When I was a young child, I was fascinated with my parents' 1960 Reader’s Digest Treasury of Great Operettas boxed LP set. I would faithfully listen to the 9 records, while pouring over the accompanying book, The Golden Age of Operetta, with its synopses and beautiful...
Our Artist of the Week is tenor Martin Renner Wallace! Martin is in Calgary performing with Alberta Vocal Arts as Eisenstein in their production of Die Fledermaus, running Jan 11-13. This week we sat down to chat about dream roles, the best thing about being an opera artist, and who he would want to get stuck in an elevator with (clue: a very handy guy)!
Canadian/Greek soprano Andromahi Raptis is in Nürnberg performing Lucia and Adele in Staatstheater Nürnberg’s productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and Die Fledermaus. This week, we get the inside scoop about what makes Nürnberg so special; including the best place to grab a coffee, the coolest restaurant to grab some delicious food, and where to find the best Christmas market just in time for the holidays!
This week’s Artist of the Week is Canadian soprano Jonelle Sills! Currently in Toronto, she is rehearsing with Toronto Operetta Theatre for their upcoming production of Lehár’s The Merry Widow, running Dec 29 – Jan 2. We sat down to talk about the ups and downs of the industry, her favourite non-classical music, and what she would do if she won the lottery (don’t we all wish for that!). Read on to find out more!
“I’m Old Fashioned”—that lilting Jerome Kern standard popped unbidden into my head as Florencia en el Amazonas unfolded at the Metropolitan Opera. Its title sang to me with two distinct “I”s: there was, on the one hand, Daniel Catán’s unfashionably old-fashioned...
Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth is in Toronto, preparing for a string of performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, running Dec 17-23. This week we sat down and talked about the joys of being a father, cravings for the Canadian classic snack: Hawkins Cheezies, and how “the opera community is one big family”.
The Queen of Carthage is a multi-media performance staged as part of the Early Music Vancouver 2023 Summer Festival. It was filmed in performance at Simon Fraser University and is now available on-line until January 5th. It’s a co-production of Early Music Vancouver...
Canadian mezzo-soprano Martina Myskohlid is in Amsterdam performing Second Lady in De Nationale Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte running Dec 1-28. This week we tag along, as she explores Amsterdam and all of its hidden gems, including boat tours, daily street markets, and the most peaceful place to get a nighttime view of the opera house.
Manitoba Opera marked a significant milestone in Canadian opera history as it launched its 51st season with the first full-scale Indigenous-led opera presented on a national mainstage, Li Keur: Riel's Heart of the North. The 135-minute (including intermission) opera...
Our Artist of the Week is Canadian-Italian stage director, choreographer, and performer Amanda Testini who is currently directing Edmonton Opera's holiday production Home for the Holidays on December 11 (tickets and details here). Most recently, Amanda was the...
Canadian/German soprano Christina Thanisch-Smith is a first year member of the McPhee Artist Development Program at Calgary Opera and currently is singing the title role of Beauty in Giannini’s Beauty & The Beast (tickets and details here). Christina is a recent...
Toronto-based Anishinaabe baritone, Evan Korbut, is currently starring as Louis Riel/Robideau in Manitoba Opera’s ground-breaking production of Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North on Nov 18, 22, 24. (tickets and details here). Evan is sought after in both canonic and...