A singer's to-do list: 4 tasks to keep you focused this year

How-to

Readers, the beginning of a new school year is almost upon us. Some of you get excited by the autumn colours and the fresh notebooks; some of you emit a strong sigh of "here we go again." Whether you're a fan of the fall-to-spring grind or not, it's better-spent with a good dose of focus.

Don't miss: Esprit Orchestra's 35th anniversary season

News

For a pre-season taste, you can hear artists of the Esprit Orchestra and Canadian mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó perform Luciano Berio's Folk Songs at the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, October 3, 12pm.

Spotlight on: Martha Jones

Interview

"Good singing to me is when everything technically has slotted into the right place and allows freedom of expression to take over. This can happen when the ground work has been done to such a degree that in performance, every note and word can be 'chosen' in the moment. It's a very strange (almost out of body) experience!"

"Truth, as reconciliation": We Shall Not Be Moved

Interview

"As an artist, I am most concerned with offering an antidote to the ills of the world within our communities. As a Haitian-American composer, I am always wanting to create music that speaks to multiple, overlapping cultures, and combine sounds that might, upon an initial hearing, appear to conflict, and upon a deeper listening, offers resolution and beauty."

In review: Collision at Grimeborn

Review

The fact is, that when the world doesn't actually end, this show still makes an audience member think, "What was the point of all that?" And while this response may have been desired by Schwitters and his dada contemporaries, this 21st century opera-goer was a bit confused.

Aria guides: "Lieben, Hassen"

Editorial

This aria is dense and charming, and though it seems harmless, features more than a few surprising challenges. With the work you do in the practice room and with your teachers and coaches, our latest Aria Guide can help you navigate your way through this adorable little ditty.

Aria guides: Un aura amorosa

How-To

Mozart's Così fan tutte - that weird mix of romantic comedy and relationship commentary - is one of the most common picks in the operatic canon; yet for many tenors, Ferrando's first aria, "Un aura amorosa", tends to come with a bit of jitters and baggage. It's fairly slow, and sits in an exposed and tricky range of the voice. When it's done well, all the technical feats go largely unnoticed, overshadowed by the beauty of Mozart's writing.

Must-see mash-ups: Mozart vs Machine

News

"On one level, it feels very much like a musical cabaret-revue," says Wake-Walker, who directs Mozart vs Machine. "There is a narrative, there is a story that is told, but not in a traditional sense." That loose narrative tells of a malfunctioning time-machine, resulting in a chance meeting between Raymond Scott, early pioneer of electronic music, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

"Something Canadian": the Canadian Women Composers Project

News

Tonigussi has not only created a recital programme filled with music by Canadian composers and poets, but expanded her work into what is now the Canadian Women Composers Project, and taken the programme on tour with the help of pianists Jenna Richards, Narmina Efendiyeva, and Jenny Griffioen.

Don't miss Acis & Galatea: A Gender Liberation Opera

Interview

"In the world of opera and classical music, we tell a version of history that neglects LGBTQ+ people (as well as women and people of colour) and this is not because these communities and identities did not exist. It's because they were not treated equally and therefore were not as prominent in society or they assumed or feigned other identities to fit into society. Today, we embrace and celebrate diverse identities, but this is not reflected enough in our storytelling and programming in the operatic world."