In Wednesday’s (1/20) National Post, Vanessa Farquharson writes that the Toronto-based “Canadian Opera Company is kicking off its fourth season in the Four Seasons Centre with a real stand-up plan for increasing audience attendance: As of October, there will be 50 standing-room-only spaces available in the theatre, at the back of rings three and four, for just $12 — less than a movie ticket at most cinemas. ‘This will make the opera even more accessible and affordable,’ said COC General Director Alexander Neef at a press conference this morning, after announcing the upcoming season. The only downside is that there will also be a Harmonized Sales Tax introduced as of May 1st, which translates into an 8% hike on all ticket prices. … Still, with an average of 99% capacity for every performance, the COC doesn’t have too much to worry about; as well, yesterday’s announcement of the upcoming lineup brought forth many gasps and claps from journalists and opera fans gathered.” COC’s season includes productions of Verdi’s Aida, Britten’s Death in Venice, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, and John Adams’s Nixon in China.
Posted January 21, 2010
