Hidden secrets of the soubrette

Editorial

A soubrette is like a moving target, where casting depends on everything around her; in one house, a soprano may be a Nannetta, and elsewhere she's Alice Ford. The term "soubrette" is more of a convenient appendix tacked on to the larger context of what a singer can do. So, soubrettes, we hope you're taking these roles like the compliments they are.

Aria guides: O sleep, why dost thou leave me?

Editorial

For young singers, it's a fantastic way of working on breath control, and singing in that "not quite high enough" register that many sopranos find difficult. Read on to find a few general guidelines to get you through this aria; along with your teachers and coaches, we can help keep things simple, and indulgent in the right ways.

London Calling

Editorial

Well, readers, after much anticipation and a slight delay, Schmopera has made it to London. It's an amazing thing to be in a city with not only a myriad of opera companies large and small, but great pickings of arts and cultural centres offering up a buffet of musical options.

What's on at the Met: 2016/17

Editorial

There are a few exciting surprises, though. First and foremost, Kaija Saariaho's L'amour de loin will hit the stage in December 2016, marking the Met's first opera by a woman since 1903. Delightfully, maestra Susanna Mälkki makes her Met debut on the podium for this new production by Robert Lepage. The casting is interesting to me; Eric Owens is Jaufé Rudel, Susanna Phillips is Clémence, and Tamara Mumford is Pélérin (The Pilgrim).

Toronto Opera Initiative's Don Giovanni

Editorial

Led by sopranos Jaclyn Grossman and Rebecca Townsend, the artist-centric collective creates performance opportunities for young artists. During their transition between student and professional life, it's all about gaining experience, even in what may seem like "stretch roles" for these emerging singers.

Once again, shushing meanies

Editorial

It's almost a good thing that we now have this example of critics body-shaming a male singer, since we can put to rest some of the sexism claims that accompany criticism of women onstage. I've often thought that when you boil down an objection about a fat person falling in love, or some dumb variation on this "problem", you really just peel back the truth about the objector, who's letting the world know that they actually feel this way.

AGO Friday Nights: nostalgia and newchoir

Editorial

They offered up hits by CCR, The Guess Who (who share their Winnipeg hometown with newchoir pianist Donovan LeNabat), Elvis, and Pink Floyd. The choir is full of enthusiastic amateurs, the kind of ensemble that makes for excellent people watching; I always love looking at the individuals that make up a choir, and how you can see all the different reasons that they're there.

4 traits of a great cadenza

Editorial

If you're an opera singer, cadenzas are your real "listen to ME" moment. The orchestra cuts out, and all ears are focused on your voice. Cadenzas come with lots of tradition, lots of hype, and they can be covert competitions among opera's inner circles. So, what makes a cadenza great? More notes? Extreme ranges? Surprise tricks up a singer's sleeve?

Schmopera's British invasion

Editorial

Schmopera is relocating, and starting in February, we'll be based out of London, England. We're beyond excited to get our feet wet in the City's opera scene, and to expand as often as possible to Berlin, Paris, Zürich, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and every other opera house with an airport or train station nearby. From our London base, we'll maintain our status quo of artist interviews, show reviews, and writings on the hot opera topics across the pond.

Watch & learn: maestros at work

Editorial

Just like all the different ways a human voice can sound to our ears, each conductor brings their unique presence to an orchestra. A different posture, a different flow of gesture can bring out a huge variance of sound from the players as they react to what they see. Conducting is much, much more than a clear beat pattern, and we wanted to show our readers just how differently rhythmic information can look.