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Box Office: 416-306-8231

Imperial Oil Opera Theatre
in Old Town Toronto

227 Front St. E. (Front St. E. and Parliament St.)

The administrative headquarters
The Canadian Opera Company's administrative offices at 227 Front St. E. in Toronto is situated in a group of factory and warehouse buildings that date from the 19th century. Now housing the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre, rehearsal space, administrative offices and workshops, The Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre occupies buildings that have their own fascinating history. The location is opposite Canada's First Parliament Site.
In 1885, the Consumers Gas Company acquired the land west of Trinity Street and south of Front Street to the railway tracks. The building that presently houses the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre (originally 251 Front St. E.) was built as the Consumers Gas Company's Purifying House No. 2 in 1887-1888 by the architects Strictland and Symens, who designed it in the style of an early Christian basilica. (It has been suggested that the special clerestory roof was built as a self-supporting structure and simply placed on top of the building so that any explosion would raise it without destroying the walls.) It has been designated as a historic building under the Ontario Heritage Act.
In 1954, with the introduction of natural gas, the Consumers Gas Company ceased to manufacture gas from the coal stockpiled at the Eastern Gap on Lake Ontario and sold its lands. The building at the southwest corner of Front and Berkeley streets passed through several hands until Dalton's, a manufacturer of foods and household goods, purchased it in 1967.
Standard Woollen Mills erected the building to the west (also designated as a historic building) in 1882. The architect was E.J. Lennox, a noted Toronto architect who designed Casa Loma and the City Hall buildings of 1899, located across Bay Street from Toronto's present City Hall. In 1893 an extension was joined to the woollen mill, and in 1897 a fourth floor was added to the building.
Dalton's was founded as a soap factory in London, Ontario, in 1834 and relocated to Toronto in 1871. By 1909 the company produced "spices, coffee, extracts, mustard, jelly and lemonade powders." In 1936, Dalton's purchased 227 Front Street East for its head office and main processing factories, and soon became famous for its maraschino cherries.
The Canadian Opera Company purchased both buildings in 1985 and embarked on an extensive program of gutting, restoration, renovation and reconfiguration. The complex of buildings was renovated at a cost of $10 million by Bregman + Hamann Architects and Arcop Associates, an architectural co-operative firm that is a veteran in the field of architectural design and renovation. Arcop's other renovation projects have included Toronto Free Theatre and Young People's Theatre. The firm has also designed the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Salle Wilfred Pelletier at Place des Arts in Montreal, Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Major funding was received from federal and provincial levels of government. A private capital fundraising campaign was successful in raising the remainder of the renovation costs with a substantial leading gift from Joey and Toby Tanenbaum.
Joey and Toby Tanenbaum are generous supporters of the Canadian Opera Company. In addition to their donation towards the restoration of the buildings, the mosaic in the box office lobby and the Max Tanenbaum Courtyard Gardens (behind the administrative offices) were also gifts of the Tanenbaums.
Phase I of the renovation of The Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre was devoted to the conversion of the old gas purifying house. The project was completed in November 1985, and now houses the 450-seat Imperial Oil Opera Theatre and facilities for rehearsal, coaching, workshops and receptions.
Phase II, the old woollen mill, was renovated as the administrative offices, box office, wig and make-up department, music library, archives, props workshop and costume workshop. The ribbon was cut to officially open the building on Dec. 2, 1987.


Founded in 1950, the COC recently moved to its new opera house across the street from Toronto City Hall. Prior to moving, the COC performed at the Sony Centre, which had been its home for 40 years.

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 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.

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.)

Box Office: 416-306-8231
The “Hottest” Ticket in Town
The COC produces seven fully staged opera productions and a series of 100 free concerts at the Four Seasons Centre. In addition, it presents operatic and orchestral concerts in venues throughout the city and collaborates with a number of arts organizations. In total, over 117,000 people attended COC mainstage performances, and the COC currently has more than 16,000 subscribers.

Fostering New Talent
The COC not only encourages the creation of new operatic works, it also fosters the training and development of young artists. The COC Ensemble Studio is Canada’s pre-eminent training program for young singers, directors and coaches. World recognized alumnae from this two to three year training program include Ben Heppner, Wendy Nielsen, Gidon Saks, John Fanning, and Isabel Bayrakdarian.

School Programs

Share in the excitement of opera! Through workshops and tours, in-school presentations and dress rehearsals, students can experience the magic of opera both in the classroom and in the theatre.

Grades K – 6
Xstrata Ensemble Studio School Tour
BMO Financial Group Student Dress Rehearsals
Create an Opera
Opera Storytime
Introduction to Opera Workshop
Tours

Grades 7 – 12
BMO Financial Group Student Dress Rehearsals
Living Opera Workshop
Create an Opera
Introduction to Opera Workshop
Tours

Programs for Educators
Teachers can enhance their learning experience with our programs for educators.

Creative Arts Learning Partnership: Bringing Opera to the Classroom
Opera Insights: Bringing Students to the Opera
Resources for Educators

For more information on any of our school programs, please call us at 416-306-2307, or send us an e-mail.