Love opera? Love stats? Look at this.

Editorial

I made a pretty neat find over at Wolf Trap Opera's website, which has a great section on audition resources. WTO has [collected stats(http://opera.wolftrap.org/for-artists/audition-resources/) on the auditions they've heard over the last four seasons, and which arias are sung the most.

Schmopera's first panel discussion: Regietheater

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Today, we're really excited to present our very first panel discussion, on the topic of Regietheater. With the help of videographer Jeff Higgins, we captured an extended conversation with some of Canada's most opera-savvy folks. The question of interpreting opera led to the unpacking of topics, like what it means to say a piece is done in its "original form."

Pocket Concerts and their worthy campaign

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Toronto's Pocket Concerts has launched a new Kickstarter campaign for the next 30 days, and it's a cause that I think is important to share.

More AtG in Banff, 2015

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Yesterday Against the Grain Theatre announced the cast of A Little Too Cozy, who will spend 5 weeks at The Banff Centre, as part of Open Space: Opera in the 21st Century. This collaboration between AtG, the Banff Centre, and the Canadian Opera Company also includes a workshop and performance of Crush, a new opera by composer James Rolfe and librettist Anna Chatterton.

AtG in Banff, 2015

Editorial

This summer at the beautiful Banff Centre, Against the Grain Theatre and the Canadian Opera Company collaborate for the second consecutive year, with Open Space: Opera in the 21st Century. This year, they'll put up two shows, one of which is A Little Too Cozy. The third in his transladaptations of the Mozart/Da Ponte operas (Figaro's Wedding, #UncleJohn), AtG Artistic Director Joel Ivany writes an original libretto to Mozart's Così fan tutte.

Friends at the ENO

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English National Opera announced their 2015/15 season, and making an appearance is friend, fellow COC Ensemble graduate, and stellar soprano Ambur Braid.

Singers: here's what you need to know about your website

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Singers, I know you've heard this before, but seriously, you all need to get websites. Some of you don't have websites, or Twitter accounts, or Facebook pages. I'd name names, but you're not on the Internet.

Dr. John Suk, Minister of the LPCC: "This is a huge shock."

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As the Valentina Lisitsa topic rambles on, I was fortunate to be able to speak with Dr. John Suk, Minister at Lawrence Park Community Church. After Lisitsa's TSO performances were cancelled, she announced on Twitter that she would be performing instead at the LPCC on April 10th. The catch: no one booked the church.

Opera on the YouTube

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Every once in a while, I dig around for full-length operas available on YouTube; I get more and more pleasantly surprised at what’s been uploaded by friendly strangers from the Internet. Today’s pick is one of my favourites: the 1966 BBCtv production of Britten’s Billy Budd. It’s conducted by Charles Mackerras, with Peter Glossop in the title character and the incomparable Peter Pears as Captain Vere.

"Remember me, but ah, forget my fate"

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On February 5th, 1981, Toronto police raided four bathhouses, rounded up its LGBTQ+ patrons, and arrested them in a mass arrest that hadn't been paralleled until the G20 Summit a few years ago. So, everyone's favourite A-list mezzo, the incomparable Joyce DiDonato (#FullOnToner #PitchPerfectReference) shared a lovely gift with my people.