Tag Archives: Canadian Opera Company

Whither Canadian Opera Company: after Neef

Posted on June 11, 2020 by

Did you know? The first ever Monty Python episode was titled Whither Canada. I suspect it’s a title meant to invoke the sort of bland but innocent British documentary we see here in Canada as “Hinterland Who’s Who” or “Heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Sports | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Not #MeToo

Posted on February 14, 2020 by

I’m upset. It’s not that I’m having a bad day. I just keep hearing news that’s upsetting. Two very different women I knew, each an avatar of female strength, have passed away. I met each of them, knew them very … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, University life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#COCgingerbread: Joel Ivany softens a Grimm tale of cruelty

Posted on February 9, 2020 by

It’s called “Hansel and Gretel”, not “kill the witch”. And in the original the witch isn’t even the nastiest character. You may already know that the new Canadian Opera Company production of Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel modernizes the setting to … Continue reading →

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TBA

Posted on February 7, 2020 by

On Monday February 10th the Canadian Opera Company will tell us what they’re producing next season aka  their “Season Reveal” aka #2021COC.  It’s a celebratory moment, and can feel a bit like Christmas morning as we unpack the goodies, for those of … Continue reading →

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Make-believe Hansel and Gretel

Posted on February 7, 2020 by

Oh to be a child again. I saw the opening night of the Canadian Opera Company’s new Hansel and Gretel tonight before a delighted sell-out crowd at the Four Seasons Centre. While there were children present both in the show … Continue reading →

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Scappucci’s show: a Better Barber

Posted on January 20, 2020 by

The Canadian Opera Company have revived their production of Rossini’s Barber of Seville.  We saw it in 2015, a creation of the Spanish theatre troupe Els Comediants led by the team of director Joan Font & set/costume designer Joan Guillén. … Continue reading →

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Met HD Wozzeck

Posted on January 13, 2020 by

They say it’s a co-production, this new Wozzeck that was broadcast in High Definition this past weekend from the Metropolitan Opera: “A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera; Salzburg Festival; the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto; and Opera Australia.” The co-pro of … Continue reading →

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Met HD Akhnaten

Posted on November 24, 2019 by

Yesterday I watched Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten as presented in the Metropolitan Opera’s High Definition broadcast on a big screen in Scarborough, at the same time people were watching it in many places around the world. I wish the Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Rusalka: and now for something completely different

Posted on October 13, 2019 by

Tonight the Canadian Opera Company premiered their take on the recent Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Dvořák’s Rusalka directed by Sir David McVicar. It stands in rather stark contrast to the other current COC production, Puccini’s Turandot¸ whose mise-en-scene … Continue reading →

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Robert Wilson and Turandot

Posted on September 8, 2019 by

I’ve been reading a bit about Robert Wilson in anticipation of the new Canadian Opera Company Turandot that is to launch the 2019-2020 season at the Four Seasons Centre, a co-production with Teatro Real & Lithuanian National Opera. Online pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, theatre & musicals, Essays, Music and musicology, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment