The 'Quiet Luxury' of haute-contre Cyrille Dubois
In review: La traviata at the COC
ReviewLast night the Canadian Opera Company opened its new production of La traviata, and I was officially excited. La traviata is done often, but it's another thing to hear it done really well. I got my fix at the Four Seasons Centre with the first of two casts singing the 11 shows between now and November 6th.
Don't miss: Joyce El-Khoury in recital
NewsOn October 19th at noon, soprano Joyce El-Khoury is giving a recital at Classical 96.3 FM's The New Zoomer Studio in Liberty Village. Send an RSVP by email; the first 50 to respond will get two passes for the recital, followed by a gourmet lunch.
We don't have to starve: dreaming of an artistic middle class
EditorialThe starving artist. A cliché so played out it wouldn’t even deserve mentioning if it didn’t reflect the reality of so many. It’s generally agreed upon that since artists have the luxury of living their dreams, they’re signing up for a life of financial struggle. They knew life would be like this, and they chose it anyway.
Gems: Barbara Hannigan does comedy
HumourCanadian soprano, conductor, and general Renaissance woman Barbara Hannigan has been on my mind lately, largely because she's in Toronto Oct 7th and 8th to conduct and to sing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Hannigan's website has tons of video gems available to view, one of which stuck out as a must-share.
Aria guides: the Count's Aria
How-ToWe're continuing our new series of Aria Guides with more Mozart, this time for the men: baritones, it's your beloved Count's Aria from Le nozze di Figaro. Like all you aspiring Counts, I too love this aria to bits. It's got a recit that's both textbook and full of life. The aria is wild soliloquy, full of unnatural mood swings from a powerful man who realizes that he can't buy intelligence.
Aria guides: Deh vieni, non tardar
How-ToReaders, we've got a new treat for you! Welcome to our new series of posts that take you through popular arias of all voice types, step by step. We'll point out tips and tricks for making the learning process efficient, and try to answer as many FAQs about the repertoire as we can.
Spotlight on: Sara Schabas
InterviewCanadian soprano Sara Schabas has learned, in her still-young career, how much singing can mean to an audience. She knows that it takes more than technique to move listeners, and she knows that her work is valuable on stages of all sizes and shapes. Sara sings to give back, bringing music to patients in hospitals and care facilities through charities like Songs By Heart and Sharing Notes.
Look at all the new operas!
EditorialI came across this comprehensive list of operas written after World War II, compiled by French writer and critic Thierry Vagne. There are hundreds of operas listed by John Adams, Krzysztof Penderecki, Steve Reich, Harrison Birtwistle, Benjamin Britten, and way, way more that I'd bet you've never heard of.
Opera orchestras: robots, or out of the loop?
Op-edI've written before about the emotional rollercoaster caused by the arrival of the orchestra. In short: you, the singer/pianist/director/passionate stage manager, have spent weeks in music and staging rehearsals for a particular show, and you've no doubt grown close to the piece, and all your favourite moments in this particular production. For pianists, the way they play the score is informed by what they see being built up onstage; if it's an interesting rehearsal process, I'll probably play the score differently at the end of it than at the beginning, because I'll know more things about this story now.
Tapestry Opera's Selfie talks online bullying
NewsNext week, Tapestry Opera opens its new season with a workshop presentation of Selfie, a new opera with text by Julie Tepperman and music by Chris Thornborrow. Selfie was a part of Tapestry's Opera Briefs in past seasons, where Artistic Director Michael Mori says "it received the most support."