Returning to the COC for the first time in nearly 15 years, Beethoven’s
Fidelio appears at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this fall in a brand-new production from acclaimed director Matthew Ozawa.
When the courageous Leonore disguises herself as a male guard to enter the prison where she suspects her husband is being held as a political prisoner, she quickly discovers a world of abuse and oppression. Determined to save him before it’s too late, her actions inspire hope and strength among the other prisoners—creating a will for resistance and determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Read on to meet the cast of this Fall’s
Fidelio!
Miina-Liisa Värelä, soprano
Leonore
COC debut
“Her assured lower register can compete with many mezzos for its intensity and core; she also deployed a clean, straight tone at moments of icy focus and resolve, especially in Act One. This kind of vocal control makes the backstory delivered in Act One compelling. Her entry in Act Three, tending to the fallen body of Tristan, was heart-stoppingly tender.” —
The Guardian
Clay Hilley, tenor
Florestan
COC debut
“Vocally he’s the finest Siegfried…with ringing top notes, perfect diction, and impressive tonal flexibility.”—
Opera News
Dimitry Ivashchenko, bass
Rocco
Previous COC appearances: Oroveso in
Norma (2016), Hunding in
Die Walküre (2015)
“As the prison guard, Rocco, Dimitry Ivashchenko also had tremendous presence, his resonant bass lending solid ground to his debut role here in the Zurich house.” —
Bachtrack
Anna-Sophie Neher, soprano
Marzelline
Previous COC appearances: Micaëla in
Carmen and Pamina in
The Magic Flute (2022); Gretel, the Sandman, and the Dewfairy in
Hansel and Gretel (2020), the First Wood Nymph in
Rusalka (2019), and Lavia in
Hadrian (2018)
“French-Canadian soprano Anna-Sophie Neher is turning heads with her voice and her stage persona. Her Lavia in the recent world premiere of Hadrian was praised for sparkling tone and an endearing stage presence.” —
Ludwig van Toronto
Josh Lovell, tenor
Jaquino
COC debut
“Josh Lovell as Prince Ramiro recalls that golden era of singing when an Alfredo Kraus was a lifelong style-perfect tenore di grazia. Lovell's timbre is fantastically beautiful and his supple, finely melting phrasing full of good taste, his easily appealing height seems to know no limits beyond the high C... No wonder the Vienna State Opera secured the young Canadian.” —
Concerti
Johannes Martin Kränzle, baritone
Don Pizarro
COC debut
“Johannes-Martin Kränzle’s Beckmesser, warmly sung with a richly resonant baritone, deserves a prize here.” —
The New York Times
Sava Vemić, bass
Don Fernando
COC debut
“The most confident singing came from the Serbian bass, Sava Vemić, as Rodolfo. Mr. Vemić brought a mellow, full-bodied voice, a feeling for bel canto phrasing, and commanding stage presence to his portrayal.” —
The New York Times
See all of these amazing artists in action at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts from September 29!Tickets are on sale now!
