Category Archives: Opera

Sirett, Koniuk & Oriana: romance on the road

This weekend I went out of town to see a concert while processing this weekend’s great tempo rubato. Daylight Savings Time appropriates an hour from our lives that will only be given back half a year from now. I figured … Continue reading

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Questions for Victor Davies: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe

Victor Davies is a Canadian composer whose work I have previously encountered in Toronto productions. His adaptation of Wilde’s comedy (in partnership with librettist Eugene Benson), called Earnest, The Importance of Being came to Toronto Operetta Theatre in 2015 (originally … Continue reading

Posted in Interviews, Opera, Politics, University life | 1 Comment

Incendies, Scorched & the Seraglio

I’ve just seen Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar nominated film adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad’s play Incendies. I’m looking forward to seeing a translation of the play presented here in Toronto next week, titled Scorched. I couldn’t miss the parallels to what we … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Politics, University life | 3 Comments

Vanderdecken among the zombies: Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction

I had a second look & listen to Wajdi Mouawad’s Abduction from the Seraglio,  my second time coming in the closing performance of the run with the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. I wanted to reflect on what … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews, University life | 5 Comments

Questions for Geoffrey Sirett – The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring

Sometimes interviews are a pretext to get closer to someone you’ve admired for awhile, watching their development as an artist. Oh sure, I’m interviewing Geoffrey Sirett because he’s about to star in the Canadian Stage – Tapestry Opera—Vancouver Opera co-production … Continue reading

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Know Thyself, a lesson from Jane Archibald

Today I sat in a very good seat to hear Jane Archibald sing and she sang very well.  I am a very lucky guy. She doesn’t need my review to validate her (ha, but then does any artist?). This is … Continue reading

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Abduction via Mouawad

It’s another new Canadian Opera Company production where my first impulse is to credit the brass running the COC. But in a week when the big news for North American opera was the second artistic directorship undertaken by Alexander Neef, … Continue reading

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Rigoletto reboot

I like the Canadian Opera Company’s Rigoletto, directed by Christopher Alden, starring Roland Wood, Anna Christy and Stephen Costello. Everyone I’ve talked to enthuses about the singing. Ah but I like the production, and I say this, aware (via social … Continue reading

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Questions for Sara Schabas: Canadian premieres of two Jake Heggie operas

Canadian soprano Sara Schabas is the founder of the Electric Bond Opera Ensemble, a group that aims to present classical and operatic works that tell untold stories, reminding audiences and performers of the “electric bond of being” (Thomas Huxley) by … Continue reading

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Opera by Request—Salome

The concept is exactly as it sounds.  If you’re a singer wanting to do a role, Opera by Request is the place for you.  William Shookhoff is a busy man, the pianist & music director responsible for making those requests … Continue reading

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