For the primary time in its 111-year historical past, Toronto’s Redwood Theatre can be remodeled into an opera venue for a live performance that may profit Toronto’s Every day Break Meals Financial institution. La Bohème tells the story of a bunch of younger and impoverished artists in Paris.
Maria Karam of Redwood Theatre talks in regards to the venture in a press release. “La Bohème on Faucet is an thrilling fusion of traditional opera and fashionable, informal vibes. It brings Puccini’s masterpiece right into a extra accessible, vibrant setting, permitting each opera lovers and newcomers to expertise the magic up shut.”
The Redwood Theatre, which started its life as a vaudeville theatre in 1914, has been many issues in its dwelling in Toronto’s east finish, together with a cinema and division retailer, earlier than evolving again right into a efficiency venue and hub. Music, dance, circus, and theatre have taken the stage.
As of September 19, 2025, it might probably embrace “opera venue” in its résumé.
The Manufacturing
The opera, co-produced by Redwood and Ryan Hofman, will characteristic an all-Canadian solid in an intimate setting.
Tenor Jeremy Scinocca stars as Rodolfo. An award-winning tenor primarily based in Toronto, Jeremy is a current graduate of Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Farris Younger Artist Program, the place he appeared on stage in a number of roles.
Soprano Holly Chaplin performs the position of Mimi. The Toronto-based coloratura soprano is a graduate of York College, and holds certificates from Saarburg Music Academy and Competition and Schloss Henfenfeld Oper Akadamie. She was the recipient of the 2019 Stuart Hamilton Basis Rising Artist Award with Opera in Live performance and a recipient of an encouragement award with the 2022 Laffont Met Council Auditions, and just lately debuted with Southern Ontario Lyric Opera as Lucia earlier this 12 months.
Baritone Alexander Hajek seems because the painter Marcello. Hajek simply accomplished a marathon run within the progressive Suprema Opera, an authentic opera he co-wrote as a part of Opera Revue, designed to inform a narrative that entails Dr. Oetker’s new line of pizza.
Soprano Kathryn Rose seems because the jilted Musetta. Kathryn holds a Grasp of Music in Opera from the College of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Efficiency from the College of Toronto. She’s taken on all kinds of roles, each conventional and modern, together with premiering the position of Princess Shirin in The Echoes of Bi-Sotoon, a newly composed sequence of opera scenes in Farsi produced by the Cultureland Opera Collective.
Baritone Ryan Hofman and Dylan Wright seems as Schaunard and Colline, respectively. Hofman is a two-time Brian Legislation Competitors Finalist, and a primary runner-up within the 2017 Nationwide Music Competition. With a Bachelor of Music diploma in Voice and Opera from College of Ottawa; Grasp’s of Music in Vocal Efficiency from College of Ottawa; and Grasp’s diploma in Voice and Opera from The College of British Columbia, Ryan additionally studied Music Enterprise at Humber Faculty, and is the Creative Guide and Outreach Officer at Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, New Opera Lyra, and Opera York. He has carried out all kinds of roles on stage in Southern Ontario and past.
Dylan Wright holds a MMus in Opera from the College of Toronto, and is a graduate of the Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. He’s carried out quite a lot of roles with Opéra de Montréal, Berlin Wagner Gruppe, Opera by Request, and Toronto Metropolis Opera, amongst others.
Canadian Baritone Andrew Tees rounds out the solid of Bohemians as Benoit and Alcindoro. Tees sings opera, oratorio, pops, and music theatre, and has carried out with the Canadian Opera Firm, Pacific Opera Victoria, Cleveland Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, Vancouver Opera, Opera Ontario and Opera York.
Brahm Goldhamer acts as Musical Director/Pianist.
Opera On Faucet
Does Karam see an occasion like this being profitable greater than annually?
“Completely. La Bohème on Faucet has the potential to turn into a cherished annual occasion, and will even encourage related productions. Its distinctive format provides loads of room for development and innovation, protecting audiences coming again,” she provides.
Ryan Hofman, Co-producer provides,
“Opera is such a gorgeous, however misunderstood artwork kind nonetheless in some ways. Having the chance to carry out such an iconic piece in such a historic venue in an intimate setting in one thing that
the general public wants extra of to make the artwork kind accessible. The concept of teaming with a neighborhood charity was a non-negotiable for me, particularly with the theme of poverty in La Boheme, this was an unimaginable technique to collaborate with the Every day Bread Meals Financial institution. Discovering native organizations outdoors of the humanities that match the theme of an opera, I consider is a good way to not solely preserve opera related but additionally make it personable and sustainable via additional neighborhood collaborations outdoors of the humanities.”
- Together with the efficiency, there may also be a silent public sale on website to learn Every day Bread Meals Bread. You may donate to Every day Bread Meals Financial institution [HERE].
- Discover tickets and particulars for the September 19 efficiency [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a inventive writing teacher for Ontariolearn.