The Opera Party Monologue

Humour

Young artists aren't known for being well-off, and although they're always welcome guests, they're rarely in the same tax bracket as the philanthropists and higher-ups in the opera industry. Feeling out of one's league is common at parties with opera bosses, donors, and human opera encyclopedias. So, why go, you ask?

In review: M'dea Undone

Review

I went with Greg last night to see M'dea Undone, Tapestry Opera's much-anticipated world premiere by composer John Harris and librettist Marjorie Chan. The short version of this review is that I loved, loved it, and it was one of the most integrated nights out at the opera I'd experienced.

Singers branching out

News

Within the last few weeks, a few of today's most admired opera singers have announced how they keep making waves in the industry, this time from off-stage.

I just met a girl named Cecilia

News

I don't know how I feel about the recent announcement that Italian mezzo Cecilia Bartoli will star as Maria in Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story at the 2016 Salzburg Whitsun Festival.

A Peeved Soprano

Humour

On her awesome YouTube channel, American soprano Tamara Wilson made me laugh once again. "Pet Peeves on Performance Days" talks about folks singing in the stage wings, untimely visitors in the dressing room, and people just staring at sopranos.

Can NYC's opera scene take good advice?

Op-ed

Opera in New York has been pretty perilous the past few years, between NYCO's demise and potential rebirth, and the Metropolitan Opera's frustrating back-and-forth with several of its unions last summer. "The smartest city in the world seems to think that opera is an old-fashioned, expensive toy — or worse, high camp, something so ridiculous you can’t help adding it to your list of guilty pleasures."

Opera for first-timers & thinking outside the box

Editorial

We're talking about newbies, here; if everything is new, everything is on the table. I say then, let's first present opera in its most progressive form. Not to create a bias, but precisely because preconceptions about opera exist; the simplest way to break them down is to show them something, called opera, that doesn't fit the stereotypes.

Are printed translations screwing up recitals?

Op-ed

After academia, it becomes less common to give spoken translations in voice recitals. It's one thing to hear an undergrad voice student tell you what "Das Veilchen" is about, but it's another thing entirely to hear the likes of Stephanie Blythe and Warren Jones reciting song texts.

Opera spin-offs, round two

Humour

Good operas and good productions often make me think about the characters after the curtain closes. When that happens, I end up imagining the operatic spin-offs, sequels, and prequels that could be. Since our last instalment was such fun, I'll share a few of my imaginings once again; readers, leave your ideas in the comments below!