Tag Archives: Eugene Onegin

Tanya’s Secret

Tanya’s Secret, a queer-trans Onegin, is a new adaptation of Eugene Onegin by Opéra Queens, that opened tonight at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. Let’s begin by remembering Tchaikovsky’s original: a piece full of beautiful melodies, a few wonderful arias, several … Continue reading

Posted in Books & Literature, Dance, theatre & musicals, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interviewing Mike Fan | 范祖铭 (they) aka Tanya Smania (she): probing Tatyana’s Secret

I’m intrigued by the upcoming production of Tanya’s Secret produced by Opera Queens, an adaptation of Eugene Onegin, a work that seems to invite questions. Mike Fan | 范祖铭 (they) aka Tanya Smania (she) is the artistic director and driving … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Interviews, Opera, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Closing matinée for Onegin

This afternoon’s late matinée at 4:30 pm was the final performance for Eugene Onegin in the Canadian Opera Company’s fall season. Weekend audiences can be a bit of a challenge especially in the afternoon. Oh sure, we’re all relaxed in … Continue reading

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Centre Stage 2018: a Night of Voices

There are several ways to watch the annual Centre Stage competition, when young singers vie for a series of awards while seeking places in the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio. You can watch & listen to the competitors, eight young … Continue reading

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

A closer look at Hadrian

Today was the closing performance of Hadrian, the new opera by Rufus Wainwright and Daniel MacIvor, presented by the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Centre. After tonight’s display of healthy nearly-naked male bodies in a homosexual love story, … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Opera, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pushing our buttons: Hadrian, Actéon, Pygmalion and erotic opera

Before there was pornography, there was always opera. Slavoj Zizek spoke of opera as redundant once we had psychiatrists, which is how he explains the decline in opera in the 20th century. But maybe there are other reasons opera wasn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Homecoming for Carsen’s Eugene Onegin

Better late than never, the Canadian Opera Company have premiered Robert Carsen’s Eugene Onegin, a production originally premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 1997. It’s a triumph of Canadian talent on all sides, from the sets & costumes by Michael … Continue reading

Posted in Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment