"A problematic creaky old masterpiece": Les vêpres siciliennes

Review

I don't understand why we haven't critically and fundamentally re-read all of these classic operas. I am a huge fan of modernising the way we produce opera, but I think has to include radical re-readings of characters and scenarios, not just new costuming and concepts.

He said/she said: a sweet Elixir at the COC

Review

Haji's Nemorino didn't whine or pine; instead, he took the refreshing route of unashamed honesty, piquing Adina's curiosity by being one of the few (only?) men in her life who presents himself as just that - himself. It brought to mind that line from The Office, when Kelly Kapoor muses, "I mean, who says exactly what they're thinking? What kind of game is that?"

Opera's sexual assault secret

Op-ed

There are the rumors of programs stockpiled with shockingly handsome young singers, the conductor who trolls dating apps for singers in his production, the director who always has to show singers how to stage a love scene by taking the soprano's place and kissing the male lead.

A very happy 20th birthday for Classical Opera

Review

As a birthday celebration Classical Opera couldn't have chosen a better program, one which extolled the magic and mystery of music. How else can you explain its ability to inspire and move us, to represent human emotion through pure sound? Ian Page and Classical Opera have shown us that music is a gift to the world. Or as Schiller put it when writing about joy, "beauteous sparks of the gods".

Talking with conductors: Oliver Zeffman

Interview

"I set up the Melos Sinfonia at 16 - no-one is going to invite a wannabe conductor with zero experience in front of their orchestra, so you've got to start something yourself. Ask your friends from school, from youth orchestra, their friends and relatives. You'll probably be terrible to start out with (I was at least!) but over time you get better, they get better, you build a wider network of players and at some point you'll be making good music!"

Embarrassments of riches: Opera Season at the BBC

News

The eight hours of live streaming includes interviews, exclusive performance, archive footage and behind-the-scenes content; the day culminates on BBC Radio 3, where listeners can vote for one of four Royal Opera productions (The Magic Flute, Faust, Tosca and The Flying Dutchman) to be broadcast that evening.

Review: Arabella, or "Poor Little Rich Girl"

Review

Unlike the song-dialogue-song-dialogue-duet-quintet-dialogue-finale formula of operetta - which uses dance forms like polka, czardas, and waltzes - in Arabella, we find characteristic soaring beauty and dramatic pulse in a through-composed score which is what we love about Herr Strauss's music. The appealing play between consonant and dissonant harmonies, lush strings, and emphatic brass were handled masterfully well from the pit under the baton of maestro Patrick Lange.

Don't miss: Oshawa Opera's 2017/18 season

News

This month, the Oshawa Opera kicks off its fall season of 2017/18, with Mascagni's verismo favourite, Cavalleria rusticana, for one performance only on October 29, 3pm. Mezzo-soprano (and Oshawa Opera Artistic Director) Kristine Dandavino (Santuzza), tenor Jason Lamont (Turridu), mezzo-soprano Anna Belikova (Lucia), baritone Kyle Lehmann (Alfio), and mezzo-soprano Victoria Borg (Lola) join the Oshawa Opera Chorus and William Shookhoff at the piano.

Duets for lunch: UofT Opera in concert

Review

Hearing pre-professional singers is always fascinating, at least for me. It's a chance to hear new voices, in a context that allows for the in-flux status of their vocal development. Personal opinion: voices that are settling and sorting themselves out are one of the world's most interesting things.

Don Pasquale: a colorful season starter at Minnesota Opera

Review

This production had an entertaining concept, though I wish it had been taken further. The "release" of the technicolor was not gradual enough to stay present in the audience minds in the second and third act. Additionally, Doctor Malatesta's apparel was changed into vibrant colors but the Don's was not. It would have been interesting for his clothes to change when he is at the end of his rope with Norina; then, when there was a happy ending to switch back to black and white.