TORONTO, ON – Today Opera 5 announces our 2024/2025 season, including the launch of the brand new Toronto Opera Festival. This festival in June 2025 features a series of performances, including the world premiere of Come Closer by Canadian Composer Ryan Trew with a libretto by Opera 5 General Director Rachel Krehm, Opera 5’s first production of musical theatre with performances of Elegies: A Song Cycle by William Finn, and a Gala Performance featuring our Portfolio Artist Interns.
Opera 5’s Toronto Opera Festival is Toronto’s first-ever festival of opera and musical theatre celebrating Canadian creation and performers, while creating a platform for training Canada’s next generation of opera artists in our Portfolio Artist Internship in partnership with Opera McGill. The core of Opera 5’s mission has always been to celebrate Canadian artistry and to give new talent a chance to take the stage, which is why we feel launching a festival featuring emerging and established artists is vital.
In the festival’s first year, the theme of is loss. The festival opens with the world premiere of Come Closer, a new Canadian opera by composer Ryan Trew and librettist Rachel Krehm, with poetry by the late Elizabeth Krehm. Come Closer is a chamber opera that takes an emotional look at the grief of losing a sister, based on the personal experiences of Rachel Krehm, who lost her sister Elizabeth to addiction. The opera is a symbolic representation of the grieving process explored through a series of memories and fantasies.
The cast of Come Closer includes Rachel Krehm (Big Sister) and Jacqueline Woodley (Little Sister), with conductor Evan Mitchell, Music Director of the Kingston Symphony, and devising director Amanda Smith, Artistic Director of FAWN Chamber Creative. Music Staff will be led by Trevor Chartrand. The show will be designed by Shannon Lea Doyle and lighting designer will be Noah Feaver. Performances will be held June 2025 at Factory Theatre.
“Grief is a universal experience for all of us who have loved, and yet it is often the most isolating of experiences” says General Director Rachel Krehm. “I wanted to create a show that allowed us to connect and feel less alone. Ryan Trew’s music embodies nostalgia, melody, and every feeling you can imagine. His music lifts up my sister’s words, and my story of searching for meaning after loss. I can’t wait to share this opera with Toronto audiences”
In repertory with Come Closer will be Elegies: A Song Cycle by William Finn. This intimate and moving piece pays tribute to departed friends of Finn’s, the Tony Award-winning composer of “Falsettos” and “A New Brain.” Elegies will feature 6 Portfolio Artist Interns from Opera McGill, many of whom will make their Toronto and professional debuts in this production. Elegies will be directed by Opera 5’s Artistic Director Jessica Derventzis. The Interns will also take the mainstage in a one-night-only Gala Performance, featuring some of opera’s greatest classics, new works, and musical theatre gems. Additional information about the cast, team, and performance dates for Opera 5’s Toronto Opera Festival will be available in early 2025.
Artistic Director Jessica Derventzis notes: “We are thrilled to present our first musical with Elegies – a loving tribute to William Finn’s family, friends, and colleagues who have passed away. His stories are universal, and bring joy, hope, and laughter to the grieving process. Thematically, Elegies is a beautiful complement to Come Closer. With these two pieces, we hope to open the door to anyone who has experienced loss, or is grieving to a safe and warm community.”
Finally, Opera 5 is excited to announce the second iteration of the Portfolio Artist Internship Program in partnership with Opera McGill at the Schulich School of Music. The program will support 6 early-career opera artists who will take the stage for Elegies: A Song Cycle and our Gala performance, and cover roles in Come Closer. They will also participate in professional development workshops, and will develop new skill-sets in design, production, and/or administration through mentorship with our team, and while also being assigned roles within our production beyond performing.
Opera 5 is an independent opera company in Toronto with over a decade of producing experience and is known for programming opera favourites in new fresh ways, bringing unknown operas that deserve to be heard to the stage, and commissioning new Canadian operas. Opera 5 is also known for our popular web series Opera Cheats, which deconstructs opera plots and opera-going rules with a humorous twist. You can watch the series, and our web series Threepenny Submarine, which combines puppetry, animation, and opera on our YouTube channel (@OperaFive).
Listing Information
June 2025 at Factory Theatre. Tickets available in early 2025.
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Come Closer
Elegies
Gala Performance
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