Essential Opera began in 2010 with an idea for a single opera concert, and has continued to evolve through changing times and artistic climates, with a dynamic definition of what is “essential.” In pursuit of this goal, we have explored works spanning a musical history of nearly 300 years. In past seasons, we have gone from presenting world premieres of new works by Canadian composers, to rare outings of beautiful classical pieces, and works in the Western Classical European canon. 

We have a passion for contemporary works, with a primary goal of fostering the continued performance of recently composed operas. Current practical and artistic considerations have offered us the complimentary approach of creating digital and streaming film versions of these works. Opera is a living art form; what we do and how we do it is a response to the world in which we’re producing. Our focus has remained on having something to say with each production, and saying it in as entertaining and engaging a way as possible.

Essential Opera’s mission includes presenting opera from the tried and tested, to the brand new. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all forms for all humans. This translates to a mandate to create and produce works that will allow us to employ a diverse group of artists, particularly women (including, of course, trans women and transfeminine people), non-binary people, and non-cisgender men, as well as Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodivergent/neuroqueer, and other frequently excluded and underrepresented people. We are striving to continue to improve our own contributions to this goal with each successive project.

In 2020, Essential Opera produced two opera films: “Mirror, mirror” by Anna Pidgorna, and “December” by Monica Pearce. Other projects include another operatic short film, this time of Monica Pearce’s “Etiquette,” released in March 2024,  and an opera creation project with composer Fiona Ryan called “In Her Hands: The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth” (September 22, 2024, Motyer-Fancy Theatre, Sackville, NB).

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