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Massenet’s Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

Victoria Karkacheva (Charlotte)
© Michael Cooper
Russell Thomas (Werther)
© Michael Cooper
Victoria Karkacheva (Charlotte) and Russell Thomas (Werther)
© Michael Cooper
Russell Thomas (Werther) and Gordon Bintner (Albert)
© Michael Cooper
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“Victoria Karkacheva sang with great beauty and just the right amount of vulnerability”
Reviewed at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto on 7 May 2026
Massenet, Werther
Canadian Opera Company
Johannes Debus, Conductor
Alain Gauthier, Director
Olivier Landreville, Set Designer
Lëilah Dufour Forget, Costume Designer
Mikael Kangas, Lighting Designer
Canadian Opera Company Orchestra
Canadian Opera Company Chorus
Russell Thomas, Werther
Victoria Karkacheva, Charlotte
Simone Osborne, Sophie
Gordon Bintner, Albert
Robert Pomakov, Le Bailli
Michael Colvin, Schmidt
Alain Coulombe, Johann
Emma Pennell, Käthchen
Ben Wallace, Brühlmann
Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre
*****
Canadian Opera Company’s Barber proves as fresh as ever
****1
Christopher Alden’s Rigoletto returns to Canadian Opera Company
***11
Canadian Opera's Orfeo returns elegant, restrained and very satisfying
*****
Canadian Opera Company opens season with Roméo et Juliette
***11
Eugene Onegin revival fails to find the magic spark in Toronto
***11
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