In the latest online offering out of Pacific Opera Victoria, Canadian mezzo Megan Latham steps into two old-world moments of beauty: 1920s New York, and Julia Child’s kitchen.
The digital double-bill pairs Lee Hoiby’s delightful one-woman operas, The Italian Lesson, and Bon Appetit! The former, based on the monologue by Ruth Draper, zooms in on a distracted morning for a Park Avenue matron; the latter sets Julia Child’s chocolate cake recipe to delicious music. Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia leads a chamber orchestra through both works.
Latham is sure to take the opportunity to flex her comedic skills, often a rare chance for a mezzo outside of Rossini. The production is free to watch through June 21, making this a sure must-see.
For a quick taste of Megan Latham in action, check out POV’s two trailers here:
Jenna is the editor and co-creator of Schmopera. She also writes for The Globe and Mail and Opera Canada. She’s a pianist and vocal coach, and working with singers is how she fell in love with opera.
