+++
author = ["authors/jenna.md"]
categories = "News"
date = "2017-01-11T14:30:00+00:00"
lastmod = "2017-01-13T00:31:00+00:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484165780594/2017-01-11---2017-18.jpg.jpg"
primary_image_credit = "Production photos by Michael Cooper, Ken Howard, Bertrand Stofleth. Full credits below."
publishDate = "2017-01-13T00:30:00+00:00"
related_articles = ["articles/review-sondra-slays-in-bellini-masterwork.md","articles/ariodante-or-the-hebridean-handel.md","articles/in-review-the-marriage-of-figaro.md"]
related_companies = ["scene/companies/canadian-opera-company.md","scene/companies/canadian-opera-company-ensemble-studio.md","scene/companies/the-dallas-opera.md","scene/companies/english-national-opera.md"]
related_people = ["scene/people/jane-archibald.md","scene/people/erin-wall.md","scene/people/tomasz-konieczny.md","scene/people/david-pomeroy.md","scene/people/sondra-radvanovsky.md","scene/people/christopher-alden.md","scene/people/johannes-debus.md","scene/people/allyson-mchardy.md","scene/people/eric-owens.md","scene/people/owen-mccausland.md","scene/people/claire-de-sevigne.md","scene/people/simone-osborne.md","scene/people/gordon-bintner.md","scene/people/andrew-shore.md","scene/people/andrew-haji.md","scene/people/samuel-chan.md","scene/people/simone-mcintosh.md","scene/people/hyejin-kwon.md","scene/people/aaron-sheppard.md","scene/people/charles-sy.md","scene/people/rachael-kerr.md","scene/people/stephen-lord.md","scene/people/anna-christy.md","scene/people/stephen-costello.md","scene/people/mauro-peter.md","scene/people/keri-alkema.md"]
short_description = "Perhaps the most surprising announcement is the appointment of Canadian soprano Jane Archibald as the COC&#039;s new Artist-In-Residence. Archibald sings leading roles in three of the company&#039;s mainstage productions next season, including two role debuts. She&#039;ll also perform in the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre, and she&#039;ll work as a mentor to the members of the COC Ensemble Studio and the Orchestra Academy. "
slug = "coc1718"
title = "#COC1718"
+++

The [Canadian Opera Company](/scene/companies/canadian-opera-company/) has announced its season line-up for 2017/18, along with additional exciting news about the year to come.

Perhaps the most surprising announcement is the appointment of Canadian soprano [Jane Archibald](/scene/people/jane-archibald/) as the COC's new Artist-In-Residence. Archibald sings leading roles in three of the company's mainstage productions next season, including two role debuts. She'll also perform in the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre, and she'll work as a mentor to the members of the COC Ensemble Studio and the Orchestra Academy. Archibald, with her own professional schedule and her experience working on both sides of the Atlantic, is a savvy, relevant resource for the young artists of the COC. Exciting stuff.

Speaking of the Ensemble Studio, three new incoming artists have been officially selected from the extraordinary talent across Canada. Mezzo-soprano [Simone McIntosh](/scene/people/simone-mcintosh/), baritone [Samuel Chan](/scene/people/samuel-chan/), and pianist [Rachael Kerr](/scene/people/racheal-kerr/) are set to join the coveted young artists programme in the fall of 2017. Graduating from the programme are tenors [Charles Sy](/scene/people/charles-sy/), [Aaron Sheppard](/scene/people/aaron-sheppard/), and [Hyejin Kwon](/scene/people/hyejin-kwon/).

A departure from the trend of past seasons, where the artists of the COC Ensemble are featured in a special performance of a mainstage production on the Four Seasons Centre stage, the COC also announces *An Evening with the Ensemble Studio*, **May 25, 2018**. The young artists will perform in operatic scenes, conducted by COC Music Director [Johannes Debus](/scene/people/johannes-debus/) and joined by the COC Orchestra. Though it's not quite the same as seeing the young artists in a living production, a gala/scenes evening is likely a chance to hear a good cross-section of the young artists, where they can show off what they do best.

And now, the shows! In chronological order:

## *Arabella*

Richard Strauss' *Arabella* kicks off the fall of 2017. Tim Albery's production, co-produced with the COC, [Minnesota Opera](/scene/companies/minnesota-opera/), and [Santa Fe Opera](/scene/companies/santa-fe-opera/), comes to the Four Seasons Centre for the first time. The wonderful Patrick Lange conducts a stellar cast; Canadian sopranos [Erin Wall](/scene/people/erin-wall/) and [Jane Archibald](/scene/people/jane-archibald/) sing Arabella and her mysterious sister, Zdenka. Tomasz Konieczny sings Mandryka, and David Pomeroy is Matteo. Performances run **October 5-28, 2017**.

## *The Elixir of Love*

James Robinson directs a new production of Donizetti's adorable *Elixir of Love*, co-produced with the COC, San Francisco Opera, Kansas City Opera, and Colorado Opera. An exciting cast of rising stars includes [Simone Osborne](/talking-with-singers-simone-osborne/) as Adina, and [Andrew Haji](/scene/people/andrew-haji/) as Nemorino. [Gordon Bintner](/scene/people/gordon-bintner/) sings the role of Belcore (he and Osborne are also newly married, so it's super cute), and [Andrew Shore](/scene/people/andrew-shore/) sings Doctor Dulcamara. Toronto-born Yves Abel conducts. Performances run **October 11 to November 4, 2017**.

<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}![](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484147011363/Elixir-of-Love---photo-credit-Ken-Howard---Photo-1.jpg.jpg)<figcaption>Renè Barbera and Susannah Biller in the Opera Theater of St. Louis production of *The Elixir of Love*, 2014. Photo: Ken Howard.</figcaption>
</figure>

## *Rigoletto*

[Christopher Alden](/scene/people/christopher-alden/)'s *Rigoletto*, co-produced with the COC and [English National Opera](/scene/companies/english-national-opera/) returns to the Four Seasons Centre from **January 20 to February 23, 2018**. Verdi's score is in excellent hands with maestro [Stephen Lord](/scene/people/stephen-lord/), who conducts Roland Wood in the title role, [Anna Christy](/scene/people/anna-christy/) as Gilda, and [Stephen Costello](/scene/people/stephen-costello/) as the Duke of Mantua. 

<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}![](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484147054245/Rigoletto---photo-credit-Michael-Cooper---Photo-2.jpg.jpg)<figcaption>Ekaterina Sadovnikova as Gilda and Dimitri Pittas as the Duke of Mantua in a scene from the Canadian Opera Company production of *Rigoletto*, 2011. Photo: Michael Cooper</figcaption>
</figure>

## *The Abduction from the Seraglio*

[Jane Archibald](/scene/people/jane-archibald/) returns to the Four Season Centre to sing Konstanze in Mozart's *The Abduction from the Serail*. Wajdi Mouawad's production with the COC and Opéra de Lyon also features [Mauro Peter](/scene/people/mauro-peter/) as Belmonte, and COC Ensemble Studio graduates [Claire de Sévigné](/claire-de-sevigne-sing-fast-high/) as Blonde and [Owen McCausland](/spotlight-on-owen-mccausland/) as Pedrillo. COC Music Director [Johannes Debus](/scene/people/johannes-debus/) conducts the performances, running **February 7-24, 2017**.

<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}![](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484147252260/Abduction-from-the-Sergalio---photo-credit-Bertrand-Stofleth---Photo-1.jpg.jpg)
<figcaption>Jane Archibald (centre) as Konstanze in the Opéra de Lyon production of *The Abduction from the Seraglio*, 2016. Photo: Bertrand Stofleth.</figcaption>
</figure>

## *The Nightingale and Other Short Fables*

Robert Lepage's dazzling production of Stravinksy's *The Nightingale and Other Short Fables* sold out in its 2009 premiere run, and from **April 13 to May 19, 2017** it returns to the Four Season Centre stage. The co-production with Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Opéra de Lyon and Ex Machina stars [Jane Archibald](/scene/people/jane-archibald/) as the Nightingale, [Owen McCausland](/spotlight-on-owen-mccausland/) as the Fisherman, [Christian Van Horn](/talking-with-singers-christian-van-horn/) as the Emperor, and [Meredith Arwardy](/scene/people/meredith-arwardy/) as Death. Performers in *Nightingale* manipulate puppets designed by the Tony and Emmy award-winning Michael Curry. COC Music Director [Johannes Debus](/scene/people/johannes-debus/) conducts.

<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}![](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484147183757/Nightingale-and-Other-Short-Fables---photo-credit-Michael-Cooper---Photo-3.jpg.jpg)<figcaption>A scene from the Canadian Opera Company's production of *The Nightingale and Other Short Fables*, 2009. Photo: Michael Cooper</figcaption>
</figure>

## *Anna Bolena*

Closing the 2017/18 season at the COC is Stephen Lawless' production of *Anna Bolena*, which premiered at [The Dallas Opera](/scene/companies/the-dallas-opera/). Corrado Rovaris conducts an impressive cast, led by the queen of Queens, star soprano [Sondra Radvanovsky.](/talking-with-singers-sondra-radvanovsky/). [Eric Owens](/scene/people/eric-owens/) sings Henry VIII, [Keri Alkema](/talking-with-singers-keri-alkema/) is Jane Seymour, and [Allyson McHardy](/scene/people/allyson-mchardy/) sings Smeton. Performances run at the Four Seasons Centre from **April 28 to May 26, 2017**.

<figure data-type="image">{{% md %}}![](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1484147092680/Anna-Bolena---photo-credit-Scott-Suchman---Photo-1.jpg.jpg)<figcaption>Sondra Radvanovsky as Anna Bolena in a scene from the Washington National Opera production of *Anna Bolena*, 2012. Photo: by Scott Suchman.</figcaption>
</figure>
***
Feature images, from top: A scene from *The Nightingale and Other Short Fables*, Canadian Opera Company, 2009, photo by Michael Cooper; Erin Wall as Arabella in the Santa Fe Opera production of *Arabella*, 2012, photo by Ken Howard; Jane Archibald (centre) as Konstanze in the Opera de Lyon production of *The Abduction from the Seraglio*, 2016. Photo: Bertrand Stofleth.

>What are you looking forward to most in the COC's 2017/18 season? Let us know in the comments below!
