3 children's books that would make excellent operas

Editorial

Simple and evocative language, a close relationship between visuals and text, even a few great rhymes thrown around — this is the stuff of excellent children's literature. And in case I'm not clearly driving my point home, the stuff of great operas.

Help! The pandemic has made me opera-conservative!

Op-Ed

My psuedo-psychological theory is this: I'm not so much anxious for the shows themselves (although, I can still feel the stomach-pangs that hit me all last year, each time a cancelled production popped up on my Google calendar); rather, I'm naïvely waiting on society to rewind, to go back to "before".

Don't miss: Angel Blue's star-studded webinar

Editorial

Star mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, Grammy-nominated countertenor Anthony Roth Constanzo, acclaimed stage director James Robinson (who directs both Fire and Porgy at the Met), and David Lomeli, Santa Fe Opera's Artistic Administrator and Casting Director at the Bayerische Staatsoper — they'll all join Blue for a 90-minute discussion moderated by Opera America CEO Marc Scorca.

Good things: AOC's Artist Fellowship

Editorial

The second iteration of the RBC Artist Fellowship has been announced, with an aim to give voice and professional experience to Canadian artists in their early careers. Applications for this year's Fellowship are due October 4, 2021; you can find the forms in English and French.

Talking with singers: Matthew Anchel

Interview

"What I think happens a lot, is that you have people who are maybe more stereotypically attractive in thin bodies, who maybe have medium voices — not the best voices in the world." These singers are well promoted, Anchel says, and they get opportunities to work with opera's best. "So they get really good at singing, even though maybe their voice isn't that amazing."

Radical women & drag Don José: Chicago Opera Theater's Carmen

Interview

"Women who are independent, strong, and sexually liberated have a long history of receiving society's scorn because they refuse to break themselves in order to fit the approved mold. Carmen is many things, but a slutty, evil temptress? Nope."

Season highlights out of the COC, the TSO, and 21C (oh my!)

Editorial

But if you ask me and my opera-bias, the big draw for this season's 21C is the world premiere of Gould's Wall, the new opera by Brian Current and Liza Balkan, produced by new-opera leaders, Tapestry Opera.

Happening now: OTSL's digital 2021

Editorial

I intend to take it all in, and I'm particularly excited to experience Will Liverman and Nicole Cabell in a production together. Plus, Patricia Racette's Elle is an exciting thought.

An opera fan's must-read: The Monster I Am Today

Review

The Monster I Am Today is an excellent pick for the contemporary opera fan. It's grand and operatic, with its emotional peaks and depths. For me, it's a completely new — and frankly, overdue — perspective on this beloved art form. It's a fresh read, and I highly recommend.

Aria guides: La donna è mobile

How-To

Probably in large part due to Pavarotti himself, this aria is in that upper echelon of the canon that's recognizable in the mainstream. This aria a dance, somewhat of a ditty; it would almost be fluff, if not for the Duke spewing some old-school chauvinist views on women.