Four Seasons Centre facts for kids
Four Seasons Centre seen from University Avenue with sun shades covering its glazed facade
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| Address | 145 Queen Street West Toronto, Ontario M5H 4G1 |
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| Coordinates | 43°39′02″N 79°23′08″W / 43.65056°N 79.38556°W |
| Owner | Canadian Opera House Corporation |
| Type | Opera house |
| Capacity | 2,071 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 14 June 2006 |
| Architect | Diamond+Schmitt |
| Tenants | |
| Canadian Opera Company National Ballet of Canada |
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The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is a large theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has 2,071 seats. You can find it at the corner of University Avenue and Queen Street West. The land for the building was a gift from the Government of Ontario. This centre is the home of the Canadian Opera Company (COC) and the National Ballet of Canada. The building has a modern design. It was created by a Canadian company called Diamond Schmitt Architects. The centre was finished in 2006. It even has a cool glass staircase inside!
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History of the Centre
In the 1980s, the Canadian Opera Company wanted a new building. Their old home, the O'Keefe Centre, had been used for about 40 years. Before that, the opera company performed in other Toronto theatres.
Early Plans for a New Home
In 1984, the leader of Ontario, Bill Davis, said a new opera house would be built. It was planned for a piece of land at Bay Street and Wellesley Street. This land was worth a lot of money.
A design competition was held. A modern design by Moshe Safdie won. In 1988, the project was approved. Old buildings on the site were torn down.
However, a new government took over in 1990. They faced a big money problem. The planned theatre project was very expensive. The government also had to deal with the high cost of the SkyDome project. Because of the high costs, the government stopped funding the theatre. In 1992, the project was cancelled. The land was then sold to other builders.
Finding a Home on University Avenue
In 1997, the government offered a new location. It was a parking lot at Queen and University. This land was also very valuable. The federal and provincial governments promised money for a new, smaller project.
The first plan included a tall tower of offices and homes. This tower would help pay for the theatre. But some of the main donors and builders changed their minds. Also, the city of Toronto would not give any money. So, this project also stopped in 2000.
In 2002, the opera company tried again. They got a big donation from the Four Seasons hotel chain. In return, the building would be named the Four Seasons Centre forever. Ten different architecture companies showed their designs. The modern design by Diamond Schmitt Architects was chosen.
The building took three years to build. It cost about $181 million. To make it easy for everyone to use, an elevator was added. This elevator connects the centre to the Osgoode subway station. The Four Seasons Centre officially opened on June 14, 2006. Regular shows started on September 12, 2006. The first big show was an opera called Der Ring des Nibelungen. Important people like Governor General Michaëlle Jean attended the opening.
R. Fraser Elliott Hall Design
The main performance hall is called the R. Fraser Elliott Hall. It has five levels of seating. The design is like old European opera houses. The goal was to make sure all 2,000 seats were close to the stage. Everyone also needed a clear view.
The sound in the hall was carefully designed. The wavy back walls help spread the sound evenly. This means almost all the sound heard by the audience comes from the stage. To keep out noise from outside, the theatre sits on 489 special rubber pads. These pads stop sounds and shakes from traffic, the subway, and even sirens.
Outside the Building
The Four Seasons Centre was built without a huge budget. It uses different materials. The glass walls of the "City Room" face University Avenue and Queen Street. They let light shine onto the street. The other sides of the building are covered in dark brick. The north side has windows that look out to Osgoode Hall.
The architect, Jack Diamond, said that a city is not made of "iconic pieces." He meant that buildings should fit together.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre
The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is inside the City Room. It connects different levels of the building. This space can seat 100 people. Many free concerts are held here each week. They feature different types of music.
Shows and Performances
The Canadian Opera Company performs many operas here. They also put on new or less common works. Some examples include:
- 2006: R. Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (first time in Canada)
- 2007: Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
- 2012: Kaija Saariaho: Love from Afar
- 2018: Rufus Wainwright: Hadrian
Other companies also bring shows to the Four Seasons Centre. Dancap Productions has presented musicals like:
- 2010: Miss Saigon
- 2010: South Pacific
- 2011: Next to Normal
See also
In Spanish: Four Seasons Centre para niños Other places to see shows in Toronto include:
- Budweiser Stage
- Massey Hall
- Meridian Arts Centre
- Meridian Hall
- Roy Thomson Hall
