Canadian Opera Company

Going to the opera probably isn't the first thing you think of when you're planning a cheap night out, but the Canadian Opera Company's discount ticket options and their impressive range of public programming, which goes well beyond their operatic offerings, makes them worth considering.

Toronto Continuo Collective and Capella Intima

While it's true that booking a premium seat to one of the COC's operas can cost several hundred dollars, there are cheaper options available. Regular seats can be purchased for as little as $50. If you have a youngster showing signs of interest in this art form, tickets for those 15 and under are available at half the price of normal tickets, although this excludes Grand Ring seating and they must be accompanied by an adult. Even better news for adults under 30. They can purchase tickets in designated areas for only $22, or pay $35 in advance and be moved into the best available seats on the day of the performance. For people like me who prefer to act spur of the moment, the COC also has two last-minute programs. If you're able to stand for the duration of the performance, there are 60 standing room tickets available for each performance. They go on sale at 11 am at the box office the day of the performance and cost only $12. Rush tickets, if available, also go on sale at 11 am but according to the website, "discounts are at the discretion of the Canadian Opera Company".

In addition to the operatic productions, the COC hosts an impressive amount of free programming. From September to May they host a free concert series which provides an average of two free performances each week. The offerings are divided into a number of series: Jazz, Vocal, Chamber Music, World Music, Piano Virtuoso, and Dance. One slight hitch for some might be the timing: most performances are held from 12 - 1 pm during the week. Great if you happen to have time off or work downtown and have the ability to take a long lunch but not so convenient otherwise. Occasionally performances are held at 5:30 pm, but there are no more evening concerts scheduled this season.

If you enjoy talks and lectures, the COC also has you covered. Opera Insights is a series of free events billed as "big conversations & interactive events". Tickets must be booked in advance, but they are free. Tickets for the new spring series, which starts April 19, are available starting on April 5.

COC Costume Supervisor Sandra Corazza speaks at an Opera Insights event

Opera Talks are a bit more casual and are held in conjunction with Opera Canada magazine and the North York Central Library. Again, the talks are free to attend but registration is recommended. The talks are held throughout the opera season, and the last one for 2015/2016 will be on April 28.

If you want to learn a bit more about opera but don't want to leave the house, the COC also hosts a number of pod casts on its website. They're no longer in production, but 30 episodes produced between 2012 and 2015 are still available for your listening pleasure. They also provide a list of links to a number of opera-related blogs if you want to browse.

The photos in this article are by Karen E. Reeves and were supplied by the COC.

Lunchtime fun

June is a great time to give yourself a break and get out and enjoy some lunchtime entertainment. Not only is the weather glorious (well, when it's not pouring) but there are also a lot of options. Many summer programs have started and those programs that take the summer off still have a few weeks before they wrap up. Music seems to be the most popular lunchtime offering, but there are a few other options for those who like a little something different. Please comment with other lunchtime programs!

Music

Music Mondays
A largely instrumental concert series at the Church of the Holy Trinity, next to the Eaton Centre. Piano is a heavily featured instrument but there is variety in the schedule. Concerts are at 12:15 and are PWYC, $5 minimum suggested.

Lunchtime Live!
A live concert series featuring an eclectic range of music. It runs on Mondays in the spring and fall in Yonge-Dundas Square. Concerts start at 12:30 and are free.

Organ Recitals at St. James Cathedral
The organ in this historically designated church at King and Church was originally built in 1888 and has been carefully expanded and maintained through the years. Concerts on this amazing instrument are presented twice per week, including at 1 pm every Tuesday. Admission is free but donations toward the upkeep of the organ are welcome.

Play the Parks
The Downtown Yonge BIA is planning lunchtime, early evening and weekend entertainment at various locations around the downtown core this summer. On Wednesdays from noon to 1 pm there will be live music in College Park Courtyard and on Thursdays you can catch concerts at the same time in Trinity Park next to the Eaton Centre.

COC Series
The Canadian Opera Company runs a number of different series over the lunchtime including Jazz, Chamber, Vocal, World Music and more. Unfortunately the series wraps up in early June but it will return again in September. Concerts are held at the Four Seasons Centre at 12 pm and are free.


Other

1812 Re-enactors
On Thursdays throughout the summer costumed re-enactors will be in Berczy Park near Church and Front from 12:30 to 1 pm to tell first person accounts of life in 1812 in the Town of York, re-enact sword fights, and then visit the historical locations in the neighbourhood, including St. James Cathedral, Ontario's first Parliament buildings and the St. Lawrence Market complex.

Tours of the Ontario Legislature
30 minute lunchtime tours of the Ontario Legislature happen every Friday at 12:30 p.m. during the months of March, May, July, August and October. Each month offers a different theme. Tours meet in the lobby and are free. If 12:30 doesn't fit your schedule, the legislature runs regular building tours throughout the day, and a special inside and out tour during the summer months at 10 am and 3 pm. All tours are free.

Osgoode Hall Tours
During July and August, Osgoode Hall opens its doors each day and welcomes the public in for a tour. Tours start at 1:15 pm and last an hour.

First Canadian Place
The First Canadian Place gallery is open Tuesday thru Thursday for viewing, from lunch to early afternoon. Hours change so check their website for details. Events such as concerts by the Waterfall Stage and talks in the gallery are frequently held over the lunch hour as well.

Canadian National Exhibition

When you live in Toronto, it's not cooler nights that warn you that summer is coming to an end, it's the start of the CNE. So, it's time to cram in those last few patio drinks and backyard barbecues, because the Ex has opened once again.

The Canadian National Exhibition has been signalling the end of summer for over 130 years now. In addition to the Midway with all its noise and smells and lights that brighten the sky each night, there are shows and concerts, shopping and food, animals and all the unusual add-ons you expect from an exhibition - like the sand sculptures which are part of the International Sand Sculpting Competition.

New this year on the Midway is a zip line, the Nitro, a new roller coaster, and the ride I'm looking forward to - the Sky Ride. A little sedate if you're a thrill seeker perhaps but for those of us who loved and remember the Alpine Way, this will be a must for its aerial views of not only the excitement of the CNE grounds, but the beauty of the Toronto Islands, and the city skyline.

While most of what's offered on the Midway costs extra, there's lots to enjoy that's included in the price of admission. In addition to the line-up of concerts at the bandshell and the bands at the Midway Stage, there are lots of other shows to keep you entertained. There's the always amazing Super Dogs (with 3 shows a day), an illusionist, a hypnotist, ice shows, international performers, and lots more, including a whole raft of culinary celebrities including Anna Olson, David Rocco and Marc Thuet.

Food this year includes all the old favourites (Tiny Tom donuts with icing sugar and cinnamon please!) plus 17 food trucks, some disgusting treats like the Krispy Kreme burger and deep fried butter, and a Wine Bar in the Garden Show featuring Ontario wines, craft beers and local cheeses.

Admission to the Ex is $16 for adults, $12 for kids and seniors, and kids under 4 are free. Family passes are also available. General admission gets you access to all shows and buildings, but this year there is no entrance to Ontario Place as it is now closed. Midway ride tickets are extra. There are a few options for a cheaper visit if your schedule is flexible however:

• Admission after 5 pm on Monday thru Thursday is only $5.
• On Monday August 20 & 27, kids 13 and under get in for only $2 when accompanied by a paying adult, and there's a related deal on coupons for the Kiddie Midway.
• Thursday August 28, the day 30H!3 is playing the bandshell, those 19 and under get in free until 3 pm, courtesy of Pizza Nova. And there are discounts for Midway tickets that day as well.

If you plan to go, save yourself some money on parking and take public transit. GO has a stop right at Exhibition on the Lakeshore line, and TTC offers 4 routes to the park including the 193 Exhibition Rocket from Dundas West subway station.

Come on everybody, let's go to the Ex!

Summerworks 2012

Your chance to see new and cutting-edge Canadian plays at a great price is here once again. The Summerworks Performance Festival is on now and will run until August 19. This year, there are over 40 theatre productions to choose from, all pre-selected by jury to ensure you're going to see something great. You can buy advance tickets online through Ticketwise and guarantee yourself a seat for just an extra dollar plus tax. Otherwise, tickets can be bought starting 1 hour before the show for only $15 (half the house is always reserved for at-the-door sales).The best deal is to buy a multi-play pass, although there are some limitations. A 3 show pass is $40, 7 show is $85 and a 10 show pass is $120, a savings of $30 over single ticket prices. Passes can only be used for at-the-door tickets, 1 per show and are non-transferable, so you can't share a pass with a friend or use it for multiple tickets per show.

There's a lot more to Summerworks than theatre however, and this is reflected in their new name: Summerworks Performance Festival. There are live art installations, a music series and the Performance Bar, which I'm really looking forward to checking out. The Performance Bar hosts 16 eclectic acts over 6 nights, featuring music, comedy, live art and more. Each night is hosted by Captain Ron's Ship of Friendship, which was created by Atomic Vaudeville and stars Ron Pederson. All nights are pay-what-you-can and take place at the Lower Ossington Theatre's Cabaret Space. Should be a blast!

If you've got some time, check out the schedule and try something new. Just be aware of a few basics: the box offices accept cash only, and there are absolutely no latecomers. When you do see something, leave a comment below and tell us what you thought!

Toronto Music Garden

If you enjoy music, and the great outdoors, Toronto’s Music Garden is the place for you. Located on the waterfront between Spadina and Bathurst, the garden was designed by famed cellist Yo Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir. Its various sections are meant to be a representation, in landscape, of Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G Major for unaccompanied cello, BWV 1007. To discover what this means, wander the garden, and if you need some help with the interpretation, visit the website for a description, or consider taking a guided tour. They are available free of charge on Wednesday at 11 am (until September 28) and Thursdays at 5:30 pm (until September 8). Hand-held audio players providing commentary by the park designers and featuring excerpts of music can be rented for $6 from Marina Quay West Office, on the pier directly south of the Garden. Private group tours can also be arranged but a small fee and reservations are required.

Being a Music Garden, there is of course, music to be had. This year marks the 12^th year of Summer Music in the Garden. Free concerts are held in the amphitheatre most Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4pm, and it’s quite an experience. During quiet moments, the sounds of planes taking off from the Island airport, and the rumble of streetcars on Queens Quay are reminders that this beautiful space is surrounded by an active city, but then when the music swells, you’re transported once again to somewhere magical.

The amphitheatre has limited bench seating and you’re encouraged to bring your own chairs or blankets. Myself, I like the grass, and each rise is edged with stone, so even if the day has been a little damp, there’s a relatively dry spot to park your bottom. For this year’s schedule, refer to their website, or check the Free in Toronto calendar below for the next concert date.