In review: Hänsel & Gretel

Review

I went and saw one of my favourite operas last night: Hänsel and Gretel, by Engelbert Humperdinck, based on the creepy Brothers Grimm fairytale. I think it's a show that transports itself well on small and large stages, with small and large orchestras and even pianos. So it was great to see this production by Metro Youth Opera in an intimate space, where we could see subtle moments and get to know the characters more quickly.

How many fairies, exactly?

Op-ed

Alright, so Opera on the Avalon has a sense of humour. They put up a billboard to advertise Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of two shows the program will present this summer in St. John's, Newfoundland. The billboard, I thought, was funny. The slogan for Midsummer was, "Filled with more fairies than St. John's on Pride Day." Snort.

What I'm seeing this week

Editorial

This weekend, I'm going to see more stuff. On Friday night, I'm catching opening night of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel & Gretel, presented by Metro Youth Opera. I love this show, I know a few people involved, and I always fall for a fairy tale.

Thanks, everyone!

Editorial

Yesterday I posted an article about how hard it is for singers to stay creative and stay employed. Just over 24hrs later, close to 12,000 people have read it, and some have left some pretty brilliant and moving comments.

In defence of singers

Editorial

I remember playing some auditions as part of a "mock" audition panel where the singers would get feedback about their audition presentation. I played for a soprano (who’s doing very well for herself lately) who started smart with some Mozart. One of the auditioners then said to her, “Not that it’s at all appropriate, but I’d love to hear the Lodoletta.” Sigh.

Brahms hated cats? What?

Humour

Has anyone else read about this? Richard Wagner, the "notoriously bitchy composer" (David Ward, The Guardian), said that Johannes Brahms, composer and owner of classical music's best beard, hated cats.

In review: Hercules

Review

I went and saw Hercules at the Canadian Opera Company on Tuesday, and it was the jackpot of incredible talent onstage. It's directed by the one-of-a-kind Peter Sellars, conducted by the brilliant Harry Bicket, and Eric Owens and Alice Coote star as the soldier and soldier's wife. Beautiful. And it really was a stunning spectacle, one with an uncomfortably true message.

In review: Ash Roses

Review

Ash Roses is the first CD released by the Canadian Art Song Project (CASP), and it features the music of composer Derek Holman. I'm not personally familiar with Holman's work, but I caught some at the CASP recital in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre a few weeks ago, and I distinctly remember liking it.

How I acted my way into an opera career

Op-ed

I remember when I first told my parents I wanted to be an actor. I had just performed in our school district’s Speech and Drama Festival and scored a near perfect mark for my portrayal of the Big Bad Wolf (of “Three Little Pigs” fame) telling the true account of what happened with those mischievous swine.

In review: Fawn Opera's L'homme et le ciel

Review

Friday night, I went to a workshop presentation given by Fawn Opera & New Music. They presented three excerpts from their latest operatic project, L'homme et le ciel by Canadian composer Adam Scime, with text by Ian Koiter with a French translation by Eric Démoré.