Inside the first-ever Centre Stage gala: Opera hopefuls compete for a place at the top

by Randi Bergman December 2, 2013

Centre Stage Gala 2013 — Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani

Last Tuesday night, the Canadian Opera Company held its first annual Centre Stage gala at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto. The event focused around the company’s Ensemble Studio, a training program for emerging opera talents. Part benefit, part performance audition, Centre Stage pit nine hopefuls against one another in the battle for entry into the ensemble as well as a few hella generous cash prizes. And because no singing competition can do without some showmanship, Rufus Wainwright lent his skills, playing the host role for the night in a sparkling Moschino suit. He even surprised the crowd by performing a few of this favourite songs including “Les feux d’artifice t’appellent” from his opera Prima Donna.

After each finalist performed a piece from the likes of Verdi, Bizet and Mozart, soprano Karine Boucher was crowned winner of the judges’ award as well as the night’s audience award. She won the fashion award too, in a floor-length gown covered in gold sequins and featuring a diva apropos plunging neckline. Tenor Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure and bass-baritone Iain MacNeil place second and third respectively.

After the competition, VIP guests including COC general director Alexander Neef, Jessica Mulroney, Jeanne Beker and Trinity Jackman who co-chaired the night’s festivities along with Jonathan Bloomberg, dined on stage at rows of silver lined tables underneath ambiance-inducing candelabras. Most tables were graced with a competition finalist, which made for some extra spicy opera conversations. Iain MaNeil was at ours. We tried to convince him to spend his winnings on a motorcycle.