In his 1888 polemic, The Case Against Wagner: A Musician’s Problem, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche cites Bizet’s Carmen as the perfect opera: “With it” he writes, “one bids farewell to the damp north and to all the fog of the Wagnerian ideal.” Beyond its...
Danish baritone Johan Reuter is recognized as one of the foremost bass-baritones performing today. His voice has taken him to many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Teatro...
Even before hearing Rose Naggar-Tremblay’s sumptuous voice, I was reading her blog, fascinated by her intelligence, authenticity, and outstanding writing talent. Clearly, such an artist had a lot to offer to the lyrical stage. During the last few months, she had many...
Over the past few months I have contacted people in and out of the opera business to try to ascertain how Opera Canada can better serve our readership, Canadian artists, and our homegrown opera companies.
The Canadian Art Song Project (CASP) is pleased to announce the second Chung Wai Chow and John Wright Art Song Mentorship Program for Composers to support emerging and early-career composers, as well as mid-career composers new to solo vocal writing, in the creation...
Pacific Opera Victoria’s Carmen finally opened on October 12, 2022, after multiple COVID-caused postponements. It was well worth the wait. First mention has to go to the chorus, which did such an extraordinary job they came close to eclipsing the rest of the...
Is Luigi Cherubini’s Medea—or Médée, to cite the opéra-comique original of 1797—a prima-donna vehicle, reliant on the right fiery voice and temperament for ignition, or a masterwork with distinct merits of its own? Over the years I’ve leaned heavily toward the former...
Twelve singers from Commonwealth countries around the world are on their way to Birmingham in England next month to compete in The Voice of Black Opera competition. Semifinals are on 24 and 25 November, when five singers will be chosen to advance to the Final at...
Our Artist of the Week is sought-after, Newfoundland-born tenor Adam Luther—alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio. Next week, Luther opens Pacific Opera Victoria's Carmen singing Don José alongside Carolyn Sproule in the title role, Jorell Williams...
After almost three years in virtual drydock, the Canadian Opera Company launched its 2022/23 season October 7 with a gripping performance of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman. This is the company’s third revival of the production it commissioned in 1996 from American...
Eight years after their débuts in Leo Delibes's Lakmé, Sabine Devieilhe and Frédéric Antoun triumph once again as the ill-fated lovers in this orientalist Romeo and Juliette story. Set in British India in the 19th century, Nilakantha, a Brahmin priest, is stoking...
The latest release in the CD/book series from the Palazetto Bru Zane is Meyerbeer’s 1831 grand opera Robert le Diable.