"Ah! Non abbiamo il soprano!"

News

In interesting timing, Gheorghiu recently announced that she would be cancelling her recital at London's Royal Festival Hall, which was scheduled for April 25th. Apparently, the soprano is ill, and her doctor has prescribed her some vocal rest. The concert hasn't yet been rescheduled, but hopefully that will change.

Has everyone seen The Tinder Opera?

Humour

Seriously, it's our current obsession. Brilliantly composed by Scott Joiner, and written/directed by Adam Taylor, Connection Lost isn't just funny "for an opera", it's goddamn hilarious, period. Brian Morales conducts a chamber ensemble and a host of opera singing Tinder dates, as one man's quest for romantic connection takes him through a lot of swiping left, and a charming amount of hopeful right-swiping.

Tales from stage management

Interview

Stage managers are an organized bunch, a team who knows everything about you, and what you'll need next. They help directors, singers, schedulers, wardrobe and make-up departments; they're the glue that holds the show together, and they stay humbly obscured, dressed in black and standing just out of the audience's sight.

In review: Jenůfa with the Czech Philharmonic

Review

As Jenůfa's mother, Kostelnička, Karita Mattila was a total force. She tore into the role's enormous range and horrific moments of drama with her notoriously brazen energy. She sang wildly at moments, yet it was funneled through a perfect character, one who constantly veers outside the comfortable and controlled.

Opera for voyeurs: Opera Peep Show

Interview

Opera Peep Show begins with a cocktail party in the bar, where the audience can choose different opera scenes from a menu. When they pick a scene, they pay a fee and are given a room key. They then walk into an opera scene happening in one of the museum’s rooms, already in progress. Each scene is presented by a different Toronto-based indie opera company. Opera Peep Show experiments with pay-as-you-go micro-payments for the audience.

Talking with Renaissance men: Matthew Sharp

Interview

Matthew Sharp is one of those tirelessly creative types. He's a solo cellist, baritone, actor, director, and general theatre creator; as often as he can, Sharp combines all of the above into his work, earning himself the title, "virtuoso of the arts" (The Times). Our conversation was a complicated, enlightening one, so much so that a single interview wouldn't quite cut it.

Hilarious: Carl Orff's "fun, handsome goose"

Humour

Misheard lyrics, anyone? In the name of fail-safe laughter, we wanted to share with you what's perhaps the funniest versions of Orff's Carmina Burana available today. And yes, we should absolutely get that octopus some boots, and send him to North Korea.

Inspiration: seeing it for oneself

Op-ed

It's funny how imagination is strengthened by experience. Here in Britain, we've seen grassy hills, greener than ever seemed possible in real life, and populated with the cutest, shaggiest sheep you've ever seen. The Thames river is a heavy, looming landmark that's rarely blue, and it swerves and veers through the middle of London in a way that's unmistakable on a map.

In review: Javier Camarena at Wigmore Hall

Review

This recital was the best use of the "crowd pleasing" tactic. Camarena chose repertoire with which he just couldn't have gone wrong, but he followed up expectation with perfect delivery. It's no wonder that he holds rank along with Pavarotti and Flórez, as the third singer in 70 years to encore an aria at the Metropolitan Opera.

The pre-show monologue

Humour

Ok, shrug off the coat, and find your phone. Do-not-disturb setting, don't fail me now. 1 minute left! Time for an anticipatory show-related Tweet. Sir to my left, I see you eyeing my phone and drawing conclusions related to my lack of grey hair; don't you worry, though, I will not live up to your stereotype of mid-show texters. Tweet sent! Double check volume is off, and let's add airplane mode for good measure. See, sir to my left, phone is going into the purse.