Opera by Request presents a fundraiser/preview of a new work, temporarily entitled The Secord Project, on Sunday, June 7th, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St (Bathurst).

The opera will portray the tragic life of Canadian heroine Laura Secord, her widowhood, impoverishment, and lack of support from Canadian authorities. It is slated to be presented in its entirety with chamber orchestra in the spring of 2027 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Opera by Request.

Cast:
Laura Secord………………………………………..Daria Tereshchenko
James Secord………………………………………Christian Matta
Thomas Ingersoll (Laura’s father)……………..Josh Gibson

Creative Team:
Chiara Urban, composer
Jessica Spurrell, librettist

William Shookhoff, music director and pianist

Opera by Request presents Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, in concert with piano accompaniment, Saturday, May 23rd, 7:30pm, College St. United Church, 452 College St (Bathurst).  All tickets $20.00.  Phone 416 455-2365 for additional information.

Giulietta……………………………..Holly Chaplin, soprano
Romeo………………………………Meagan Reimer, mezzo-soprano
Tebaldo……………………………..Ernesto Ramirez, tenor
Lorenzo…………………………….John Holland, bass
Capellio…………………………….Handaya Rusli, bass

William Shookhoff, music director and pianist

With OBR’s Belleville Ring Cycle cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020, we are thrilled to announce a renewed Ring Cycle, with orchestra, in conjunction with Grand River Opera of Kitchener/Waterloo. This monumental project requires funding!

Help Us Bring the Ring to Life! To fully realize the power and scope of Wagner’s music, we are actively fundraising to hire a professional orchestra for this production. Your support directly fuels the sound, scale, and emotional impact of this monumental score.

OBR and Grand River Opera are grateful for any and all support! Visit our fundraising portal if you’d like to donate to our project. Thank you!

Opera by Request is thrilled to announce a commissioned opera to commemorate its 20th anniversary in March, 2027.

Created by the rising young female duo of composer Chiara Urban and librettist Jessica Spurrell, Laura—A Canadian Tragedy deals with Laura Secord as both a heroine and an impoverished and unappreciated victim of Canada’s evolving sensibilities after the War of 1812.

This largely untold story should become an important addition to the Canadian opera canon. Previews and workshops will be announced shortly.

Opera by Request is excited to return to the Toronto Wagner Society on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, 7:00 pm, at the Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm St, Toronto. Soprano Jennifer Carter, baritone Andrew Tees, and pianist William Shookhoff will present the final scene from Wagner’s Die Walküre.

Some exciting news regarding upcoming Wagner performances in the GTA and surrounding areas will be presented as well. We’re looking forward to this renewed collaboration.

Strauss’ opera, with its challenging music, requires advanced vocal and also dramatic skills. It would be wonderful to see this outstanding cast in a fully staged version of the work.

Our thanks to Anya Wassenberg of Ludwig Van Toronto for this wonderful review of our recent presentation of Richard Strauss’s Salome. Read the full article here.