Don Carlos

Grand opera in 5 Acts

Canadian Opera Company, Toronto

by Giuseppe Verdi

Text by Joseph Méry and Camille Du Locle

Based on Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien by Friedrich Schiller

This was a co-production between the Welsh National Opera and Canadian Opera Company of the original 5 Act version of Don Carlos, sung in French.

The first performance of this production was by the WNO at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 17th September 2005.

It opened at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto on 12th October 2007.

The Houston Grand Opera production opened on 13th April 2012 and played in repertoire until the 28th April.

Richard Bradshaw

The music director and chief conductor of COC, the much-loved and admired Richard Bradshaw, was instrumental in setting up the co-production deal with WNO. He was to have conducted the opera but he died suddenly and unexpectedly a few weeks before rehearsals began.
The excellent Paolo Olmi stepped in at short notice to replace him on the podium, but Richard was dreadfully missed – as he still is by all his friends and colleagues.

Creative Team

Conductor Paolo Olmi
Director John Caird
Set Designer Johan Engels
Costume Designer Carl Friedrich Oberle
Lighting Designer Nigel Levings
Movement & Associate Director Denni Sayers
Chorus Master Sandra Horst
Assistant Conductor Derek Bate
Surtitles Producer Gunta Dreifelds
Music Staff Albert Krywolt
Assistant Director David Adams
Language Coach Rosemarie Landrie
Stage Manager Jenifer Kowal
Production ArtworkJohan Engels
Production Photographs Bill Cooper

Cast

Elisabeth de ValoisAdrianne Pieczonka
ThibaultNathalie Paulin
Don CarlosMikhail Agafonov
Philipe IITerje Stensvold
Le Comte de LermeJason Collins
Un MoineZdenek Plech
Rodrigue, Marquis de PosaScott Hendricks
La Princesse EboliGuang Yang
Un HeraultAdam Luther
Voix dans le cielVirginia Hatfield
Le Grand InquisiteurAyk Martirossian
La Comtesse d'ArembergCynthia Won
Flemish DeputiesAlexander Hajek, Niculae Raiciu, Andrew Stewart, Justin Welsh, Jon-Paul Decosse
The role of Elizabeth de Valois was played at one performance by Joni Henson