Tapestry Opera

Author: clay

  • 2026 WML MASTERCLASS

    2026 WML MASTERCLASS

    MEDIA RELEASE

    Tapestry Opera and Toronto Symphony Orchestra Announce Groundbreaking Masterclass for Emerging Star Conductors at Roy Thomson Hall

    TORONTO, ON – Continuing their long-standing relationship, Tapestry Opera and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) join forces for a masterclass on Saturday, May 16, 2026, dedicated to the next generation of women and non-binary conductors and music directors in Canada.

    This intensive program, hosted at the iconic Roy Thomson Hall with full orchestral forces, underscores the enduring partnership between these two pillars of the Canadian arts scene. By bringing together the TSO’s orchestral excellence and Tapestry’s innovative programming, the masterclass provides emerging conductors with a rare opportunity to refine their craft under the guidance of top-tier industry mentor Maestro Gustavo Gimeno.

    The 2026 Masterclass Conductors:

    Monica Chen (Fellow): A collaborative leader whose insightful approach has garnered acclaim across North America.

    Eve Legault (Fellow): A conductor known for her precision and ability to bridge the gap between contemporary opera and classical symphonic works.

    Serena Reuten (Associate): A dynamic presence on the podium with a reputation for nuanced interpretations of complex scores.

    A National Solution to a Global Challenge

    Now in its fourth public masterclass collaboration with the TSO, Tapestry Opera’s WML program has supported 11 conductors to date, providing them with the practical experience and visibility required to secure major appointments. The impact reaches organizations across Canada: during the 2025/2026 season alone, WML’s commitment to nationwide exposure will see its conductors travel over 31,000 km to work with partner organizations across Canada.

    “This program is about more than just training; it’s about driving real change on the podium,” says Jaime Martino, Executive Director of Tapestry Opera. “WML conductors are actively reshaping the Canadian arts landscape and inspiring audiences from coast to coast.”

    “Women in Musical Leadership is opening doors and helping to change the future of our art form,” says Mark Williams, Beck Family CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. “We are proud to partner in a program that gives exceptional conductors meaningful time on the podium and behind-the-scenes with a great orchestra. That investment matters—not only for these artists, but for the future of musical leadership.”

    In a short video Q&A, Women in Musical Leadership (WML) alumna Naomi Woo reflects on her experience in the program and the impact it has had on her development as a conductor.

    Rigorous Professional Development 

    The WML fellowship provides valuable hands-on experience. In the 2024/2025 season, full-time conductors received approximately 490 hours of on-the-job training, working alongside expert mentors to master diverse repertoire. This 4th public TSO masterclass serves as a culminating opportunity, allowing fellows to refine their craft under the guidance of conducting advisors such as Gustavo Gimeno and JoAnn Falletta.

    ABOUT WOMEN IN MUSICAL LEADERSHIP (WML)

    Led by Tapestry Opera in partnership with the TSO and over 20 organizations including Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Vancouver Opera, WML is a multi-year program that provides female and non-binary conductors with the mentorship and podium time necessary to advance their careers. For more information, visit tapestryopera.com/wml.

    ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA

    Founded in 1979, Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company dedicated to creating, developing and performing original, progressive opera. We are passionate about timely, resonant stories told in innovative settings and interpreted by extraordinary artists. We create space to unite diverse art forms, creators, and communities to develop powerful, boundary-breaking opera that reflects and changes the world. We believe in embedding our values in everything we do, on and offstage, and work to create an equitable, adaptable, and accountable culture for our time and communities.  Check out What’s On and join us for an upcoming production. Visit tapestryopera.com

    ABOUT THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

    For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-well-being, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Symphony With Us at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.

    For more information on Tapestry Opera, please contact:

    Clay Jones, Manager, Communications & Marketing, Tapestry Opera, email: cjones@tapestyopera.com 

    boxoffice@tapestryopera.com
    416-537-6606 | tapestryopera.com

    Box Office Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Monday to Friday.
    In-Person at 877 Yonge Street: 1 hour before performances

  • History Under Our Feet

    History Under Our Feet

    Last week, the Tapestry team spent the afternoon at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre. We toured the site of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital (Mimico Asylum) to better understand Toronto’s history of institutionalization.

    [foogallery id=”22974″]

    It was a heavy but very relevant experience. The full Tapestry Opera staff wanted to connect with our local history and allow us to bring a uniquely Canadian perspective to our production as we get closer to opening 10 Days in a Madhouse.

    To understand Nellie Bly’s story more authentically, we needed to stand on the grounds where similar stories happened.

    A few things that really stuck with us:

    • The Tunnels vs. The Facade: We saw how tunnels were used to move patient labour around so the public wouldn’t have to see it. It’s that same “out of sight, out of mind” vibe Nellie Bly encountered, where society hides what it doesn’t want to fix.
    • Progress Isn’t Always Pretty: The site moved from big, scary wards to smaller “cottages” to look more modern, but the control was still there. We’re exploring that tension, how a place that’s supposed to be a “sanctuary” can quickly turn into a cage.
    • Trying to Erase the Past: Almost all of the records from the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital were destroyed by the provincial government when it was closed. What remained was chilling. A woman incarcerated for her entire life from the age of 17, for being a challenging member of a large family. 
    • Stories Won’t Stay Quiet: Even though these institutions were designed to segregate and silence people, their history is still right there under the surface. Our goal with 10 Days in a Madhouse is to take forgotten histories and turn them back into a living, breathing human story.
    • Histories Won’t Go Away: The history of institutionalization continues unbroken into our current mental health and prison systems. People are still institutionalized without consent, and prisoners are still working for less than 1/3 of minimum wage. It’s important to remember this is still the same system with a fresh coat of paint. Many of the same problems are still present.

    Touring the grounds brought 10 Days in a Madhouse closer to home. These aren’t just characters from 1887; they represent real and complex people who lived right here in our backyard.

    If you are curious, please go check it out! 

    The amazing team at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre also shared Indigenous author and Journalist Tanya Talaga’s own history with the site. Please explore the links below.

    The Makwa Creative – The production company stewarded by Tanya Talaga, referencing several of her books, and other documentaries.

    The Knowing (book) – available as print, audiobook, and eBook at most bookstores and libraries

    The Knowing (documentary) – free on CBC Gem

  • Venue Update

    January, 2026 Update: Good News!
    The venue is open again!

    Temporary Closure of the Performance Hall at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    In November and December, the Performance Hall at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre experienced water damage that impacted the floor and one of the walls. As a result, we made the difficult decision to temporarily close the theatre while the cause was identified and replacement flooring was ordered and scheduled for installation.

    The offices, lobby, and the ABC Residents Association Studio remain undamaged and are still in use. The Studio is available for rent.

    This closure has impacted several elements of our current season. The first two free concert series performances have been postponed and will be rescheduled for later in the year. In addition, January’s LOL: Laughing Out Lonely will now take place in the Ada Slaight Hall at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) rather than at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre.

    This disruption has been deeply frustrating for Tapestry Opera and Nightwood Theatre. During the construction of the building, we invested substantially in waterproofing, and despite this, the issue arose from an unanticipated cause. While the landlord will undertake the cost for repairs and replacement, the greater loss has been the inability to use our theatre space for nearly three months.

    We are grateful to our artists, audiences, and partners for their flexibility and understanding, and we look forward to (fingers crossed!) welcoming audiences back in March. Please reach out to Tapestry Opera, Nightwood Theatre or the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre for updates.

  • Women in Musical Leadership 2026 applications open

    Women in Musical Leadership 2026 applications open

    Apply now to be part of our 2026 cohort

    Location: Toronto and across Canada
    Type: Part-time, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029
    Salary: $30,000
    Submission deadline: February 1, 2026, 11:59 pm
    Start date: July 2026

    Apply now to be part of our 2026 cohort

    Women in Musical Leadership is an advanced three-year conducting program structured as a series of placements with Tapestry Opera, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and over twenty partner organizations across Canada.  The program’s goal is to allow developing conductors to focus solely on conducting so that after three years, they emerge ready for regular professional engagements.

    Conductors are given practical opportunities to assist, observe, conduct, build professional experience, and expand their networks with a range of organizations in symphonic, chamber, operatic, and contemporary repertoire. Recent opportunities for WML conductors include working with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Gustavo Gimeno in our annual masterclass, assisting mainstage productions with Vancouver Opera (Carmen), Manitoba Opera (L’Elisir d’Amore), and Pacific Opera Victoria (La Clemenza di Tito), and conducting full orchestral programs with the Calgary Philharmonic, Kamloops Symphony, and more.

    Conductors are provided mentorship through a Conducting Advisory Council (comprising leading conductors in the field), and work regularly with Key Mentors JoAnn Falletta, Sarah Ioannides, Tania Miller, Rosemary Thomson, and Karen Kamensek, who help guide conductors through their time in the program. 
    This advanced program is for applicants who want to develop their careers as conductors and music directors with salaried, practical experience. Visit our Women in Musical Leadership page for more information about our partners, key mentors, conducting advisors, and the inaugural cohort.

    How to apply

    Women in Musical Leadership is for self-identified female and non-binary conductors who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Generally, applicants will have completed advanced studies (or equivalent experience) in a primary instrument, have some previous conducting training and experience, and demonstrate readiness for professional opportunities and development. Applicants should be ready to take advantage of all types of conducting placements, including orchestral, opera, and new music – expertise in all areas is not necessary, but readiness to learn on the job is required.

    Please apply via our application form. Potential applicants are required to supply:

    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Written artist statement
    • Repertoire list
    • Videos of the applicant conducting, and at their primary instrument
    • Professional references

    There will be two rounds of evaluation – firstly by a jury committee, where candidates will be evaluated based on materials provided, on level of musicality, technical skill, overall presentation, and collaborative and leadership potential.

    The jury comprises members of the Women in Musical Leadership Conductor Advisory Committee, including representatives from Tapestry Opera, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and other partner organizations.

    Candidates selected to move on to the second round will have a 30-minute interview conducted by phone or Zoom.

    Please read our FAQs before submitting your application. If you’re still unsure of your eligibility or have other questions regarding the WML program and application process, contact Program Manager, Camille Rogers at crogers@tapestryopera.com.

    CLICK HERE TO APPLY
    Click here to find out more about WML
    Click here to read our FAQ

    Women in Musical Leadership is a project led by Tapestry Opera in partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. 

  • Solved! ‘N’ Unmasked: A Season of Madness, Love, and Asylums

    Solved! ‘N’ Unmasked: A Season of Madness, Love, and Asylums

    The game is up! The time for shadows, pseudonyms, and clandestine initials is past.

    Now, with the scoop of the century in my hands, I cast off the mask. It is I, Nellie Bly, reporter, adventurer, and seeker of the unvarnished truth! I have doffed my disguise to bring you the full account of the scandals and sensations that lie ahead in Tapestry Opera’s thrilling season.

    My final and most harrowing assignment leads us to the very depths of the asylum, but the path there is paved with other strange and wondrous discoveries.

    Laughing Out Lonely
    © Tom Ingvardsen

    A Modern Madness

    LOL: Laughing Out Lonely January 16 – 17, 2026 | Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    Before we enter the brick-and-mortar asylum, I have uncovered a portrait of a different kind of isolation. The faceless existence of life within the “World Wide Web.” The first international production presented by Tapestry Opera.

    Opening this January, LOL: Laughing Out Lonely is a thrilling new solo opera by the award-winning Danish team Matilde Böcher and Asger Kudahl. It gives voice to the darkest corners of this digital abyss, where marginalized souls form absurd, insular communities.

    Acclaimed countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen delivers a tour-de-force performance, inhabiting these varied outsiders in a “furiously beautiful” experience. It is a thought-provoking reflection on our age, staged as a theatrical echo chamber where you, the audience, are part of the setting.

    Book Tickets for LOL

    The Ritual of Loss

    Ana Sokolović’s Love Songs March 26 – 29, 2026 | Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    Come March, the investigation turns from the digital void to the human heart. I present to you a haunting, genre-defying journey through one woman’s desperate ritual to defy loss.

    In Love Songs, the brilliant composer Ana Sokolović and director Michael Hidetoshi Mori invite us to witness a heartbroken woman (the captivating soprano Xin Wang) embarking on a journey through the love stories of others.

    Imagine, Dear Reader: a performance sung in five languages, with declarations of adoration in over 100 tongues! It is part opera, part dance, and all heart—a visceral exploration of memory and healing that blurs the line between performance art and ritual.

    Join the ritual

    THE FLAGSHIP PERFORMANCE: The Asylum Breached

    10 Days in a Madhouse June 16 – 21, 2026 | Bluma Appel Theatre

    And now, the story I was born to tell. In a Canadian Premiere co-presented with the Luminato Festival and the Canadian Opera Company, our season culminates with my own harrowing tale: 10 Days in a Madhouse.

    American composer Rene Orth and the acclaimed Canadian scribe Hannah Moscovitch have crafted a bold contemporary opera that lays bare the violence of indifference and the corrosion of reality itself.

    The Key Players in this Drama:

    • The Reporter: Mireille Asselin (Our Song d’Hiver) embodies Nellie (c’est moi!). Deemed “a treasure” by the Toronto Star, she brings power to the role as she navigates the institution’s treacherous halls.
    • The Confidante: American mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont lends her “rich and spirited voice” (Washington Post) to Lizzie, my friend on the inside.
    • The Antagonist: Returning from the underground, baritone Jorell Williams (Of the Sea) uses his “stunning vocals” (Seattle Times) to portray the malevolent Dr. Josiah Blackwell.
    • The Enforcer: Canadian/American soprano Lauren Pearl (Gould’s Wall) chills the blood, physically embodying the institution’s sadism as the Nurse/Matron.

    Do not delay, for the doors to the Bluma Appel Theatre are heavy and slam shut quickly.

    Secure Your Passage to the Asylum

    No longer hiding in the shadows, I remain, Yours in the pursuit of truth,

    Nellie Bly

  • 10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE

    10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE

    MEDIA RELEASE

    10 DAYS IN A MADHOUSE REIMAGINES JOURNALIST NELLIE BLY’S DARING EXPOSÉ FOR THE OPERA STAGE

    Tapestry Opera, Luminato Festival, the Canadian Opera Company, and TO Live team up to present a uniquely powerful new opera from Hannah Moscovitch and Rene Orth 

    Toronto – When trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly suspected patient abuse at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island in 1887, New York City, she bravely chose a dangerous path to discovering the truth: feigning mental illness herself in order to be admitted and investigate first-hand. What Bly uncovered was a shocking world designed to break the human spirit—and where women’s grief, poverty, and trauma were labelled as insanity. 10 Days in a Madhouse is a bold contemporary opera from innovative American composer Rene Orth and acclaimed Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch that will make its Canadian premiere in four performances at the Bluma Appel Theatre on June 16, 18, 20, and 21, 2026, produced by Tapestry Opera and co-presented by Luminato Festival, as part of Luminato’s 20th anniversary festival next June, and the Canadian Opera Company, in association with TO Live.

    Based on Bly’s groundbreaking exposé, and originally commissioned by Tapestry Opera and Philadelphia Opera, this gripping psychological work exposes the stigmatization that shaped women’s mental health and the systems that sought to contain them. In 2024, the Music Critics Association of North America awarded it Best New Opera, with The New York Times raving: “Opera needs works like 10 Days, which treats the medium with affection and respect while also chafing at its tropes throughout history. The Wall Street Journal further praised Orth and Moscovitch’s “[trenchant work to] explore how female insanity has been used both as an operatic trope and as a way to label and control non-compliant women.” 

    “10 Days is a thrilling contemporary opera, and a powerful story about the trailblazing investigative journalist, Nellie Bly, brought to life by the uniquely talented duo of Hannah Moscovitch and Rene Orth,” says Tapestry Opera’s Artistic Director, Michael Mori. “We are proud to have commissioned this work and even prouder to collaborate with the Canadian Opera Company and Luminato Festival together for its Canadian premiere. ”

    “Luminato Festival is proud to support the Canadian premiere of this visionary new opera that champions twentieth-century whistleblower Nellie Bly,” says Olivia Ansell, Artistic Director, Luminato Festival. “This type of important collaborative partnership between Tapestry Opera, Luminato Festival, Canadian Opera Company, and TO Live champions the work of Canadian creators and artists to festival audiences on the world stage.”

    COC General Director David Ferguson further adds, “Nellie Bly’s fearless commitment to truth resonates as powerfully today as it did in her time, and there is truly no better art form than opera for conveying the magnitude of her remarkable courage. In partnering with Tapestry Opera, Luminato Festival, and TO Live, the Canadian Opera Company is proud to champion bold, contemporary creators, supporting work that reminds us all of the extraordinary impact a single voice can have.” 

    Featured cast and creative

    (L-R: soprano Mireille Asselin, mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont, soprano Lauren Pearl, and baritone Jorell Williams)

    Award-winning theatre director Joanna Settle leads the production team; Settle previously collaborated with Moscovitch on the powerful 2018 opera Sky on Swings at Opera Philadelphia, which earned widespread acclaim for its moving portrayal of the emotional wreckage of living with Alzheimer’s. Sets from American designer Andrew Lieberman transform the stage into a dark labyrinth—part asylum, part mindscape—pulling audiences deep into Nellie’s world. Canadian conductor and the Canadian Opera Company’s Price Family Chorus Master Sandra Horst leads musical direction of the opera’s dynamic score that blends electronic and acoustic elements to create a sense of tension that mirrors the drama on stage.

    Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin stars as Nellie. Deemed “a treasure” by the Toronto Star, Asselin brings her “power [and] dramatic chops” to the role of Nellie, navigating the violence of indifference and its swift corrosion of one’s grasp on reality. American mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont brings her “beautifully rich and spirited voice” (Washington Post) to the role of Lizzie, whom Nellie befriends on the inside, while American baritone Jorell Williams, with his “stunning vocals” (Seattle Times) performs as the asylum’s malevolent Dr. Josiah Blackwell. Canadian soprano Lauren Pearl completes the cast, reprising her role from the world premiere as Nurse/Matron, effectively “physically embod[ying] the institution’s sadism” (The Wall Street Journal).

    Through striking visuals and haunting music, 10 Days in a Madhouse reimagines a true story of courage and confrontation. It asks what it means to be believed — and what happens when speaking truth sounds like madness. 

    10 Days in a Madhouse will be presented in English with English SURTITLES™.

    For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.tolive.com.

    Watch the trailer now!

    Ticketing information

    Regular priced tickets for 10 Days in a Madhouse range from $69-$119 and are available online at www.tolive.com, by phone at 416-366-7723 and 1-800-708-6754, and in person at the Meridian Hall Box Office (1 Front Street East) and the Meridian Arts Centre Box Office (5040 Yonge Street), Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    TO Live Box Office phone and email support operates from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Online sales operate 24 hours a day.

    Access the Media Gallery for High-Res Photography

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    10 Days in a Madhouse is a Tapestry Opera production co-presented with Luminato Festival and the Canadian Opera Company, in association with TO Live.

    Generously supported by the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council.

    ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA

    Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company dedicated to creating, developing, and performing original Canadian opera, led by General Director Michael Hidetoshi Mori and Executive Director Jaime Martino. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world-class artists. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Tapestry’s new theatre and facility, the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre on Yonge St. opened in 2025 with the mission of supporting Canadian artists. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera and is the largest commissioner and producer of Canadian operas. For more information, visit tapestryopera.com. 

    ABOUT LUMINATO FESTIVAL

    Luminato Festival transforms the people, places, and possibilities of Toronto with extraordinary art experiences. Every June we present bold, playful, and of the moment art for all to enjoy. In 2026, Luminato celebrates its 20th anniversary edition. Distinctly Toronto, proudly Canadian and totally Global, we welcome the world to explore our streets, stages and stories. Encounter our city like never before. For more information, visit luminatofestival.com.

    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. General Director David C. Ferguson joined the company in 2024, forming a leadership team alongside Music Director Johannes Debus. 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. 

    ABOUT TO LIVE

    TO Live is one of Canada’s largest multi-arts organizations, operating three iconic venues: Meridian Hall, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Arts Centre. In addition, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical, and concert events at these venues in both downtown and uptown Toronto. With these two hubs of creativity and content creation, TO Live has a unique place and perspective to activate creative spaces by inspiring local and international artists, connecting audiences, stimulating new ideas, and elevating artistic potential, becoming a catalyst for creative expression that is reflective of Toronto’s diversity. In 2025, TO Live proudly celebrates the 65th anniversary of Meridian Hall, a landmark in Toronto’s cultural life, and in 2026 we will mark 10 years as an organization—a decade of building a better city through the arts.

    For more information on Tapestry Opera and interview inquiries, please contact:

    Clay Jones, Manager, Communications & Marketing, Tapestry Opera, email: cjones@tapestyopera.com 

    Photo credits from top to bottom: 10 Days in a Madhouse creative featuring soprano Mireille Asselin (photography by: Dahlia Katz); Feature cast of 10 Days in a Madhouse: soprano Mireille Asselin, mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont, soprano Lauren Pearl, and baritone Jorell Williams (all photos submitted by artist).

    boxoffice@tapestryopera.com
    416-537-6606 | tapestryopera.com

    Box Office Hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Monday to Friday.
    In-Person at 877 Yonge Street: 1 hour before performances

  • Free Underground Concerts

    Free Underground Concerts

    Tapestry Opera Announces Free Underground Concerts: Local and International stars, LIVE in the Heart of the City

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Toronto, Ontario –  Tapestry Opera is thrilled to announce the launch of Tapestry Opera’s Free Underground Concerts, an inaugural seven-concert series offering a range of high-calibre musical performances, all completely free of charge. This series is designed to connect world-class artists with the Toronto community, particularly in the Yonge and Davenport area, in an accessible and intimate setting, enriching the city’s cultural landscape.

    The series will feature performances from the inaugural artist, Canadian soprano Danika Lorèn, in a November preview of “Slaying My Demon Lover,“ as well as a choral concert by Silver Thread in December, as well as international acts including Japan’s Duo NaKaNaKa and France’s acclaimed pianist Maxime Alberti in the new year.

    Concert Details

    • When: All concerts take place on select Mondays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
    • Where: Performance Hall at Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, 877 Yonge St.
    • General Admission Tickets: Free with registration. Registration for each concert opens approximately three weeks before the performance date.
    • Book November tickets here or subscribe for first access to all Free Underground Concerts dates.nce date.

    “We believe that transformative music should be accessible to everyone,” says Michael Mori, Artistic Director. “The Free Underground Concerts  are an invitation to new musical experiences, inviting locals, Torontonians and all new audiences to experience the power of imaginative live music in a welcoming, central venue.”

    2025/2026 Concert Lineup

    DateArtist/ConcertGenre HighlightsRegistration Opens
    Mon, Nov 24, 2025Danika Lorèn and Gentle Freak preview OpenStudio and MainStage: Slaying My Demon LoverClassical Voice, Opera, ImprovisationMon, Nov 3, 2025
    Mon, Dec 8, 2025Silver Thread present a choral concert titled Seeds In FlightChoral MusicMon, Nov 3, 2025
    Mon, Jan 26, 2026VC2 Cello Duo

    Amahl Arulanandam and Bryan Holt celebrate 10 years of collaboration.    		Chamber Music, Cello DuoMon, Jan 5, 2026
    Mon, Feb 23, 2026The Musical Stage Company Musical Theatre, ContemporaryMon, Feb 2, 2026
    Mon, Mar 2, 2026Duo NaKaNaKa Piano Recital with flutist Hiromi TabataPiano Duo, FluteMon, Feb 2, 2026
    Mon, Apr 13, 2026Two Piano Trios, 4 Hands
    featuring Vivian Chen, Noam Dekalo, Julia Mirzoev Peter Eom.

    Presented in collaboration with Syrinx Concerts Toronto.    		Classical, ChamberMon, Mar 23, 2026
    Mon, May 4, 2026Maxime Alberti

    Presented in collaboration with Syrinx Concerts Toronto.    		Piano RecitalMon, Apr 13, 2026

    SECURING FREE TICKETS

    Due to limited capacity, attendees must register in advance for each event. Registration links will be made available to those who subscribe to Tapestry’s e-newsletter first and will be posted on the Tapestry Opera website on the dates listed above. Early registration is strongly encouraged as all shows will sell out.

    ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA

    Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company that is dedicated to creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world-class singers and musicians. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera.

    -END-

    For more information about Tapestry Opera’s Free Underground Concerts, please email Clay Jones at cjones@tapestryopera.com

  • 25/26 SEASON CELEBRATES FIRST SEASON IN NEW TORONTO VENUE

    25/26 SEASON CELEBRATES FIRST SEASON IN NEW TORONTO VENUE

    Tapestry Opera’s 2025 – 2026 first full season at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre includes site-specific New Canadian Works, Boundary-Pushing Opera, and a major world premiere production at the Bluma Appel Theatre.

    TORONTO, ON – Tapestry Opera, Canada’s leading producer of new Canadian opera, is thrilled to announce its 2025-2026 season. The lineup features four dynamic shows, including two world premieres, a North American premiere, and a Canadian premiere, showcasing the company’s commitment to bold, boundary-pushing, and socially relevant opera, with leading creators such as Sarah Henstra, Ana Sokolović, and Roydon Tse. Three of the four productions will be presented in Tapestry’s new downtown venue, the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre at 877 Yonge St.

    The season begins with the site-specific world premiere ‘opera shorts’ in Tapestry Briefs: Under Where?, a collection of hilarious and absurd opera shorts from a new generation of Canadian creators performed underground at 877 Yonge St. This is followed by the North American premiere of OPE-N’s (Denmark) LOL: Laughing Out Lonely, an opera that confronts modern online loneliness.

    The season continues with Ana Sokolović’s Love Songs – theatrical adaptation by Michael Hidetoshi Mori, a genre-bending work that blurs the lines between opera, dance, and ritual, and concludes with our flagship performance of the season, WE CANT TELL YOU THE DETAILS YET, though a sound investigative mind probably could… but trust us, it’s incredible.

    Book Tickets

    25/26 Programming

    Tapestry Briefs: Under Where?

    October 16–19, 2025
    Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    Tapestry Briefs: Under Where? is a collection of ten hot-off-the-press opera shorts that take audiences on an immersive, tragic, absurd, and beautiful journey. This intimate production features the work of nine dynamic Canadian creators—composers Rebecca Gray, Saman Shahi, Roydon Tse, Keith Klassen, and Prokhor Protasoff, with librettists Rachel Gray, Sarah Henstra, Pierre-André Doucet, and Christene Adina Browne.

    The Briefs program has a history of launching successful productions such as The Overcoat, R.U.R. A Torrent of Light and Of the Sea. The new pieces feature a wide range of stories, from a mother with Alzheimer’s and a sponge in a romantic duet with a yogurt container to a woman trying to eat alone despite a tenor’s best efforts. Directed by Michael Hidetoshi Mori and Mabel Wannacott, with music direction by Hyejin Kwon and Gregory Oh, the production stars Reilly Nelson, Adanya Dunn, Keith Klassen, and Jorell Williams.

    LOL: Laughing Out Lonely

    January 16–17, 2026
    Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    In its North American premiere, LOL: Laughing Out Lonely is a solo opera from the groundbreaking Danish company OPE-N. Created by Matilde Böcher and Asger Kudahl, this modern opera is a thought-provoking reflection on our digital age. Based on real social media posts, it gives a voice to the voiceless by exploring the dark corners of the internet where marginalized individuals find a distorted sense of community. Acclaimed countertenor Morten Grove Frandsen gives a “tour-de-force” performance as he embodies a series of online personas, including “The Fucking Ugly Face” and “The Lamb.” The production uniquely combines opera with physical theatre, creating a powerful and relevant experience for audiences of all ages.

    Ana Sokolović’s Love Songs
    Theatrical adaptation and staging by Michael Hidetoshi Mori 

    March 26–29, 2026
    Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre

    Part opera, part dance, all heart, Ana Sokolović’s Love Songs, with a new theatrical adaptation by Michael Hidetoshi Mori, is a haunting, genre-defying journey through one woman’s desperate ritual to defy loss, featuring soprano Xin Wang. Sung in five languages and with declarations of love in over 100 tongues, Love Songs blurs the line between opera, performance art, and ritual. The production is a co-presentation with New Music Concerts and showcases the powerful interplay of two lovers in a visceral exploration of memory and healing.

    Title of Opera (we can’t tell you yet!!)

    June, 2026 
    Bluma Appel Theatre

    An award-winning opera featuring some of our favourite soloists, a chorus(!!), and orchestra… that we can’t announce just yet. 

    Our flagship performance of the season is the creation of a Canadian playwright you already admire and a composer the New York Times has hailed as one of the most important voices of our time.

    ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA

    Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company dedicated to creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera. In 2025, Tapestry co-founded the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, Toronto’s newest venue for the performing arts. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world-class artists. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera.

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    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Clay Jones
    Marketing and Communications Manager
    Tapestry Opera
    cjones@tapestryopera.com

  • General Audition Call for Fall 2025

    General Audition Call for Fall 2025

    General auditions are now closed. Thank you to all who applied!

    Deadline: Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM

    Tapestry Opera is accepting general audition submissions for its 2025-2026 season and beyond. Classically trained singer-actors with professional experience in opera, as well as new music, theatre and music/musical theatre, are invited to apply.

    In order to apply, performers are asked to submit their headshot and resume and to be available for an in-person audition on Wednesday, September 24 & Friday, September 26, 2025, at Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre – 877 Yonge Street, Toronto. A pianist will be provided.

    Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre is a wheelchair accessible venue and we are happy to coordinate virtual callbacks as needed for accessibility. 

    Apply now (Closed)

    Performers who have previously auditioned for Tapestry may submit an audition, but may not be called for a live audition if the company has recently heard them. Tapestry Opera is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association company under the Canadian Theatre Agreement. CAEA members will be given priority when scheduling live auditions.

    Tapestry Opera is committed to equity and justice in hiring/casting and invested in diversifying talent on and off stage. We encourage folks from all backgrounds, particularly those from communities of colour, LGBTQ2S, Indigenous, Disabled, and other equity-deserving communities, to apply. 

    General audition submissions close on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM

    If you have questions, please email Artistic Producer Mélanie Dubois at mdubois@tapestryopera.com with ‘General Audition’ in the subject line.

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    Lead image by Dahlia Katz

  • Women in Musical Leadership: Second Cohort Graduation

    Women in Musical Leadership: Second Cohort Graduation

    Maria Fuller and Naomi Woo are just the second cohort of Women in Musical Leadership (WML) conductors to graduate from Tapestry Opera’s three-year program. WML is a cornerstone of Tapestry Opera’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, providing invaluable opportunities and mentorship to emerging female leaders in the industry.

    Maria Fuller

    Maria has been enjoying great success in Europe since relocating there last season.  As a guest Resident Conductor at the Teatr Wielki w Łodzi in Poland, Maria has music directed several productions, including a set of three premier ballet performances, two performances of Madame Butterfly, and eight performances of Hansel und Gretel, and assistant conducted Der fliegende Holländer, Romeo and Juliet, Turandot, and coached Hansel und Gretel and L’elisir d’amore.  Maria was also assistant conductor for Manon Lescaut at the Narodnì Divadlo in Prague (the theatre where Mozart premiered Don Giovanni in 1787).

    This May, Maria was selected from 160 applicants for the Assistant Conductor position with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, in Belgium, for the 25/26 season.  This past season, she was selected by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor of the NY Metropolitan Opera, to partake in a unique fellowship with him and the Orchestre Métropolitain.

    This year also marks Maria’s second year as the Founding Music Director of Ammolite Opera, in Calgary. In their first season, Ammolite Opera received four nominations from the Betty Mitchell Awards in Calgary, including Outstanding Musical Direction from Maria. As a composer and arranger, Maria’s works will be featured at the 2nd Ammolite Opera Christmas production in Calgary this December. She will premier a piano quintet version of her own Messiah, called: “The Christmas Messiah.”

    Other recent highlights include being featured in Opera Canada’s “Musician of the Week” series for her engagements in Europe and finishing as a finalist in the 11th International Fitelberg Competition in Poland.

    Naomi Woo

    This past season, Naomi guest conducted with orchestras across North America and Europe, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain, Edmonton Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Royal Conservatory Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and Calgary Philharmonic.  She is currently the Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Artistic Partner with the Orchestre Métropolitain, and Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

    This July, she leads the National Youth Orchestra of Canada through their summer tour for the second time.

    Other recent highlights include a tour of England leading English Touring Opera’s production of Cinderella, conducting the Canadian premiere of Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Angel’s Bone in Vancouver, and the world premiere of Ellis Ludwig-Leone’s The Night Falls in New York City.

    Please join us in congratulating them both and wishing them the best in their future successes!