News
Mécénat Musica names Karina Gauvin its first Artist in Residence
Karina Gauvin, three-time GRAMMY Award-nominated Canadian soprano, has been named the inaugural collaborative Artist in Residence for Mécénat Musica. Gauvin, whose 50+ recordings and acclaimed interpretation of Baroque opera have earned her international renown, has...
Voice students of colour use social media to combat opera’s inequities
Turning To Social Media: Everything is Political The Internet has unleashed a whirlwind of accessibility that is forcing many to ‘get with the times’ or swiftly get left behind, and no one understands that more than young people. Young marginalized opera singers and...
Cross Canada Report: Nova Scotia’s opera companies adjust
Please note: Information in this Nova Scotia report was accurate as of publishing in our Fall 2020 issue released in September 2020. The small province of Nova Scotia has long had at least three established, active companies to satisfy its opera cravings at any given...
Edward Johnson, Rubies 2020–The Tenor of His Time
The story of Canadian tenor Edward Johnson is a quiet one, unknown to many, and yet it is the narrative of one of the world’s most famous and celebrated artists. Beginning in 1912 and continuing for almost a quarter of a century, Johnson was an international superstar...
Critical Response: Holly Harris fears audiences “clotted” by live stream content
In this Q&A series, we’ve asked performing arts writers across the country to weigh in on how the Canadian opera industry is handling the prolonged pandemic environment. Next up…Holly Harris. What are your feelings on the types of programming being offered, mostly...
Against the Grain Theatre to film uber-Canadian Messiah
On Dec. 13th, the multi-award-winning team at Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) will present a bold interpretation of Handel’s Messiah in partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. The 70-minute filmed performance of...
Barbara Hannigan, Rubies 2020–“Anytime I win an award I put it toward something”
Maven, visionary, trailblazer – what else can one say about Canadian-born, Europe-based soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan? One might well add ‘committed supporter of young talent’ to the list since the launch of Momentum in August. Born out of the coronavirus...
Cross Canada Reports: Winnipeg opera is managing with resilience
Please note: Information in this Winnipeg report was accurate as of publishing in our Fall 2020 issue released in September 2020. Manitoba has dodged many COVID-19 bullets affecting most of Canada since mid-March, but its number of second-wave cases is now on the rise...
Mireille Lebel gets real about VO’s La voix humaine
On Oct. 24th, Canadian mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel starred in Vancouver Opera's digital premiere of Francis Poulenc's one-woman-opera, La voix humaine. It is the season opener for one of the only all-digital, paid opera season subscriptions in Canada. Lebel, singing...
Critical Response: Canadian opera should hire “Canadian rather than imported”
In this Q&A series, we’ve asked performing arts writers across the country to weigh in on how the Canadian opera industry is handling the prolonged pandemic environment. Next up…Leslie Barcza. What are your feelings on the types of programming being offered,...
Tale of Two Cities: COC/Paris Opera’s Alexander Neef Exclusive Interview
In an exclusive interview on Nov. 2nd, leader of Canadian Opera Company (COC) and Opéra national de Paris Alexander Neef answered the questions we've been dying to ask since his move to France. Q: How do you perceive the Canadian opera world versus that in France,...
Cross Canada Reports: Pacific Opera Victoria at the ready
Please note: Information in this Victoria report was accurate as of publishing in our Fall 2020 issue released in September 2020. Health measures in Victoria, BC British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry enjoys near-rock star status in this...