In review: Toronto Masque Theatre's Les Indes Mécaniques

Review

I braved the land of construction last night, heading to the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre to catch the final instalment of Toronto Masque Theatre's 2014/15 season. TMT presents Rameau's Les Indes Mécaniques (ou Les Automates de Topkapi), a delightfully bizarre opera about girls and boys, and how they end up with each other.

Fach-isms & stereotypes for a reason

Humour

I do get the jokes. Stereotypes for a reason, and all that. It's interesting to note that even if singers of different voice-types don't align perfectly with the above cross-section, there are still a few fach-specific thought processes that I've noticed from my seat at the piano.

Tapestry Opera at Evergreen Brick Works

Interview

Tapestry Opera is getting ready for the world premiere of M'dea Undone, a new opera by John Harris and Marjorie Chan, in the Holcim Gallery of Evergreen Brick Works. Based on the Greek myth of Jason and Medea, M'dea Undone is a collaboration with Scottish Opera, and features a fantastic cast of Canadians.

He said/she said: Talisker Players, with Carla Huhtanen & Andrea Ludwig

Review

Tuesday night, Greg & I went to hear the Talisker Players at Trinity-St. Paul's on Bloor. The Players' chamber series is always a guarantee for great performances and interesting programming, and this concert was no exception. Entitled Heroes, Gods & Mortals, the programme included two of my favourite singers to watch: Carla Huhtanen and Andrea Ludwig.

Talking with voice teachers, or meet my mother

Interview

Mother's Day was this past weekend, and I spent it chatting with my mom on camera. Bonus: she's a singer and voice teacher who works with students of all ages. The timing was perfect to have Edwina Douglas talk about teaching teenagers, how parents can support their musically-inclined kids, and why she loves her work.

Viva Claire & Aviva!

Interview

On Sunday, I was lucky enough to find myself invited to a small private recital by two of the best young singers in the country (there, I said it). Sopranos, and besties, Claire de Sevigne and Aviva Fortunata treated us to an intimate recital before they split up for about a year.

Photographing the opera singer

Interview

A few photographers seemed to be popular among opera singers. Three of these popular photographers are Bo Huang, Dario Acosta, and Emily Ding. Dario is based in New York City, and has photographed singers like Anna Netrebko, Diana Damrau, and Plácido Domingo. Bo Huang is based in the Toronto area, working with the likes of Adrianne Pieczonka, Simone Osborne, and Krisztina Szabó. Emily Ding is an opera singer herself, and she works with Canada's rising stars (Claire de Sévigné, Jessica Muirhead, Gordon Bintner).

Has everyone seen this?

Humour

Don Giovanni Unmasked left me pretty confused on a lot of fronts, but it's oddly riveting. The concept is bizarre, with Leporello as the emcee of a film screening; in said film (black & white, of course) is where we see Don Giovanni, dressed in a way that makes me think of Zorro. So, that means that sometimes Dmitri Hvorostovsky is talking to himself through a movie screen. Plus, there's a pretty crazy plot twist at the end.

In rehearsal with the COC Ensemble Studio, part II

Interview

The COC Ensemble Studio's performance of The Barber of Seville happens this coming Friday, May 15th at the Four Seasons Centre. Following up to Part I, I was able to a) invade their rehearsal a little bit, and b) sit down and chat with the rest of this fantastic cast.

Living Opera at the COC

Editorial

I'm a huge advocate of music education for young people, including the programs set up by the Canadian Opera Company's Education & Outreach department. One of their programs is Living Opera, which gives a class of secondary school students a chance to hear voice and drama workshops, tour the Four Seasons Centre, and see one of the mainstage shows.