San Diego Opera's 60th Anniversary La bohème sees Mimì as a ghost
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Short list: this month with the TSO
NewsNovember is a great month for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and I figured I'd share a couple of my picks for the coming weeks.
Aptly named: The Living Spectacle
NewsTonight the Canadian Art Song Project presents The Living Spectacle, a recital of music, new and old, Canadian and otherwise. On paper, it may not look much different from other recitals; I had a chance to see the dress rehearsal of tonight's concert, and not only was it extraordinary in presentation, but it got me genuinely excited about Canadians who make music.
Tools: The Big Book of Variable Income
NewsHow's it going, freelancers? All going according to plan? Said plan made well in advance? In case the answer is "no", or even a hesitant "yes", Rags to Reasonable has a new tool to help: The Big Book of Variable Income.
The AGO, now with more music!
NewsThe AGO has partnered with Tapestry Opera to launch a new concert series on Friday evenings, each featuring music go to hand-in-hand with what's on at the Gallery. Yesterday the AGO launched J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free, an exhibition of over 50 large-scale paintings and watercolours by British artist Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851).
Go see this: Tap:Ex Metallurgy
NewsTapestry opera continues its kick-ass 2015/16 season with the latest instalment of Tap:Ex Metallurgy. Tap:Ex is a performance series started by Artistic Director Michael Mori, that is "committed to radically redefining the future of opera." Metallurgy blends opera with punk rock, as Canadian punk band Fucked Up shares the stage with tenor David Pomeroy and mezzo-soprano (and chameleon) Krisztina Szabó.
Hear the premiere of Abraham, support the Syrian Refugee Program
NewsTomorrow night, head to the Metropolitan United Church to hear the première of Abraham, a new oratorio by Dora award-winning composer David Warrack (Torontosaurus, Oh Susanna, Interpretations of a Life). Tickets start at $36, and funds raised will go towards the Church's Syrian Refugee Program.
On the air: Sunday Night with the TSO
NewsThis weekend, turn your radio-like devices to Classical 96.3 FM for the latest episode of Sunday Night with the TSO. Recently I joined hosts Kathleen Kajioka and Jeff Melanson (President and CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) and fellow guest Michael Vincent (editor, Musical Toronto) for a somewhat meta-conversation about the value of music criticism.
Mahler's 2nd: in memory of Elizabeth Krehm
NewsOpera 5 Artistic Director Rachel Krehm and her family present a benefit concert to raise funds for St. Michael's Hospital, where Rachel's sister Elizabeth passed away on November 17, 2012 at the age of 22. The concert is part of an annual series started by the Krehm family in 2013, in honour of Elizabeth and of the wonderful care she received from the doctors and nurses of St. Michael's Hospital.
Pyramus, Thisbe, and Canadian opera history
NewsSunday night I got to witness a dress rehearsal for an amazing thing happening here in Toronto. For the first time I saw a Canadian composer take a curtain call on the Canadian Opera Company stage after the performance of what will be a world premiere Canadian work.
Hear a little opera, change some lives
NewsThis Friday, October 23rd, at Heliconian Hall, "Duelling Divas" Kathleen Promane, mezzo-soprano, and Allison Arends, soprano, present a concert full of arias and duets. Pianist Maika'i Nash joins the two ladies, who will be looking very bejeweled indeed with accessories by designer Catherine Sequalino-Poitier. Tickets are $25 at the door and $20 in advance, available by email phone (647-833-5400).