Kidon Choi
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This year's Elizabeth Krehm Memorial Concert: a follow-up
Op-edAt last count, the evening raised over $20,000 for the ICU at St. Michael's Hospital, showing once again that music can heal almost any hurt. On the whole, since the inaugural concert, the Krehms have raised over $60,000 in support of the place that provided Elizabeth with the top-level care and support.
Talking with singers: Ekaterina Semenchuk
Interview"Amneris is one of the most difficult roles in the mezzo-soprano repertory. It requires intense concentration and incredible physical and moral commitment, not only in the last act as many people believe. At the very beginning of the opera, a careful, disturbing and somewhat ominous leitmotif of jealousy sounds. Amneris appears with it, lives with it throughout the opera, and by the last act the motive has become a storm."
Art song initiative commissions texts by children with autism
NewsHearing Ryan describe his greatest dream moved the Lynx team to find a way to use art song to elevate his voice and others like his. "I want to see the world not by the whole, but by the all too beautiful small things." - Ryan, age 17.
In review: Naomi's Road
ReviewAs Canadians, we pride ourselves on our acceptance of others, our inclusivity, and our concern for the well-being of others - but our record is not unblemished. There have been many missteps and atrocities committed by Canadians from which we can't shy away. Especially now, when we see who's running for the leadership of one of Canada's major political parties. We can not let ourselves go back to a time when stories like the one I saw tonight were happening.
Honing your craft: opera courses at The Associated Studios
NewsIf you're interested in training that's focused, yet flexible, have a look through the courses offered by Associate Studios. They audition on a rolling basis, with the next confirmed dates on November 30 and December 15, 2016. Click here to find out more about their Opera Courses, and to apply online.
Don't miss: Story Binge II
NewsThis year's line-up is an intriguing collection of opera shorts and scenes from larger works, telling stories about everything: break-ups, moving to Mars, copyright infringement, women from the Bible, life as a POW, and even different societal perceptions of AIDS.
Don't miss: Esprit Orchestra presents m'M
NewsThe "M" in Leroux's m'M is the phonetic interpretation of the French word for "love" ("aime"); complementary to the concerto grosso form - a handful of musicians playing alongside a large ensemble - Leroux offers that "'m' represents a small group of instrumentalists within the orchestra, and 'M' represents the remaining larger combination of players surrounding the small group."
Talking with singers: Sondra Radvanovsky
Interview"It took me twenty years to get here," says Radvanovsky of the long game that is the opera singer's career. "Twenty years of cracking on high notes at the Metropolitan Opera, and saying, 'This didn't work tonight, let's try it another way!'" And the work is still not over.
In review: Les contes d'Hoffmann
ReviewHis Hoffmann was strapping, sexy, and desperate, and his open-throated, silvery sound was utterly thrilling. He sang with an extraordinary range of colour, and he took us through the vocal evolution of Hoffmann, as he accumulates more and more emotional baggage from his failed affairs.
Get curious at FAWN 2016/17
NewsFAWN will announce the three composers selected by audiences at last season's Synesthesia IV pt. 1: Sound and Body; plus, they'll reveal details about their new collaboration with Canadian composer Anna Höstman. Throughout the evening, music by Höstman and the three audience-chosen composers will "emerge sporadically" as guests mingle and drink.