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Share stories and observations in new podcast series

The multifaceted legacy of Louis Quilico (1925-2000), one of the leading operatic baritones of the 20th century, is captured in a new podcast series.

Speaking Personally: Louis Quilico in Conversation with Christina Petrowska Quilico is now available on Spotify.

The series of 23 unedited and unfiltered conversations, each approx. 35 minutes, was recorded with his wife, acclaimed pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., OOnt, FRSC, for their book, Mr. Rigoletto, In Conversation with Louis Quilico, published by Captus Books.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6eRBg8tLmLqSkishWBfRRc

More info: https://operawire.com/speaking-personally-louis-quilico-in-conversation-with-christina-petrowska-quilico-podcast-series-releases-on-spotify/

Canadian Opera Company: The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts: Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

145 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON

At the biennial Vocal Competition at the Canadian Opera Company, artists of the Canadian Opera Ensemble Studio compete in The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, administered by the Ontario Arts Foundation. Each artist will perform an aria of their own choosing and a second aria will be selected by the panel of judges. Awards will be presented at the end of the evening. Acclaimed pianist and educator, Christina Petrowska Quilico, widow of Louis Quilico created the competition to honour her husband's legacy and encourage young opera singers. Many of the award winners have gone on to sing at the Metropolitan Opera and other iconic opera houses, including Emily d'Angelo, Rita Chaieb, Gordon Binter among numerous others.

More info here: https://oafdn.ca/winners-of-the-2025-christina-and-louis-quilico-awards-vocal-competition/

Winners of the 2023 Christina and Louis Quilico Awards Vocal Competition Announced Toronto – February 7, 2023 – On Monday, February 6th, the rising stars of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals, competed in the sixth biennial Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, with Midori Marsh claiming the first prize of $6,000. Ariane Cossette won the second prize of $3,500 and Alex Hetherington won the third prize of $2,500. Career development awards of $1,000 each were also presented to Alex Halliday, Queen Hezumuryango and Charlotte Siegel in recognition of the awards’ 20th anniversary. The event took place at the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. (l-r) Christina Quilico, Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Ontario Arts Foundation Executive Director Bruce Bennett, Second Prize Winner Ariane Cossette, Third Prize Winner Alex Hetherington, First Prize Winner Midori Marsh, COC General Director Perryn Leech, Steven Philcox and Carolyn Sproule. Photo: Karen E. Reeves The competition was adjudicated by a panel composed of Perryn Leech, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company, Steven Philcox, Canadian collaborative pianist, and Carolyn Sproule, Canadian mezzo-soprano. The young artists featured in the February 6th competition sang one aria of their choice and one aria selected by the panel. About Midori Marsh Midori Marsh, Photo: Karen E. Reeves Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Midori Marsh completed her Master of Music in opera at the University of Toronto. In the COC’s 2021-2022 season, she was seen as Nella in Gianni Schicchi, the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, Annina in La Traviata and Papagena in The Magic Flute, a performance for which she earned a 2022 Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination. Marsh will next appear on the COC’s mainstage as Third Apparition in the company’s 2023 production of Macbeth. Past engagements include Norina in Don Pasquale (Under the Spire Festival), Sarah Thorpe in No One’s Safe, and Johan’s Mother in Silent Light (Banff Centre); Frasquita in Carmen (Waterloo Symphony); Arminda in La finta giardiniera, Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park (U of T Opera); Annina in La Traviata (Cambridge Symphony Orchestra). In 2019, she took home both the First Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Competition. About the COC Ensemble Studio The COC Ensemble Studio is an innovative artist development program for emerging Canadian opera professionals. The company’s uniquely collaborative approach blends advanced study and practical experience through a multi-year program that’s individually tailored for each member. Artists receive intensive vocal coaching; language, movement and acting studies; as well as private masterclasses with renowned opera professionals. Members of the Ensemble Studio are the COC’s resident artists and important community ambassadors for the company. Through performances and collaborations with local schools and organizations, Ensemble members are often the first point of contact with opera for many; their ongoing participation in this area is integral to creating inclusive and welcoming opportunities for more people to engage with the art form. Since 1980, nearly 230 young professional Canadian singers and pianists have acquired foundational opera experience through the Ensemble Studio. Former members include Ben Heppner, Krisztina Szabó, Gordon Bintner, Ambur Braid, Miriam Khalil, and Wallis Giunta, and David Pomeroy.About the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards Christina Petrowska Quilico, C.M., OOnt, FRSC, established the Christina and Louis Quilico Fund in 2000 to honour her late husband, renowned baritone Louis Quilico, and to recognize outstanding young singers. During his 45 years on the stage, Louis Quilico shared performing credits with Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Joan Sutherland, and Renata Tebaldi. He was instrumental in furthering the careers of many young singers through his teaching and master classes. The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards.