Tonight (it’s quasi-weekend) I’m going to Koerner Hall to hear Isabel Bayrakdarian sing with Tafelmusik. The programme is titled Rival Queens, and I’m pretty excited about it. It’s inspired by that famous 18th-century operatic feud between superstars Faustina Bordoni and Francesca Cuzzoni.

Isabel will sing arias by Handel, etc., that Faustina made famous, and arias (also by Handel, etc.) that were written specifically for Francesca. “a catfight on stage isn’t that far-fetched after all.” Isabel Bayrakdarian: One woman embodies two divas. This should be fun. Rival Queens has performances until Sunday, April 13th; for ticket info, click here.

And on Friday night, I’m going to the opera. Fawn Opera & New Music is presenting a preview of their next new piece, currently in development; it’s called L’homme et le ciel, with music by Adam Scime and libretto by Ian Koiter. The preview will features singers Giovanni Spanu, Adanya Dunn, and Larissa Koniuk (of Bicycle Opera), and the Thin Edge New Music Collective. Brady Bothwell’s multi-media set incorporates responsive digital art, something that sounds intriguing indeed. It’s conducted by Patrick Murray and directed by Amanda Smith, and it’s all happening at the Ernest Balmer Studio (home of Tapestry New Opera Works) Friday at 8pm. It’s PYWC, with donations going towards creating new Canadian music and opera.

What are YOU seeing this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!