History

Cultureland Opera Collective is dedicated to making contemporary opera more accessible while fostering cultural awareness and connection. The collective produces socially impactful operatic works and educational initiatives, with a focus on highlighting equity-deserving Middle Eastern cultures and communities.

In 2024, Cultureland premiered Echoes of Bi-Sotoon, an operatic production inspired by the ancient UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Bi-Sotoon in Iran. This multimedia work, created with music from seven emerging composers of diverse backgrounds, explored themes of peace and heritage preservation while bringing back to life old tales from Persia.

From 2025 to 2027, Cultureland serves as the first collective in residence with Tapestry Opera. This partnership provides access to space and resources, enabling the creation and presentation of new operas. As part of this residency, Cultureland produced Quest in spring 2025—an operatic performance celebrating cultural connection, community, and the power of art to inspire change.

In December 2025, Cultureland will present Dancing with Love in Seven Valleys of Attar, a chamber opera weaving Persian mystical poetry with contemporary operatic expression in 2 languages of Farsi and English. Through music, narration, and immersive art, this production reflects the journey of the soul through longing, discovery, and transformation.

Also in 2025, Cultureland launched the Cultureland Opera Club—a vibrant initiative designed to bring diverse audiences, particularly Middle Eastern and Farsi-speaking communities, closer to opera. Through post-show discussions, inclusive workshops, and curated outings to free or discounted performances, the Club fosters deeper understanding, appreciation, and cultural connection.

Looking ahead, Cultureland will continue developing The Refugees, a new opera based on Aeschylus’ Hikétides. Scheduled for its second full workshop in spring 2026, this English-language opera explores urgent contemporary issues of refugee rights and international humanitarianism.

Cultureland’s vision is made possible with the support of dedicated advisors and funding from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Arts Council.