Tickets now on sale for Opera 5’s Toronto Opera Festival

TORONTO, ON – Tickets are now on sale for Opera 5’s first-ever Toronto Opera Festival, running from June 12-21, 2025 at Factory Theatre. The festival features a series of performances, including the world premiere of Come Closer by Canadian Composer Ryan Trew and with a libretto by Opera 5’s General Director Rachel Krehm, Opera 5’s first musical theatre production, Elegies: A Song Cycle by William Finn, and a Gala Performance – featuring the Portfolio Artist Interns.

The Toronto Opera Festival is currently Toronto’s only professional opera festival dedicated to celebrating opera, musical theatre, and new Canadian works. It will also showcase homegrown talent while training the next generation of portfolio artists. Rooted in Opera 5’s mission to champion Canadian artistry, the festival highlights both emerging and established artists, providing a vital platform for their voices to shine and learn from each other.

This inaugural year the festival’s is loss. The festival centres around the world premiere of Come Closer, a new Canadian chamber 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 stage director and creation dramaturg, Amanda Smith, Artistic Director of FAWN Chamber Creative. At the piano will be Trevor Chartrand, and the ensemble is rounded out with Allene Chomyn (violin) and Rebecca Morton (cello). Come Closer’s production designer is Shannon Lea Doyle, lighting designer Noah Feaver, production manager, Patrick Lynn, and stage manager, Tamara Vuckovic. Interns Maddalena Ohrbach and Emma Yee will act as Assistant Director and Assistant Stage Manager respectively. All the other interns will perform various design, production or directing secondary skills assignments.

“Grief is a universal experience for all of us who have loved and yet it is often the most isolating of experiences. 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 finding yourself again after experiencing loss. The team that is bringing this opera to life is thoughtful and passionate. Their contribution to Come Closer augments each word and every note of the score. The opera has been years in the making and the whole team can’t wait to share Come Closer with you”

– Rachel Krehm, Librettist of Come Closer and General Director of Opera 5

Opera 5 will also present its first-ever musical theatre production, 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 be directed by Opera 5’s Artistic Director Jessica Derventzis, and music directed by Nate Ben-Horin with stage manager, M Fera. The cast includes six of our incredible Portfolio Artist Interns: Kyle Briscoe, Jayden Burrows, Kate Fogg, Brenna McFarland, MacKenzie Sechi, Emma Yee, along with intern assistant director intern, Len Crino. All interns are paid at standard industry rates for the duration of the production. They all take the stage and fulfill secondary assignments to build skills that will serve them in building a career as they transition out of being students. Opera 5’s brilliant festival production team will also join us for Elegies: A Song Cycle production designer, Shannon Lea Doyle and lighting designer Noah Feaver, along with production manager, Patrick Lynn.

“We are so excited to showcase our Portfolio Artists with this beautiful musical theatre piece. The six singers featured in this show are bright shining upcoming superstars. William Finn’s Elegies is a loving tribute to people he has lost throughout his life. The soaring melodies and fun ensembles in Elegies make for a touching and irreverent evening honouring grief and finding joy again after loss.”

– Jessica Derventzis, Artistic Director of Opera 5

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. The gala will open the festival on June 12, 2025 and more will be announced about the gala as we approach the festival. Don’t let the word “gala” scare you off, this is an affordable fun night out and we want everyone to feel welcome to join us in opening Opera 5’s first-ever Toronto Opera Festival!

Early Bird pricing for the festival is open now through April 30th and offers major discounts at the Factory Theatre box office:

Festival Ticket Bundle: Buy at least 1 ticket to each show by putting at least 1 ticket from each show in your basket and automatically receive 40% off.
Bulk Ticket Bundle: Buy 6 or more ticket to one night and automatically receive 30% off.
Single Ticket Early Bird Special: 25% off automatically applied.