“Lights. Camera. Opera.” The Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage, now in its 10th year, is one of the most anticipated events in Canada’s opera scene.
After auditioning close to 90 young singers from across the country, seven finalists—three sopranos, one tenor, one baritone, and two basses– were chosen to perform in front of a live and live-streamed audience, accompanied by the full force of the COC orchestra. The competition jury comprised COC’s General Director Perryn Leech and Director of Artistic Planning Roberto Mauro; renowned Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka; conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser; and actor-director Thom Allison. Once again, both live and at-home audiences took part in voting for their favourite singer. In addition to the substantial cash prizes, the finalists were vying for coveted invitations to join the COC Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals. The evening was hosted by TV personality Sangita Patel.
Opening the evening, COC music director Johannes Debus led the orchestra to play the overture from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. The excellent and vivacious performance is surely a good sign of what’s to come, when the COC will mount the production of this opera in the spring.
Left to right: Duncan Stenhouse, Elisabeth St-Gelais, Emily Rocha (Photo by Micahel Cooper)
Soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais of Chicoutimi, Quebec, took home the $7500 First Prize and $1000 Audience Choice Award. A seasoned and confident performer with a powerful voice, she stood out as the most technically mature vocalist of the night. Her “Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s Tosca was a bold choice, considering it is one of judge Pieczonka’s signature pieces. Although at times her tempo was rushed and out of sync with the orchestra, it was executed with brilliance and sensitivity.
The $5000 Second Prize went to soprano Emily Rocha from Courtice, ON. A natural performer, Rocha has a sweet, silvery tone, particularly notable in her mid range. Her “Caro nome” from Verdi’s Rigoletto was a nice balance of beautiful shaped phrases in the lower ranges and controlled precision in the high notes.
COC Centre Stage Third Prize winner, bass Duncan Stenhouse (Photo by Michael Cooper)
Calgarian bass Duncan Stenhouse was the $2500 Third Prize winner. He has a rich sound and an easy presence. His safe choice of repertoire, “The Song of the Varangian Guest /A skaly groznyje” from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko, unfortunately did not showcase his complete range and colours, and lacked climatic feel at the end.
My vote went to soprano Gabrielle Turgeon from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Her delivery of “Piangero la sorte mia” from Handel’s Julius Caesar was naturally engaging. She effortlessly floated across octaves and fast passages, nailing the high notes with precision. It was disappointing and a surprise that she did not land in the winners’ circle, but she is definitely a talent to watch for.
COC Centre Stage finalist, bass Matthew Li (Photo by Michael Cooper)
The rest of the finalists—Jamal Al Titi (Baritone, Minsk, Belarus), Matthew Bermudez (Tenor, London, Ontario) and Matthew Li (Bass, Ottawa, Ontario) all deserve special mention for their high-calibre and heartfelt performances. It was an exhilarating night of vocal fireworks from our country’s next generation of opera stars, and the future is bright for Canada’s operatic world.
