Toronto, Ontario � The Canadian Opera Company (COC) revealed today that its previously announced 2010 Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour trip has added two new destinations that will take it further north than it has ever been before: the communities of Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq in northern Québec.� These Inuit communities in the Nunavik region are located near Xstrata Nickel's Raglan mine.� The COC will perform its school-friendly production of Cinderella, a combination of Jules Massenet's and Rossini's musical scores, for students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 in each community, on November 16 and 17, 2010.
�This tour is a remarkable opportunity for the COC.� Xstrata has been absolutely indispensible in allowing the COC's school tour to travel further than we ever have in our history,� says Alexander Neef, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company.� �The company is extremely excited that our Ensemble Studio singers will be performing opera for children in these remote communities, and we are equally honoured to be given the opportunity to learn as much as we can about their culture from them.� If the children's response is anything like that of the reaction the tour receives in Ontario, they will be completely enchanted with the performances.�
Xstrata, Title Sponsor of the COC's school tour, will host the COC artists and staff at its Raglan mine.� As Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq are only accessible by air, the COC team will be flown into each community from the tour's home base at Raglan: on November 16 to Pigiurvik School in Salluit, and on November 17 to Arsaniq School in Kangiqsujuaq.
Both performance days begin with workshops led by the COC's Senior Manager of Education and Outreach, Katherine Semcesen, with the participation of the singers and pianist.� A 50-minute performance of Cinderella, a mix of Rossini's and Massenet's music sung in both English and French, will follow and include a question-and-answer period.� In addition to school performances, the COC Ensemble artists will present a short program of operatic arias for the employees at Raglan mine on the evening of November 17.
�It is important to Xstrata that we expand the tour's reach north to the communities in which we operate,� says Michael Welch, Vice President, Raglan Mine.� �We strive for our Raglan operations to provide more than just jobs to our local communities � we want to create sustainable value.� This can take many forms, including art and culture, and education.� The Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour combines these two elements in a unique way and introduces opera to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to this art form.�
Cinderella is also traveling to northern Ontario cities of Sudbury and Timmins as part of Xstrata's continuing goal to provide cultural and educational value to those communities in which they work.� Cinderella performs in Sudbury and Timmins the week of November 8, 2010, and in schools across the Greater Toronto Area, from November 22 � December 5, 2010.� The Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour production of Isis and the Seven Scorpions, by Canadian composer Dean Burry, performs across Ontario from November 8 � December 5, 2010.� The COC's annual Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour reaches over 16,000 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 across Ontario and displays the talents of professional singers from the renowned COC Ensemble Studio training program.� (A complete tour schedule is available upon request.)
For many children, the Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour is their first experience with opera, and it allows them to discover a new and exciting art form. �You made us very, very, very happy� the music was beautiful� we really enjoyed the show,� stated a letter from a Grade 3 student from Secord Elementary School in Toronto.� The tour also appeals to educators who appreciate the educational value of the performances.� �I wish you could have seen the enraptured look on the face of one of our Senior Kindergarten students,� said a teacher from Prince Charles Elementary School, in Brantford, Ont., after seeing The Barber of Seville in the fall of 2009.� �I know that many children are now huge fans of opera and will undoubtedly be predisposed to attend more as adults as a result of this early exposure.�
COC 2010 XSTRATA ENSEMBLE STUDIO SCHOOL TOUR TO NUNAVIK, QUEBEC, November 16 and 17
Cinderella by Gioacchino Rossini and Jules Massenet
Cast and Artistic Team Musical Director: Andrea Grant Director: Ashlie Corcoran Designer: Robin Fisher Stage Manager: Michael Lewandowski Cinderella: Rihab Chaieb Clorinda: Ambur Braid Tisbe: Heather Jewson The Prince: Michael Barrett The King/Narrator: Michael Uloth
The COC's Ensemble Studio is Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience and career development opportunities.� The Ensemble Studio is generously supported by the Government of Canada through the department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Foundation and additional donors.
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