Kidon Choi
Squeezebox at Soundstreams
NewsMacerollo will also play one of over 200 works composed for him by R. Murray Schafer, the "surreal" La testa d'Adriana, with fab soprano Carla Huhtanen. "Dressed in a tattered tuxedo and top hat, he luresthe audience to his side show, the bodiless head of a woman saved at the instant before her death. She is awakened by his music and sings an aria of gurgles, trills, whispers, and pops before subsiding once again into her comatose state."
Spotlight on: James Westman
InterviewStratford-based baritone James Westman is one of Canada's leading stars, performing roles like the Conte de Luna (Il trovatore), Macbeth (Macbeth), Germont (La traviata), and Horace Tabor (The Ballad of Baby Doe) on the stages of the Canadian Opera Company, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Houston Grand Opera, English National Opera, Vancouver Opera, and many more. Busy schedule aside, James insists his work as a singer is easier than his growing up on a farm; he chats about advice for young singers, and the great roles still on his to-do list.
Spotlight on: Aidan Ferguson
Interview"Many people have told me along the way 'If you could see yourself doing something else, then go do it!' I have always felt a bit of frustration at that statement. I know that it comes from a place of wanting to warn young singers about the crazy journey that lies ahead. It is a crazy life, but there are many different things that I could be doing, but I am choosing this career right now. I believe this is what I am suppose to be doing."
Brian Finley's The Pencil Salesman
InterviewThis summer, Westben Arts Festival Theatre is presenting the premiere of Brian Finley's new opera, The Pencil Salesman. Finley is a pianist and composer, and he's also the Artistic and Managing Director of the Westben Theatre. The Pencil Salesman will be directed by Michael Mori, Artistic Director of Tapestry Opera, and the cast of singers includes John Fanning, Virginia Hatfield, Alexander Dobson, and Donna Bennett.
Aria Guides: Je veux vivre
EditorialThis is Juliette's first aria from Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, and she sings it after her nurse yet again brings up the fact that she has to get married to Paris. Juliette is young, and that can either mean she's giddy and excitable, or that she's nervous and insecure about things like arranged marriages and being only 13 or so. "Je veux vivre" is a hugely popular pick for audition packages; it's not too long, it shows off some coloratura, and it's a great opportunity to show polished acting chops.
8 contemporary roles to covet
EditorialAs we creep further into the 2010s, there exists enough new opera to take stock of the 21st-century roles deserving of our attention. Who are the Anne Trueloves, the Captain Veres, the Chiang Ch'ings of today? To help answer those great questions, we offer up 8 delicious roles from operas of this generation.
Alexander Neef: listening to music
InterviewOne of the best sets of ears in Toronto belongs to Alexander Neef, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company. He's an impressive source when it comes to classical music recordings, and until recently he had a wall-to-wall library of CDs collected over his lifetime. "I probably gave between 2500-3000 CDs to the COC, because I thought those recordings...I knew quite well all of them would be great for the [COC Ensemble Studio] to use."
Spotlight on: Michael Nyby
Interview"The singer must be a master of their own unique and peculiar instrument, an adept musician with an intricate understanding of rhythm, pitch, function, gesture, etc., functionally proficient in a handful of languages, and a capable dramatic actor. To top it off, the singer must be all of these things at once."
13 more pop singers with pipes: let's hear it for the boys
Usually, male musicians (by nature of being male) have an easier time (not that it's easy for anyone in this industry), however, in terms of pop singing males, I never hear people go on about their voices the way the do the ladies. Every. Single. One. of the ladies mentioned (and more - I'm looking at you Jessie J, Ella Fitzgerald, and Brittany Howard [of Alabama Shakes]) are phenoms of the first degree - but let's talk about (and maybe ogle) some of my favourites on the boys' team.
Learning: Opera Overtures with Kyra Millan
NewsSoprano and opera comedienne Kyra Millan returns to the Royal Conservatory of Music for their Opera Overtures course, each Monday night from 7-8:30pm, March 21 to April 18. Over five weeks, partipants will "learn about the history, the music, and the sublime and sublimely ridiculous elements that make opera so fabulous."