I attended the October 14th, 2023 performance of Ludwig van Beethoven‘s only opera, Fidelio, at the Canadian Opera Company (C.O.C.)

The production, by Matthew Ozawa, is presented in a modern day prison. The set is a large cuve placed on a turntable, so that it could be moved to show different scenes within the prison. The production seemed to work well to demonstrate the story and to show off that tyranny and corruption still exists today and that we cannot deny this.

The production stars Miina-Liisa Värelä (Leonore), Clay Hilley (Florestan), Dimitry Ivashchenko (Rocco), Johannes Martin Kränzle (Don Pizarro), Anna-Sophie Neher (Marzelline), Josh Lovell (Jaquino), Sava Vemić (Don Fernando), Wesley Harrison (First Prisoner), and Alex Halliday (Second Prisoner.)

The COC Orchestra is led by Music Director Johannes Debus and the COC Chorus was led by Chorus Master Sandra Horst.

The standouts of this production has to be the main four singers.

Mr. Hilley owns the role of Florestan. His first word, ‘Gott!’ struck me and left me with the feeling of a chill – the chill remained with me throughout his aria. It left me feeling for Florestan and left me feeling like I was suffering along with him. His performance, from beginning to end is breathtaking. I hope we get to see a lot more of him in Toronto in the future.

Ms. Värelä seemed to start out slowly in Act 1, holding back to safe herself for the drama in Act 2. An amazing job by the COC make-up and costuming department made honestly believe that she was a man in this performance, not just a woman in disguise. No wonder that Marzelline falls in love with ‘Fidelio’ – she has to be believe that ‘Fidelio’ is man.

Mr. Ivashchenko’s Rocco is sympathetic to others, but is able to fake being a tough member of Don Pizzarro’s crew when Pizarrio is on stage.

Mr. Kränzle’s Don Pizarro oozes meanness. He there is nothing in his portrayal that is in any way nice – even after Don Fernando’s entrance at the end of the opera he is trying to make it look like he’s really a nice guy. I was left wondering at the end if he shouldn’t have been left alone locked in a jail cell for his behaviour.

Mr. Vemić’s Don Fernando arrives at the prison with a camera crew. He is obviosuly there, not to really to do something good, but to clean up the prison so that he can be re-elected in the next election. A ‘typical politican’, like so many today – out to get as much good publicity as possible.

I left the performance drained emotionally but also on a high from such a brillant performance.

Fidelio takes place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. There are two performances left, on October 14th and 20th. If you can make either performance you will not be disappointed.