San Diego Opera's 60th Anniversary La bohème sees Mimì as a ghost
Art is not action
EditorialIf you seek change, do more: engage, vote, donate and work for your political party, protest, write petitions, run for office, do not take money from dubious sources out of alleged necessity and do not support or enlist those artists who do. It is our duty, as artists, and as citizens, the be a part of the process.
Don't miss: Ayre
NewsWe first heard Khalil perform Ayre at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and it completely shattered any expectations we had of Golijov's music, or of Khalil's range of vocal colour. It feels ancient, reverent, and like the sound of city buskers; it feels like a catchy tune you've heard before, and something intangible.
Why we must keep on keepin' on
EditorialWhat I'm really angry about is the fact that today, the stuff I love seems laughably irrelevant. Today, who cares about opera? Who cares about the struggles of young artists? Who cares about how the audition system can be humbling, or about protesters outside of Los Angeles Opera?
The 4th annual Elizabeth Krehm Memorial Concert for St. Michael's Hospital
NewsThe program this year features Rachel Krehm herself, violinists Yosuke Kawasaki and Jessica Linnebach, and Evan Mitchell, music director of the Kingston Symphony and the Canzona Chamber Players Orchestra. They will be presenting a full program of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, selected songs and arias by Mozart, Dvořák, and Strauss, and a performance of Beethoven's classic, Symphony no. 3 "Eroica".
Don't miss: The Art Song of Healey Willan
NewsContinuing their history of performance and research of Canadian composers, the Canadian Art Song Project has transcribed and edited several of Willan's songs, previously available only in manuscript in the national archives in Ottawa; the programme also includes songs that have been out of publication for over 10 years.
Kevin Puts: "I know who I am as a composer."
Interview"I begin with the libretto and I try not to overthink things. If there is a particularly powerful moment a few scenes down the road in the libretto, I will spend very little time looking at it in advance. I want to experience a fresh excitement when I arrive there, because this will lead to more inspired music and will translate well to what the audience might feel."
Artists to watch: Teng Li
Interview"As a soloist, I have more license to share my independent voice and vision for the piece. As principal violist in the orchestra, I get to support the vision of the conductor by leading my section to perform as one voice. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to wear different hats in my career, as a soloist, chamber musician and as an orchestral musician."
In review: Erwartung/Twice Through the Heart
ReviewErwartung and Twice Through the Heart both hurl listeners directly into the action. We are presented with questions: are these women killers? Are they crazy? Are they liars? Are their memories to be trusted? Sitting above the immediate curiosity with these women are larger questions about how women in particular are pushed to violence.
Don't miss: Waltz Rivals
NewsIt promises to be a lovely Sunday afternoon here in the T-dot, so if you're looking for some beautiful music and beautiful people (myself excluded, #selfdeprecationischarmingright), stop on by. The show is about 75% sold out but there are still some great seats left, since there isn't a bad seat to be found in the beautifully restored Jane Mallett Theatre.
Talking with singers: Gyula Nagy
InterviewHe takes seriously the artistic work he does as a singer, yet the come-what-may attitude that Nagy has about his pursuit of singing is one of his biggest advantages. "If I hadn't gotten this [position at the ROH], then probably I would have gone on auditioning on my own," he says of the Jette Parker programme's influence on his career. "I would have managed somehow. It would have been really different, but there would have been another way."