Toronto’s New Opera House Now Open

Milan has the Teatro alla Scala, Paris has the Palais Garnier, there’s the Metropolitan in New York City, and Toronto now has a new performing arts venue to rival some of the world’s greatest opera houses.

The Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada will be sharing the stage at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen and University, which officially opened Sunday.

“Canadian opera fans are drawn from all ages and walks of life, and for many years they have loyally followed the Canadian Opera Company around the city as it made its home in various theatres and concert halls. Now … we will have the chance to hear our favourite performers in splendid surroundings that will match their talents,” Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The $181 million-facility boasts some of the best features of the majestic European opera houses paired with modern design elements including the grand glass staircase that leads up to the City Room.

The City Room is a five-storey area that looks out onto University Avenue and will be used for informal performances. At night, people strolling along the busy street will be able to see the audience inside and in the day it will fill the building with natural light.

Every one of the 2,000 seats in the horseshoe-shaped auditorium was computer tested to ensure perfect sightlines and the theatre was lined with resonant wood and plaster to give audiences the most intimate experience possible.

“I think it’s the first horseshoe in the world that does not have restricted-view seats,” Canadian Opera Company (C.O.C.) General Director Richard Bradshaw said.

And every note will be crisp and clear as the theatre was built to the best-possible natural acoustic standards.

The Toronto firm Diamond and Schmitt Architects designed the cultural centre.

While this opera house was 30 years in the making, construction began in April 2003. Some have described this project, and others including the prismatic addition to the R.O.M., as part of a cultural renaissance in the city that will make Toronto a premier arts destination.

“It’s a house for all Canadians,” Bradshaw said. “There will be 90 free concerts … by the best young musicians in Canada, by also community music groups. We want this to be open and we want this to be a cultural hub.”

To make sure this happens, the C.O.C. said there will be 120 seats at $20 at every performance in the main season.

• The C.O.C.’s inaugural performance in its new home will be held June 14 and will feature Canadian opera greats Ben Heppner, Gerald Finley, and Adrianne Pieczonka. It will be simulcast free-of-charge at Nathan Phillips Square.

Tune into CityNews at Six starting Monday for Tracy Moore‘s three-part series on the city’s new cultural centre.