Calls From Two Worlds
Editorials
Good things: AOC's Artist Fellowship
EditorialThe second iteration of the RBC Artist Fellowship has been announced, with an aim to give voice and professional experience to Canadian artists in their early careers. Applications for this year's Fellowship are due October 4, 2021; you can find the forms in English and French.
Season highlights out of the COC, the TSO, and 21C (oh my!)
EditorialBut if you ask me and my opera-bias, the big draw for this season's 21C is the world premiere of Gould's Wall, the new opera by Brian Current and Liza Balkan, produced by new-opera leaders, Tapestry Opera.
Happening now: OTSL's digital 2021
EditorialI intend to take it all in, and I'm particularly excited to experience Will Liverman and Nicole Cabell in a production together. Plus, Patricia Racette's Elle is an exciting thought.
Jenna's back! And so is opera, we think?
EditorialMaybe because of morbid curiosity, I'm oddly pumped for this season. It'll be like watching opera history happen: we've gotten used to digital opera, and there's more out-of-the-box thinking happening now than we've had in centuries.
Big news, had to share
EditorialIn case you're curious, I'll keep writing. No, I won't write reviews of my clients' performances, nor will I try and get away with any similar sort of glaring conflict of interest. I know it's not really common for someone to do the jobs of management and criticism at the same time, but being a rare breed is alright with me.
Well okay, au revoir, I guess?
EditorialI think Neef has been playing a different game than Canadian opera fans. He was making the COC a new hub in the international opera scene, and we were loving the big gets onstage.
Tiny worlds & admiring singers: a mid-pandemic wellness check
EditorialI don't live in the vast world of opera, anymore, and it's fucking sad. I haven't had one of those heart-racing experiences at a live show since February. I haven't had that happy, vibrating commute home in the magical night-time after seeing something incredible; it's been a long time since I've felt the relief of taking off high heels at the end of the night, or placed those heels gently back on their shelf, for next time.
A weekend pick reminiscent of the good old days: Grindr (and other concerns)
EditorialThe premiere viewing of Grindr (and other conce rns) will feature Act 1: An Annotated Sing Through, where you can catch "unforgettably naughty scenes and arias" from the opera's first act, along with some delightful commentary on topics like opera development and queer hook-up culture. It's a combination of live and pre-recorded material.
A fresh Sunday Matinee out of Florida Grand Opera
EditorialFGO's production from 2018 stars Ana María Martínez as Florencia, the Brazilian soprano journeying home via the Amazon river; amid the storms and cholera outbreaks, Florencia and her fellow passengers travel into a murkey combination of fantasy and reality.
From trash to Valhalla: what's on deck this weekend
EditorialThese concerts are designed to conform to CDC health guidelines, including pre-performance health screenings, partitions separating singers and accompanying musicians, and the wearing of masks where possible.