Tag Archives: Pelleas et Melisande

Composers dissing composers

Earlier today I commented on John Gilks’ post about The Lion Heart a new opera by Corey Arnold and Kyle McDonald that received its world premiere in a semi-staged production this past weekend. Near the end of his review John … Continue reading

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Oxymoronic Augmented Opera

I don’t use that word lightly, and it’s not an insult. Some operas are oxymoronic, rife with contradiction, asymptotic in their fascination with impossibilities. Maeterlinck’s play Pelléas et Mélisande is the creation of a playwright who cringed in the presence … Continue reading

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Questions for Bruno Roy

Time flies. It seems like it was only yesterday that baritone Bruno Roy was a finalist in Centre Stage, the 2015 Ensemble Studio competition. The new voice that we had never heard before? He is now about to make his … Continue reading

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The wit and wisdom of Eldritch Theatre’s Doctor Wuthergloom

Praetorius Wuthergloom is a 142 year-old widower, an itinerant mediciner of supernatural blight & exorcist–the titles he gives himself—whose most recent extravaganza ended tonight, alas, with the closing performance of his show at the Red Sandcastle Theatre. Be not afeared, … Continue reading

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AtG Pelléas et Mélisande

Against the Grain have done it again. Their outdoor production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande is highly original, illuminating the opera is several unforgettable ways.  Joel Ivany’s director’s note in the program says “Upon getting to know this opera, it … Continue reading

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Ideal Pelléas

It may be redundant to speak of an ideal Pelléas et Mélisande. The work is symbolist, which means it’s by definition a kind of ideal work. And notice I did not say “An” or “The” ideal Pelléas. It was “Ideal … Continue reading

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Perfecting Persée

This morning I wondered, hm will I have anything to say?  This is Opera Atelier’s third Persée this millennium.  And now I have so much to say that I’ll probably have to split it into at least two separate posts.  … Continue reading

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10 Questions for Joel Ivany

Joel Ivany’s career seems to be taking off.  His work with Against the Grain Theatre here in Toronto is impressive enough, but in addition he directed the recent World premiere of Gavin Bryars chamber opera Marilyn Forever with the Aventa … Continue reading

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Guggenheim’s Great Upheaval at the AGO

There’s a moment in Terry Gilliam’s Adventures of Baron Munchausen when Vulcan is pressing carbon into a diamond for his wife Venus, and of course she expresses her gratitude, a moment before handing the thing to a lady in waiting … Continue reading

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Ready for Prime Time: Savitri & Sam

Okay, maybe the headline tells you what show i am about to watch on TV, coming home from a (hint hint) Saturday night opera.   But i really mean it, they’re ready. Tonight I went to see a public presentation … Continue reading

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