Opera in Montreal and Toronto: A Study of Performance Traditions and Repertoire, 1783-1980

The author presents a study of the traditions of opera performance in Montreal and Toronto, and to a lesser degree, Quebec City. In addition, she provides a commentary on selected operas written and produced in the two main centres. Points of reference in exploring the subject are: the formation of the local amateur stock company, the strolling players occasionally forming seasonal stock companies to augment the efforts of the amateurs, the rise of the star system, the resident and/or touring company, the consolidation of the combination system culminating in the syndication of large touring monopolies, the eventual decline of the touring phenomenon, and the developements which came about as compensation for the loss of the tours, namely, the revival of the resident company and the growth of a national repertoire. Further subjects the author explores are the morality of opera, theatres, standards of production, opera in the vernacular, standard vs. novel repertoire, opera at popular prices, and funding for performance and later for composition.

PhD dissertation

University of Toronto

Toronto, ON

1983

xxx-1,399p.

en