SUBMITTED BY ARTSPRING
ArtSpring’s dramatic autumn is hitting a crescendo. November is always demanding, but this week at ArtSpring is an operatic phenomenon.
Following the emotional intensity of Jeremy Dutcher’s sold-out performance on Sunday, the theatre is primed for a spectacular run of high drama and soaring sound. The week continues with the dynamic “operatic and dance” spectacle of the Leonard Cohen tribute Take This Waltz on Wednesday, culminating in the opulence of the Met Opera’s Arabella on Saturday. From classical vocals to contemporary choreography and grand opera, ArtSpring has orchestrated an unforgettable week at the peak of its season.
Jeremy Dutcher
We are beyond honoured to have hosted the transcendent musical genius Jeremy Dutcher this past weekend.
Dutcher is a two-spirit song carrier, activist, ethnomusicologist and a Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique First Nation. After training as an operatic tenor, Dutcher embarked on a research project involving archival recordings of traditional songs recorded by his ancestors. His first album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, was born from these recordings, and is sung entirely in Wolastoqey, his ancestral language. This album won him his first Polaris Music Prize. With his second album, Motewolonuwok, he became the only person ever to win the prize twice.
Renowned for his playful genre-blending, powerful classical tenor vocals and groundbreaking ethnomusicological approach that allows him to sing across generations, Dutcher is a cultural and musical powerhouse whose work has been described by NPR as “music like no other” and by CBC as “moment-defining.”
With so much acclaim, it comes as little surprise that Dutcher’s ArtSpring performance sold out nearly immediately. If you missed your chance to buy tickets, don’t worry! The 2025/2026 ArtSpring Presents season is our biggest yet, and there are still plenty of exciting performances ahead. To make sure that you don’t miss them, subscribe to our newsletter at artspring.ca.
Take This Waltz: Celebrating the Music of Leonard Cohen
Take This Waltz transforms the iconic work of Leonard Cohen into a multidisciplinary operatic dance performance. More than a tribute, this expansive work explores Cohen’s discography through visual art, dance and new instrumentation, proving that a playful lens can be applied to canonic music without diluting the original work.
Celebrated Canadian operatic bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch joins a classical chamber ensemble and dancer/musician Ted Littlemore, who dances us to the end of the evening with his accordion in hand. Audience members will be treated to beloved tracks like “Hallelujah,” “Dance Me to the End of Love” and “Everybody Knows” brought to life with dramatic flair.
This sold-out performance hits the stage tonight (Nov. 19) at 7:30 p.m.
Met Opera: Arabella
Steeped in the glamour of 19th-century Vienna, Otto Schenk’s rich production of Strauss’ Arabella takes the screen this weekend as part of the Met Opera: Live in HD series.
In this elegant romance, strong-willed noblewoman Arabella is determined to find love on her own terms. Soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen stars as Arabella, who the Met describes as “one of opera’s most appealing and believable characters.” Soprano Louise Alder makes her Met debut as Arabella’s tomboyish sister, Zdenka, who their parents raise as a son named Zdenko as they cannot afford to pay for two daughters to marry. This sweet, character-driven classic indulges in elements of farce but holds tight to its tender heart.
The curtain goes up on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. This German-language performance is four hours long and features two intermissions. For tickets, visit purchase.artspring.ca or the ArtSpring box office.