#Roundup2016: Greg & Jenna's Top 10

Editorial

"I totally loved interviewing baritone Sidney Outlaw. He has a peace and wisdom about him that translates into his work. He answers every tough question about the industry with some form of "take it to the practice room." He was easy to talk with, and funny enough to make me wish we could have done a podcast out of it."

Don't miss: The Pirates of Penzance with TOT

Interview

"Pirates is part love story, part silly romp which pokes fun at everything ranging from love, youth, getting old, authority to politics."

What I learned about money from Enrico Caruso

Op-ed

The voice in my head wants me to be a brilliant actor, an incredible singer, the best blogger, a life changing financial planner, and everyone's favourite friend. I want all the things. You see… I'm not the kind of guy who can do just 'one thing'. I like having multiple focuses… focusi? And so I'm constantly in conflict with my want to do all of things, and my want to be great at all those things. The smaller the focus, the larger the voice.

Artistic success: pay it forward

This field is small, it is competitive. I understand the urge to protect your job(s) and hold onto employment you’ve worked hard to get. This is a deeply rooted urge, grown from the subconscious fears that "I am not good enough" and "Maybe this other person could do it better". In some people, this manifests into a refusal to help others up the ladder, an inability to send the elevator down for someone perceived as a threat.

Talking with singers: Jessica Pratt

Interview

"It is our diversity that makes for a healthy industry. I prefer to think of us all contributing in our own way, rather than all competing, which seems like such a limiting view to me. The only competition that I feel constantly is competition with myself, to try overtime to improve something in my performance or my technique."

Risky opinions: there are 2 types of singers...

Editorial

To be fair: maybe these singers can do subtle, and we just didn't get the chance to see it (and most of the above examples come from an arguably different era of directing opera). But they're still quite different from singers like Diana Damrau, Christopher Purves, Krisztina Szabó, Barbara Hannigan, Alice Coote, and Allan Clayton. These guys are versatile, and they really do pair their beautiful sounds with mature, layered dramatic performances that feel organic and believable, rather than hokey and overdone.

A call for Honest Bios™

Humour

Sometimes, readers, after a long day of scouring information on opera singers, we start to bemoan the fact that their bios don't really tell us anything about them. If any of you know an opera singer personally, go read their professional bio right now. Who is that person? They seem busy, but it's not clear why anyone should go and hear them sing.

FAWN announces composers for next stage of Synesthesia IV

News

"I feel very lucky to realize new music in this collaborative way," says MacArthur. "I love the music, the tension and the excitement of a FAWN show. When I perform with FAWN, I can lose myself in the performance and feel new sounds. It's such a rush!"

Talking with singers: Daniel Okulitch

Interview

"Canada is small enough that when someone shows an interest in classical music, there is a community that will claim you and help you. As such, I believe we are able to find and produce large numbers of exceptional musicians, disproportionate to our population. We're smaller than California, but produce more classical singers who have international careers. Figure that one out."

Hvorostovsky to take a "pause in my operatic career".

News

After the discovery of a brain tumor in 2015, and taking a break to deal with his health last summer, he returned to the opera and recital stage to great reviews. Anthony Tommasini from the Times noted from Hvorostovsky's appearance in Il Trovotore at the Metropolitan Opera that his "resplendent voice, with its distinctive mellow character and dusky veneer, sounded not at all compromised."