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Monthly Archives: May 2023
Tosca on my mind
Tosca is on my mind after the final performance yesterday. Several of Puccini’s melodies are having their way with me, stuck in my head. I’m not complaining. But I can’t stop thinking about the opera and the Canadian Opera Company’s … Continue reading
Apocryphonia: A Cabinet of Curiosities
There’s so much one can say about last night’s Apocryphonia concert “A Cabinet of Curiosities”, but I’ll try to keep it under control. I talked my head off with tenor Alexander Cappellazzo, who is the founder of Apocryphonia and the … Continue reading
Pete Davidson’s Bupkis
Pete Davidson’s new series Bupkis is in the twilight zone between reality tv and fiction. It’s a kind of fiction made from reality…? I’m not sure, perhaps I’m giving it too much credit. It feels original. And so we watch … Continue reading
Baroque Music from the Greatest Movies of All Time: Polina Osetinskaya, Virtuoso Pianist
VIRTUOSO PIANIST POLINA OSETINSKAYA LAUNCHES HER NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH A SOLO RECITAL DEBUT AT KOERNER HALL, SATURDAY JUNE 3 Baroque Music from the Greatest Movies of All Time“Clear and flawless articulation at every level, and an earnest demeanour.” – … Continue reading
Macbeth closing performance: women have it harder
Three weeks ago I reviewed the powerful opening night of the new Sir David McVicar production of Verdi’s Macbeth from the Canadian Opera Company. Today I came full circle watching the last show of the run including exciting changes in … Continue reading
Posted in Books & Literature, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews
Tagged Adam Luther, Canadian Opera Company, Charlotte Siegel, Elinor Ross, Four Seasons Centre, Giuseppe Verdi, Lady Macbeth, Louis Quilico, Macbeth, Matthew Cairns, Quinn Kelsey, Sir David McVicar, Speranza Scappucci, Tosca, Tracy Cantin
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SOLO Traviata in Burlington
Last night was the boldest step forward yet for Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (SOLO), performing a fully staged La Traviata before a rapturous sold-out audience at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC). I’ve been observing the artistic version of the … Continue reading
Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews
Tagged BPAC, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Corey Arnold, Daniela Agostino, Ernesto Ramirez, Giuseppe Verdi, James Westman, Karoline Podolak, La Traviata, Maria Callas, Michael Robert-Broder, Ryan Hofman, Sabatino Vacca, SOLO, Southern Ontario Lyric Opera
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Tosca delivers
The Canadian Opera Company’s revival of Paul Curran’s Tosca makes a perfect match with the new David McVicar Macbeth, both powerful explorations of the intersections of the personal with the political featuring terrific performances. I was struck by the similarities, … Continue reading
Posted in Personal ruminations & essays
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Opera by Request’s William Shookhoff
Aside from family William Shookhoff aka Bill aka “Shookie” is the person I’ve known longest of anyone I’ve mentioned on this blog. In fact I interviewed him back in 1976, for the University of Toronto’s student newspaper. And so forty-six … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews, Opera
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Gimeno Conducts Messiaen’s Epic Turangalila
Roy Thomson Hall was quite full tonight for the first of two Toronto Symphony concerts undertaking Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalila-Symphonie. But for such an event one wants a full house. The response from the audience was as rapturous as the music … Continue reading
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