Our Artist of the Week is acclaimed Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni. Renowned for his captivating presence on stage, Pisaroni has continued to build upon his impressive career singing on the world’s leading stages and earning achievements including the Opera News Award and being recognized as one of Opera for Peace’s Peace Ambassadors. He returns to the COC this month to sing the title role in the company’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, running until February 18.
British-Canadian soprano Jessica Muirhead, described by the New York Times as a “multi-hued soprano with floating top notes”, is a very active presence in the European opera scene.
Our Artist of the Week is Canadian bass baritone Gordon Bintner, who makes his return this week to the Canadian Opera Company’s stage singing the Count in the company’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Bintner has announced a number of exciting projects for this upcoming season, including a return to the Royal Opera House singing Albert in Massenet’s Werther, and a yet-to-be-announced debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Canadian Opera Company’s The Marriage of Figaro runs January 27 until February 18.
The paradox of a talented operatic voice with a reality television presence is tough for certain purists to swallow.
Canadian conductor Jordan de Souza kicks off our Artist of the Week series in 2023, answering 27 questions about life, music, and lessons learned. Watch him in Theater an der Wien’s new production of Offenbach’s La Périchole running until January 31.
This new, one-of-a kind program is designed for high-level pianists who specialize in collaborating and working with singers. Under the co-direction of Michael McMahon (Schulich School of Music of McGill University) and Francis Perron (Faculté de musique de...
The Highlands Opera Studio team met with MPP Laurie Scott last week to discuss how its $92,100 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will support new and creative ways to learn about, and raise awareness for opera. According to Scott, the grant will create more opportunities for the community to get involved with the arts.
Tapestry Opera’s Women in Leadership (WML) program is currently accepting applications. The program offers mentorship, practical opportunities to conduct across Canada, and the chance network with leading conductors in the field. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2023.
There’s palpable energy within our industry as we approach the new year; a hunger to dive deeper into what the future of our art form looks like.
Our final Artist of the Week for 2022 is Canadian pianist and vocal coach, Bryan Wagorn. Wagorn regularly performs throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as soloist, chamber musician, and recital accompanist to the world’s leading singers and instrumentalists.
Juno Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins is recognized as one of the finest singer-actors of his generation, and he is using his voice to raise awareness for the global epidemic of gender-based violence. A number of notable appearances have been announced for his 2022-23 season, including the orchestral world premiere and Ontario tour of Songs for Murdered Sisters – conceived by Hopkins, and by composer Jake Heggie and author Margaret Atwood.
The celebrated Canadian composer/writer/teacher John Beckwith, O.C., died December 5, 2022 in Toronto at the age of 95. His long life of service to Canadian music began on March 9, 1927 in Victoria, BC, where he started piano lessons at age 6 and sang as a boy...