Talking with Singers: Jessica Muirhead

Interview

Canadian soprano Jessica Muirhead is ready to take the stage as Pamina in Edmonton Opera's production of The Magic Flute, opening January 31st. Jessica last appeared at the Canadian Opera Company as Micaëla in their 2010 production of Carmen. She's stayed busy across the pond at the Vienna Volksoper (Pamina, Agathe, Antonia), Semperoper Dresden (Marguerite, Mimì), and she just finished a touring production of Carmen with Welsh National Opera.

Kristine Dandavino on Oshawa Opera

Interview

In the midst of grim news for plenty of North American companies, I love to hear about new places to catch some opera. Mezzo-soprano Kristine Dandavino is Artistic Director of Oshawa Opera, founded in 2013, and looking forward to finishing its second season this April with La traviata on April 19th, and a reprisal of Norma on April 25th. I’m always in awe of people who start opera companies, no matter what size, and so I took the chance to ask Kristine a bit about this new company in what is perhaps an unlikely community for opera.

All about Brott Opera

Interview

Taking place July 12-23rd, 2015, Brott Opera is a brand new program designed to give singers an opportunity to get onstage. Brott Opera is the brainchild of Artistic Director Boris Brott, celebrated conductor and founder of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, and Program Director Taras Kulish, bass-baritone and Executive Director of the McGill Chamber Orchestra.

Kira Braun: "I'm happiest when I'm singing."

Interview

It’s a good thing that Canadian soprano Kira Braun loves music; growing up in the Braun family could have gotten pretty loud, pretty quickly. Kira spent her life in music; her mother, Eleanor, worked as a professional flautist and her cousins Adi and Russell Braun are well-known names for music-loving Canadians. While she never stopped singing, Kira is newly inspired to find more opportunities to hop onstage.

Centre Stage: 7 finalists compete in the COC's Ensemble Studio Competition Gala

Interview

Next Tuesday, November 25th, the seven finalists from the national auditions for the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio will compete for precious few spots in the coveted young artist programme. Hosted by the beloved Canadian tenor Ben Heppner, the event is called Centre Stage, and it's an ongoing evolution of the audition process for these young singers.

Talking with singers: Elizabeth DeShong

Interview

American mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong is currently in Toronto, singing a whopping twelve performances of Suzuki in the COC's Madama Butterfly. I asked her about singing, about listening onstage, and roles she'd love to sing.

Opera 5's Aria Umezawa on Offenbach/Hahn

Interview

This weekend, Opera 5 puts up their fall show, a double bill featuring Reynaldo Hahn's L'île du rêve and Jacques Offenbach's Ba-ta-clan. Opera 5 is all about combining art forms (including the beloved culinary arts!), and I was curious about this pairing of Hahn's "idylle polynésienne" and Offenbach's "chinoiserie musicale".

Nicole Brooks on Obeah Opera

Interview

This weekend Nightwood Theatre presents the New Groundswell Festival, presenting new works of theatre through workshop productions and a series of play readings. One of the pieces being workshopped is Obeah Opera, created by Nicole Brooks and directed by Weyni Mengesha ('Da Kink in my Hair, Raisin in the Sun). Nicole is something of an artistic Renaissance woman, with credits as a filmmaker, playwright and director, and she'll appear in Obeah Opera as Tituba.

Alaina's AutoCorrect

Interview

Alaina Viau is the Artistic Director of LooseTEA Music Theatre. She's hard at work with the creative team of LooseTEA's upcoming double-bill, Love in the Age of AutoCorrect. The double-bill includes present-day adaptations of Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne and Stravinsky's Mavra.

Lighting #UncleJohn: Jason Hand

Interview

Lighting designer Jason Hand is no stranger to AtG. His lighting design was nominated for a Dora Award for Figaro's Wedding. With _Pelléas et Mélisande_ freshly closed, #UncleJohn will be the second al fresco performance in a row for Jason. I asked him about his work; he spoke eloquently about joining forces with Joel Ivany, hiking in Banff, and working with the sunset.