The COC’Äôs 2008/09 Fall and Winter Runs Continue the Trend and Pack the House at 100%

Toronto, Ontario ’Äì The Canadian Opera Company is proud to announce that the winter run of the 2008/09 season Fidelio and Rusalka has played to 100% capacity. These two operas join Don Giovanni and War and Peace both of which also played to 100% attendance last fall. Since the opening of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in 2006 the COC has sustained a season attendance average of 99%.

Fidelio and Rusalka, which both closed this week, received critical praise. The winter run began with the "well sung and well conducted" (Classical 96.3) Fidelio and continued with Dvo‰ôˆ°k's Rusalka, hailed "absolutely necessary viewing for opera veterans and newbies alike" (National Post). An "electrifying" (Eye Weekly)

Don Giovanni opened the fall season followed by the COC premiere of the "unmissable" (Globe and Mail)

War and Peace.

Continuing the 2008/09 season is Verdi's powerful Simon Boccanegra which opens on April 11, 2009 and runs for eight performances. On April 17, the COC opens its very popular production of La Bohˆ®me which runs for 12 performances. The final production of the 2008/09 mainstage season opens May 5 with a luminous new production of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream which runs for eight performances.

Subscriptions for the 2009/10 season went on sale to current subscribers on January 7, 2009 with a renewal deadline of April 30, 2009. Subscriptions go on sale to the general public, May 4, 2009 at 10 a.m.

Single tickets for the spring run go on sale Monday, March 2, 2009 and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office

(145 Queen St. W., Toronto).

Production Sponsor of Don Giovanni: RBC Financial Group

Production Sponsor of Fidelio: National Bank Financial Group

Production Co-sponsors of La Bohˆ®me: CIBC World Markets and CIBC Mellon

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The company's new home, the

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canada's first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.