Playbill Arts

It comes as a surprise to realize that Canada has never had a purpose-built opera house before. At long last, in 2006, it does — and the Canadian Opera Company is proud of its new home. The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto officially opened back in June with a few gala performances, then went on summer hiatus. (No doubt some fine-tuning of the facilities went on.) The $135 million Four Seasons Centre, which took about three years to build, includes the R. Fraser Elliott Hall, a 2,043-seat auditorium; the Jackman Lounge, an event space; the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre (named for the company's longtime music director), an indoor space (remember, this is Canada) for free performances and lectures; a clear glass façade facing Queen Street; and a three-story glass staircase suspended from the ceiling. Architect Jack Diamond created the clean modern design, and the acoustics, widely praised so far (not least for being so well insulated from the subway below the building), are by Robert Essert and Sound Space Design.