Feisty, frivolous Don Pasquale not quite in the patter pocket

Review

While the amount of syllables that were flying by were impressive and the pace was astounding, I felt no one was really in the pocket of the piece -- neither the pit nor the stage.

Calgary Opera caps 23-24 season with innovative run of Wagner's Das Rheingold

Review

On this night, the chemistry and blend were first-rate, setting the tone for the night's performance. Each embodied a mischievous playfulness in their encounter with Alberich that sets the action of Das Rheingold in motion.

Vancouver Opera's smoking Carmen

Review

No longer set as a racial stereotype, Carmen and her companions are, simply, smugglers. No need to give them a particular racial background and attribute that to their criminal behaviour, they just happen to be a group of people living outside the law. And not only was none of the racial elements missed, it made it a much more cohesive story, making Don José an outsider not because of his ethnicity, but because he represents the law they're trying to evade.

100 years later, Boulanger's opera gets North American premiere

Review

The opera's intended 1914 premiere at the Opéra Comique was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I during which time the original orchestrations were lost. The origins of the Boulanger-Pugno work are almost as fraught with circumstance as D'Annunzio's libretto.

In transition, Boston Baroque's Don Giovanni shows very few bumps

Review

Boston Baroque's casting absolutely knocked it out of the park when it came to casting this particular production. It's a very rare time at the opera where I can say I feel everyone was memorable in their own way, but this performance had probably one of the best ensemble casts I've had the pleasure to watch.

Stellar singing and lots of swagger in Manitoba Opera's Carmen

Review

For Carmen the opera to really succeed, you need an exceptional Carmen like Ms. Costa-Jackson.

Fifties Futurism Figaro

Review

Their antics in act III were so funny that the music had to repeatedly pause because the audience was roaring with laughter.

Surrealism in Spain: Pacific Opera Victoria's Ainadamar

Review

Akin to a photographic vignette, each 'image' is a static setting onstage with highly stylized scenery, projections, and costumes. While the imagery is visually lush and brilliant, it made the pacing extremely slow, with little on-stage action to complement the modern design.

Vancouver Opera's Mod cats Don Pasquale

Review

Vocally, Polese was triumphant, breezing through incredibly difficult coloratura with such skill that it looked effortless.

Simplicity strikes a chord in BLO Anonymous Lover

Review

This opera is a rather simple affair, where the entire storyline is 'Valcour loves Leontine and absolutely cannot spit it out until their mutual friends and a young peasant couple in love inspire him to do so', and… that's it.