Monthly Archives: October 2015

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Mahler 10

Posted on October 24, 2015 by

I will put aside the question of the new Orchestre Métropolitain recording of Mahler’s 10th Symphony (Deryck Cooke version) for the moment, to talk about Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who conducts. Is Nézet-Séguin the most successful conductor Canada has ever produced? That … Continue reading →

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The erotic agonies of Armide 2.0

Posted on October 23, 2015 by

Opera Atelier opened their 30th anniversary season with their latest take on Lully’s 17th century masterpiece Armide. They’ve done the work before, the greatest opera you’ve never seen.  Perhaps it isn’t performed as frequently as it deserves, but it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 3 Comments

Embedded in Oshawa Opera

Posted on October 19, 2015 by

I spent an afternoon observing auditions for Oshawa Opera alongside Artistic Director Kristine Dandavino and Michael Robert-Broder.  For the AD, an extra set of eyes and ears offer additional perspectives.  Or as she herself said, she’s the one who makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | 2 Comments

Back to the Future, live with Toronto Symphony

Posted on October 18, 2015 by

“Great Scott! After thirty years we find ourselves being sent Back to the Future. This time the re-entry is in the concert hall…” So said composer Alan Silvestri in his program note for showings this weekend of Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology | 1 Comment

Enough tenors for now: COC 2015 Ensemble Studio Finalists

Posted on October 17, 2015 by

It should be no surprise that the eight finalists just announced for the the COC’s 2015 Ensemble Studio competition don’t contain any tenors in the group. No wonder, when last year the top three places in the competition went to tenors, … Continue reading →

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Tragic Canadians in Traviata

Posted on October 17, 2015 by

I had a second look at Arin Arbus’ production of Verdi’s La traviata for the Canadian Opera Company with a few cast changes. At the centre of this world is Joyce El-Khoury in the title role, opposite Andrew Haji as … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

10 questions for Peggy Kriha Dye: Armide

Posted on October 15, 2015 by

Soprano Peggy Kriha Dye has been one of the keys to Opera Atelier’s successes in Toronto, in the title roles of Armide (Toronto, Versailles, Glimmerglass Festival) and L’Incoronazione di Poppea, as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Ilia in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments