In review: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Review

On Friday, June 5th I hit up Artscape Wychwood Barns to see a small production of William Finn's 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Based on an improvisation play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-L-E conceived by Rebecca Feldman, this show took the Tony Awards and Broadway by storm in 2005. I love this show, so it was a no-brainer to check it out.

In review: Death & Desire

Review

Death & Desire is a blending of two art song cycles. One, Die schöne Müllerin by the art song emperor, Franz Schubert and the second by France's master of the bird call, Olivier Messiaen, called Harawi. It's not an opera in the traditional sense, as per usual with AtG. It is, however, one of the most coherent, artistic and thrilling examples of lyric theatre to date.

Kristin Hoff's Love Songs

Review

As part of Sing! - The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival, I heard mezzo Kristin Hoff perform the one-woman vocal feat by Ana Sokolovic, Love Songs. The work was commissioned by Queen of Puddings Music Theatre (premiered in 2009 by Lauren Phillips), and it's a compilation of love poetry in over 100 hundred languages, all sung a cappella.

In review: M'dea Undone

Review

I went with Greg last night to see M'dea Undone, Tapestry Opera's much-anticipated world premiere by composer John Harris and librettist Marjorie Chan. The short version of this review is that I loved, loved it, and it was one of the most integrated nights out at the opera I'd experienced.

The Bicycle Opera Project at 21C

Review

Last night, as part of the Royal Conservatory of Music's ongoing contemporary music festival, 21C, the Bicycle Opera Project presented a teaser of their upcoming season. The BOP team will first take up an artist residency in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, to premiere Dean Burry's new opera, The Bells of Baddeck.

In review: Owen McCausland's recital stunner

Review

At yesterday's noon-hour concert in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, COC Ensemble Studio member Owen McCausland had the stage (mostly) to himself. Owen sang a full recital, including 6 of the Janáček songs, plus selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams' The House of Life and Benjamin Britten's Les illuminations.

In review: Ekaterina Gubanova & Rachel Andrist in recital

Review

Since Ekaterina was completely stunning in Bluebeard, I was eager to hear her up close, in the well-lit Amphitheatre. The women treated us to two sets of Russian songs; Three Songs by Tchaikovsky preceded Modest Mussorgsky's amazing Songs and Dances of Death.

(not quite) In review: The COC Ensemble Studio's Barber of Seville

Review

After much hype and much rehearsal, the young artists of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio had their go at The Barber of Seville on the Four Seasons Centre Stage. This is a yearly offering for the Ensemble Studio; for one performance a year, they step into the roles of a mainstage production, which they've also been following as understudies.

In review: Toronto Masque Theatre's Les Indes Mécaniques

Review

I braved the land of construction last night, heading to the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre to catch the final instalment of Toronto Masque Theatre's 2014/15 season. TMT presents Rameau's Les Indes Mécaniques (ou Les Automates de Topkapi), a delightfully bizarre opera about girls and boys, and how they end up with each other.

He said/she said: Talisker Players, with Carla Huhtanen & Andrea Ludwig

Review

Tuesday night, Greg & I went to hear the Talisker Players at Trinity-St. Paul's on Bloor. The Players' chamber series is always a guarantee for great performances and interesting programming, and this concert was no exception. Entitled Heroes, Gods & Mortals, the programme included two of my favourite singers to watch: Carla Huhtanen and Andrea Ludwig.