Chatting with the Bicycle Opera Project

Interview

The Bicycle Opera Project has announced its 2015 season, which will take them from Toronto to Cape Breton, and back again. I'm so thrilled for BOP, who have a packed season of new Canadian works, including a couple of premieres.

Peter Sellars: all my subtitles were understatements

Interview

Hercules opens on April 5th, at the Canadian Opera Company, and it features a spectacular cast: Eric Owens (Hercules), Alice Coote (Dejanira) and David Daniels (Lichas) headline this special production. Go and see it.

Talking with singers: Andrew Love

Interview

Baritone Andrew Love is singer who recently succeeded in an official crossing-over between opera and musical theatre. He's sung at Calgary Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Saskatoon Opera and l'Opéra de Québec. On top of that, he just finished singing The Bishop and understudying the role of Javert in a run of Cameron Mackintosh's Les Misérables here in Toronto.

Talking with singers: Quinn Kelsey

Interview

Baritone Quinn Kelsey was born in Hawai'i, sings roles like Rigoletto and Germont all over the world, and lately he's been riding a donkey. He's getting ready to sing the role of Sancho, alongside the incomparable Italian bass, Ferruccio Furlanetto, in the Canadian Opera Company's upcoming production of Don Quichotte.

Talking with singers: Alice Coote

Interview

British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote was in Toronto until very recently, singing Dejanira in Peter Sellars' production of Hercules at the Canadian Opera Company. Alice is in demand all over the world, known for trouser roles (Octavian, Sesto, Ruggiero, le Prince Charmant), and utterly versatile across the stylistic board.

Elvira

Interview

Everyone, meet Miriam Khalil. She's a Lebanese-Canadian soprano currently based in Toronto, and she'll be singing in Uncle John, as everyone's favourite clingy chick, Elvira.

Leporello

Interview

Meet Jeremy Bowes. He's a Canadian bass, and he'll be heading west in July to sing in #UncleJohn, as opera's most famous wingman, Leporello_. He spoke about what makes Open Space unique, and why everyone loves the story of Don Juan.

Anna

Interview

Canadian soprano Betty Allison is getting ready to sing the role of Anna in Uncle John at the Banff Centre's Open Space program. She answered a few of my questions about who Anna is, setting no expectations, and taking advantage of her time in Banff.

The Commander

Interview

Baritone John Avey is joining the #UncleJohn crew this summer, to sing the role of Michael Bridge. Who's that, you say? He's the father of Anna Bridge, the lady you met last week (the one with the really patient boyfriend).

Talking singing with Gerald Martin Moore

Interview

Pianist, coach and voice teacher Gerald Martin Moore works with, well, everybody. He's in demand as a coach, teacher and pianist for the likes of Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, and Sarah Connolly, and he interviewed the spectacular Beverly Sills.