Francois Racine on Bluebeard's Castle/ Erwartung

Interview

François Racine is the revival director of Robert Lepage's production of Bluebeard's Castle/Erwartung, and he has seen the double bill performed across the globe over the last 20 years. He took a few moments out of a tech rehearsal in the Four Seasons Centre to talk about these two "very dark" operas, and this production by Lepage that seems so timelessly compelling.

Talking with singers: Krisztina Szabó

Interview

Hungarian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó is no strangers to the Four Seasons Centre stage. This time, she'll sing The Woman in Schoenberg's Erwartung, which, with Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, makes up the iconic double-bill by Robert Lepage.

Stu&Jess Productions, on L'heure espagnole

Interview

Stu&Jess Productions are gearing up to present Ravel's delightfully bizarre L'heure espagnole on May 7, 8 & 9th at the Techno-Lith paper company in Montréal. I asked a few questions of conductor Stuart Martin and director Jessica Derventzis, about Ravel's really neat opera, and setting it in a paper warehouse. "It's a magical chamber of sound."

A preview of The Barber of Seville, from the COC Ensemble Studio

Interview

Yesterday in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, the COC Ensemble Studio gave us a preview of The Barber of Seville, in anticipation of their mainstage performance on May 15th. I was so glad I brought my camera; it was a completely fun concert of highlights from Rossini's infamous opera, and it made me pretty excited to see the Ensemble Studio on the big stage.

Stephen Lord: on Bel canto, singers, and theatre

Interview

"He was master of the score's details and the orchestra played superbly for him." American conductor Stephen Lord comes back to Toronto early this year, and we're excited. He'll conduct Un ballo in maschera at the Canadian Opera Company, opening February 2nd; after his stunning Lucia di Lammermoor last year, that's a lot to look forward to.

In rehearsal with the COC Ensemble Studio: part 1

Interview

In one week from today, the young artists of the Canadian Opera Company will grace the stage of the Four Seasons Centre as they present their unique performance of Mozart's Così fan tutte. The Ensemble Studio has been putting in some serious time to get this show on its feet, and I was lucky enough to get a few moments to talk with the cast.

In rehearsal with the COC Ensemble Studio: part 2

Interview

Later this week, the young artists of the Canadian Opera Company will grace the stage of the Four Seasons Centre as they present their unique performance of Mozart's Così fan tutte. Below is the second in our three-part video series, where we meet the four young singers who sing the roles of the lovers in Act II.

In rehearsal with the COC Ensemble Studio: part 3

Interview

This Friday, the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio have their performance of Così fan tutte, directed by Atom Egoyan. This unique performance features all the young artists in the Ensemble Studio, who work additionally as covers to the mainstage cast. In the last of our three-part series, we meet soprano Claire de Sévigné (Despina) and baritone Gordon Bintner (Don Alfonso).

Talking with singers: Michael Robert-Broder

Interview

Vancouver native Michael Robert-Broder is a rising baritone in the Canadian operatic scene. Between rehearsals for his quickly approaching gig as Bartolo in Opera York's production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, Michael chats about what roles he'd love to tackle, the responsibilities of young singers, opera's relevancy today, and how Canadian companies can help opera evolve.

Talking with singers: Lauren Margison

Interview

Young Canadian soprano Lauren Margison has lived her life surrounded by opera and the people who make it. The daughter of renowned Canadian tenor Richard Margison and of violist and stage director Valerie Kuinka, Lauren has an unique perspective on the operatic industry.