Canadian Opera Company’s Barber proves as fresh as ever

The cast of The Barber of Seville

Luke Sutliff (Figaro)

Deepa Johnny (Rosina) and Renato Girolami (Bartolo)

Deepa Johnny (Rosina) and Dave Monaco (Almaviva)

By John Gilks, 06 February 2026

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“clear, bright and beautifully controlled and she navigates florid runs with ease”

Reviewed at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto on 5 February 2026

Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia

Canadian Opera Company

Daniela Candillari, Conductor

Joan Font, Director

Joan Guillén, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Albert Faura, Lighting Designer

Canadian Opera Company Orchestra

Canadian Opera Company Chorus

Luke Sutliff, Figaro

Deepa Johnny, Rosina

Dave Monaco, Count Almaviva

Renato Girolami, Dr Bartolo

Luca Pisaroni, Don Basilio

Ariana Maubach, Berta

Nathan Keoughan, Fiorello, Officer

Xevi Dorca, Choreography

Christopher Alden’s Rigoletto returns to Canadian Opera Company

Michelle Assay, 28th January

Christopher Alden’s Victorian-era Rigoletto still divides opinions, despite top-notch performances all around in this Toronto revival.

***11

Canadian Opera's Orfeo returns elegant, restrained and very satisfying

John Gilks, 9th October

The restrained beauty of Robert Carsen’s production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is matched by musical elegance in its revival current revival at the Four Seasons Centre.

*****

Canadian Opera Company opens season with Roméo et Juliette

John Gilks, 27th September

Amy Lane’s production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the COC is eye-catching and enjoyable but doesn’t offer the same level of insight as her Faust last season.

***11

Eugene Onegin revival fails to find the magic spark in Toronto

John Gilks, 2nd May

Robert Carsen’s 1997 production of Eugene Onegin has aged remarkably well but the latest Canadian Opera Company revival of it doesn’t quite recapture its magic.

***11

COC triumphs with Kentridge’s brilliantly conceived Wozzeck

John Gilks, 25th April

William Kentridge's production of Berg’s Wozzeck has it all: wonderfully imaginative and disturbing designs, terrific acting and singing plus fabulous orchestral playing.

*****

Musically and visually stunning, La Reine-garçon ticks all the boxes

John Gilks, 31st January

Bilodeau and Bouchard’s La Reine-garçon is contemporary opera at its best, telling a great story with outstanding music and stunning visuals.

*****

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John Gilks

John trained as a mathematician before working all over the world in management consulting. He’s now settled in downtown Toronto as an e-health strategy consultant. His operatric interests are eclectic but lean to the very early and very modern. He is also passionate about art song. His writings can be found in Opera Canada magazine and in his blog. He is owned by a small, grey cat called Jane.

Canadian Opera Company’s Barber of Seville proves as fresh as ever