Artist of the Week
Artist of the Week 34 Qs for Keri Alkema
American soprano Keri Alkema delighted Canadian audiences this month when she reprised the title role in the Canadian Opera Company‘s production of Puccini’s beloved Tosca. She sits down with us to reflect on her first singing lesson, her favourite opera house, opera roles she’d like to be singing in 10 years & more.
Artist of the Week 28 Qs for Quinn Kelsey
American Baritone Quinn Kelsey is in Toronto debuting the title role in the Canadian Opera Company‘s brand new production of Verdi’s Macbeth. We caught up with Kelsey, one of the world’s most celebrated baritones, to chat all things opera – from silly stage mishaps to “bromances”, and everything in between.
Artist of the Week 17 Qs for Joyce El-Khoury
Lebanese-Canadian Soprano Joyce E-Khoury is in Montreal, singing the role of Cio-Cio-San in Opéra de Montréal‘s reimagined production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, a role she debuted last season with Welsh National Opera. In this Artist of the Week, she reflects on her career in opera, shares how it all began, and what’s keeping her inspired.
Artist of the Week 22 Qs for Scott Rumble
Canadian tenor Scott Rumble is in Vancouver making his role debut singing Steuermann in Vancouver Opera’s new production of The Flying Dutchman, which opened April 29 and has two performances left on May 4 and 7. In this Artist of the Week, he reflects on what inspired him to sing, favourite operatic inspirations and more.
Artist of the Week 20 Qs for Andrew Haji
Canadian tenor Andrew Haji is in Calgary performing the role of Macduff in Calgary Opera's new Rachel Peake-directed production of Verdi's Macbeth which opened April 22 and has two performances left on April 26 and 28 (tickets here). The production also stars Italian...
Artist of the Week 27 Qs for Jean-Philippe Lazure
Canadian tenor Jean-Philippe Lazure is in Winnipeg this week preparing to sing Ferrando in Manitoba Opera’s reimagined “Canuck-rendition” of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. We caught up with Lazure to reflect on the beginning of his operatic career, what it means to be brave with music & more.
Artist of the Week 21 Qs for Hongni Wu
Our Artist of the Week is Chinese mezzo-soprano Hongni Wu. This week, she’s in Victoria, BC preparing to make her Canadian debut as Dorabella in Pacific Opera Victoria‘s Così fan tutte. She sits down with us to reflect on her career as an opera singer — favourite opera houses, how she prepares to get into character and more.
Artist of the Week 20 Qs for Colin Ainsworth
Our Artist of the Week is internationally acclaimed Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth. He is in Toronto this week, opening Opera Atelier‘s long-awaited production of Handel’s The Resurrection singing the role of Saint John. We caught up with him to reflect on his career in opera, roles that had the greatest impact on him, dad jokes and more.
Artist of the Week 34 Qs for Rihab Chaieb
Rising star Tunisian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb is our Artist of the Week. Her 2022/23 season is a busy one, filled with anticipated returns and debuts. This week, she is in Geneva opening the world premiere of Christian Jost’s Journey of Hope/ Voyage vers l’espoir at Grand Théâtre de Genève singing La mère Meryem (running until April 4).
Artist of the Week 17 Qs for Karina Gauvin
Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin is our Artist of the Week. This week, Gauvin sings The Human Requiem (Brahms’s Requiem) alongside Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins with the Colorado Symphony conducted by Canadian-American Peter Oundjian (performances run from March 24 to 26).
Artist of the Week 24 Qs for Elizabeth Polese
Our Artist of the Week is Toronto-born soprano Elizabeth Polese. This weekend, she makes her role debut with Opéra de Montréal singing Nuria in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar running March 18 to 26. She sits down with us to reflect on life as an opera singer—the ups and downs, lessons learned, favourite places she’s worked, and more.
Artist of the Week 26 Qs for Aviva Fortunata
Our artist of the week is Calgary-born soprano Aviva Fortunata. This week she makes her role and company debut with Sarasota Opera singing Elvira in Verdi’s Ernani. She sat down with us to reflect on her career in opera, stage mishaps and the best advice she’s ever received.