Armide has a strong and beautiful singing voice. Her stage presence was striking. I first heard about the production when I read an article in the Toronto Star about the dancers who posed for the promotional poster. It was a very touching story and the poster is without a doubt very sexy and sensuous, much like the entire production. My daughter and I loved this production. I think Opera Atelier is a national treasure, as are the Tafelmusik orchestra and choir. Bravo!

1st time going to an opera. costumes were beautiful..set design was out of this world..the dancers...especially Jack Rennie(love) were absolutely a delight to watch...the addition of the choir accenting the baroque chamber ensemble was all encompassing to the total performance of the evening. All the best in Paris and in NY

As usual, Opera Atelier really delivers the goods with this performance - the sets, choreography, costumes, music (Tafelmusik, as always, is also great!) - and the story is also pretty interesting, if you think about it. The only very small quibble is that I thought the lead voices were good, but not great - but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. I would encourage everyone to see this (provided, of course, that you like baroque opera).

This revival of Armide by Opera Atelier is about as far an opera company can go to make baroque opera approachable and enjoyable for twenty-first century opera lovers. The staging was elegant and seductive, the snging for the most part wonderful apart from one baritone who was maybe having an off night. Colin Ainsworth's voice continues to amaze and we are very lucky to still have him performing in Toronto. I don't know why he hasn't been grabbed by the major opera houses a long time ago. The only reason I don't award the production five stars is that there is only so much you can do with the early baroque composers before a bit of monotony sets in. Which is why I don't go to see every baroque opera the company puts on. However, I am looking forward with keen interest to their fall production of a Weber opera.

Beautiful opera, beautiful production. As always, Opera Atelier puts on a spectacular show, and Tafelmusik shakes your eardrums with sounds of the past. Very vibrant and penetrating. My only problem is that the first half is a little drawn-out and not particularly enthralling. The second half more than made up for it, though. Opera Atelier is miles above anything else in Toronto.

This was my husband and my first opera and we both were entertained.

The production was sumptuous , the music sublime in both writing (by Lulley) and delivery (Tafelmusik), the singing transportive into a magic land by both the choir and the two main leads, and the dancing magical in both choreography and execution. Overall a wonderful experience.

very well presented-fast paced and colourful. The set was exceptionally functional and most effective. A good night at the opera.

The opera was wonderful, the singers and theatrics were great! Just wish it was a little louder.

Despite my sense of this opera as being a dark drama, if not an actual tragedy, I went to see OA's original period visioning of it as a profound comedy because of my previous experience of OA's work . The comedic aspect was explained by co-artistic director, Marshall Pynkoski, before the opera began. As the orchestra started playing the overture, with it's initial dark theme from the final act's appearance of the Commendatore, who will take the Don down to the fires of hell for his sins, i thought again - how could this be interpreted as a comedy? But the comic elements are there throughout and indeed make a great deal more sense with this view of DG as an "opera buffa". The entire company, especially the principals, underline the comic elements in the libretto through wonderful stage business and on the part of the dancers, superb dancing. There's lots of great comedia del'arte stuff going on almost everywhere, to the point where it's almost like a bedroom farce without the actual bedroom scene! The decent into Hell and final scene with all the principals (except the Don) made sense to me for the first time. I enjoyed every aspect of this fabulous performance all the more because it opened the opera up to me in a way that I never appreciated it before. Well done OA!!

What do I Know about opera ? After 72 years this was my first experience and I can tell you it was totally enchanting for my partner and myself. We were both of us , awed by the quality performers , their presentation (acting ) , their voices and their athletic verve . The costumes were fascinating and the play, and Mozart's music , were delightful . I overheard a lady comment that " that was the way Don Giovanni should be done " and I got the idea she knew about these things and we had seen a gem .

As usual, Opera Atelier delivers an outstanding performance. Everything about this show oozes professionalism, taste and talent. Simply awesome.

The overall experience was fantastic. Musically, theatrically and especially the humour!!!

A young cast singing at a good clip made this piece sparkle. The whole performance shone in this classic setting. The singing was superb and beautifully audible, due to lovely acoustics and a subtle and sensitive orchestra. I felt like I was watching a group of people who truly love what they do and this opera in particular.

An absolute must see. Saw the Met HD broadcast the day before and even though the singing was perhaps more polished this Opera Atelier production is more enjoyable because oh the joy and fun of this production. Going back to Mozart's original intention of a comic opera was pure genius. The acting and the singing were evenly matched and of uniformly high quality. The stage set was gorgeous and the costumes were simply beautiful. We left the theatre with a wide grin on our faces that lasted 3 days later. Bravo to the whole cast.