In review: The Barber of Seville at ROH

Review

In theory, having a cast of big, hall-filling voices can seem like a pointless exercise (a futile precaution?), when the whole opera is designed to clear the way for easy, flexible, and funny singing. Yet this cast was a complete win from top to bottom; as they each sang their first notes of the evening, we were struck (and satisfied) with how these rich, go-big-or-go-home voices managed everything from dizzying coloratura to cackling comedy.

Practicing spontaneity: be like Hillary & not like Donald

Op-ed

Isn't it possible, though, that you've taken all the fun out of it both for yourself and the audience? If you're running to a plan, there is no room for whimsy or spontaneity, for some little piece of improvisation that might turn a good performance into one which is delightful and memorable.

#FreeTheKnee Part 2: "You have better choices."

How-to

Rather than recap, we decided to use our photoshoot to create a "lookbook" to serve as inspiration to empower the operatic community to make choices that serve your artistry.

Opera in concert: uncluttered or uninteresting?

Editorial

If an opera truly is a great work of drama and music, does that mean it's less likely to translate well without sets or costumes? If the drama and music are wonderfully combined, does an in-concert performance mess up a composer's delicate balance? If a great opera feels like it's going on for days, how much fault lies in our dwindling contemporary attention spans?

Spotlight on: Chelsea Rus

Interview

"Of course I have had moments of doubt (and I have tried to imagine my life as a lawyer), but the bottom line is that I am an addict. I will always itch to sing and perform, and I will never feel like myself doing anything else."

Wells Fargo isn't anti-arts, everyone

Editorial

Can't we place this ad - perhaps poorly worded as it was - next to all the stories about how universities take too many arts students for the number of job opportunities, about getting suckered into too many pay-to-sing summer programs, and all the times that passionate artists finally stepped back from the pressure of making their passion their livelihood?

Mysterious Barricades: Cross-Canada concerts for hope

News

Led by President and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Turnbull, Mysterious Barricades is named after a favourite piece of music of her late husband, Chris', who sadly took his own life last year. The organization has organized an incredible 18-hour series of concerts happening across Canada, starting at sunrise in St. John's, NL, and ending at sunset in Victoria, BC.

Talking with singers: Daniela Mack

Interview

"One of the big motivators for me will be setting an example for her so that she will also be able to follow whatever her passion is, and to show her that that's a possibility."

Talking with singers: Keri Alkema

Interview

"I was really hoping my voice was going to drop so I could sing the big Verdi mezzo girls," Alkema remembers. But instead, the natural change in her voice led her to higher rep. "I kind of walked into that in a natural way."

Trousers on TV: 4 animated pants roles

Humour

But who are the cartoon pants roles (and skirt roles) of more recent years? And how does a casting choice affect how we react to a character? We tracked down four of our favourite 21st-century cartoon characters, who all take a cue from opera's tradition.