The leaves are changing, sweater weather has begun, and we at Opera 5 are falling over ourselves to tell you about our 2024/2025 season!

First up: We’re launching our first-ever Toronto Opera Festival, which will feature three productions of opera and musical theatre in June 2025 at Factory Theatre.

In the line-up, we have:

 • Come Closer: The world premiere of a new Canadian opera by composer Ryan Trew and librettist Rachel Krehm (Opera 5’s own) 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 cast includes Rachel Krehm (Big Sister) and Jacqueline Woodley (Little Sister), with conductor Evan Mitchell, Music Director of the Kingston Symphony, and director Amanda Smith, Artistic Director of FAWN Chamber Creative.

 • Elegies: A Song Cycle by William Finn. Opera 5’s first foray into Musical Threatre, this intimate and moving piece pays tribute to Finn’s departed friends. William Finn is the Tony Award-winning composer of Falsettos and A New Brain. Elegies will feature 6 Portfolio Artist Interns, many of whom will make their Toronto and professional debuts in this production. Directed by Jessica Derventzis, Artistic Director of Opera 5

• Gala Performance: The Interns will also take the mainstage for this one-night-only performance featuring some of opera’s greatest classics, new works, and musical theatre gems.

• Portfolio Artist Internship Program: Announcing the second iteration of our internship program with Opera McGill at the Schulich School of Music. The six artists in the program 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.

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