Essential Opera began in 2010 with an idea for a single opera concert, and has continued to evolve through changing times and artistic climates. Our mission is to give both audiences and artists opportunities to experience opera at its most essential, with a dynamic and evolving 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 premières of new works by Canadian composers, to rare outings of beautiful classical pieces, works in the Western Classical European canon, and works we feel belong in the canon.
We have always believed new compositions are inherently essential. 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. EO’s projects feature a changing array of wonderful artists. 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), 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.
Who We Are
Essential Opera was founded in Toronto, ON, Canada by sopranos Erin Bardua and Maureen Batt, with a debut production of Le nozze di Figaro (inarguably one of the most essential operas) in February 2011.
Co-artistic director Maureen Batt (she/her) focuses on celebrating new music by collaborating with composers to commission, première, and re-perform their works. Her discography includes Lighthouse (with Grej); Aunt Helen; Mirror, Mirror; Breathing in the Shadows; and Lady of the Lake (Leaf Music). Celebrated for her “rich, warm sound and masterful acting” (Opera Canada), Maureen has created many Canadian opera roles. In 2015, Maureen founded Crossing Borders, a contemporary Western art music recital series which has toured the United States, Canada, and Colombia. As a pedagogue, Maureen has been a regular vocal coach on faculty at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, is a frequent festival adjudicator, and offers masterclasses and workshops on voice play. She is a Wholeness in Motion practitioner and does ongoing professional development with Dr. Shannon Coates and Babette Lightner. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Music Centre. Maureen is based in Halifax, NS. https://www.maureenbatt.com
Co-artistic director Erin Bardua (she/her) is based in Sackville, NB, and performs, teaches, and directs there and elsewhere. She has been on faculty at Mount Allison University teaching lyric diction and applied voice, and has provided stage direction for the opera workshop and with the drama department. She has also been a stage director and acting coach for Halifax Summer Opera Festival, COSA, and other programs for emerging artists. Erin has also explored composition and songwriting. She maintains a busy teaching studio in Sackville and online, and is a frequent festival and competition adjudicator. http://www.erinbardua.com
Essential Opera Production History
2022: Etiquette (Monica Pearce) short opera film
2021-2023: Creation opera project with composer Fiona Ryan
2021: Mirror, mirror (Anna Pidgorna) commercial release on streaming platforms
2020: December (Monica Pearce) short opera film
2020: Mirror, mirror (Anna Pidgorna) short opera film
2018: Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) with Orchestra Toronto
2016: She’s The One: Contemporary Canadian and American Opera in Toronto
2015: Regina (Elisha Denburg) in Halifax at the Gilsig Series in Jewish Arts & Culture, Dalhousie University, Sir James Dunn Theatre
2015: Paride ed Elena (Gluck) in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo
2015: Essential Zarzuela! Bohemios (Vives) and Zarzuela highlights in Toronto
2014: Remount of Canadian new works Regina (Elisha Denburg), Etiquette (Monica Pearce) and Heather: Cindy + Mindy = BFFs 4EVER (Christopher Thornborrow) at Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound in Kitchener
2014: Double bill of Italian comedies: L’isola disabitata (Haydn) and Il campanello (Donizetti) at New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts
2013: Triple bill of Canadian Premières: Regina (Elisha Denburg), Etiquette (Monica Pearce) and Heather: Cindy + Mindy = BFFs 4EVER (Christopher Thornborrow) in Toronto
2013: L’isola disabitata (Haydn) in Toronto
2013: Two Weddings and a Funeral: Il campanello (Donizetti) and Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) in Toronto
2012: Threepenny Opera (Weill) in Toronto
2012: Alcina (Händel) in Toronto and at New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts
2011: Chérubin (Massenet) in Toronto
2010-2011: Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) in Toronto – inaugural performance
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