Category Archives: Interviews

Talking to Stacey about fearing fear: Choose Joy

Posted on March 28, 2020 by

When you have a toothache you go to the dentist. When you’re feeling troubled in spirit where do you go? At times in my life I’ve gone to a psychotherapist or to a church for solace. Live theatre & concerts … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Food & Nutrition, Interviews, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Parenthood, poverty, Hansel & Gretel: a conversation with Joel Ivany

Posted on January 26, 2020 by

In a few days Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Against the Grain Theatre, will be premiering his new Hansel and Gretel at the Four Seasons Centre, in a Canadian Opera Company production. Singled out for last year’s Against the Grain … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions for Beste Kalender

Posted on December 18, 2019 by

Beste Kalender could tell you about the different pathways to success. One can be discovered in competitions, especially if one wins. You can be mentored by great singers. There’s even the Hollywood legend, the understudy going on as last minute … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions about Melancholiac: the Music of Scott Walker

Posted on November 28, 2019 by

Long ago I stumbled upon Scott Walker, via a cassette with the hand-written inscription The Godlike Genius of Scott Walker. I remember wondering: is this for real? What may have been at least part ironic self-mockery was upon closer inspection … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Music and musicology | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Amplified Opera: interviewing Teiya Kasahara and Aria Umezawa

Posted on September 26, 2019 by

I have huge admiration for the two artists behind Amplified Opera (aka AO), namely Aria Umezawa and Teiya Kasahara, a new opera company. Aria directed L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi in March. Teiya was larger than life singing in Pomegranate in … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Questions for Dahlia Katz

Posted on June 22, 2019 by

Dahlia Katz is the Artistic Director of Solar Stage, a director/dramaturg with a lifetime interest in puppets, and a photographer. If I exclude those who get written up in reviews (the actors-musicians-directors etc) Dahlia Katz may have appeared in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, University life | Leave a comment

Questions for John Abberger: 4th annual Bach Festival

Posted on May 3, 2019 by

John Abberger, one of North America’s leading performers on historical oboes, is a familiar face locally as the principal oboist with Tafelmusik (bio), often playing key solos in concerts as he did just last week. John is also Artistic Director … Continue reading →

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