Kidon Choi
Back to school opera: a practical glossary
EditorialThe summer winds down, and school and other seasonal activities (like opera!) are soon back in session. In anticipation of a brand new season of opera-going, I figured a practical crash-course was in order.
4 Opera scenes that should have happened
HumourAbove: Suzuki gets real with Cio-Cio San, just like we all wished she would (Not actually.) Ever watch an opera and think, "I wonder if those two characters would be friends"? Seems odd, maybe; I've always done it with TV and film characters, and when I got into opera, the trend continued. Like, I used to think about whether or not the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow would all be friends if Dorothy weren't in the picture. Or in The Little Mermaid, what it would be like for Eric to hang out with Sebastian.
In review: Dissociative Me
ReviewI walked into RED Nightclub to catch LooseTea Music Theatre's latest offering, "Dissociative Me". A new transladaptation of Gounod's Faust, in which we find the devious relationship with the malevolent spirit Mephistopheles has evolved into a dissociative personality disorder, where he inhabits the other part of John Faustus's psyche.
Mark Morris: "Clarity."
InterviewAmerican choreographer, dancer, director and conductor Mark Morris is one of those people that's difficult to introduce. He has worked with the likes of Peter Sellars, Yo-Yo Ma, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and has a firm hand in dance and opera today. His company, the Mark Morris Dance Group, is a tight group of dancers, designers, and musicians, and they travel across the globe, presenting an average of 90 shows a year.
In review: Obeah Opera
ReviewFriday, August 7th, 2015. This is the day I finally understood why the human race began singing and dancing in the first place. I don't know how or why it started, but I was reminded of how blessed we are by its presence in our lives.
Schmopera takes a breather
NewsA quick heads-up, readers: for the month of August, Schmopera will be changing pace. We'll go from our usual peppy allegro to more of an larghetto, as we take, #waitforit, a vacation!
Spotlight on: Keith Lam
InterviewKeith Lam and I met in the way that many, many opera-loving Canadians meet: at Opera NUOVA. The Hong Kong-born, Toronto-based baritone is a member of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, and he has sung with the excellent Canadian Opera Company Chorus. As a soloist, Keith has lit up stages with Against the Grain Theatre, The Banff Centre, Aspen Opera Theater, and he wrote me recently mid-rehearsals for Le nozze di Figaro at Highlands Opera Studio.
Check out: Loose TEA Music Theatre
InterviewLoose TEA Music Theatre is heading into its third season, currently in rehearsals for its upcoming production, Dissociative Me, which runs August 18-22nd at RED Night Club in Toronto. The show is an adaptation of Gounod's Faust, with a new libretto by Loose TEA's Artistic Director Alaina Viau and General Manager Markus Kopp. I do like me some devilish opera.
Opera culprits: the villain who thinks he's doing good
EditorialJust like in real life, the most terrifying villains are the ones who firmly believe they're doing good. Sure, there are sociopathic/sadistic types, villains who just like to hurt people. The more fascinating, and dramatically challenging villains are the ones who have reasons behind their villainry. Sometimes the reasoning is good enough to pursuade, to make audiences understand where they come from; with bad guys like Dexter Morgan, Walter White, and even fun version of the Devil, audiences are arguably rooting for them to succeed.
On the road: the Bicycle Opera Project
InterviewThe Bicycle Opera Project has never been busier. Currently, the group of cycling singers are finishing up a month-long run of Dean Burry's new opera, The Bells of Baddeck, and on Monday they begin their East Coast tour (August 3-11 in Nova Scotia, August 14-September 6 in Ontario, all by bike!) of shadow box, a tight collection of Canadian scenes and by people like James Rolfe, Chris Thornborrow, and Tobin Stokes.