Category Archives: Opera

Unprepared for Parḗlios

My review of Parḗlios? The headline says it. I was in the lobby at Theatre Passe Muraille early Sunday in anticipation of the closing performance of Parḗlios when I ran into Jennifer Nichols, who directed & choreographed the show, the … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Multidimensional Michael Patrick Albano: an interview

Michael Patrick Albano is Associate Professor Emeritus with the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, where you can see his bio and this photo: but that only tells you part of the story. Michael is resident Stage Director of the … Continue reading

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

Five composers in two days? If it’s Sunday it must be bel canto romance

I feel like an operatic sausage. I’m stuffed a lot into this post, having jammed too much opera into my head in a brief period of time. Talk about contrast! Saturday was the closing performance of the Lepage Bluebeard-Erwartung double … Continue reading

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

Interviewing Don Giovanni’s women

On May 22nd the new Benevolence Opera Project, who present opera both as entertainment and as a platform for social engagement collaborate with Redwood Theatre to present Don Giovanni in a benefit supporting Redwood Women’s Shelter. I asked Holly Chaplin … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Witnessing the birth of romanticism with young Werther

Excuse me as I gush. I love the new Canadian Opera Company production of Werther, featuring some of the best singing we’ve heard in years. I want people to come see this opera, so that the COC decides to do … Continue reading

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ernesto Ramirez’s reflections on singing, preparing for his upcoming concert: an interview with a great singer

I am a big fan of Ernesto Ramirez and his beautiful tenor voice. I’ve seen him sing several times. The voice has a memorable sound, indeed the ideal colour for the Italian bel canto repertoire. He is a singer of … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The ambiguous virtuosity of La Maupin

La Maupin is the title of a new opera produced on film concerning a mythological person of ambiguous gender who may have existed. The historical figure is so interesting, you’d have to invent someone like this if she were not … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Benevolence Opera Project & Redwood Theatre Present Don Giovanni Benefit Supporting Redwood Women’s Shelter

Benevolence Opera Project & Redwood Theatre Present Don Giovanni A One-Night-Only Opera Event Supporting the Redwood Women’s Shelter, Toronto. Benevolence Opera Project and Redwood Theatre are proud to present a special, one-night-only one-of-a-kind performance of Don Giovanni, featuring Canadian Baritone … Continue reading

Posted in Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Opera Atelier present their new Pelléas et Mélisande

Wednesday night saw the premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande in a new orchestration by Christopher Bagan, conducted by David Fallis at Koerner Hall. Opera Atelier commissioned Bagan to reduce the scope of Debussy’s opera from a post-Wagnerian orchestra (70 + … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anticipating David James Brock’s upcoming Room of Keys: an interview

Room of Keys is David James Brock’s one act play, created with Adam Sherkin of Piano Lunaire, inspired by Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle (1918). It’s natural that a mysterious symbolist play invites exploration. As with the piano paraphrases of La … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, Music and musicology, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment