On Monday August 10, 2020, the COC presented a special one-night-only digital stream of Rufus Wainwright and Daniel MacIvor’s ground-breaking queer opera, Hadrian.

More than 8,000 households tuned in from around the world and there were many people actively live-tweeting throughout, using the #HadrianWatchParty hashtag.

We have to say: your tweets literally brought us to tears –– sometimes with laughter and sometimes with sheer emotion. We’ve pulled a few of our favourites below –– but you can check out the full list on Twitter by searching #HadrianWatchParty!

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Lots of love from the first-time opera crowd (We’re so happy you joined us!)

this is my first time watching an opera and I'm kind of in love with everything #HadrianWatchParty

— tia⁷ (@boba_slut) August 10, 2020

Just watched Hadrian performed by the Canadian Opera Company and WOAH that was an excellent story and performance. I’ve never watched an opera before, but how could I pass up a beautiful LGBT focused production? Might watch some more opera. It’s wild lol #HadrianWatchParty

— 🕯- Arden Hux -🕯 (@Arden_Hux) August 11, 2020

Plenty of people were loving the drama

Sabina Redemption Arc! 😭 #HadrianWatchParty

— Amy (@yyc_gamergirl) August 11, 2020

That Sybil is a firebender! Seriously love the drama here. #HadrianWatchParty

— Francis Chartrand (@FrancisChart) August 10, 2020

Others appreciated Hadrian’s score and bold staging

Also I immediately clocked that Minoan snake goddess allusion in the chorus, A+ work Gillian Gallow #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/8oOp1kt2Wa

— Colin Fanning (@colinfanning) August 10, 2020

this aria is so obscenely good. someone do a chillwave cover or something so more people can hear it #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/R1GPPVJemA

— gay sloth month (@hateball_sa) August 10, 2020

Ambur Braid just smacked me in the face with every “sacrifice” and I thoroughly enjoyed it. #HadrianWatchParty

— Punani Dasani (@MicahTheModest) August 11, 2020

When you find out that you and opera aren’t so different after all...

...also me staggering out of bed every day #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/0B5VNJ7Mpx

— Amber Treadway (@dervogelfamber) August 10, 2020

Can we talk about this icon. All she wants is wine and a man

In that order

Queen #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/mJ3td9Ist3

— Cap'n Bear (@Captainmorgan30) August 11, 2020

me and my friends at the bar at 3 am #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/BhrKqc5TAT

— Antonia Elektra (@TheyAllDiedOops) August 10, 2020

...and then you realize you’re emotionally invested

Oh my god this love scene is gorgeous. So exquisitely tender. #HadrianWatchParty

— Bess Moser (@moserbess) August 11, 2020

pretty proud i managed not to cry until now but here we go #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/JgnE3tlOsj

— Antonia Elektra (@TheyAllDiedOops) August 11, 2020

hey, how’s your evening going, my heart’s getting torn out in a beautiful way. 😭😭😭 #HadrianWatchParty

— andrea (@siiighren) August 11, 2020

there is something to be said for the overwhelming feeling that they tried to erase that love. and now there's an opera dedicated to it. #HadrianWatchParty

— 🌲 ailidh 🌲 (@drieddflowers) August 11, 2020

By the end of it, there were just some minds blown, in general

What an extraordinary experience! The @CanadianOpera livestream of #Hadrian is blowing my mind!#HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/hw5Dm5UqXo

— Elizabeth Friesen (@emfriesen) August 10, 2020

This Opera is singlehandedly changing my mind about 2020. What a time to be alive! #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/HWjBKiB8MM

— Twin Jade of Lan (@JadeDBirch) August 11, 2020

Isaiah Bell, Ambur Braid, and Thomas Hampson just… blew me away. I genuinely have no words. #HadrianWatchParty pic.twitter.com/rdwj2Ocv7Y

— Punani Dasani (@MicahTheModest) August 11, 2020

so incredibly blessed to have seen hadrian tonight— awestruck by the power, the passion, the sheer wonder of seeing all the great opera tropes (the “remember when we met” duet in particular) played beautifully between two men— deepest thanks to all involved #HadrianWatchParty

— colonel says all cops are bastards (@_colonelbastard) August 11, 2020

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