A lesbian chamber opera to span centuries: Pomegranate

Interview

"It shows how lovers can be so deeply bonded that they remain loyal to each other across huge time spans and are once again drawn together, even without recognizing why, just acting on instinct."

Sanitized tragedy: La traviata in Minnesota

Review

Violetta's most vulnerable moments were during the overtures behind a scrim. In the initial overture Violetta was seen revving herself up for the party between coughing fits, and before the final act Violetta dreams that Alfredo is still with her.

Talking with singers: Stephen Costello

Interview

"In my off time, I come home. My wife Yoon and I live in NY. She plays violin in the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera. I don't get enough of a chance to see her and I'm hardly ever at home."

Pomakov a dominating devil in Vancouver Opera's Faust

Review

The austere, dark sets and costuming were paired with relatively austere stage direction from François Racine. While the intention may have been to let the music speak for itself, in this case it seemed to slow the pace of the show, and gave the performers little to do on stage.

Vancouver Opera's Storybook Perfect Cenerentola

Review

Rossini is incredibly unforgiving in his lighting-fast patter, overlapping harmonies, and blistering tempi in the ensembles, and every single one was perfectly precise, executed flawlessly, and were still all funny, evocative, and playful.

A dismal opera: Werther

Review

The effect was darkly whimsical and visually captivating, allowing the drama to unravel within a framework of fiction – well-suited to the opera's poetic exaggerations and high-flying emotions.

The Mikado in the White House

Review

Although meant to generate laughs at the expense of privileged white people, it's extremely difficult today to present this show, even as gently written as it is, without entering dangerous racist waters.

The Verdi Chorus & the Walter Fox Singers: 36 years on

Interview

"These singers are also part of a whole team where they have a certain amount of responsibility as section leaders of the Verdi Chorus, and it is up to them to know their music better than anyone else and develop their musicianship."

Multifaceted success: HGO's The Phoenix

Review

In short, if this opera causes such a heady discussion about how best to fertilize our soil with culture, philosophy, and the pursuit of authentic enlightenment, it certainly deserves not only the reviews that will surely come up about it, but a whole book of Platonic dialogues as well!

Talking with singers: Gerald Finley

Interview

Shady characters aren't new for the affable Finley; before adding Iago, Baron Scarpia (Tosca), and Duke Bluebeard (Bluebeard's Castle) to his repertoire, his career was famously rooted in two of Mozart's most prominent cads, Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni) and Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro).