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*this text was originally published in the winter 2022/23 print version of Opera Canada magazine
Save the date: November 6, 2023. We will host our annual Rubies Gala honouring five well-deserving (THREE of the FIVE have since been announced) Canadian contributors to opera at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts—it is sure to be a magical evening.
With summer in full swing, the content in this issue is all about boldness, colour, and vision. Canadian soprano Ambur Braid with her resonant authenticity is the perfect cover artist—her journey is inspiring and shows the devil is in the detail, and patience paired with hard work is paramount.
Also featured is Academy Award-nominated director, Atom Egoyan, about intertwining his two loves—film and opera—in his upcoming Salome-inspired silver screen release. Canadian baritone Étienne Dupuis and Australian soprano Nicole Car discuss their new Artistic Directorship at the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute. Ottawa-born Bryan Wagorn, collaborator to the stars and Assistant Conductor at The Metropolitan Opera, shares his journey with us. We dig deep into a music streaming platform dedicated to classical music and creating community engagement. Furthermore we celebrate the important contributions Canadian director Michael Albano has made during his time at the University of Toronto—a true influencer. And with many voice students contemplating their future studies, we dive into how to choose the right teacher.
In our regular columns, we have expanded this issue’s Take Note to highlight the announced 2023/24 opera seasons across Canada. We have added a section to the magazine that highlights a handful of the many reviews we offer online (thanks to the feedback from our readers!). We hope to encourage readers to visit operacanada.ca regularly between our print issues to stay in touch, engage with us, and stay informed about all things Canadian opera. I’m excited to work with emerging opera artists at The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity this July. The program, led by Joel Ivany, offers a unique opportunity for eight singers, a director, and a repetiteur to learn from artists specializing in a range of areas including design, creation, composition, and production—I’ll be using my background as an industry publicist to help them with their PR strategy. It’s a joy to have an opportunity to connect with these artists and I will, no doubt, learn a lot through these conversations. It is an important part of keeping one’s finger on the pulse! [***update: I had an absolute blast in Banff and will share more about this over the coming weeks. In short: our Canadian emerging talent is strong and there is much to look forward to on our Canadian stages.]
Finally, I want to thank all those who contributed to my marathon fundraiser for Opera Canada. It was a wonderful success with $3,000 raised and we are truly thankful for the support. Long story short, after a leg cramp at mile 16, the donations gave me the drive to continue—mission accomplished!
Editor-in-Chief of Opera Canada since May 1, 2022. Before moving to the editorial side, she was a publicist for opera singers, classical instrumentalists and arts organizations for over a decade. She says of her work: “It’s a lifestyle, not a job”.
