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Imagine a day: Mysterious Barricades

Imagine a day: Mysterious Barricades

In 15 cities across Canada, roughly 400 musicians are offering free live concerts, "for the purpose of providing healing and connection to those who are affected by suicide, either in surviving a loss or in dealing with their own mental health issues."

Jenna Simeonov
5 items to make touring life more fun

5 items to make touring life more fun

We were away for six weeks in the fall and four in the spring, touring our opera in remote parts of Québec and Ontario. It may not have been France, but I have had some of the best moments in my professional life.

Charlotte Gagnon
Projecting on opera: Oper Frankfurt's Radamisto in revival

Projecting on opera: Oper Frankfurt's Radamisto in revival

Then the production succumbs to another tired trope in an attempt to solve the problem of too little too late. Tiridate slits everyone's throat in the midst of their celebratory epilogue as if to ask: is it still opera if no one dies?

Jeremy Hirsch
Don't miss: Journey Opera North's bold inaugural production

Don't miss: Journey Opera North's bold inaugural production

In a preview on Monday, the company showed an impressive cast of young local talent and a very thoughtful premise for the controversial show. The company has also included a violence and intimacy director in the production - a presence that, hopefully, will some day be a regular credit in programs.

Callie Cooper
Open secrets, big egos, & opera creeps

Open secrets, big egos, & opera creeps

I'm just done with it. It's exhausting and gross. I've learned (unfortunately) that on the Venn diagram of people who are pro-opera and people who are creeps, there's serious overlap.

Jenna Simeonov
AtG & UofT's Summer Modern Intensive: "They are eager. Period."

AtG & UofT's Summer Modern Intensive: "They are eager. Period."

"The singers all study or have studied music and want to immerse themselves in the process and see how far they can stretch themselves. It can be daunting, but they are up for the challenge."

Jenna Simeonov
Little room for creativity in Font's WTO Barber

Little room for creativity in Font's WTO Barber

This was a co-production with multiple opera houses around the world, including Houston Grand Opera and Opera Australia. As usual, the individuals in the company were top notch vocally, but unfortunately the production over all fell flat.

Callie Cooper
A freshly mixed bag at Tête-à-Tête's Opera Festival

A freshly mixed bag at Tête-à-Tête's Opera Festival

What I like about The Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival is that it is always a mixed bag. It is an incredibly liberating thing to watch so many creative performers and theatre-makers experiment with the limitations of the form.

Alessia Naccarato
Site-specific & intimate: selections from Tête-à-Tête: The Opera Festival

Site-specific & intimate: selections from Tête-à-Tête: The Opera Festival

All senses were catered to as audience members were misted with fragrant water and touched softly by the performers while being whispered and sung to directly.

Alessia Naccarato
Talking with singers: Mario Bahg

Talking with singers: Mario Bahg

"The greatest purpose is to be evaluated. Every major competition brings famous vocalists or professionals involved in music to the jury."

Jenna Simeonov

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