Operalia & advertising

Editorial

Promoting Domingo, in between the well-honed performances of the Operalia finalists, felt in opposition to the competition's mission. The business of advertising seemed to take over the air time between competitors. Perhaps it was the perfect opportunity for Domingo to promote his work, since the Operalia audience is the right demographic to purchase a documentary like "My Greatest Roles".

Pavarotti's "Nessun dorma" & the Trump campaign

Editorial

What's likely is that the sweeping sounds of Puccini sounded fancy to the Trump folk, and that Pavarotti's voice sounds heroic (#winning). They're not wrong, but it just screams, "I heard this on YouTube once."

Enjoying opera: the home team advantage

Editorial

For the audience, the creative team can only wish listeners the richest experience when they go to see their work. Great operas have seemingly infinite moments of dramatic significance, of a musical changes that speaks volumes of the story; will the average audience notice those details, and feel moved by them?

4 myths from music school

Editorial

Like in any industry, there's only so much one can learn in school. In conservatories and post-secondary music programs, musicians hone their technique and prepare as best they can for their potential career as a performer; yet there are a few details that simply don't translate well between academic and professional environments. We're big advocates of schools and institutions, and it's important to know what they can and can't offer aspiring musicians. A few myths, debunked:

A little Mozart, a little murder, a lot of fun

Editorial

The audience congregates with the Marshalls as they arrive, and they follow the family inside for the gruesome discovery. As the family goes their separate ways throughout the gallery, audience members are invited to follow specific characters along their journeys. The entire show is performed twice, giving an opportunity for listeners to follow a different character the second time around, and gain some new information on the mysterious murder.

Heavy scenes: the fast lane to a great rehearsal room

Editorial

Rehearsing comedy is a picky thing, and at least it comes with work-mandated jokes. Rehearsing tragedy can really underscore an artist's maturity, willingness to be vulnerable, and the respect that is the inevitable cornerstone of any collaborative work. It's an odd thing, to be grateful for a rape scene. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that the heaviest of onstage stories are the best at fostering offstage relationships.

Banff Diaries: the mid-way report

Editorial

Among the facts of the program are the moments of inspiration and joy that come out of opera, and working on opera in beautiful Banff. Each person at Open Space has had the chance to look at a stunning mountain vista, or stellar sunset, and say to the person next to them, "wow." There have been heroic tales of hiking mountains, of bear sightings, of conquering the horror that is 80% oxygen levels while being asked to sing.

Being a nice person: why art really, really matters

Editorial

Ignorance like this is the real reason why art matters. Fixing this kind of problem is a more important and more universal benefit of the arts, moreso than honing your fine motor skills or learning a foreign language. Without the arts, people are left with an alarmingly low chance of understanding the world which they share with others.

"How was it?" and other dangerous questions

Editorial

You're conscious of the difference between creation and reception, you respect things like lighting and acoustic and comic timing, and you're seeking the right balance of all the factors that add up to a great piece of art. But it's a risky way to seek that balance; by hungrily asking for feedback, you're saying to the world that you, the artist, aren't sure about your decisions.

Baby "opera singers" & getting angry for the right reasons

Editorial

And if the show's audience thinks they're witnessing musical history, fine. They don't know any better, and there are worse things about which to be uneducated. But Laura Bretan may now find herself courted by recording contracts by folks like Simon Cowell; that's exciting news for her, but it's in this girl's potential career where there could be true damage done.