The Canadian Opera Company Encourages coc.ca Users to "Join the Discussion"

Toronto, Ontario ’Äì The Canadian Opera Company’Äôs upcoming broadcasts of Madama Butterfly on November 28, 2009 and The Nightingale and Other Short Fables on December 5, 2009 will be available for internet streaming on coc.ca.

From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., listeners at coc.ca will discover a new and interactive live chat session featuring special guest chatters. Those new to opera, as well as seasoned opera lovers, can join the discussion and enhance their listening experience by connecting with fellow opera enthusiasts.

Members of the productions’Äô casts and creative teams will stimulate conversation, ask and answer questions, and share anecdotes. Confirmed guests to date are Madama Butterfly set and costume designer Susan Benson and baritone James Westman who performed the role of the American Consul, Sharpless. While there, visitors can also read the Madama Butterfly and The Nightingale and Other Short Fables synopses and cast lists, view production photographs and videos, and travel behind-the-scenes through the COC archives and discover the making of this production of Madama Butterfly.

In conjunction with the COC’Äôs Broadcast Partner, CBC Radio 2, each opera of the COC’Äôs 2009/10 season will be aired twice nationally on CBC Radio 2’Äôs Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and Radio-Canada’Äôs Espace Musique, and the broadcasts will also be available for internet streaming on CBC Concerts on Demand, cbc.ca/radio2, as well as coc.ca for a period of 12 months after the initial streaming date.

Production Sponsor of Madama Butterfly: RBC Financial Group

The Nightingale and Other Short Fables and additional performances of Madama Butterfly have been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Culture, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.

The Nightingale and Other Short Fables has been generously underwritten in part by The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation.

Broadcast Partner: CBC Radio 2

Digital Marketing Sponsor: Delvinia Interactive

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and fifth largest in North America, and celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2009/10. Under its new leadership of General Director Alexander Neef and Music Director Johannes Debus, the COC continues its international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation.