From Italian opera to Broadway: Opera Laurier opens its season with Bravissimo and Broadway

Nov. 10, 2026
For Immediate Release

Opera Laurier opens its season this week with "Bravissimo and Broadway!", a charming and surprising program of opera and musical theatre excerpts. Performances take place Nov. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall on Wilfrid Laurier University's Waterloo campus. The production features voice and piano students in Laurier’s Faculty of Music, under the musical direction of Kate Carver and stage direction of Anthony Rodrigues.

“This program offers a feast of storytelling, pairing two musical traditions that may seem an unlikely combination, but share a rich history of bringing characters and stories to life,” said Kate Carver, Opera Laurier director. “It offers students valuable opportunities to develop their communication, musical style, stagecraft and teamwork.”

This year’s program brings together two musical traditions, with selections from Italian opera and Broadway musical theatre sharing the spotlight. The opera excerpts, performed in Italian, span centuries of storytelling, from the earliest works of Claudio Monteverdi to music by Nino Rota, best known for composing the film score for The Godfather. Equally central to the program are musical theatre selections that celebrate Broadway’s Golden Age through to contemporary works by Adam Guettel. Together, these selections showcase the range of musical styles, characters and storytelling that students explore through Opera Laurier.

Through their work on “Bravissimo and Broadway!” students are exploring the linguistic and stylistic nuances of Italian opera and developing the storytelling and scene work skills of musical theatre. Students also gain hands-on experience behind the scenes, contributing to props, costumes, sets, publicity and surtitles under the guidance of professional staff.

Performance details

"Bravissimo and Broadway!" takes place Nov. 13 and 14, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in the Maureen Forrester Recital Hall on Laurier's Waterloo campus. Tickets are available on EventBrite. Admission is free for all post-secondary and high school students and those under 18, $35 for adults, and $28 for seniors.