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Don't miss: The Other Side of the Sea

Don't miss: The Other Side of the Sea

Werner is a Paris-born soprano with an extraordinary predisposition for creativity. Aided by a short gig as an au pair in the UK, and studying music at Cambridge University, the native French-speaker now also speaks fluent English. It's her bilingualism that inspired The Other Side of the Sea, a piece which uses the metaphor of the sea "to explore the tension of an identity split linguistically".

Jenna Simeonov
Opera 5's Barber: fab singing & Spanish flair

Opera 5's Barber: fab singing & Spanish flair

One great concept is putting guitarist Andrew Cloutier into the action. He plays all the recitatives - a perfect sound that piques interest without pulling focus - and he plays a wordless role as the accompanist to Almaviva's serenades to Rosina, and to Rosina's singing lesson with "Don Alonso".

Jenna Simeonov
Michael Tilson Thomas takes on Ruggles: Mozart & Mahler

Michael Tilson Thomas takes on Ruggles: Mozart & Mahler

Thomas knew Ruggles as well as anyone could get to know this feisty Yankee, prone to being stubborn, cranky and downright disagreeable. Nonetheless, Thomas championed Ruggles, recording his complete music with the Buffalo Philharmonic and including his works with some frequency on programs in San Francisco.

John Hohmann
"I wrote Toward Tomorrow to bring attention to this crisis."

"I wrote Toward Tomorrow to bring attention to this crisis."

Since starting Opera Mariposa, Ko's performances have raised over $50,000 in support of treatment, education, and research of chronic neuroimmune disease.

Jenna Simeonov
Talking with singers: Jonathan Lemalu

Talking with singers: Jonathan Lemalu

"That it is a long-term process which never stops. From vocal improvement, to linguistic and stylistic authenticity, to stagecraft, to continually trying to make the business work as much for you, as you for it."

Jenna Simeonov
Talking with singers: Kiandra Howarth

Talking with singers: Kiandra Howarth

"The nomadic lifestyle, whilst extremely exciting can often become tiring especially if you aren't able to spend time at home with family. I have been quite fortunate over the past few years to have at least one or two jobs which take me back to Australia to spend time with my family. I also like to keep busy with yoga!"

Jenna Simeonov
Musicians of the MET Orchestra: Days of Their Lives

Musicians of the MET Orchestra: Days of Their Lives

Levine filed his suit a couple of months ago, on the day that the Met's new production of Così fan tutte, a specialty of his, opened without him. The timing of both suits was sadly ironic. The Met's move on May 18 must have affected at least some of the musicians in this band, that is still so much Levine's creation, as they prepared to open their Carnegie Hall series with Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn."

John Hohmann
CMIM Finals: one out of three ain't bad?

CMIM Finals: one out of three ain't bad?

Even for me, I was quite errant in my guesses for the winners of this year's Concours musical international de Montréal.

Jenna Simeonov
Considering Matthew Shepard: 20 years later

Considering Matthew Shepard: 20 years later

I love the word "consideration" - and its meaning to think about something carefully and thoughtfully, to bring one's attention to something. With this piece, I am inviting people, through music, to consider the story of Matthew Shepard's life, and in particular, how he died.

Jenna Simeonov
Jeremy Dutcher: "deep in dialogue" with his roots

Jeremy Dutcher: "deep in dialogue" with his roots

"It's crucial for us to make sure that we're using our language and passing it on to the next generation. If you lose the language, you're not just losing words; you're losing an entire way of seeing and experiencing the world from a distinctly indigenous perspective."

Jenna Simeonov

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