Tapestry

Tapestry Opera is a Toronto-based opera company dedicated to the creation and performance of original Canadian opera. Founded in 1979, it stands as the only company in Canada exclusively committed to developing new operatic works. Tapestry Opera has a strong mandate to produce powerful and innovative opera that reflects and influences the world, fostering a fusion of various art forms, creators, and communities to craft groundbreaking productions. Over the years, Tapestry Opera has premiered 18 full-length operas and 160 opera shorts, establishing a significant presence in the Canadian cultural landscape. The company's commitment to excellence is reflected in its receipt of 99 Dora Mavor Moore Toronto Theatre Award nominations, of which it has won 22. This includes six awards in 2022 and an accolade for Outstanding Production for "R.U.R. A Torrent of Light," a collaboration with OCAD University. Tapestry Opera is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Toronto, a city known for its innovation, inclusivity, and vibrant arts scene. The company actively contributes to the city's cultural life by hiring local talent and integrating the city's unique venues into its productions. Performances have been held in diverse spaces such as the Evergreen Brickworks, Todmorden Mills, stackt market, Sidewalk Labs, and locations along the Toronto waterfront, offering audiences an immersive experience of the city through opera. The company's repertoire is diverse and impactful, ranging from Caribbean mythology and Indigenous storytelling to contemporary dramas featuring robots. Tapestry Opera is known for integrating new technologies and engaging with the community to create opera that is both relevant and accessible. At the helm of Tapestry Opera are Michael Hidetoshi Mori, serving as Artistic and General Director, and Jaime Martino, the Executive Director. Together, they lead the company in its artistic vision and operational management. Tapestry Opera also offers a range of programs aimed at nurturing talent and expanding the reach of opera. These include the Canadian Opera Resource, Women in Musical Leadership, LIBLAB, and New Opera 101. The LIBLAB program, in particular, has been instrumental in developing a new generation of Canadian composers and writers comfortable with the opera genre, fostering innovation and craftsmanship within the art form. The company's commitment to community engagement and education is further exemplified by initiatives such as Tapestry Opera Access, which aims to make opera more accessible to diverse audiences, and Youth Inside Opera, which focuses on engaging young people with the art form. Tapestry Opera continues to push boundaries and redefine the operatic experience for contemporary audiences, ensuring the vitality and relevance of opera as a living, evolving art form.