An inspiration to playwrights and composers for over two thousand years, the character of Medea—a spurned sorceress who takes revenge on her unfaithful ex-lover in a shocking act of violence—presents one of the most physically and artistically daunting roles for any performer.

Cherubini’s Medea is today considered the ultimate vehicle for truly great sopranos: a challenge comparable to the role of Hamlet for actors, in which the profound psychological struggle between love and hatred arouses our sympathy and horror in equal measure. Demanding both vocal skill and physical endurance, the part is considered one of the most difficult in the entire operatic repertoire—and only a few in the opera’s two hundred-year history have been up to the task. 

Read on to discover some of the role’s most notable performances, as well as the stars of our upcoming production, and be sure to join us for this landmark event when Medea opens on May 3!

Meet Karen Kane, the opera fan who won the COC’s Guess the Season Contest, earning a pair of complimentary Grand Ring tickets!

She sat down for a Q&A with us after her win.