In review: Lucia di Lammermoor at ROH

Review

There was Lucia, embodying the most horrible, messy, inappropriate and inconvenient lows in a woman's life. By showing us all these unseen scenes, Mitchell managed to create a real relationship not only between Lucia and Edgardo, but between Lucia and Alisa, sung and acted beautifully by Rachael Lloyd. The gross differences between victory and loss, men's stories and women's, were powerful.

Ian Page: Mozart & imagination

Interview

"I love the way things have changed in the last generation or two. There are people who behave stupidly and tyrannically, there will always be. But it's more and more of a minority now, and I think it's so clear that when people feel enabled and bring themselves to their work, it's bound to be better. It's so obvious."

Great nights: Sketches of Miles

Review

The music was stellar, and the vibe was so great that even a momentary power outage mid-"Summertime" didn't dampen the night one bit. It's hard to say what we expected from CLS, but expectations don't matter when the experience holds us rapt and happy.

Anna Theodosakis: directing The Rape of Lucretia

Interview

"While The Rape of Lucretia deals specifically with the story a woman, I believe it expresses the struggle of the individual against the confines of a corrupt society. I hope it can lend a voice to survivors who find themselves silenced, gender notwithstanding."

Singing in Germany: Bel Canto Summer Voice Program

Interview

"Unfortunately, colleges and universities offer far too little in order to prepare young people to the reality of the day to day work in this profession. Following the completion of their vocal studies, young singers attend their first auditions and are completely stunned when they realise how high the competition is as that there are many others good singers on the market. Young professionals must be prepared and ready to compete for the same roles against very experienced singers of all ages."

Christina Aguilera's move into pedagogy

How-to

We don't know why it's so annoying that she does her "vocal scales" on the words "Ave Maria" (maybe it alludes to something a bit more classical). And ironically, her demonstration of the "wrong" way is easier on our ears than the "right" way, which upon hearing makes our throats sympathetically tighten.

Good ideas: Adult Summer Acting Intensive

News

Singers, you're all pros at making the most out of your summer education, and summer programs rooted in operatic and vocal training are a big part of that. At $450 (plus HST), the Summer Acting Intensive is an economical, focused approach to honing skills that are vital for any working opera singer. As opera companies continue the move towards producing chamber-sized operas in intimate venues, acting chops have become a necessity, rather than a bonus feature on top of a killer voice.

Talking with singers: Anna Devin

Interview

Devin feels "completely at home in Handel" and relishes the collaborative process of pulling the music off the page. "You can't actually be wrong; you can have a difference of opinion between you and the conductor, but there's nothing to say that you're wrong. And I quite like that, because it means we can have interesting discussions about why you should do one thing and why you shouldn't do another."

In review: Isis and Osiris

Review

As Isis, Cesaroni was a revelation. Her incomparable voice flew throughout the Jane Mallett with ease and aplomb, and I've said this before, she just gets better every time I hear her. Her darker colour belies the height and beauty she can achieve at the top of her register and every note is properly placed and spins and sparkles. Her characterization of (as she puts it) "the bad b*tch in charge" was a genuine treat.

Watch: Rolando Villazón brings Don Giovanni to life

Editorial

He talks with historians and experts about the public hype around Mozart's tale of Don Juan, hears the sound of period instruments, learns the dances of the day, and explores the dangers of special effects in the 18th-century. We find out what the audience ate and drank during the show, how they wandered around the theatre, chatting and singing along.