Meet the incredible cast members, chorus, and children’s chorus who will bring Tosca to life Thursday, February 8 and Saturday, February 10 at the Living Arts Centre.
Opening night tickets are now 50% off! Purchase premium seats for only $47.50. Student tickets (16-25) can be purchased for only $15. Free, heated, underground parking is included with every ticket purchase.
Click HERE to purchase.
TOSCA – Angela Maria Sanchez
Toronto based soprano Angela Maria Sanchez is a graduate from The Glenn Gould School of Royal Conservatory of Music undergraduate program. She made her operatic debut of the role of Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre in 2017, and Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica in Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in 2018. She also covered the role of Mimi in La Boheme at The Brott Opera Festival in the summer of 2019. Most recently, Ms Sanchez made her Toronto City Opera debut in 2022 in Callaveria Rusticana in the leading role Satuzza
“In a powerful performance ringing with emotion, gifted singer-actor Angela Maria Sanchez offered us a Santuzza of remarkable scope, bringing great dignity and inner strength to the role, a limitless wellspring of resolve” – Opera going Toronto
Recent accomplishments include placing first overall in post-graduate women category in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition.
CAVARADOSSI – Ernesto Ramirez
Mexican-Canadian tenor Ernesto Ramirez is garnering rave reviews for his distinctive Italianate sound, “wonderfully fluid line and brilliant high notes,” combined with his “suave, nuanced lyricism.” Ernesto debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Mexico’s Opera de León, Rodolfo in La Bohème with Pacific Northwest Opera, and sang Don José with Opera Kelowna’s Carmen.
Ernesto recently starred as Don José in concert performances of Carmen with Orchestre Classique de Montreal and debuted as Ralph Rackstraw with Vancouver Opera in their updated production of HMS Pinafore. Highlights for the current season include Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur with Calgary Concert Opera Company, Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata with Southern Ontario Lyric Opera and Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Alberta Vocal Arts.
This season, Ernesto is the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Hamilton Philharmonic, and with Symphony Nova Scotia in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which he has performed with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony, and Kingston Symphony. Ernesto’s “resplendent tenor” has been heard in performances of Verdi’s Requiem with The Peterborough Singers, Brott Music Festival and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, Mexico.
Ernesto has performed to great acclaim for audiences in France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and opera companies in Zurich, Québec, Montreal, Tel Aviv and Mexico City have welcomed him as a guest artist in their Opera Galas.
SCARPIA – Andrey Andreychik
Baritone Andrey Andreychik is an avid performer that brings passion to operatic repertoire spanning from standard pieces to the creation of contemporary roles. Praised as having a “stoic, manly sound” (Schmopera), Andrey’s most recent engagements include Baron Scarpia in Tosca; Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana with Toronto City Opera & the Oracle Voice of Neptune in Idomeneo with Teatro Bellini in Catania, Italy.
Andrey received his diploma in opera performance from the University of British Columbia, Canada, shortly thereafter making his professional debut as Figaro in Il Barbiere Di Siviglia with Theater Hof in Germany. He has since performed across Europe, China, Canada, Russia, and the United States. Andrey is a laureate of several vocal competitions, a finalist in the XVII Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici “Spazio Musica” in Italy, and a winner of Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques in Montreal, Canada. He has an extensive performance repertoire including the title roles in Eugene Onegin, Gianni Schicchi & Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Marcello (La bohème), Enrico (Lucia di Lammemoor), and Escamillo (Carmen) to name a few. Previous engagements include a solo recital of “Russian Romances” for the Vancouver Women’s Musical Society, the roles of Boyar Shaklovity & Vladimir Galitsky in the Canadian premieres of Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina & Borodin’s Prince Igor respectively with Voicebox: Toronto Opera in Concert, the Bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Vancouver Bach Choir, and annual appearances in Toronto’s Casa Loma Summer Concert series, where he has sung Haly in L’italiana in Algeri and been featured as a soloist on numerous occasions.
This current season 2023/2024 takes Andrey to a new home base in Germany with many new exciting European premiers. Andrey will be performing the role of Ibn-Hakia in Iolantha in König Albert Theater Bad Elster, as well as making the role and company debut as Nabucco with F. X. Šalda Theater, Liberec. In the spring 2024 Andrey will be returning to Canada to perform Baron Scarpia with Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Ontario. Besides that, Andrey will be the featured soloist in multiple concert series engagements across Czech Republic.
ANGELOTTI – Gabriel Sanchez Ortega
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega is a promising operatic bass praised for his “booming bass sound,” and his “surprising low and rich voice” (Schmopera). Born in Montreal, he holds a performance diploma in voice from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, studying primarily under Joel Katz.
While studying at the GGS, he was the recipient of the Ihnatowycz Emerging Artist Scholarship. Gabriel has performed in a number of operas for The Glenn Gould School Opera, The Aspen Opera Centre, The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, Opera York, and Toronto City Opera. While at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Gabriel had the privilege of studying under W. Stephen Smith.
Most recently, Gabriel made his debut singing the role of Il Commendatore in Toronto City Opera’s production of Don Giovanni.
SPOLETTA – Joshua Clemenger
Tenor Joshua Clemenger began his training in the Theatre Aquarius Performing Arts Programme in Hamilton, Ontario, where he studied with Tom Oliver. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with Torin Chiles at the University of Western Ontario.
After a few years teaching abroad, he returned to earn a master’s degree in Opera at the University of Toronto, studying with Lorna Macdonald. Recent opera credits include Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Toronto City Opera, Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld and Luiz in Gondoliers with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Jo in Mother of Us All and L’abete in Adriana with Opera in Concert, Camille in Opera York’s The Merry Widow, Alfredo in Summer Opera Lyric Theatre’s La Traviata, Count Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera with U of T Opera, and Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte at La Musica Lirica.
SACRISTAN – John Holland
Czech-Canadian Bass-Baritone John Holland has embarked on a diverse career of opera, oratorio, and art song. In 2020, John won a JUNO award as a member of the Ottawa Bach Choir. His Operatic credits include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Leporello and Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague, Vodník in Rusalka in the Czech Republic, Taddeo in L’Italiana in Algeri at Casa Loma, Purkrabi in Dvořák’s Jakobin, Caspar in Der Freischütz, Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore, Henry VIII in Anna Bolena, Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier, and Alberich in Der Ring Des Nibelungen with Toronto’s Opera by Request.
He has sung at such locales as the Canadian Opera Company, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Bachfest in Leipzig (2014, 2022), Smetana Hall and the Estates Theatre in Prague, and San Marco in Venice, and has shared the stage with the likes of Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Rene Pape, and Lorin Maazel. Recent 2023 performances include, Bass Soloist for a CD recording of Bach’s Motets on ATMA Classique, Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Mississauga Symphony, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Toronto City Opera, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus with Opera York, and Escamillo in Carmen with No Strings Theatre. Upcoming performances include the Sacristan in Tosca with Mississauga Symphony, Marullo in Rigoletto with Opera York, and Kecal in The Bartered Bride with the Canadian Institute for Czech Music.
He was a winner of the 2002 CBC Radio Opera Quiz Competition, and a finalist in the London Opera Guild Competition in 2001 and 2003. A respected academic, John is a three-time lecturer for the Canadian Opera Company’s London guild, a regular lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a nine-time judge for the JUNO Awards. He is also an alumnus of the University of Windsor and Western University music faculties.
Dr. Holland completed his PhD in Musicology at York University in 2018. His scholarly work reaches over many genres, but is focused on the study of Czech Opera, Art Song, and Choral Works. His book, The Lost Tradition of Dvořák’s Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism, critically analyzes these operas, and views them through the lenses of social, cultural, and political history, and pieces together the answers to why these operas are essentially lost works within the Czech lands, and abroad. In the fall of 2014, he produced the Canadian premiere of Dvořák’s opera Jakobin. He is also the founding director of the Canadian Institute for Czech Music, and continues to be in demand as a performer, choral conductor, and lecturer, as well as being a member of the contract faculty at York University.
Toronto City Opera Chorus
Toronto City Opera believes that the classic opera repertoire continues to inspire and delight audiences and performers from diverse cultures. Uniquely for an indie opera company, a community chorus is at the heart of our program. Up to 40 opera lovers perform in 2 fully staged productions each year practicing the vocal and acting skills that are demanded of an opera chorister. A strong majority of choristers return each year, but unaudtioned participation is open to all, providing the most opportunity for the music community to participate. We are delighted to join the MSO once again for their production of Tosca!
Mississauga Children’s Choir
The Mississauga Children’s Choir was established in 1980 by community leaders who felt there was a strong need for a community choir so the youth of Mississauga could share in the joys of choral singing. MCC represents the communities in which it serves and strives to foster inclusivity and diversity. Early successes included winning the “Best Stage Performance” trophy at the 1984 Mississauga Rainbow Festival. In striving for excellence the Choir has always participated in regional festivals and competitions such as the Peel Music Festival, Kiwanis and Ontario Vocal Festivals and has also competed at the Provincial and National levels. In 2005, the MCC was awarded the Mississauga Arts Council’s Established Performing Arts Award in recognition of its achievement, honour and excellence. In 2010 the Choir was awarded first place by the ACCC at the national competition for amateur choirs, Children’s Category.
The Mississauga Children’s Choir held its first Senior Treble Festival in 2004 with five choirs from Ontario and Alberta participating under the direction of guest conductor Simon Carrington. Since then, attendance at the festival has grown and MCC has hosts, alternating with other GTA choirs. Many talented guest conductors have attended the festival such as James Litton, Stephen Hatfield, Bob Chilcott, Jennifer Moir, Sanna Valvanne, Henry Leck and most recently, Dr. Jamie Hillman.
Founding Directors: Adria Trowhill and Elizabeth Powers
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Stage Director – Stephen Carr
Stephen Carr returned to South Korea last season for Lucia di Lammermoor with the Korean National Symphony and made his Canadian directorial debut with Cavalleria Rusticana and Die Fledermaus for Toronto City Opera. His all-new 2019 production of La Bohème for Daejeon Opera was hailed by Auditorium as “A significant milestone… A futuristic staging that remains grounded in realism, breathing new vitality into this well-known storyline.”
Other recent international projects include Turandot and Tosca at the Seoul Arts Center and Le Nozze di Figaro with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. For Daegu Opera, he led an all-new production of Così fan tutte featuring young artists from the conservatories of Vienna, Stuttgart, Milan, and Shanghai. His additional directing credits include engagements with the Washington National Opera, Seoul Arts Center, Palm Beach Opera, Opera North, Opera Naples, Ohio Light Opera, Eastman Opera Theatre, and Center City Opera of Philadelphia.
Stephen has served on the faculties of the Eastman School of Music, the Senzoku Gakuen Conservatory of Music (Tokyo), and the Interlochen Arts Centre. He currently teaches at the University of Toronto’s School of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is pursuing a PhD in musicology and ethnomusicology at York University. This summer, he will direct Carmen for Toronto City Opera and Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Brott Opera.
