TFCO: Opera Trek, The Next Generation

Interview

I got to chat with a few of the next generation involved in Burry's The Sword in the Schoolyard: Viva Egoyan-Rokeby (young Morgan), David Grace (young Arthur), Emma Thornton-Ockrant (young Gwen), and Henry Kemeny-Wodlinger (young Mordred).

Talking with singers: Paul Appleby

Interview

American tenor Paul Appleby recently finished a run of Belmonte in The Metropolitan Opera's production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and he heads next to the Glyndebourne Festival, to sing the title role in Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict. Paul is one of those thoughtful, curious artists who craves the stage as a recitalist as well as in operatic roles.

Talking with singers: Bryan Register

Interview

"Physically, it feels like I'm doing my yoga practice in public, in front of an audience," Register laughs. Singers and yogis alike know how tricky it can be to find a comfortable balance of effort and ease. "I would equate a long, difficult phrase, to holding a difficult pose in yoga. You just have to breathe into it, accept it, you're not going to die."

Talking with singers: Wallis Giunta

Interview

Canadian mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta spoke to us from St. Louis, between performances of Angelina in La Cenerentola and Rossweise in Die Walküre, both at Oper Leipzig. She's also getting ready to sing Mercédès in Oper Frankfurt's Carmen in July, before returning to Toronto for the title role in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at Opera Atelier in October.

John Fanning on The Pencil Salesman

Interview

June 25-July 3 the Westben Arts Festival Theatre presents the world premiere of Brian Finley's new opera, The Pencil Salesman. Canadian baritone John Fanning will sing the role of Boris, the inventor of the Personal Touch Typewriter, who develops a cynical relationship with the world's technological advancements. We chat with Fanning about playing a "Luddite", about working on a brand new opera, and about how technology dictates our own human interactions.

Robert Ames: Deep Minimalism & LCO

Interview

"I keep notes all the time of pieces that I want to do, and dreaming up programmes. There's an absolutely humongous list of composers, and specific pieces of music, different artists I'd work with, people in theatre, people in dance, electronic artists, certain films that I'm interested in that we'd love to do live scores for."

Don't miss: Verdi's Requiem at the Southbank Centre

Interview

On May 23 at the Royal Festival Hall, the English Philharmonia & Chorus present Verdi's Requiem, with soloists Naomi Harvey, Maria Gulik, John Hudson, and David Soar. Graham Wili, Music Director of both the English Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, will conduct; we had the opportunity to ask him about putting together a piece like Verdi's Requiem, with a chorus of 250+, a full orchestra, a four tireless soloists.

Aria Umezawa: Opera 5's Die Fledermaus, with surprises

Interview

June 8-11 at Toronto's 918 Bathurst, Opera 5 presents Die Fledermaus, that beloved, waltz-tastic tale of parties and blackmail. Rachel Krehm and Michael Barrett star as Rosalinde and Eisenstein, sharing the stage with Julie Ludwig as Adele, Keith Lam as Falke, and Erin Lawson as the heiress Oksana Orlofsky. Of course, in Opera 5 fashion, this Die Fledermaus is updated, interactive, and audiences will meet a very special guest, by the name of Pearle Harbour.

Talking with singers: Melody Moore

Interview

"It feels like heaven to sing this music. It is a perfect 'lean' into an orchestra that supports and urges forward. I suppose, in singing larger Puccini roles, that I began to see room for roles like Senta and Sieglinde, as did professional coaches and conductors surrounding me - who encouraged me to begin looking into Strauss, Wagner, and Janáček."

A Little Too Cozy: Off-camera with Don L. Fonzo & Despina

Interview

"For some of our male contestants, it can be difficult to go without any female contact for such an extended period of time. I just make sure that they are happy and relaxed when the film starts to roll. And I try to give contestants advice about getting the most out of this opportunity — and I don't mean finding 'true love'; I mean creating a brand or future career opportunities. "