In review: Synesthesia IV pt.1

Review

The singing was clean and beautiful, even if in my opinion there was far too little of it. MacArthur's light lyric tone and fantastic English diction marry so well with contemporary pieces, I was felt wanting a lot more from him - not because his performance lacked anything, but the complete opposite; he was so good I wanted more, but there were only 2 pieces of the six that featured a singing vocal line.

Aria Umezawa: Opera 5's Die Fledermaus, with surprises

Interview

June 8-11 at Toronto's 918 Bathurst, Opera 5 presents Die Fledermaus, that beloved, waltz-tastic tale of parties and blackmail. Rachel Krehm and Michael Barrett star as Rosalinde and Eisenstein, sharing the stage with Julie Ludwig as Adele, Keith Lam as Falke, and Erin Lawson as the heiress Oksana Orlofsky. Of course, in Opera 5 fashion, this Die Fledermaus is updated, interactive, and audiences will meet a very special guest, by the name of Pearle Harbour.

Is it time for the Met to move?

Editorial

It would be decidedly difficult for the Met as a company to wriggle free from the Met as a building. They're absolutely one and the same, especially for the new audiences, who are being courted while loyal subscribers grow older, and single-ticket buyers become more important sales targets. For these new people that the Met wants in their seats, the experience of going to that building is as much a part of the evening as the show itself.

John Cage à la death metal

Humour

We love everything about this video. Austrian death metal band Dead Territory has recorded John Cage's 4'33", and it's a great mix of respectful and funny (is it supposed to be funny? Maybe that's part of the aleatory). Kudos to these guys for staying true to their own style, for honouring the piece's three movements, and for sheer commitment.

6 animals who love opera more than penguins

Humour

If you haven't yet heard, there's a certain waddle of penguins (apparently it's "waddle", not "flock"!) in Antarctica that get totally freaked out by the sound of a tenor:

Talking with singers: Melody Moore

Interview

"It feels like heaven to sing this music. It is a perfect 'lean' into an orchestra that supports and urges forward. I suppose, in singing larger Puccini roles, that I began to see room for roles like Senta and Sieglinde, as did professional coaches and conductors surrounding me - who encouraged me to begin looking into Strauss, Wagner, and Janáček."

Aria guides: Parto, parto

How-To

Sesto's Act I aria from La clemenza di Tito is somewhat of an Olympian feat for mezzo-sopranos. Packed into about 5 minutes, the aria has it all: a big, wide range, sustained lyric singing, and some intimidating coloratura saved for the end. The latest in our series of Aria Guides is dedicated to easing the learning curve for all aspiring Sestos, a supportive start to go with your invaluable time spent with your teachers and coaches.

A Little Too Cozy: Off-camera with Don L. Fonzo & Despina

Interview

"For some of our male contestants, it can be difficult to go without any female contact for such an extended period of time. I just make sure that they are happy and relaxed when the film starts to roll. And I try to give contestants advice about getting the most out of this opportunity — and I don't mean finding 'true love'; I mean creating a brand or future career opportunities. "

Constantly new: the Kronos Quartet

Review

Though not surprising, based on the Quartet's history, their concert was one that reminded us that there still exist new sounds, new ways of playing these very old instruments. That included the "show" aspect of a string quartet performance; now a staple element of the music they perform, theirs is an organic use of amplification, helped by sound designer Scott Fraser, and effective lighting design, by Brian H. Scott.

The opera pianist's list o' priorities

How-to

Firstly, they can get hung up in all the notes, and start to drag the tempo as a result; the bigger trap actually precedes this first one, and that's spending too much time on all the notes. We're not suggesting you trade in fluttering scales for mashing the keys like a gorilla, but it's about picking your battles.