Toronto Star

Architects Diamond & Schmitt

In its own way, Toronto's new opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts sums up this city. It is a good facility but not grand, functional rather than flamboyant, much too modest to be marvellous. It does the job, but little more. Though it wants to be remarkable, it settles for less. Despite having been designed for opera, it isn't operatic; it's more recitative than aria, competent rather than exciting. At least Le Corbusier would have approved; here, finally, is a machine for performing opera. Indeed, it might well be the first facility of its kind designed more by acousticians (Soundspace Design) and theatre planners (Fisher Dachs Associates) than architects (Diamond & Schmitt). The consultants seem to have been in control of most of the big decisions, especially those concerning the hall. The acoustics have been praised to the skies, but mostly by people who have yet to hear a note either played or sung in the hall.