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Opera is Alive & Kicking & here are the videos to prove it

Opera is Alive & Kicking & here are the videos to prove it

In Fishenfeld's own enthusiastic words: "American Opera is approachable, relevant, relatable, IN ENGLISH, and made for YOU, the American people!"

Jenna Simeonov
"Incredibly clever" Trittico onstage in Victoria

"Incredibly clever" Trittico onstage in Victoria

Aviva Fortunata as Giorgetta is a standout in Tabarro, with a warm full soprano, and barely-contained frustration and anger at being made to stay on the boat. Her desperation when she tries to leave her estranged husband is palpable as she nearly betrays her plan to escape.

Melissa Ratcliff
The Most Happy Fella: a lesson in unconditional love

The Most Happy Fella: a lesson in unconditional love

Written by Guys and Dolls' Frank Loesser, I expected it to be simple and toe-tapping (don't get me wrong - I love Guys and Dolls!). The two grand pianos that served as Skylark's fearless orchestra, music direction by Carson Schneider, provided a sound not of the fun loving Runyon musical, but a mixture of Rodgers and Hammerstein with a dash of Leoncavello.

Callie Cooper
#TheStories, part 13

#TheStories, part 13

"It seems to be quite a non-standardized industry, so many people think they can dictate how 'the industry' is run, and they can tell that to young, inexperienced, bright-eyed bushy-tailed students, and do whatever they want."

Jenna Simeonov
A Parisian Traviata Spectacle

A Parisian Traviata Spectacle

This production is feast for the eyes and ears. So much to see and listen to, full of emotional highs and lows, and a stage full of amazing talent.

Melissa Ratcliff
Joynt angelic in Canadian debut as Gilda in Edmonton Opera's Rigoletto

Joynt angelic in Canadian debut as Gilda in Edmonton Opera's Rigoletto

With Rigoletto, Edmonton Opera connects with a wide spectrum of themes that most people will identify: the danger of power that goes unchecked, the fear when those closest to you are threatened, and the purity of love and being loved. If you've never seen an opera before, this is a production that will definitely get you hooked.

Oliver Munar
The Bohos come home: AtG's Bohème is back at the (dive) bar

The Bohos come home: AtG's Bohème is back at the (dive) bar

For those paying attention, Ivany's libretto only updates details, the kind that are in place to connect character with audience. If we were to strip away the hipster scarves and references to manscaping and BMV, we're still left with the original personalities from the libretto by Illica and Giacosa.

Jenna Simeonov
Cuervo's "sophisticated, lyric" Frida in Atlanta

Cuervo's "sophisticated, lyric" Frida in Atlanta

Frida and Diego encounter many struggles, the communist revolution turning against Diego, the pair travelling to New York, their struggle to carry a pregnancy to full term, and their return to Mexico, which led to Diego’s many affairs.

Daniel Weisman
Talking with singers: Michelle Bradley

Talking with singers: Michelle Bradley

"The hard part is when I lock myself in a room and go over the score, figure out who the character is, make sure I get every pianissimo and forte, and accent and legato. When I come here, it's already engrained in me. I can just go where the director tells me to go."

Eva Cahen
#TheStories, part 12

#TheStories, part 12

At one point, I tried to express how uncomfortable I was, my teacher told me that I was an adult and I could have left at any time. I was 20. On my way back home, my teacher's husband told me that they had decided to increase John's paycheque for all of the extra work he had put in.

Jenna Simeonov

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