Kidon Choi
Does new opera raise the bar for performers?
EditorialIn a competitive industry, I'm fine with the concept of promoting singers who have acting skills and can learn music fast enough to fit into the woefully short rehearsal time many companies are afforded. Survival of the fittest, I say, and new opera is a beautiful and direct route to honing those skills.
Tim Vernon, Artistic Director²
EditorialIf you've not yet heard the news, Maestro Timothy Vernon has been appointed the new Artistic Director of Opera Lyra Ottawa. Vernon will begin immediately with the 2015/16 season, and he'll maintain his position as Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Victoria. A busy man just got busier.
A quick hike in Banff, or testing opera singers' lungs
HumourWeek 1 of Open Space: Opera in the 21st Century at the Banff Centre has finished. The opera team took advantage of a day away from the rehearsal room, taking a morning hike up Tunnel Mountain. Special thanks goes to Bruno Roy, for wearing a camera the whole time!
Spotlight on: Kelsey Vicary
InterviewI first met soprano Kelsey Vicary when we were both studying at Western University, and I had the chance to work with her most recently as Helena in Opera on the Avalon's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. You may have heard her as the Mother in Metro Youth Opera's Hänsel und Gretel, or as a past finalist in the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio Competition.
Opera Karaoke Night, 2015
HumourThe singers of The Banff Centre's Open Space: Opera in the 21st Century ventured down to the Royal Canadian Legion for this summer's first instalment of Opera Karaoke Night. We rolled an upright piano into the spotlight, and spent a happy evening singing hits like "Largo al factotum" and "Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiß," mixed in with songs from Carousel, The Last Five Years, and even some Freddie Mercury.
How to be a star répétiteur (yes, there is such a thing)
How-toRépétiteurs, rehearsal pianists, the ones who repeat sections of music over and over; they're a special breed of pianist, with an insanely focused set of skills. Being a répétiteur is one of those jobs that can feel thankless, where people only notice your playing when you mess up. It's about checking your pianist ego at the door, and facilitating a rehearsal for others: singers, conductors, and directors.
Musician Marketing Masterclass
EditorialThe 6 skills/topics listed above are core to an effective marketing package. Yup, it takes time and work to acquire any of these items. But it will not cost you thousands of dollars, nor is it impossible…if you have the determination to use your search bar, put in a few hours a week, and chip away at the tasks over time.
Spotlight on: Maika'i Nash
InterviewMaika'i Nash is one of Canada's busiest pianists and vocal coaches. He is the Resident Music Director of Opera 5, and he has worked with singers in Toronto, Montréal, and New York City, making his debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall this past season with soprano Andrey Luna.
Spotlight on: Christopher James Ray
InterviewChristopher James Ray is a rising conductor based out of Houston, TX. In recent seasons, Christopher has been busy at Florida State Opera and Sarasota Opera, and he'll make his debut at Opera on the James in 2015/16. Christopher is a student and protégé of American composer Carlisle Floyd, having assisted him on Of Mice and Men in 2012, and recording an album of Floyd's songs with mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer.
James Rolfe & Anna Chatterton, on creating Crush
InterviewHere at The Banff Centre, we're working on Crush, a new opera by composer James Rolfe and librettist Anna Chatterton. It's a fascinating piece, based on Mozart's Don Giovanni, this time featuring a female protagonist named Donna. I was thrilled when Anna and James offered to talks about the process of creating Crush.