Tag Archives: madama butterfly

Question marks about the COC’s winter & spring season

I’ve seen some disgruntled responses in social media to the announcement of the Canadian Opera Company offerings for early 2022. The COC are offering nine performances of Madama Butterfly in February, then seven shows each of La Traviata & Magic … Continue reading

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Beethoven 250: recalling Brian Macdonald’s Diabelli Variations

As I reminisce about a piece choreographed by Brian Macdonald I hope I can be forgiven for seguing into remembrance of the man, who is known for many things. You probably saw one of the musicals he directed at Stratford, … Continue reading

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Keri Alkema: A Journey of Transformation

Today’s noon-hour recital at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre aka the foyer of the Four Seasons Centre was unlike any we’ve seen before. Readers of this blog may recall that I’ve expressed my admiration for Keri Alkema in my reviews of … Continue reading

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10 Questions for Kelly Kaduce

I had the good luck to see Rusalka in Montreal in November 2011, starring Kelly Kaduce. In my review I said First and foremost, the production leans happily on soprano Kelly Kaduce, whose voice is always pleasant & in tune, … Continue reading

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Contrasting Butterflies

Classrooms can be amazing places for discovery, especially for the teacher.  Sometimes we can’t anticipate what develops right in front of us. Not long ago I showed two contrasting DVD versions of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly to my opera class. Having … Continue reading

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Bed and Breakfast

While the audience for Puppetmongers’ Bed & Breakfast includes children, the play contains plenty of adult laughs of which the kids are blissfully unaware.  Originally a one-person show written by and for Ann Powell (if it’s accurate to call something … Continue reading

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