Jonathan Tunick's symphony size orchestration for Sondheim's A Little Night Music
Reviews
![Stellar singing and lots of swagger in Manitoba Opera's Carmen](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1713282681/sqMO_Carmen_MO_2024.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1713282681/sqMO_Carmen_MO_2024.jpg 2x)
Stellar singing and lots of swagger in Manitoba Opera's Carmen
ReviewFor Carmen the opera to really succeed, you need an exceptional Carmen like Ms. Costa-Jackson.
![Fifties Futurism Figaro](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1712933711/sqPOV_The_Marriage_of_Figaro_0668.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1712933711/sqPOV_The_Marriage_of_Figaro_0668.jpg 2x)
Fifties Futurism Figaro
ReviewTheir 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](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1709298156/sqPacific_Opera_Ainadamar_0543.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1709298156/sqPacific_Opera_Ainadamar_0543.jpg 2x)
Surrealism in Spain: Pacific Opera Victoria's Ainadamar
ReviewAkin 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](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1709082000/sqDP_VO_-_Principals_of_Don_Pasquale_-_Photo_Emily_Cooper.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1709082000/sqDP_VO_-_Principals_of_Don_Pasquale_-_Photo_Emily_Cooper.jpg 2x)
Vancouver Opera's Mod cats Don Pasquale
ReviewVocally, Polese was triumphant, breezing through incredibly difficult coloratura with such skill that it looked effortless.
![Simplicity strikes a chord in BLO Anonymous Lover](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1708525012/sqBLO_anon_Valcour_Omar_Najmi_advises_Leontine_Brianna_J.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1708525012/sqBLO_anon_Valcour_Omar_Najmi_advises_Leontine_Brianna_J.jpg 2x)
Simplicity strikes a chord in BLO Anonymous Lover
ReviewThis 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.
![Archibald shines in COC's whimsical, physical Vixen](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1707867217/sqCOCVixen_23-24-03-MC-D-0422.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1707867217/sqCOCVixen_23-24-03-MC-D-0422.jpg 2x)
Archibald shines in COC's whimsical, physical Vixen
ReviewWhile the direction was creative and clear for the most part, I felt the show was trying to tackle too many struggles in a way that I think somewhat detracted from what I assume the primary allegory is: the need for feminism.
![Thrilling debuts and stellar alumni in the COC's Don Giovanni](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1707867220/sqCOCdg_23-24-04-MC-D-0901.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1707867220/sqCOCdg_23-24-04-MC-D-0901.jpg 2x)
Thrilling debuts and stellar alumni in the COC's Don Giovanni
ReviewThe set and design were a technical marvel. The massive stage was filled with a giant cube, with morphing walls and configurations set on a revolve. There seemed to be an endless amount of staircases.
![High notes and deep emotion: don't miss FGO's I pagliacci](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1706386600/FGO_pagliacci_1.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1706386600/FGO_pagliacci_1.jpg 2x)
High notes and deep emotion: don't miss FGO's I pagliacci
ReviewTogether, Pulliam and Brown form a powerhouse duo, breathing life into the timeless narrative of I pagliacci.
![López sings a nuanced Violetta in FGO's Traviata](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1700232379/sqFG_traviata_Eric_Joannes_Traviata-1752.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1700232379/sqFG_traviata_Eric_Joannes_Traviata-1752.jpg 2x)
López sings a nuanced Violetta in FGO's Traviata
ReviewCecilia Violetta López's portrayal of Violetta Valéry was a _tour de force_. Her nuanced performance effortlessly traversed the character's emotional complexity, delivering a portrayal that was both vulnerable and powerful.
![Vancouver Opera's glittery Magic Flute](https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_740,h_490,c_fill,g_faces/v1698325681/sqVO_The_Magic_Flute_-_Kirsten_MacKinnon_and_Owen_McCausland_-_Emily_Cooper_Photography.jpg 1x, https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/w_1480,h_980,c_fill,g_faces/v1698325681/sqVO_The_Magic_Flute_-_Kirsten_MacKinnon_and_Owen_McCausland_-_Emily_Cooper_Photography.jpg 2x)
Vancouver Opera's glittery Magic Flute
ReviewVocally breathtaking, with phenomenal control, [MacKinnon] would effortlessly float high notes above the orchestra, and then tackle larger passages with incredible vocal strength and size. An absolute force of nature who brought the house down.