Calgary Opera launches 50th Anniversary Season with gritty take of Bizet’s Carmen

Calgary Opera launches 50th Anniversary Season with gritty take of Bizet’s Carmen

Carmen was born in the wrong century,” says Chaieb. “She’s no queen, she doesn’t come from a family with a lot of money. But Carmen has power and decisiveness. And she is the only character from the beginning to the end of the opera who doesn’t change who she is and how she expresses herself.”

Oliver Munar - Nov 15, 2022
Calls From Two Worlds

Calls From Two Worlds

Both The Telephone and The Medium end with an unexpected turn and so the two operas result in a night of surprises.

Loren Lester - Nov 15, 2022
A contemplative reflection on Dichterliebe in Love In The Time Of…

A contemplative reflection on Dichterliebe in Love In The Time Of…

Najmi’s tender, sensitive reading of Dichterliebe is worth the price of admission all on its own: I dare say that his Dichterliebe might easily rival the performances of some of the great Lieder singers of the 20th century.

Arturo Fernandez - Nov 13, 2022
Everything For Dawn: EiO premieres new opera-serial on WNET Group’s All Arts streaming service

Everything For Dawn: EiO premieres new opera-serial on WNET Group’s All Arts streaming service

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John Hohmann - Nov 1, 2022
A confused concept: Pearl Fishers in Vancouver

A confused concept: Pearl Fishers in Vancouver

The projections describe how the librettists and composer themselves had never visited "Ceylon" (currently Sri Lanka) nor knew about the culture, and were writing from a place of ignorance. Then the curtain rises on the chorus, sets, costumes, and the opening in the tropical setting full of palm trees.

Melissa Ratcliff - Oct 27, 2022
“Electric and exciting”: Edmonton Opera launches 2022-23 season with Puccini’s Tosca

“Electric and exciting”: Edmonton Opera launches 2022-23 season with Puccini’s Tosca

On October 22, Edmonton Opera launched what it describes as an “electric and exciting” 2022-23 season with one of Giacomo Puccini’s well-known dramas: Tosca.

Oliver Munar - Oct 24, 2022
Show stealers in Enigma Chamber Opera's Prodigal Son

Show stealers in Enigma Chamber Opera's Prodigal Son

The attention to detail in the characterizations extended to everyone else afterwards, as well. Matthew DiBattista brought a certain hesitancy to the Younger Son that made him endearing, even when he sang more confidently.

Arturo Fernandez - Oct 23, 2022
Sproule sings a rich, effortless Carmen in Victoria

Sproule sings a rich, effortless Carmen in Victoria

Pacific Opera Victoria’s season opener for 2022 is Carmen, taking a traditional look at a very traditional opera, but with a few excellent updates.

Melissa Ratcliff - Oct 23, 2022
Carmen doesn't quite commit at Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Carmen doesn't quite commit at Lyric Opera of Kansas City

I wasn't sure where Jackson's interpretation lands on the scale of "bad girl", which was the main tag the company used in advertisements. On one hand, there was an impressively choreographed fight in the beginning between Carmen and another factory girl, where we saw Carmen's aggression.

Jane Richardson - Oct 9, 2022
"A very original genius": playing Frida Kahlo at San Diego Opera

"A very original genius": playing Frida Kahlo at San Diego Opera

"Frida is very well portrayed in this music, which is fabulous," says Paz. "The music reflects the pain that she was suffering. It reflects the great courage that she had in life. She was a kind of mischievous, rebel woman. That's very clear in the score and musically."

Eva Cahen - Sep 30, 2022

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