Talking with composers: Victoria Bond

Interview

"I am quite certain that most people have no idea of what goes into composing. It is generally not accurately portrayed in film, and so much of it is not at all exciting to watch. However, discovering a new idea, a turn of phrase, an unexpected harmony – these are the precious moments a composer lives for!"

Talking with singers: Douglas Williams

Interview

"At the moment I'm thinking of a project where I can bring singing and nature together. Probably a video. Probably somewhere in Nevada. Maybe text by Robinson Jeffers. Maybe music by me."

Operatic journeys: MassOpera presents Freedom Ride

Interview

"I hope that the audience members will see themselves in the characters on stage, that they will be moved and inspired by the stories those characters tell, and will come away reflecting on how those stories relate to our world today."

Talking with singers: Michelle Bradley

Interview

"The hard part is when I lock myself in a room and go over the score, figure out who the character is, make sure I get every pianissimo and forte, and accent and legato. When I come here, it's already engrained in me. I can just go where the director tells me to go."

Talking with conductors: Enrique Mazzola

Interview

"Luisa is a character totally surrounded by men who, in that time, control her life. But her father speaks up for her. This makes me think, 'Bravo, Giuseppe! You are speaking about important things for your time.'"

Talking with singers: Rowan Pierce

Interview

"To sing professionally brings with it a responsibility to create a parallel world for people to get lost in when every day life needs something else, or to provide people with an outlet for their emotions, sometimes even when they don't realise they need one!"

Talking with conductors: Francesco Lanzillotta

Interview

"Even the idea of tempo should be very flexible depending on the meaning of the words. Sometimes, even if we don't have a change of tempo written in the score, we should understand when it is necessary to move the musical line forward."

AtG & UofT's Summer Modern Intensive: "They are eager. Period."

Interview

"The singers all study or have studied music and want to immerse themselves in the process and see how far they can stretch themselves. It can be daunting, but they are up for the challenge."

Talking with singers: Mario Bahg

Interview

"The greatest purpose is to be evaluated. Every major competition brings famous vocalists or professionals involved in music to the jury."

Talking with singers: Rihab Chaieb

Interview

"I've started listening back to my metal band that I was in during high school. That's the whole reason I started signing, is to be in a metal band. I had this nostalgia of going back and starting a band again. It's something in the back of my mind as a mid-30s project: create a metal band and tour the world after being an opera singer!"