Talking with singers: Christian Van Horn

Interview

Carmen will mark Van Horn's third contract with the Canadian Opera Company, and it's a place he likes to be. "It's a world-class company," he says. "It always has been, but especially in the last five years, specifically since Alexander [Neef] got here, he's really turned this into a place to be. There's not a singer in the world that doesn't want to sing at COC."

Lucia Cesaroni: Isis and Osiris, the value of new opera, & "bad b*tches in charge"

Interview

"I don't want to keep comparing to the States, but we're behind. We hate to admit it, but we are behind - and that's okay. We're a younger country, we're a younger industry. We may be behind here, but look at all the other places where we're ahead. It's very important to me that we find a way to secure a creative, successful, tenable way to secure a future for opera in Canada."

Talking with singers: Meghan Lindsay

Interview

"To me, the most rewarding thing about a singing career is the relationships you form. I love the fact that music is another language that we can explore and play with. I really enjoy practicing and find that part of the process very gratifying. There's something very meditative in doing something every day and knowing that each day, there are going to be different challenges and changes to my situation, in my voice, in my interactions."

New teams, new operas: Bicycle Opera + Toy Piano Composers

Interview

Bicycle Opera and Toy Piano Composers will premiere Travelogue, a new collection of operas by composers Monica Pearce, Elisha Denburg, August Murphy-King, Tobin Stokes, and librettist Colleen Murphy. Travelogue is exciting in itself, and it's part of Toy Piano Composer's inaugural new music festival, Curiosity Festival, happening April 1-9th (find out all about it right here).

Talking with singers: Luca Pisaroni

Interview

Pisaroni is quick to note that, "all operas are difficult to cast." Still, the coloratura bass-baritone Maometto is a notable departure from Rossini's fast-moving mezzos and tenors. "I could lie to you and say 'oh yeah, I love it, it's easy'," he laughs. "It's very difficult because it requires everything from you. There are low notes, high notes, coloratura, long phrases, legato, it's really challenging, all of it."

Revisiting Diagnosis: Diabetes

Interview

A few months ago, we spoke with pianist and composer Michael Park about his new one-act, interactive chamber opera, Diagnosis: Diabetes. Since our interview, Park has seen the workshop premiere of his opera with Vancouver's Erato Ensemble, and received the first audience feedback from the performance. Many listeners were new to opera in general, and even more were there to learn about this unique perspective on experiencing life with diabetes.

Betany Coffland: creating operatic bouquets

Interview

It’s funny what happens when you let go and put out your truth to the world. Good things happen. So, I recommend for all singers at whatever stage of their career, look for passion. Passion is cultivating, inspiring and uplifting and it will only enhance your life and therefore, your art.

Spotlight on: Lara Ciekiewicz

Interview

"Before every performance, I will take a few minutes to walk the stage and look out into the empty hall. I look out at all the seats waiting to be filled and wonder who will be sitting there. When you are in the middle of a performance, it can be easy to look into the darkness and see it as this single black hole. However, if there are 2200 seats in the hall, that makes 2200 people, each with their own story - waiting to laugh, cry, cheer the heroes, and curse the villain! It is my job to sing for each of those people and to connect to them through the music."

Michael Mori on The Devil Inside

Interview

The Devil Inside tells the story of a bottle, inside which is everything you could ever want, yet which can only be sold for less than the price you paid for it. In a Faust-like version of "hot potato", the person who dies while in possession of the bottle has their soul shipped straight to hell. The compelling story by Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Bottle Imp, and it had it world premiere in January at Scottish Opera.

Paul Appleby: telling stories at Wigmore Hall

Interview

"Most of all I am looking forward to the acoustic. I have never been to the hall but I haven’t had a conversation with a singer who has sung there who doesn’t mention how perfect a room for singing it is. But as I think about it, more importantly than the loveliness of the space I am looking forward to participating in the community of Wigmore."