On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presented the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor. The opera recounts the epic love story of Roman Emperor Hadrian and his young lover, Antinous. Erased by history, their story is reclaimed for the 21st century by its creators in a star-studded production from renowned Canadian director Peter Hinton. Hadrian ran for seven performances through October 27, 2018.

The opera explores the life of the aging and ailing Roman emperor, Hadrian, as matters of the heart stubbornly eclipse pressing matters of the state. Hadrian remains steeped in grief, unable to move past the death of charismatic Antinous at the height of their all-consuming relationship. Time and memory bleed into love and loss as Hadrian is given a unique opportunity to discover just how Antinous met his untimely end.

It was an extraordinary undertaking by Wainwright (Eds note: We are HUGE fans) and the result was visually spectacular. The formidable cast of international talent included two opera legends making highly anticipated company debuts: American baritone Thomas Hampson in the title role and Finnish soprano Karita Mattila as the former empress Plotina. 

However, Opera critics are not particularly known for welcoming upstarts like Wainwright and were hard to please.  The Globe and Mail  “he seems to value grand for the sake of grand, long for the sake of long” whilst the  Anthony Tommasini, NY Times wrote  it is an exasperating opera, all the more so because whole stretches of Mr. Wainwright’s music are beguiling, inventive and unabashedly romantic

More info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian_(opera)

: