In the months leading up to our brand new winter production of Mozart's Così fan tutte directed by Atom Egoyan, the Toronto Star joined us to explore the many departments that work together to bring a production to life. The result? An entire week's worth of opera school! Watch the videos below to get a glimpse of how the company comes together to create a new production, with a variety of staff members from our props, sets, costumes and wigs department as well as music staff!

Day One: Science
For our first day of Opera Class, we visit the props department where COC Properties Supervisor Guy Nokes gives a tour of the objects that the props team were creating for the curio cabinet and other experiments visible in the "School for Lovers."

Day Two: Industrial Design
For our second day, we see the bones of the giant curio cabinet, as Head Scenic Carpenter David Retzleff gives us the low-down on how the large set-pieces come to life.

Day Three: Drama
On our third day, director Atom Egoyan shares his favourite parts of the opera as we watch a staging rehearsal with Wallis Giunta, Layla Claire and Tracy Dahl.

Day Four: Fashion
Hike up your skirts and fix your netting! On the fourth day of class we visit Sharon Ryman in our wig department, and Sandra Corazza in costumes, for a look at the stunning ship-wigs and crisp student uniforms.

Day Five: Music
COC Music Director and Così conductor Johannes Debus discusses the beauty and fragility of Mozart’s music, and we catch a glimpse of the COC Orchestra in rehearsal.

You can also explore our behind-the-scenes videos with our Inside Opera series. Watch Constructing Così Part One or Constructing Così Part Two on COC Radio today!

Così fan tutte runs from January 18 to February 21, 2014 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Click here to learn more or to purchase tickets.

 

Photo: (l-r) Layla Claire as Fiordiligi and Wallis Giunta as Dorabella in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Così fan tutte, 2014. Credit: Chris Hutcheson