Spotlight on: William Ford

Interview

Toronto-based tenor William Ford is fresh out of the University of Toronto Opera School; this makes him a young singer, but he's not lacking in wisdom. I was thrilled to read his eloquent and smart interview responses, and more than a little blown away by his awareness of self (something that took me and many others much longer to learn).

An interview with Judith Forst

Interview

British Columbia-born mezzo-soprano Judith Forst had her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1968 as the Page in Rigoletto, and her career has spanned long enough for me to hear her most recently as Madame de Croissy in Robert Carsen's Dialogues des Carmélites at the Canadian Opera Company in 2013. Judith has sung with the likes of Joan Sutherland, Shirley Verrett, and Teresa Berganza, and she sang everything from Musetta to Hänsel to Giovanna Seymour to Donna Elvira.

Spotlight on: Marjorie Maltais

Interview

Mezzo-soprano Marjorie Maltais first impressed me with her rich sound and feisty stage presence as Hermia in Opera on the Avalon's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Coveted mezzo roles like Rosina, Cenerentola and Carmen are also on Marjorie's résumé, and she recently wrote me from Santa Barbara, where she's enjoying her time with Marilyn Horne at the Music Academy of the West.

Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre

Interview

Baritone John Holland wrote me recently from Prague, Czech Republic (one of my favourite cities). He was there until recently as part of the Prague Summer Nights Young Artist Music Festival, singing Masetto in Don Giovanni. Sure, John got to go to a beautiful city to sing in a masterpiece opera, but he got to do it in the Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the premiere performance of Giovanni.

A Chair in Love. What, what?

Interview

This Friday, Opera By Request presents a semi-staged version of John Metcalf and Larry Tremblay's A Chair in Love. The 2005 opera about a man who falls in love with a chair is intriguing and bizarre enough to pique my interest. I had the chance to ask composer John Metcalf, music director William Shookhoff, and the show's cast about A Chair in Love, in the selfish hopes of figuring out what it's all about.

Spotlight on: Danielle MacMillan

Interview

I first met mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan during the Canadian Opera Company's 2013 production of Peter Grimes, where she was one of the sassy Nieces keeping the Boar Pub interesting. Versatile like all good mezzos, Danielle is also preparing to sing Cherubino at Highlands Opera Studio's production of Le nozze di Figaro, this August/September.

Spotlight on: Lida Szkwarek

Interview

Winnipeg-born soprano Lida Szkwarek is a past finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and she makes her Edmonton Opera debut this coming seasons as Micaëla in Carmen. Lida will return to Calgary Opera to sing First Lady in their 2016 production of Die Zauberflöte. She's also sung on stages in Saskatoon and at The Banff Centre; speaking The Banff Centre, I was recently reminded of a beautiful story by a mutual colleague of Lida and mine, where Lida's now fiancé, tenor Michael Marino, proposed to her on the Eric Harvie Theatre stage after a performance of Don Giovanni (#operaproposals?).

Spotlight on: Kelsey Vicary

Interview

I first met soprano Kelsey Vicary when we were both studying at Western University, and I had the chance to work with her most recently as Helena in Opera on the Avalon's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. You may have heard her as the Mother in Metro Youth Opera's Hänsel und Gretel, or as a past finalist in the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio Competition.

Spotlight on: Maika'i Nash

Interview

Maika'i Nash is one of Canada's busiest pianists and vocal coaches. He is the Resident Music Director of Opera 5, and he has worked with singers in Toronto, Montréal, and New York City, making his debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall this past season with soprano Andrey Luna.

Spotlight on: Christopher James Ray

Interview

Christopher James Ray is a rising conductor based out of Houston, TX. In recent seasons, Christopher has been busy at Florida State Opera and Sarasota Opera, and he'll make his debut at Opera on the James in 2015/16. Christopher is a student and protégé of American composer Carlisle Floyd, having assisted him on Of Mice and Men in 2012, and recording an album of Floyd's songs with mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer.