Elza van den Heever and the MET Orchestra: A stunning all-Strauss program
Autobiographical recitals: Joshua Guerrero in the Amphitheatre
ReviewIt was one of those recitals that really does let you get to know an artist more. He was honest, open, and almost wide-eyed about his art; happily, he has the serious chops to back up the biography.
Clairvoyant art: Enrico at Oper Frankfurt
ReviewAfter suffering trauma to the head while in character as Henry IV, Enrico (Holger Falk) regains consciousness still believing himself to be the 11th century emperor. So as not to rattle him, Enrico's relatives maintain an elaborate lie involving costumes, alternate personas and staff trained to appease him.
Reaching across centuries: Seraphic Fire's the little match girl passion
ReviewIn his introduction, Quigley explained, "We understand ‘passion' to mean an exploration and a meditation on human suffering." The four works on the program shared this theme of suffering and loss, but Seraphic Fire transformed this superficial thematic similarity into a compelling and heartfelt story, building an innovative, accessible, and deeply moving experience far beyond delineation into categories of time period or genre.
Lighter fare: Vancouver Opera's The Elixir of Love
Review"Hegedus was brilliant in his comic interplay between the fake face he gives to the other characters and the interjections with his assistant, or his interludes to himself. When he believes his elixir is actually working in Act II, his reactions are incredibly funny, without taking anything away from his beautiful vocal performance."
On a mental precipice: HGO's Elektra
ReviewIf Strauss had not given Elektra so much deceptively tender waltz music of her own, then Chrysothemis's tender accompaniments (waltzes about mammaries) would come across as a moment of respite; however, by the time Chrysothemis is introduced, we know Elektra so well that nobody comes across as anything else other than a foil to her.
An operatic horror story: Proving Up
ReviewThis story also asks questions about the very nature of the American Dream. In the clutches of the Sodbuster, Miles is driven to question his entire mission. He asks "Does a window make a home? Does a deed make the land yours?" While these questions might have been better left implied rather than sung out loud, they lead to another question: Who really benefited from America's Manifest Destiny?
"Sex is one of the perks of conducting."
Op-edI pose a theory, though: things are changing. I'm a woman in the industry who has worked with a number of conductors; I'm either extremely lucky, wholly unattractive, or it's true that conductors in the 21st century are, like men in all industries, getting on board with the idea of respecting their colleagues (and keeping their sex lives outside of the rehearsal room).
Talking with singers: Clare Tunney
Interview"Mozart writes for the voice, so it feels totally open and liberating to sing. As a performer, because all the emotion is already in his music, you just need to a vessel that delivers it, which is amazingly freeing!"
The start of something powerful: The Echo Drift
ReviewThe moth, appealingly mesmerizing, could have a spin-off opera all to itself. Created by individual acrylic paintings set in stop-motion animation, it moves like an insect shadow ricocheting off a porch light on a chilly autumn night in the country.
Don't miss it: SongFest's fast-approaching 2018 deadlines
NewsI'm an alumna of SongFest, and I can vouch for the program's extraordinarily dense and empowering training environment. It's a special chance to work, often one-on-one, with figures who represent the contemporary industry. It can be a career-making encounter, no doubt.