Valentina Lisitsa: Freedom of speech is a two-way street

Op-ed

I'm by no means the first to weigh in on the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's decision to cancel Ukrainian-born pianist Valentina Lisitsa's performances on April 8-9th. The decision came after the TSO was made aware of some crass tweets on Lisitsa's Twitter feed, and after they confirmed that Lisitsa was indeed the author of the controversial comments, they made the quick decision to cancel.

Talking Figaro with Joshua Hopkins

Interview

Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins is in Toronto to sing the title role in the Canadian Opera Company's The Barber of Seville, opening April 17th at the Four Seasons Centre. I chat with him about his character, Figaro, and what it's like to sing with family in the audience.

An inside look at MYO's Béatrice & Bénédict

Interview

Later this month, Metro Youth Opera presents Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict. I had the chance to watch some of their rehearsals, and chat with director Alison Wong, and singers Simone McIntosh (Béatrice) and Asitha Tennekoon (Bénédict).

Daniel MacIvor: A playwright talks opera

Interview

Playwright and performer Daniel MacIvor is a self-professed opera newbie. He’s currently in the process of writing his first libretto for Hadrian, the new commission by the Canadian Opera Company, to be set to music by Rufus Wainwright. Hadrian is set to open the COC’s 2018/19 season, and so Daniel joined the Against the Grain Theatre crew at The Banff Centre to observe rehearsals for #UncleJohn.

The COC's Alexander Neef on #UncleJohn

Interview

Last week, the #UncleJohn team was joined by Alexander Neef, General Director of the Canadian Opera Company. The COC has provided mentorship and support throughout the Open Space program, and while he was here at The Banff Centre, the singers had a chance to sing for Mr. Neef and ask him some of their questions about the operatic industry.

Highlands Opera Studio: Meet the cast of Tosca

Interview

I took a trip up to Haliburton, ON, to hang out with the folks at Highlands Opera Studio. The summer opera program is putting up Tosca, beginning August 22nd, and I had the chance to speak with the singers. In the first of two videos about HOS’ Tosca, you’ll meet the lead characters (your Toscas, your Cavaradossis, your Scarpias). You even get to hear some singing.

Tara, Tamara, and Jamie: on body stereotypes in opera

Interview

Remember the old(ish) story about Irish mezzo Tara Erraught getting fat-shamed as Octavian at Glyndebourne this summer? They called her “dumpy” and “chubby”, and the lovely Alexander Chancellor at The Spectator added, “it is time that opera singers stopped rejoicing in their fatness and joined with the rest of mankind in the great battle against obesity.”

Highlands Opera Studio: Meet the rest of the cast of Tosca

Interview

In the second of two videos covering the Highlands Opera Studio‘s current production of Tosca, we meet four of the supporting cast (your Angelotti, your Sacristan, your goons). They were kind enough to chat about the trick to learning smaller roles, and how the community in Haliburton, ON, has responded to this summer’s Opera Studio.

Opera on the YouTube

Editorial

Every once in a while, I dig around for full-length operas available on YouTube; I get more and more pleasantly surprised at what’s been uploaded by friendly strangers from the Internet. Today’s pick is one of my favourites: the 1966 BBCtv production of Britten’s Billy Budd. It’s conducted by Charles Mackerras, with Peter Glossop in the title character and the incomparable Peter Pears as Captain Vere.

Science and Simon Boccanegra

Humour

I love opera, and so does Stephen Fry. I’ve written about this gem before, but it’s worth revisiting. Stephen Fry did a special with the Royal Opera House, called The Science of Opera, where he went to see Simon Boccanegra with British comedian Alan Davies. A team of scientists were on hand to measure their emotional experience throughout the opera.