Artist of the Week

_{Artist of the Week} 16 Qs for Lara Ciekiewicz

by Communications | Apr 16, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian soprano Lara Ciekiewicz. Currently, she is in her hometown preparing the role of Micaëla for Manitoba Opera’s upcoming production of Carmen, running April 13-19. This week Lara spared a few minutes to share with us how she is working on her braiding designs for her Easter paska, how she experiences the ups and downs of the industry, and what it means to her to be brave with music including some amazing hashtags #humblingandmagical #dothething #artforall. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 18 Qs for Antoine Bélanger

by Communications | Apr 11, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian tenor Antoine Bélanger who is currently in Montreal reprising his role as Znorko in Enigma. Originally premiered by l’Opera de Metz, it is now being produced by Opéra de Montréal, running April 7-14. We sat down to talk to Antoine about what inspired him to start singing, his love of Lord of the Rings, and how his career has taught him how to be resilient in the face of adversity. Read on to find out more.

_{OPERA PLACES} Rose Naggar-Tremblay take us to Erfurt, Germany

by Communications | Apr 4, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

Canadian contralto, Rose Naggar-Tremblay takes us to Erfurt, Germany where she is performing the role of Erda in Theater Erfurt’s current production of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, running March 23 to May 9. On her way to Paris, Rose had a few moments with us to share what the Opera House at Theater Erfurt is like, where to find the best coffee in town, and what she has been doing for fun while overseas. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 19 Qs for Suzanne Rigden

by Communications | Apr 2, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

Canadian soprano, Suzanne Rigden is our Artist of the Week. Currently she is in Victoria preparing for one of opera’s longest roles: Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Pacific Opera Victoria, running April 3 -9. In between rehearsals, Suzanne sat down to talk to us about how she deals with the rejection that comes hand in hand with this industry, the adventures her family took during the pandemic in a camper van, and how a perfectly timed cat appearance made for the very best singing in the shower moment. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 15 Qs for Danielle MacMillan

by Communications | Mar 27, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian-Italian mezzo soprano Danielle MacMillan. She is currently in Toronto in rehearsals for Opera Atelier’s upcoming production All is Love, running at Koerner Hall from April 11-14 .We sat down with Danielle to chat about what she is currently reading, directors that she has worked with that have inspired her artistic journey, and how she defines happiness: “We look to high for things close by. Stop searching, never mind it; for happiness, like something lost, is always where you find it.”. Read on to find out more.

_{OPERA PLACES} Renaud Doucet & André Barbe take us to Toulouse, France

by Communications | Mar 23, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

Renowned director, choreographer, and set/costume designer duo Renaud Doucet and André Barbe take us to Toulouse, France where they are busy preparing their production of La Cenerentola, a co-production with the Latvian National Opera in Riga and l’Opéra National du Capitole de Toulouse, running March 29 to April 7 (info and tickets here). Luckily for us, this incredibly busy duo spared some precious moments to share what it has been like working in Toulouse, where to find the best Cassoulet in the city, and how they find peaceful moments walking their sweet dog, Ulisse. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 20 Qs for Laura Nielsen

by Communications | Mar 20, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian soprano Laura Nielsen. Currently working overseas, Laura is performing the role of Freia in Theater Erfurt’s upcoming production of Das Rheingold, running March 23 to May 29. In between rehearsals, Laura shared with us the biggest risk she’s ever taken with a role, which currently performing artists she admires, and what opera role she would love to be performing right now. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 26 Qs for Rosemary Thomson

by Communications | Mar 14, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian conductor and Opera Kelowna Music Director, Rosemary Thomson. Rose is currently preparing for Opera Kelowna’s upcoming production Wreckonciliation, co-created by Indigenous Artists Marion Newman, Melody Courage & Yvette Nolan, running March 14-16. This week we sat down with Rose to talk about who inspires her, what her first opera experience was like, and the best advice she ever received from one of her mentors, Boris Brott. Read on to find out more.

_{Artist of the Week} 19 Qs for Stephanie Tritchew

by Communications | Mar 6, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

Our Artist of the Week is Canadian mezzo-soprano Stephanie Tritchew. In partnership with collaborative pianist Holly Kroeker, Stephanie is performing a series of recitals entitled The Longing Project, which features pieces by Cecilia Livingston, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and world premieres of pieces by Danika Lorèn. This week we sat down to talk with this grounded artist to talk about what she is currently reading, how she copes with the rejection that comes with being a singer, and how she describes what success means to her. Read on to find out more.

_{OPERA PLACES} Tim Albery takes us to London, England

by Communications | Mar 5, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

British-Canadian director Tim Albery is coming to us from London, England where he is directing the Royal Opera House’s upcoming production of Der fliegende Holländer, running Feb 29 – March 16. From across the pond, Tim shares with us what it is like to work in one of the world’s most beautiful theaters, where to find some peace and quiet amongst the tourist crowds of London, and what galleries/museums are on his must visit list.