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Opera in 4 acts
Premiere: March 3, 1875, in Paris
Composer: Georges Bizet Librettists: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
Language: French with English and French surtitles
Duration: 3h (including a 25-minute intermission)
CARMEN RIHAB CHAIEB
DON JOSÉ ARTURO CHACÓN-CRUZ
MICAËLA MAGALI SIMARD-GALDÈS
ESCAMILLO ETHAN VINCENT
FRASQUITA
MERCÉDÈS
ZUNIGA
MORALÈS
EMMA FEKETE
TESSA FACKELMANN
STEPHEN HEGEDUS
DANTE MULLIN SANTONE
DANCAÏRE JAMAL AL TITI
REMENDADO ROCCO RUPOLO
MUSICAL DIRECTION
JEAN-MARIE ZEITOUNI
STAGE DIRECTION ANNA THEODOSAKIS
ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTION MABEL WONNACOTT
SCENERY DESIGN CAMELLIA KOO
COSTUME DESIGN
LIGHTING DESIGN
EDMONTON OPERA
DAVID FRASER
CHOREOGRAPHY ANNA THEODOSAKIS
FIGHT DIRECTION
JEAN-FRANÇOIS GAGNON
CHORUS DIRECTION CLAUDE WEBSTER
REHEARSAL PIANIST
JEROME DE LOS SANTOS
Chœur de l’Opéra de Montréal
The production was originally created by Edmonton Opera. Original Stage Direction: Maria Lamont
May 2, 5, 7, 12, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10, 2026 at 2 p.m.
SALLE WILFRID-PELLETIER, PLACE DES ARTS
Public Partners
The Opéra de Montréal
Experience the magic of the Opera
BMO is excited to present magical moments of the Montreal Opera. Prepare to be enchanted by captivating stories and incredible vocal performances.
A WORD FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to join us for Carmen, a landmark production in Opéra de Montréal’s remarkable 202526 season that has brought us together through unforgettable artistic experiences.
At Opéra de Montréal, each production is an invitation to experience opera as a living, vibrant encounter. One that brings together artists, audiences, and our community in a spirit of emotion, curiosity, and shared discovery. With Carmen, we continue that mission by presenting one of the repertoire’s most celebrated works while remaining faithful to the excellence, creativity, and artistic ambition that define our company.
This production reflects what guides us every season: bringing world-class voices to Montreal, collaborating with exceptional creative teams, and offering experiences that are both artistically compelling and
JEAN-PIERRE PRIMIANI
widely accessible. We are proud to welcome outstanding Canadian and international artists to our stage, while creating opportunities for connection with longtime patrons and first-time attendees alike.
As the final curtain falls on this season, Carmen also offers an opportunity to celebrate the community that makes our work possible. Your presence, enthusiasm, and continued support allow Opéra de Montréal to dream boldly, champion excellence, and share the transformative power of opera with ever-broader audiences.
We are deeply grateful to have shared this season with you, and we already look forward to welcoming you back next season for new productions, new discoveries, and new moments of emotion together.
I hope to see you in the foyers, before or after the performance,
Complice de l’Opéra de Montréal
A WORD FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ZHAO-IONESCU FAMILY
Once again, the eternal Carmen!
This is the Opéra de Montréal’s seventh production of Bizet’s timeless masterpiece. We never fail to fall under the spell of the titular free-spirited woman.
Carmen is the embodiment of a woman fighting for her independence in a society governed by patriarchal norms. She refuses to belong to anyone, making her a remarkably modern figure.
When we return to Carmen, therefore, we can understand the opera not as a doomed romance, but as analysis and criticism of the psychological mechanisms behind emotion. This pillar of the repertoire, far from being stuck in the past, has a powerful humanity that remains inescapably relevant.
Each new production is a chance to revisit this elusive heroine in the modern day, shedding new light on themes of freedom, love, and violence.
Enjoy the experience!
MICHEL BEAULAC
Votre rendez-vous culturel
Chaque jeudi, Sortir vous ouvre les portes de la scène culturelle d’ici, pour renouer avec le frisson de l’art vivant.
Découvrir
ACT I
A square in Seville, outside a cigarette factory. Soldiers and passers-by wait for the factory girls to come out for a break. Among the workers, Carmen appears, celebrating her freedom and singing of a love that defies all rules. She throws a flower to the reserved Corporal Don José, who tries to ignore her.
Micaëla brings Don José news of his mother and his village, reminding him of his family ties and obligations.
Suddenly, a fight breaks out inside the factory, and Carmen is arrested for injuring one of the other workers. Don José is ordered to bring her to prison, but she wins him over and secures his help. Carmen flees; Don José is arrested for allowing her escape.
ACT II
A few months later, in Lillas Pastia’s tavern, Carmen is dancing with her friends Frasquita and Mercédès, surrounded by soldiers. She learns from Lieutenant Zuniga that Don José, now demoted, has just been released from prison.
The toreador Escamillo makes a grand entrance and attempts to woo Carmen, in vain. Smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado ask Carmen to come on their next expedition. She accepts but waits behind for Don José.
When Don José arrives, he declares his love to Carmen, who invites him to follow her and break free from his life of military discipline. He hesitates, torn between duty and desire. But when Zuniga arrives, he and Don José come to blows. Having assaulted his superior officer, Don José has no choice but to desert the army and follow Carmen into the mountains.
ACT III
In the mountains, the smugglers prepare their operation. Carmen and Don José are arguing: she urges him to leave and go join his mother, but he refuses to leave her.
Frasquita and Mercédès are reading the cards. When Carmen joins them, her reading foretells death.
Escamillo arrives at the camp, determined to see Carmen. Troubled and jealous, Don José provokes him, but their scuffle is interrupted.
Micaëla, who was following the smugglers, brings Don José the news that his mother is dying. He departs with her, leaving a threat hanging over Carmen.
ACT IV
Near an arena in Seville, a cheering crowd greets Escamillo with Carmen on his arm. Frasquita and Mercédès warn Carmen that Don José is lurking nearby.
As soon as Carmen is left alone, Don José confronts her, begging her to return to him and leave Escamillo. She refuses.
Inside the arena, the crowd celebrates victory. Outside, tensions rise. Driven to the edge by his own obsession, Don José refuses to accept Carmen’s decision and stabs her to death.
In her final moments, Carmen redeclares her freedom. Don José turns himself in, confessing to his terrible crime.
Your idea of you happens here
THE COMPOSER
Georges Bizet stands among the most compelling voices in 19thcentury French opera, admired for his dramatic sensibility and vivid melodies. Born in Paris to a family of musicians, he entered the Conservatoire at an early age and quickly revealed exceptional talent, particularly for composition. A winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome, he spent several formative years in Italy, refining his style while preserving its theatrical intensity.
Back in France, Bizet composed a number of operatic works, though widespread recognition remained elusive. His artistic breakthrough came with Carmen, premiered in 1875. Inspired by Prosper Mérimée’s novella, the opera startled audiences with its raw realism, vibrant Spanish color, and complex, flawed characters. The premiere was lukewarmly received, with the new work seen as controversial and disruptive.
GEORGES BIZET
(1838-1875)
Bizet died just months later at the age of 36, unaware that Carmen would go on to become one of the most performed operas in the world. Today, his music is celebrated for its rich orchestral colours, emotional intensity, and enduring power on the stage.
THE LIBRETTISTS
HENRI MEILHAC & LUDOVIC HALÉVY
(1830-1897)
Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy were among the most prolific partnerships in 19th-century Parisian musical theatre. Both began careers connected to the literary and theatrical worlds: Meilhac became known for his sharp satirical wit, while Halévy, born into a family of artists, developed a keen sense of stagecraft and storytelling.
Their collaboration, which began in the 1860s, led to a string of successful opéras-bouffes and operettas, many written for Jacques Offenbach. Together, they created celebrated works such as La belle Hélène and La vie parisienne, distinguished by their elegance, humour, and perceptive social observation.
(1834-1908)
With Carmen, they turned to a darker, more realistic tone, freely adapting Prosper Mérimée’s novella of the same name. This shift revealed another layer of their artistry, one that could sustain tenser and more concentrated dramaturgy.
Their remarkably close and fruitful collaboration left a lasting imprint on French opera, balancing lightheartedness with genuine dramatic depth.
Mezzo-soprano CANADA/TUNISIA
RIHAB CHAIEB
CARMEN
Tunisian Canadian mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb is gaining international recognition for her compelling stage presence and vocal versatility. In the 2025-26 season, she makes several major house debuts, including Nefertiti in Glass’ Akhnaten at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the title role in Carmen with the Opéra de Montréal, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro at the Atlanta Opera, and Charlotte in Werther at the Teatro Cervantes de Málaga. She also returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Maddalena (Rigoletto). On the concert stage, she debuts in Mahler’s Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 with the Atlanta and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras and appears with leading ensembles across Europe and North America. Recent highlights include returns to LA Opera (Così fan tutte), the Metropolitan Opera (Rigoletto), and the Canadian Opera Company (Nabucco), as well as her debut with Opera Australia in Carmen. She has also performed at the Bregenzer Festspiele, the BBC Proms, and Glyndebourne Festival, and made notable debuts at Opernhaus Zürich and Deutsche Oper Berlin.
A sought-after concert artist, Rihab Chaieb has collaborated with major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Orchestre Métropolitain under conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Her repertoire spans Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Missa Solemnis, Mahler song cycles, and Handel’s Messiah
She has created roles in contemporary works, including premieres with the Royal Swedish Opera and Houston Grand Opera. A former member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, she has also appeared as a guest artist at the Met. Her recordings include collaborations with Deutsche Grammophon and Orchestre Métropolitain. Last OdM Apperance: The Magic Flute (2009) Rihab Chaieb's participation is supported through artistic sponsorship by Ossama El Naggar.
ARTURO CHACÓN-CRUZ
DON JOSÉ
Hailing from Sonora, Mexico, Arturo Chacón-Cruz is considered one of the foremost operatic tenors of his generation. He has established himself as a leading man, gracing the most renowned theaters and concert halls worldwide from Milan’s La Scala to New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Arturo's repertoire boasts over 60 roles performed in 30 countries. He has had the honor of delivering private recitals for Their Majesties Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, as well as a concert for all the leaders of Ibero-America and His Majesty King Felipe of Spain. Arturo has been featured on major news and entertainment outlets, including CNN, FOX, Telemundo, Univision, TV Azteca, Televisa, Vanity Fair, GQ, Esquire, Opera News, People, and more.
Arturo has also collaborated with acclaimed film directors Sofia Coppola (La Traviata, featuring exclusive Valentino designed costumes) and Woody Allen (Gianni Schicchi, available on DVD and BluRay by Sony). These productions received international acclaim with sold-out performances in Los Angeles, Valencia, and Rome.
Recent appearances include Manrico in Il Trovatore in San Francisco, Hoffmann in The Tales of Hoffmann in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Oronte in Verdi’s I Lombardi in Montecarlo, Jacopo Foscari in Verdi’s I due Foscari in Paris, and the title role in Verdi’s Don Carlo with the Maryland Lyric Opera at the prestigious Strathmore Hall. He reprised one of his signature roles, the eponymous role in Massenet’s Werther at Stuttgart’s State Opera. Arturo portrayed Edgardo di Ravenswood in Simon Stone’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor in Los Angeles, Riccardo in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera in Maryland and Barcelona, and Cavaradossi in Tosca with Florida Grand Opera in Miami and Fort Lauderdale (offering a historic Bis for E lucevan le stelle during their 4th performance).
Highlight recent performances include the Noche Española Concert Series with Plácido Domingo at the historic Arena di Verona and a concert at the Chorégies d’Orange in France (live transmission to around two million spectators). In the 2024-25 season: Il Trovatore at Metropolitan Opera in New York, Carmen in Las Palmas, Werther in Liège and Buenos Aires, Rigoletto in Mexico. In the 2025/26 season: the Trittico in Houston, Carmen in Leon and Montreal, La Boheme in Palermo, Tosca in Pamplona, La Traviata in New York. First OdM Apperance
MAGALI SIMARD-GALDÈS
Quebec soprano Magali Simard-Galdès is known for her brilliant, crystalline sound. With technical skill and natural musicality, she embraces a broad repertoire ranging from Baroque music, which she particularly loves, to contemporary music, which calls on her exceptional musical precision.
She has successfully embodied roles such as Agnès (Written on Skin), Micaëla (Carmen), Musetta (La Bohème), Sophie (Werther) and Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites) on stages such as Opéra de Montréal, Vancouver Opera, the Wexford Festival and Cologne Opera. She also performs in concert with the WDR Sinfonieorchester, Le Concert Spirituel, the Orchestre de chambre de Genève, the Orchestre national de Lille, Les Violons du Roy and the Orchestre métropolitain de Montréal.
Magali is featured on many ATMA Classique recordings: Sirènes (Ana Sokolović), Romances pour voix et guitare (Berlioz), Massenet’s complete songs and Rigel: Le souffle de la Révolution with Arion Baroque Orchestra.
Magali now combines her career as an artist with a growing passion for radio. In addition to sharing her knowledge of the environment and ecological transition on ICI Première’s Feu Vert program, she is an occasional contributor to the culture segment of Dessine-moi un matin and 15-18. Last OdM Apperance: Carmen (2019)
ETHAN VINCENT
ESCAMILLO
During the 2025-26 season, baritone Ethan Vincent returns to The Metropolitan Opera to cover the roles of Salvador Dalí in Mason Bates’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and Schaunard in La bohème. He also joins Riverside Lyric Opera for an Opera Gala; Charlottesville Opera to perform Figaro in The Barber of Seville; and West Virginia Symphony to sing Carmina Burana.
Recent engagements include Virginia Opera for the title role in Don Giovanni and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte; Lyric Opera of Chicago to sing Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas and to cover the role of Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro; San Diego Opera to sing Leporello in Don Giovanni; and Washington National Opera to perform Chancellor (aka Ping) in Turandot
Mr. Vincent has been engaged by the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, and Cincinnati Opera, working with conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Eun Sun Kim, Riccardo Frizza, John Adams, Jordan de Souza, Roberto Kalb, Yves Abel, Leon Botstein, and Speranza Scappucci.
Mr. Vincent hails from Kansas City, Missouri. He holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Voice Performance from Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Mr. Vincent was awarded the coveted Bienen School of Music Eckstein Full Scholarship Fellowship and was the Dean’s choice to sing for President Barack Obama. He can be seen in the featured role of César in the acclaimed film Bel Canto alongside Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore. First OdM Apperance
EMMA FEKETE
FRASQUITA
Praised for her luminous voice, refined technique, and stage presence of rare sincerity, Québécoise soprano Emma Fekete was recognized in 2025 by CBC as one of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.” During the 2025-2026 season, she performed in Le Concert de la reine with Arion Orchestre Baroque ("La voix royale d’Emma Fekete" –Le Devoir), and interpreted Suzanne (Robinson Crusoé) at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) at Teatro Filarmonico in Verona, and Berthe (Le Prophète) with Orchestre de chambre de Genève. This summer, she returns to Festival d'Aix-en-Provence to perform Papagena (The Magic Flute) and to present a solo recital with fellow Canadian guitarist, Tim Beattie.
A familiar presence on Quebec stages, Emma was an artist-in-residence at the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal where she sang Poppea, Barbarina, Frasquita, and was featured in Mozart’s Requiem. She has also collaborated with leading ensembles including Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestre classique de Montréal, Orchestre de l’Agora and Opéra du Royaume, and has participated in training programs at Domaine Forget and Festival de Lanaudière. Internationally, she rose to prominence at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence as Yniold (Pelléas et Mélisande) and went on to be acclaimed as Adina (L'elisir d'amore) in Bordeaux, Reims, and Paris. Trained at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she has performed at the Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw.
Generously supported by the Sylva Gelber Foundation, the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Foundation, the Père Lindsay Foundation, and Festival Classica, Emma now pursues a rapidly rising career between Europe and Canada. Last OdM Apperance: L'incoronazione di Poppea (2023)
Former member of the Atelier lyrique
Mezzo-soprano
CANADA
MERCÉDÈS TESSA FACKELMANN
Acclaimed for her irresistible humour and vocal charm, Ontario-born mezzo-soprano Tessa Fackelmann has performed on stage in works by Handel, Mozart and Rossini. She holds a Master of Music degree from Rice University, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts and an Artist Diploma from the University of Ottawa. Tessa is also a former student of the Wolf Trap Opera Studio and the Santa Fe Opera Apprenticeship Program. A formidable competitor, Tessa performed on stage at the Metropolitan Opera as a national semifinalist in the 2024 Metropolitan Laffont Competition. Later that year, she won First Prize in the Edmonton Opera’s Rumbold Vocal Competition. In 2025-26, she made her debut as Cherubino in The Mariage of Figaro at the Sarasota Opera, conducted by Louis Lohraseb, and sang Mercedes in the production of Carmen at the Opéra de Montréal, conducted by Jean-Marie Zeitouni. Last OdM Apperance: Jenůfa (2025)
A member of the Atelier lyrique, Tessa Fackelmann’s residency is made possible through artistic sponsorship by Fonds CAVA.
Bass-baritone
CANADA
STEPHEN HEGEDUS
Hailed as a singer possessing “an instrument of rare beauty, majestic and commanding from the bottom of his range to the top” (Ottawa Citizen), bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus balances a busy schedule of both operatic and oratorio repertoire.
This season, Stephen returned to Opera Atelier as Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute (role debut), and subsequently made an unexpected mainstage debut with the Canadian Opera Company, jumping into Count Ceprano in Christopher Alden’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, and Don Basilio in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, which he reprises with Vancouver Opera in the 26/27 season. Additionally, on the concert stage, he joins the Regina Symphony for Bach’s Johannes-Passion, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir for Haydn’s The Seasons, and the Toronto Bach Festival for a program of Bach cantatas.
Recently, Hegedus returned to Pacific Opera Victoria for Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, and Opera Atelier for the Canadian premiere of Charpentier’s David and Jonathan. He also saw reengagements with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, and Les Violons du Roy, for the works of Handel, Mozart, and Bach, among others.
Stephen's additional operatic credits include Rocco in Beethoven's Fidelio (Opera Lafayette), Dulcamara in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore (Vancouver Opera), Hiradot/Hate in Lully's Armide (Opera Columbus, Royal Opéra de Versailles), Albert in Massenet's Werther (Opéra de Montréal), and Figaro in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Teatro Municipal de Santiago). Last OdM Apperance: Werther (2011)
Former member of the Atelier lyrique ZUNIGA
Baritone Canada
DANTE MULLIN SANTONE
MORALÈS
Canadian baritone Dante Mullin Santone is a member of the Atelier lyrique at the Opéra de Montréal. He is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto’s Masters of Opera program where he was awarded the Jim and Charlotte Norcop Prize in Song (2024). Recent roles include Escamillo (Carmen), Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Odysseus in Berkeley's Castaway, Beaupertuis (Il cappello di paglia di Firenze), and Papageno (The Shoestring Magic Flute). He is an avid performer of art song, and he was also a fellow with the Toronto Summer Music “Art of Song” program (2023). He’s enjoyed singing concert repertoire such as Mozart’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with ensembles across Ontario, among them, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and a rare performance of Bernstein’s MASS with Chorus Niagara. He is passionate about advancing new music, having premiered works such as Evan Tanovich’s Missa Solemnis in D, and Allan Bevan’s Perfectly Mad, among many other premieres of art song and choral works. This season, Dante makes his debut with the Opéra de Montréal in the role of Morales in Carmen and understudies the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni First OdM Apperance
A member of the Atelier lyrique, Dante Mullin Santone’s residency is made possible through artistic sponsorship by Normand Cardella.
JAMAL AL TITI
DANCAÏRE
Belarusian-born Canadian baritone Jamal Al Titi is an emerging artist recognized for his warm, resonant timbre and compelling stage presence. He joined the International Meistersinger Academy in Germany in 2025 and sang the title role in Gianni Schicchi at the Netherlands Lyric Opera Festival. He recently appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York for the Premier Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, where he was awarded the Athena Music Foundation Prize. Concert highlights include Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestre Classique de Montréal, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the KitchenerWaterloo Symphony, and appearances at the Caramoor Festival and the New York Festival of Songs. He is a recipient of the Young Audience Award at the OSM Competition. Recent operatic engagements include the title role in the world premiere of Le Phare, as well as performances in in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges, and Pergolesi’s La serva padrona At the Opéra de Montréal, he has covered Figaro (The Barber of Seville) and Marcello (La bohème) and currently appears as DancaÏre in Carmen. Additional operatic credits include the title role in Don Giovanni, Masetto (Don Giovanni), Schaunard (La bohème), and Tom in Adoration at the Banff Centre. Last OdM Apperance: La bohème (2025)
A member of the Atelier lyrique, Jamal Al Titi’s residency is made possible through artistic sponsorship by Dr. Joyce Fung.
ROCCO RUPOLO
Rocco Rupolo, Tenor, holds an Opera Diploma and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto. Upon completing his studies in 2013, Mr. Rupolo completed a two-year stint with the Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program, which included the performances of Anthony in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Remendado in Bizet's Carmen In 2017, Rocco joined the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique Young Artist Program – where he has performed the roles of Borsa in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Benvolio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca. He was invited back to join Opéra de Montréal in 2019 as Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor, and in 2022 as Alexandre Rosenberg in the world premiere of La Beauté du Monde by Julien Bilodeau. His most recent appearance with Opéra de Montréal was in 2024 as Marcellus in Hamlet. Rocco made his debut with Opéra de Québec in 2019 as Alfredo in La Traviata and made his international debut in 2022, reprising his role in La Traviata with Iceland Opera in Reykjavik. Rocco was again Alfredo of La Traviata in 2025 with Kelowna Opera. In the fall of 2024, Rocco championed the title role of Ernani with Opera in Concert in Toronto. As a distinct talent in the Canadian opera scene, Mr. Rupolo was featured as a finalist in the Canadian Opera Company’s prestigious Ensemble Studio Competition. Last OdM Apperance: Hamlet (2024)
Former member of the Atelier lyrique
JEAN-MARIE ZEITOUNI
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jean-Marie Zeitouni is the Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic and Musical Director of the Opera de Québec and the Festival d’opéra de Québec. Recognized as one of the most accomplished conductors of his generation, Jean-Marie stands out for his expressive, precise, and deeply committed style. Appreciated in both the symphonic and opera repertoires, he regularly conducts the most prestigious orchestras in Europe and America.
During the 2025–2026 season, beyond his programs in Edmonton, his engagements will include conducting La Cenerentola at the Opéra de Québec, Carmen at the Opéra de Montréal, as well as concerts with the Milwaukee Symphony, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and for the first time in Portugal at the Casa da Música in Porto. JeanMarie has recently conducted notable productions such as Sigurd in Marseille, Carmen in Lausanne, Médée in Montpellier, and Massenet's Grisélidis with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier and at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, which gave rise to a discographic recording. He has also conducted the Brussels Philharmonic for a recording dedicated to the French cello in the Bru Zane collection, as well as the Orchestre National de Lille for the recording of a French arias recital with soprano Vannina Santoni. At the Opéra de Montréal, he successively conducted two world premieres by composer Julien Bilodeau on texts by Michel Marc Bouchard: La Beauté du monde and La Reine-Garçon, two important milestones in the history of lyrical creation in Canada. Over the years, Jean-Marie has served as Artistic Director of the Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montréal and as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and the Columbus Symphony in Ohio.
For over twelve years, he was a key collaborator with Les Violons du Roy, where he successively held the positions of Conductor in Residence, Associate Conductor, and Principal Guest Conductor. A graduate of the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal in conducting, percussion and musical writing, where he studied with Raffi Armenian, JeanMarie now teaches conducting and conducts their orchestra. Last OdM Apperance: La Reine-garçon (2024)
ANNA THEODOSAKIS
STAGE DIRECTION AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Stage director and choreographer Anna Theodosakis has collaborated with companies across Canada including the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, Saskatoon Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, Brott Opera, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Tafelmusik, the Toronto Summer Music Festival, and the Banff Centre. Anna was selected as the 2024 Merola Opera Stage Director where she directed the Grand Finale and Song as Drama. Anna has appeared as a frequent collaborator with the COC, earning a nomination for the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction for her work as revival director on The Magic Flute.
She is a COC Ensemble Studio faculty member and dramatic coach. Passionate about working with emerging artists, she currently teaches acting and dance for the University of Toronto's Opera Division. She has been an invited guest stage director and lecturer of acting, movement, and digital techniques with nine different universities. Recent productions include Tosca and La Bohème (Manitoba Opera), Rape of Lucretia and Così fan tutte (UofT Opera), and Don Giovanni (Calgary Opera). Upcoming engagements include The Barber of Seville with Edmonton Opera, a new production of Come Closer for the COC, and returning as Resident Assistant Director with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. First OdM Apperance
THE DESIGNERS
CAMELIA KOO
SCENERY DESIGN
Camellia is a Toronto based set and costume designer for theatre, opera, dance and sitespecific performance installations. Recent designs for theatre include collaborations with Cahoots Theatre Projects, Factory Theatre, The National Arts Centre, Soulpepper Theatre, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival, Tarragon Theatre and Why Not Theatre. Recent designs for opera and ballet include collaborations with Against the Grain, Banff Centre, Boston Lyric Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Edmonton Opera, Helikon Opera (Moscow), Minnesota Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Santa Fe Opera, and Tapestry New Opera.
She is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (U.K.). Camellia has received six Dora Mavor Moor Awards (Toronto), a Sterling Award (Edmonton), a Chalmers Award Grant, 2006 Siminovitch Protégé Prize, and the 2016 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award for Costume Design. First OdM Apperance
DAVID FRASER
LIGHTING DESIGN
David is a Calgary-based artist whose work spans theatre, dance, and opera. His designs have been presented across Canada, from Vancouver Opera to the National Arts Centre, and reflect a practice grounded in collaboration and a strong visual response to performance.
Internationally, his work includes collaborations with choreographer Tania Alvarado, as well as lighting designs for the 2015 and 2019 English Canadian Exhibitions at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Space and Design, where he also served as Director of Production.
In regional theatre, his work has been widely recognized, with nominations for or receipt of a Jessie Richardson Award, six Betty Mitchell Awards, a SATA Award, and thirteen Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, including multiple wins for his designs. He continues to work with a range of companies and artists, contributing to both new creations and established repertoire across disciplines.
David is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada, and Carmen marks his debut with Opéra de Montréal. First OdM Apperance
JEAN-FRANÇOIS GAGNON
FIGHT DIRECTION
Fight Director, actor, director, and teacher for over 35 years, and renowned internationally, Jean-François Gagnon is recognized as a “Fight Master” by Fight Directors Canada. His previous work with l’Opéra de Montréal includes Roméo and Juliette, directed by Tom Diamond (2018), and the production of Carmen, directed by Charles Binamé (2019). He is pleased to be working again with l’Opéra de Montréal on this new version of Carmen. In May and June 2026, he will be creating the choreographies for Serge Denoncourt’s Monte Cristo
Last OdM Apperance: Carmen (2019)
IN REHEARSALS
CLAUDE WEBSTER
CHORUS DIRECTION
For 30 years, Claude Webster has been working both internationally and at the Opéra de Montréal, where he became chorus master in 2007 after working for 20 years as the Atelier lyrique’s principal vocal coach. He is also an accredited Professional Certified Coach and holds a certificate in psychology from the Université du Québec à Montréal. For the past fifteen years, he has been using his knowledge and expertise to support musicians. He gives regular workshops and lectures, both at home and abroad, about stress management and mental preparation for performance. These trainings gave rise to a book, Atteindre sa zone d’excellence, published by Éditions de l’Homme. His most recent publication, The Performance Handbook for Musicians, Singers and Performers, is now available for purchase. Last OdM Apperance: Clown(s) (2026)
JEROME DE LOS SANTOS
REHEARSAL PIANIST
Originally from Los Angeles, Jerome de los Santos is a Montreal-based collaborative pianist and répétiteur specializing in opera, vocal repertoire, and dance accompaniment. He is currently a resident pianist of the McGill–Université de Montréal Piano-Vocal Arts Residency and a recent graduate of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, where he worked on productions including L’enfant et les sortilèges, L’elisir d’amore, The Barber of Seville, La traviata, L’incoronazione di Poppea, La serva padrona, and The Medium. As a soloist, he recently appeared at La Virée Classique with Ensemble Obiora at the Maison symphonique de Montréal under the direction of Rafael Payare. He also appears regularly as a ballet accompanist with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet Jazz Montréal, and Danse à la Carte.
A former Piano Fellow at the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival and School, he continues to work as a collaborative pianist, répétiteur, and vocal coach. Last OdM Apperance: L'incoronazione di Poppea (2023)
Former member of the Atelier lyrique
THE MUSICIANS
FIRST VIOLINS
Yukari Cousineau
Johanne Morin
Ryan Truby
Julien Oberson
Alexander Lozowski
Carolyn Klause
Florence Mallette
Ariane Bresse
Marie-Claire Cousineau
Hubert Brizard
Isabelle Bélanger-Southey
Alban Cellier
SECOND VIOLINS
Nancy Ricard
Uliana Drugova
Dominic Guilbault
Diane Rodrigue
Lizann Gervais
Marie-Claire Vaillancourt
Sylvie Harvey
Claudio Ricignuolo
Flavie Gagnon
Taylor Mitz
VIOLAS
Elvira Misbakhova
Pierre Tourville
Julie Dupras
Frédéric Lambert
Élisa Boudreau
Gérald Daigle
François Vallières
Noémi Vachon
CELLOS
Christopher Best
Agnès Langlois
Vincent Bergeron
Carla Antoun
Christine Harvey
Joshua Morris
DOUBLE BASSES
Marc Denis
Gilbert Fleury
Catherine Lefebvre
Yannick Chênevert
FLUTES
Ariane Brisson
Jocelyne Roy
Caroline Séguin
OBOES
Léanne Teran-Paul
Marjorie Tremblay
Mélanie Harel
CLARINETS
Simon Aldrich
François Martel
BASSOONS
Michel Bettez
Gabrièle Dostie-Poirier
HORNS
Louis-Philippe Marsolais
Simon Bourget
Noah Larocque
Xavier Fortin
TRUMPETS
Antoine Mailloux
Lise Bouchard
TROMBONES
Patrice Richer
Madeleine Doyon-Robitaille
Trevor Dix
TIMPANI
Julien Bélanger
PERCUSSIONS
Alexandre Lavoie
Corinne René
Olivier Maranda
HARP
Robin Best
Opéra de Montréal Chorus CHORUS
SOPRANOS
Anne-Marie Beaudette
Valérie Bélanger
Nadya Blanchette
Susan Brown
Catherine Dupressoir
Marie-Claire Fafard Blais
Véronique Gauthier
Nadine Guertin
Audrey Larose Zicat
Marie-Ève Mathon
Laurie Tremblay
Léa Weilbrenner
MEZZOS
Mireille Bériault
Sarah Bissonnette
Jeanne Bovet
Chantal Denis
Ghislaine Deschambault
Julie Goupil
Anne Julien
Rosalie Lane Lépine
Marie-Chantal Lemieux
Hélène Picard
Isabelle Ricard
Béatrice Stoklas
TENORS
Bernard Cayouette
John Davey-Hatcher
Éric Gauvin
Julien Girard
Andoni Iturriria
Frédéric Leduc
Nathan LeLièvre
Thomas Macleay
Mike Melino
Dominic Poulin
Gustave Richard
René Voyer
BARITONES
Matthew Adam
Jonathan Bédard
Claudel Callender
Alain Duguay
Noah Gabriel
John Johnston
BASSES
Jordan Delage
Michel Duval
Gabriel Frank
Philippe Morin
Luc Saucier
Clermont Tremblay
CHILDREN’S CHOIR, DANCERS AND SUPERNUMERARIES
Françoise Barrette
Noam Beaulieu
Olivier Carrier
Ella Correia
Nicolae Donos
Clémentine Drouin
Leila Lattouf
Élizabeth Lavoie
Antoine Marcotte
Dancers
Shô Araki
Jean-Sébastien Couture
Yoherlandy Garcia
Sarah-Maude Laliberté
Anna Sanchez
Elljay Timmangen Liam Auger-Bull
Michael Musteata
Juna Néron Le Men
Valentina Ramirez
André Riverin
Raphaël Trégouët
Alexia Tremblay
Alexis Tremblay
Clémentine Vaillancourt-Ouellette
Supernumeraries
Antoine Almeras
Charles Boivin-Groulx
Jean-Louis Luque
Charles-Olivier Maltais
Nurturing and visionary support for future opera stars
Thank you to Vanda Treiser Initiatives for helping propel the careers of emerging artists at the Atelier lyrique!
Thank you, dear donors, for supporting the Opéra de Montréal with such passion and generosity!
DIRECTOR CIRCLE
$5,000,000+
Le Fonds OVI, Fondation de la famille Zhao-Ionescu*
$1,000,000+
Power Corporation du Canada*
Initiatives Vanda Treiser*
$250,000+
Azrieli Foundation*
René Branchaud*
Services financiers André Ferraro/ Industrielle Alliance*
Tony & Betty Infilise Family Foundation*
Elizabeth Wirth
$100,000+
BMO Banque de Montréal*
Sigrid & Gilles Chatel*
Hydro-Québec
Dr François Loubert*
Sheila & Paul Martin Family Foundation*
RBC Foundation
Ruth & David Steinberg Family Foundation*
Succession de feu Anne-Marie Trahan
$50,000+
Andrée Boucher & Louis Georges Ste-Marie
Fondation Sandra & Alain Bouchard
Fonds CAVA*
CGI
Patrick Corrigan & Marc Poliquin*
Fondation J.A. DeSève
Fondation Jacqueline Desmarais pour les jeunes chanteurs d'opéra canadiens*
Claude Leblanc*
Sylvie Samson & Guillaume Marion Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites*
Carolyn & Richard J. Renaud
Joan Vogelesang & Fred Heese †*
$25,000+
Normand Cardella* This list celebrates the generous donors who made gifts between September 1, 2025 and April 21, 2026. *Multi-year pledge
Famille Andrea Alacchi*
Naomi & Eric Bissell
Françoise P. Chagnon
VOCALEX INC.
Me Bruno-Étienne Duguay
Famille Dupont*
Ossama el Naggar
Fasken
Fondation Stéfane Foumy
Joyce Fung, in memory of Theodore Fung*
IA Groupe Financier
John Farrell & François Leclair
The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation Fondation Marie-Christine Tremblay & Jacques Marchand
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Isabelle Murray & Dominic Chalifoux*
Louise Roy O.C., O.Q.
Nestor Hugo Valencia
Vickie Vouloumanos
Sue & Soren Wehner*
Colleen & Mirko Wicha
Christopher Winn*
Dre Nathalie Zan*
Anonymous (1)
$15,000+
The Adair Family Foundation Blakes, Cassels & Graydon, Law firm
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l.
The Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation
Carlos Idarraga
Fondation Famille Laoué Cerceau
Jean-François Painchaud
Monique Roy
Sagard
TD Canada Trust
Lillian Vineberg-Goodman
Anonymous (1)
$10,000+
Felicia & Arnold Aaron Foundation Fondation Famille Bertrand
Rosanne Boisvert & Arto Imamedjian
Clear Skies Foundation Fonds Cogeco
Lise Laberge & Daniel Labrecque
Fondation Famille Lavigne
Fondation Famille Le Blanc
Fondation Famille Lupien
Marcia McKenzie
Patrick Menda
Stella Gignac & Patrick Ouellet
Marie-France Ouimet & Ricardo Pascoe
Mike James Ross
Leonard Sanders Family Foundation
Nadia & David Sela
Leslie Silver & Laurent Ferreira
Anonymous (1)
AMBASSADOR'S CIRCLE
$5,000+
Doron Altman
Antje Bettin, in honor of Chantal Lambert
Danielle Blouin
Fondation Famille Carré-Tremblay
Isabelle Westwick & François Carrier
Club Med
Fondation Pierre Desmarais
Belvédère
Joanne Kydd & Gustel Fischer †
Fondation Sibylla Hesse
Nathalie Labrecque
Jean-Pierre Le Clerc & Mario Ménard
Sylvie Marois
Robert Nadeau
Marc-André Nantais
Sean O'Donnell
Ronald Ouellette
Thérèse & Peter Primiani
Isabelle Brassard & Claude Rivard
Dr. W. Mark Roberts & Roula Drossis
Lesley & Mark Robinson
Mike & Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation
Jane M. Skoryna
Éric Martel & Josiane Lamy
Merle & Bernard Stotland
Deborah & Robert Trudeau
Daniel Turp
$3,000+
Lucille Beauchemin
Claudette Belliveau
Louis Bouchard
Vincent Compagnat
Alain Desmeules
Jill de Villafranca & Dr. David Kostiuk
Elmag Investissements Inc.
Marie-Hélène Fox
Ann & Andy Ip
Marjory Jolicoeur Inc.
Marie-Anick & Jean Eric Laferrière
Nan & Bill Lassner
Fonds Famille Jacques L'Écuyer
Stéphane L'Espérance &
Carmen Hernandez
À la mémoire de Monique Lussier
Eunice Mayers
Vincent Picard-Dufresne & Amélie Michaud
Julie & Pierre Pomerleau
Jean-Pierre Primiani & Christine Paulino
Emmelle & Alvin Segal
Howard Stotland
Susannah Tam & Peter Ko
Tourisme Montréal
Vogelesang Dancik Family
Famille Vossos
$1,200+
Louise Ahdoot
Philippe Alcouffe
Munirah Amra
Micheline & Raymond Bachand
Howard Bergman & Colette Pilon
Dr François Bertrand, Mdcm, Inc.
Carole & Myer Bick
Hy & Joan Bloom
Jill Bodkin
Pierre-Yves Boivin
Mathieu Bouchard
Yves Boulanger
Gestion Raymond Brodeur Inc.
Me Luc Bourbonnais
André Canakis †
Francyne Anne Charbonneau
Jean Charbonneau Toxicologue Inc.
Dominique Chatel
François-Pierre Chevalier
Dr J.P. Chiasson, MD, F.A.S.A.M.
Julie Choquet
Dr Richard Cloutier
Richard de Blois
Pascal de Guise
The philanthropic community (continued)
Isabelle Demers - idmrs
James Dorff/Laurent Thibault
Fondation Martineau Drapeau
Jean Duclos & Isabelle Beaudin
Atelier Boutique Isabelle Elie
David Essiambre CPA
Dana Even & Antonella Pagano, thanks to Vanda Treiser
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu
Lucy Fellowes
Pierre Filiatrault & Lucie Gauthier
Me Stephen James Fogarty & Christine Clarke
Claire Fournelle
Yvon Fournier & Douglas Nemish
Antoine Gervais, à la mémoire de Raymond Gervais
Mouna & Elias Ghannoum
Émile Ghattas & Mona Latif-Ghattas †
Julius H. Grey & Lynne-Marie Casgrain
Marina Gusti
Eren Halil
Philippe Harvey Designer
Hoogan & Beaufort Inc.
Linda Houle
Peter Hunt
Jarislowsky, Fraser Limitée | Gestion privée de patrimoine
Calvin Kalman & Marilyn Cooperman
Sia Maniatakos & Constantine Kyres
Denise Lambert
Diane Lanctôt
Honorable Charles Lapointe, c.p.
Raymonde Lavoie
Martin Lépine
Thomas Leslie, MMM, CD
Dr André Levasseur
Kejun Liang, in honour of Frédéric Antoun
Francis Malka & Marie-Claude Poupart
Dr. Jacqueline McClaran & Dr. Jonathan Meakins
Elizabeth Constance McCormack
Louise Joly & Catherine Mirchandani
Caroline Montminy
Katerine Mousseau
Famille Pierre Provencher
Ginette Quintal, in honor of Vanda Treiser
Marie Christine Torchio & Louis Racine
Pierrette Rayle
Drs. Alexandra & Mark Reich
Évangéline Richard
Hôtel The Ritz-Carlton Montréal
Catherine Rowe & John Di Gironimo
Madeleine Roy
Henriot M. Sabourin & Pierrette Couture
Dr. Jinder Sall
SDBL Administration et Comptabilité inc.
Serfati Musique
Bernard St-Pierre-Marcotte & Francine Ouellette
Karim Talaat
Ruth & Tony Terenzi
Robert Thibaudeau
Diana C. Wall
Warwick Le Crystal Montréal
Martin Watier
Dre Marie Youssef
Tamara Zakon
Linda & Joe Zalter
Anonymous (3)
FRIENDS OF THE OPERA
$600+
Levon & Ana Afeyan
Paul Benoit
Paul Barré
Anne-Marie Boucher
Michelle & Guy Bouthillier
Martin Bowman
La Cecil House
Peter Chiotis & Anthi Balafoutis
Maryse Chynchuck
à la mémoire de Mme Hélène Dagenais (2)
Nannette de Gaspé –NNTT Beauté Inc.
Serge Depatie
Laurence Green
Lucile Horner
Mario Lafond
Claude Lamonde
Jocelyne Langevin
George E. Lovick
Richard Margison & Valerie Kuinka
René Marineau
Milos Montréal
MJ Fiscalité inc.
Eric & Jane Molson
Famille Morisset Noppen
David Paulhus
Fondation St-Germain Kavanagh
Maison St Raphaël
Anonymous (11)
$300+
Ahmed Alzaidi
Jocelyne Antille
Alexandre Barradas
Carole Beaulieu
Michel Bertrand
Louise Blain
Eileen & Herb Borsuk
Denise Bourgeois
Alexandre & Julia Catta
Olivia Charette
Dre Michelle Comeau
Fonds Micheline & Pierre L. Comtois
Berney Creighton
Lucile Cyr
Marc-Antoine D'Aragon
Danielle Daveluy
Jean-Pierre Deschamps
Jan De Smet & Suzanne Venne
Claude Dumas
Hélène-Louise Dupont Élie
Janka Dvornik
Denis Faucher
Faustine Fournier
Thérèse Gagnon Giasson
Jacques Gagnon
John Higginson
Thérèse Hudon
Nathalie Ishak
Vincent Jean-François
Louise Julien*
Gordana Jovanovich & Charles Kaplan
Berthe Kossak
Denise Laferrière Gaudet
Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert
Arthur LeBlanc
Jean-Charles Le Brun & Normand-G. Robert
Audrey Le Cour
Nacia Faure &
Georges L'Espérance
Jacob T. Levy & Shelley Clark
Tina Liu
Allan Marr
Murielle Matteau & Daniel Ladouceur, à la mémoire de Jacqueline Ducas (1931-2024 )
Serge Meunier
Mirziyod Mirakhmedov
Malcolm F. Neill
Jennifer Paquet
Jean-Pierre & Marie-Rose Paradis
Juan Peralta
Michel Perrault & Joanne Bazinet
Marie-Soleil Pichette
Margot Provencher & Richard Lafaille
Antoine Saati
Bahjat Salem, à la nourriture de l'âme
Adrienne Savoie
Pierre Simard
V. Sirois
Lisa Stotland
Marilyn Thomas
Suzanne Vadboncoeur
Anonymous (11)
$120+
Nancy Atkins
Adam Atlas
Jocelyne & Louis Audet
Valentin Bachelier
André Beauchamp
Michel & Margy Beaulne
Gilles Beauregard
Francine Bélanger
Robert Belanger
Pierre Belhumeur
À la mémoire de Jean-Guy Benoit
Francesco Biondi Morra Di Belforte
À la mémoire de Normand Blais
Jacqueline A. Boissonneault
Claude Briand
Susan Brown
Natalie Bussière
Mariette Cardinal
Marie-Andrée Champagne
Fannie Charron
Moy Fong Chen
Elena Chirokova
Florina Clatisteanu
Philippe Cloutier
Linda Cochrane
Concours Musical International
De Montréal
Myriam Cooper
Teodor Gabriel Crainic
Suzanne Cummings
Luc Dagenais
Ute & Michael Davis
France De Garie
Laurie-Anne Deilgat
Micheline Desgagné
En l’honneur de Youssoupha
Mamadou Diallo
Luc Doray
Charles Draimin
Louise Dulude Gagnon à la mémoire de Catherine Duong
Nathalie Fernando
Sylvie Fontaine
Marie-Fabienne Fortin
Denyse Gautrin
Magella Girard
Naomi & David Goltzman
Pierrette Gravel Shedleur
Jocelyne Guay
Omar Hammoud
Peter D. Hannen
Sherley Henry
Kim Huynh
Thomas Kelly
Yasmine Khalil
Aline Kutan
Francis Lafrance
Carolle Lamontagne
Claude Laneuville
Jacques Laparé
Pierre Laporte
Julie Laurence
Olivier Laurendeau
Ginette Lavallière
Christina Lazarova
Dany Leblanc
Le cercle canadien des femmes de Montréal
Dave Lefrançois
Andrée Lemyre
Danièle Letocha
Robert Lorange
Noël Mallette
Dr. Gilles Marcil
Simon Martin
Chantale Mercier
Jean-Jacques Nattiez
Françoise Noël
Alexander Nudelman
Alain Orvoine
Desiree Park
Jacques Piché
Lise Pierre Pierre Leblanc
Henri Pilon
François Poirier
John Bossange & Lynne Poteau
Zineb Qannousse
Carmen Reid
Agathe Rhéaume
Marc-André Roberge
Madeleine Rocheleau
Hélène Roy
Linda Salvail
Marianne Schlegel
Michel Scott
Colette Sills
Patricia Spry
Thomas Stewart
Dr. Jean Taillefer
Simon & Mathilde Tinawi
Anonymous (30)
Normand Cardella
“Thanks to multiple tax credits, I was able to sponsor a young artist!”
Retired since last year after a career in IT, Normand Cardella is a dynamic, passionate and very frank man. “The first time I went to the opera, I didn't like it. They were performing La Bohème, and I found it long and difficult to follow.” It was the 1980s, and surtitles had not yet been introduced.
But Mr. Cardella remained openminded. When a friend invited him to see Massenet's Cendrillon a short time later, he accepted... and revised his opinion. He has since become an aficionado who will celebrate his 20th year as a subscriber to Opéra de Montréal in 2026 !
“Opera is a popular art form.”
“Many people think opera is elitist, but it's much less so than classical music. At its core, opera is about storytelling and immediate emotions conveyed through music. It touches the heart directly.”
So, is opera for everyone? “Yes, absolutely, but I think that the more we have lived, the more opera speaks to us. As we move forward in life, we understand the themes better: love, jealousy, and betrayal. Opera becomes a reflection of our existence.”
Christopher Gaudreault, pianist-conductor (Atelier lyrique 2024), and Normand Cardella
Portrait of a Philanthropist
When giving took root
Even though he lives comfortably, Mr. Cardella never thought of becoming a major patron of the arts. “I was a manager, I had a good salary, but I wasn't a doctor or a lawyer, and the idea had never crossed my mind.” That is, until the Atelier lyrique's online concert, to which Opéra de Montréal invited all its subscribers in 2021.
"I saw a banner at the bottom of the screen that said something like “generously sponsored by...” and I thought it was wonderful that amid a pandemic, someone had stepped up to support artists and opera. I had inherited some money from my father, a man who loved Pavarotti but had never seen an opera in his life. I told myself that I had to do something in my lifetime, so I picked up the phone."
“My $30,000 donation only cost me $10,000.”
After meeting with the philanthropy manager, Mr. Cardella chose to sponsor the pianist and conductor of the Atelier lyrique, Christopher Gaudreault. “I committed to a total of $30,000 over two years. That may seem like a lot, but thanks to the tax credit for significant cultural donations, it only really cost me about $10,000. It's a win-win for everyone.”
The tax credit for significant cultural donations grants an additional 25% credit on a single cash donation of between $5,000 and $25,000. When combined with federal and provincial tax credits for charitable donations, the net cost to the donor is reduced to approximately 25% of the value of the donation.
The sponsorship experience has been so rewarding on a human level that Mr. Cardella did not hesitate to renew his support for another artist in residence, baritone Dante Mullin Santone. "As a sponsor, you create a bond with the artists, you see them grow, develop and ultimately fly away to pursue their careers. It's very rewarding. Music has been my whole life, and I am now proud to be able to give back everything it has given me. "
On behalf of Opéra de Montréal and its artists, thank you, Mr. Cardella!
Would you like to sponsor an artist or do you have questions about the tax credit for a significant cultural donation?
Our team will be happy to answer your questions:
Normand Cardella at the 2025 Talent Gala
A Performance that Changes Everything
Opera transforms lives, and your support does too.
Dear supporter,
Seated in the audience at Place des Arts with my classmates many years ago, I experienced my very first opera. It was Roméo et Juliette, and Opéra de Montréal had invited students from Cégep de Saint-Laurent to attend the performance free of charge. That evening changed my life.
Seeing the singers live and hearing the power of their voices… that’s when I realized I wanted to pursue opera as my passion and my career.
Today, I have the privilege of returning to that very same stage—this time in the title role of Opéra de Montréal’s production of Carmen this May.
Carmen is one of the most performed and beloved operas in the repertoire, so singing it in my hometown is a dream come true. And it’s even more meaningful because, in the audience, a new group of students will be present, some experiencing opera for the very first time—just as I once did. With your support, that first performance could change another young life.
And opera doesn’t just change the lives of those who become performers: it is transformative for the audience as well.
Throughout my career, people have come up to me after the show and shared something deeply personal. They tell me they may have been going through a difficult moment in their lives, but for those two or three hours, the music allowed them to forget their pain.
Stars in the title role of Carmen in Opéra de Montréal’s upcoming production.
That is the beauty of opera. For a few hours, we come together not just through singing, but through a moment of healing that allows us to escape our own lives. It’s just the two of us connecting—performer to audience member, human being to human being—and we will never have that moment again.
For these beautiful moments to happen, we need your support.
Make a gift today! Your gift brings the magic of opera to life for audiences and supports the next generation of artists. Join us in shaping the future of this extraordinary art form.
Your gift:
•Nurtures the next generation of artists through the Atelier lyrique. Without artist training programs like this one, I and many others would not have been able to pursue careers doing what we love.
•Opens the doors of opera to young people and students, offering them the chance to discover a world they may never have imagined.
•Brings world-class opera to Montréal, enriching the cultural life of the city and sharing extraordinary performances with thousands of people each season.
Today, I invite you to help create the next life-changing moment.
None of this is possible without you. Your gift sustains the magic of opera: the moment an artist fulfills a lifelong dream, and the moment we gather together, moved and renewed by the power of this remarkable art form.
MRS. VANDA TREISER and in memory of M. BENJAMIN TREISER
Malinki
Marie-Claude Paquette, graphic designer
Place des Arts
Shoot Studio
Vivien Gaumond photographe
La Fondation Azrieli est fière de soutenir l’Opéra de Montréal dans la découverte, l’élévation et l’amplification de nouvelles voix.
The Azrieli Foundation is proud to support Opéra de Montréal in discovering, elevating and amplifying new voices.
Permanent Team
Jean-Pierre Primiani, General Director / Michel Beaulac, Artistic Director / Louis Bouchard, Director, Organizational Development / Nicolas Bourry, Artistic Administrator
PRODUCTION
Patrick Loubert, Production Director / Marie Hélène Larivière, Director of Operations, Production / Geneviève Lessard, Associate Producer / Patrick Belzile, Technical Director / Seoyoung Park, Technical Director Assistant / Laurence Pronier, Stage Manager / Bethzaïda Thomas, Artistic coordinator and Stage Management / Dominique Guindon, Head of Wardrobe / Sonya Bayer, Wardrobe Administrator / Sandra Chirico, Wardrobe Supervisor
ATELIER LYRIQUE DE L’OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Jennifer Szeto, Director, Atelier lyrique / Marie Maous, Program Manager / Martin Dubé, Head Vocal Coach / Vanessa Croome, Artistic Associate
Dianne Fagan, Head, Philanthropy / Antoine Gervais, Manager, Philanthropy and Partnerships / Audrey Le Cour, Advisor, Philanthropy and Partnerships / Amy Grainger, Manager, Philanthropic Operations and Communications /Mia Pearson, Acting Manager, Philanthropic Operations and Communications / Marion Malon, Project Managers, Philanthropic Events / Géraldine Leong Sang, Coordinator, Philanthropic Operations and Communications / Micol Battaglia, Assistant, Philanthropic Events and Communications / Pierre-Antoine Ferracin, Lucie Biason, Assistants, Philanthropy
SOCIAL IMPACT AND EDUCATION
Pierre Vachon, Director, Social Impact and Education / Charlotte Gagnon, Manager, Social Impact and Education / Trycia Paquin, Coordinator, Social Impact and Education
FINANCE
Alexandre Martin Isoz-Vaillancourt, Director, Finance and Administration / Ndieme Diene, Payroll Technician / Antoine Leriche, Accounting Clerk
HUMAN RESOURCES
Elisabeth Malo, Director, Human Resources
Current Production Team
PRODUCTION
Patrick Loubert, Production Director / Marie Hélène Larivière, Director of Operations, Production / Patrick Belzile, Technical Director / Jimmy Deschênes, Seoyoung Park, Technical Director Assistants / Drew Lyall, Technical Coordinator
STAGE MANAGEMENT
Laurence Pronier, Head of Stage Management Department / Bethzaïda Thomas, General Stage Manager / Chloé Ekker, Constance Malenfant, Emlyn vanBruinswaardt, Assistant Stage Managers
Dominique Guindon, Head of Wardrobe / Sonya Bayer, Administrator, Wardrobe / Sandra Chirico, Supervisor, Wardrobe / Cassandre Josépovic, Wardrobe Technician and Couturier / Richard Provost, Hat Maker / Mélanie Richard, Cutter / AnneSophie Boucher, Marie-Claire Doyon, Sandrine Moreau, Mireille Tremblay, Asami Rey, Christine Tremblay, Seamstresses / Guylaine Gagnon, Shoemaking / Mélanie Turcotte, Weathering / Genevieve Fortin, Head Dresser (ODM)
PROPS
Madeleine Saint-Jacques, Head Props / Philippe Pointard, Distinguished Props Master
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Julie Casault, Head of Makeup Department and of Hair & Wigs / Manon Alexandre, Karine Deest, André Duval, Pauline Leclève, Marie-Ève Ménard, Kimberly Murphy, Ghislaine Sant, Hair Stylists / Jacques Besner, Marianne Bobet, Alexe-Rose Francoeur, Camiel McLean, Stéphanie Villemaire, Makeup Artists
RUNNER
Alexandre Renaud
Technical Staff
OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Daniel Masse, Head Carpenter / Julie Latulippe, Martin Jannard, Head Carpenters Assistants / Pierre Véniot, Head of Sound / Olivier Venne, Head of Sound Assistant / David Leblanc, Isabelle Gagnon, Prop Masters / Martin Turgeon, Nicolas Bernier, Master Assistants / Charles Denis, Head Fly Man / Eric Piché, Assistant Head Fly Man / Saturnin Goyer, Head of Lighting / Chantal Dostle, Liam Senteni-Nguyen, Assistant, Head of Lighting / Maxime Grenier Beaudoin, Video Supervisor
Stage technical services are provided by IATSE local 56 / Unité PDA
THANK YOU TO OUR COLLABORATORS:
SoftBox intégration inc.:
Lighting equipement rental
Les Entreprises Truck N'Roll inc.: Transport Board of Directors
PRESIDENT René Branchaud
Lavery
VICE-PRESIDENT
Vickie Zhao
Philanthropist
MEMBERS
François Carrier Desjardins, Marché des capitaux
Antoine Chagnon Lallemand
Bruno-Étienne Duguay NOVACAP
Lise Laberge Philanthropist
Joanie Lapalme Fasken
Nathalie Léveillé
Corporate Director
François Loubert
Angus medical Clinic
Guillaume Marion
Sagard
Isabelle Murray Philanthropist
Louise Roy, O.C., O.Q. CIRANO
Bernard Stotland, FCA, FCPA Richter
Vanda Treiser Philanthropist
Daniel Turp
Université de Montréal
Joan Vogelesang
Joan Vogelesang (JV) Consultants
GRAN FINALE CONCERT
MAY 20, 2026, AT 7PM
THÉÂTRE MAISONNEUVE
On May 20, the Atelier lyrique invites you to Théâtre Maisonneuve to celebrate the end of an exceptional season with Gran Finale! Under the inspired baton of conductor Naomi Woo and accompanied by the Orchestre de l’Agora, the artists of the Atelier lyrique will take the stage to perform the defining highlights of their journey. This unique program, free of a formal narrative, is designed to showcase the excellence, vibrant personality, and remarkable artistic growth of each talent.
Staged by François Racine, let yourself be carried away by a festive and inclusive atmosphere. It’s a prime opportunity to celebrate opera and get a first look at the great voices of tomorrow.
CARMEN IN THE STYLE OF LA GANG À RAMBROU
JUNE 13, 2026 AT 7PM AND JUNE 14, 2026 AT 2PM
BAIN MATHIEU
Carmen Bizet, a worker in a factory, discovers that the hummingbird frog is threatened by the expansion of her workplace into a nearby wetland.
Developers from Saskatchewan want to install a brand-new technology there: the petroleum battery—a mysterious invention whose secrets we’ll reveal soon…Like Bizet’s famous Carmen, she knows how to charm the factory’s security guard… before finding herself captivated by Cam, a YouTuber with a very particular kind of charisma. But what will become of Carmen, the hummingbird frog, and everyone else in this story where love, ambition, and the environment collide?
To learn more about the La Gang à Rambrou program, click here !
DER ROSENKAVALIER
JANUARY28,2027,AT7PMANDJANUARY31,2027,AT2PM
MAISONSYMPHONIQUE
Can love withstand the inevitable passage of time? Absent from Montreal stages for more than thirty years, Richard Strauss’s operatic masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier returns in a concert version co-produced with the Opéra de Montréal and the Orchestre Métropolitain.
Dirigé par Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Nostalgic for Viennese waltzes as well as for Mozartian comedy, Strauss unfolds music of elegance and emotional richness that continues to captivate audiences. Yannick Nézet-Séguin brings together an exceptional cast to create a true generational event. Diana Damrau embodies a Marschallin of remarkable depth. Emily D’Angelo lends Octavian the ardor of youth. Erin Morley gives Sophie a crystalline grace, while Peter Rose portrays a delightfully boisterous Baron Ochs. Several other great Canadian and international voices will join these soloists. Rarely has a cast seemed so ideal!
NOUVE AUTÉS. CL AS SIQUES. ÉVÉNEMENTS.
Le meilleur du cinéma d’art et d’essai sur grand écran.
