Don't let the upbeat tunes deceive you: DMMO's Candide

Review

If you're looking for a theatrical farce that will leave you with a lot of questions about the human condition, then look no further than Des Moines Metro Opera's charming production of Candide.

All that glitters: WTO's magical double-bill

Review

Jonathan Knipscher designed glorious costumes across the board - Merlin's sequined suit, sequined tracksuit, sequined capes for the mermaids… Basically a lot of sequins that were complemented by shimmery curtains designed by Julia Noulin-Mérat.

Bon Appetit indeed: don't miss Muse 9's delicious, musical menu

Interview

"Julia Child was a woman of vision and passion, who carved her way through male dominated industry with grace and sense of humour. Even living in this modern day society, we as women are often faced with challenges and roadblocks that differ from men."

NEMPAC's innocent, affecting, slightly uneven Little Prince

Review

One may ask oneself if the hyper-tonal, rather simplistic harmonic and melodic language of the source is perhaps too accessible for opera, but in my case I am not so certain it could have been done any other way.

Talking with singers: Jennifer Zetlan

Interview

"I love to tell stories and I love great music, and I can't imagine a better blend of the two! That I get to do it for a living constantly astonishes me, no exaggeration."

Don't miss: Macbeth in Vancouver

Interview

"Treachery, swordfights, murders, wild women in the woods telling the future…what isn't to love? And the way Verdi tells the tale musically, he really makes my job easy – I just have to listen to what the music is asking of us."

Thomas Guthrie on puppetry and opera: "It's really magical."

Interview

"The biggest thing is believing yourself that the character is real, is alive. Then it draws on your own experiences, your own emotions, in order to communicate."

Stonewall: "Uplifting and eerily timely."

Interview

"I hope audiences will walk away inspired, with renewed strength to fight back against the oppression of marginalized communities."

When it's not about the music per se

Review

It’s a truly original idea. Two performers (a mezzo soprano and baritone,) portraying two sides of the same coin: a transgender character named Hannah. Born a boy and dressed like a boy in sneakers and a letterman jacket, Hannah (in the baritone phase of their life) secretly wears a blouse underneath because “it feels so right,” as they deliver their newspapers on a paper route.

Reliably bubbly Belle Hélène a delight

Review

But even with the small missteps, Odyssey Opera once again hit a home run. La Belle Hélène is that rare Offenbach operetta that doesn’t necessarily run like a clockwork mouse in terms of efficiency, but with the right cast it can still prove to be a fun, lighthearted evening at the opera.