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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
Pountney's oversimplified War and Peace

Pountney's oversimplified War and Peace

Writing an opera of this scale is not a simple charge and the task of producing it faces even more challenges; it is an immense work to attempt to pay homage to. There were a few magical, sparkling moments on stage that were completely true to the book, perfectly capturing the essence of Tolstoy's words.

Alessia Naccarato
Opera on the Lake makes charismatic debut with Die Fledermaus

Opera on the Lake makes charismatic debut with Die Fledermaus

Characters would regularly go and stand at the bar to the right of the stage and "hang out" while the action was happening. This made for a very relaxed, fun and interactive atmosphere. In the Prince's aria during the party scene, Falke brought up a random audience member to take part in the festivities.

Callie Cooper
Unique venue makes for a fresh Così fan tutte

Unique venue makes for a fresh Così fan tutte

I really liked Ms. Manich's bold choice at the end of having the sisters have suitcases in hand ready to leave. Just as the music ends the women make eye contact with their former fiancés, and they freeze.

Callie Cooper

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