Review: LA Opera's tear-jerking, star-studded, world-class Rigoletto
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In review: Mahler & other beauties at the TSO
ReviewI took a break from straight-up opera last night, and headed to Roy Thomson Hall to hear the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the latest instalment of their ongoing Decades Project, in partnership with the AGO, which looks deeply at the music of the early 20th century, last night in particular, 1900-1909. These years brought us a large orchestra, with lush, creative sound palates that are a clear predecessor to soon-to-come film scores. It's the culmination of all the Romantic music coming out of the 19th century, and all the experimentation and industry of the early 1900s. A simplified way of describing it is, "more is more".
Talking with singers: Jorell Williams
InterviewJorell Williams is a baritone based in New York City, back home after a busy summer with Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program, singing in productions of La fille du régiment, Rigoletto and the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon's Cold Mountain.
Don't miss: Julie
EditorialTomorrow night is the North American premiere of Julie, Philippe Boesmans' 2005 opera, presented by Soundstreams. The piece is based on the Strindberg 1888 play, Miss Julie, which has one of those fantastic premiere stories of scandal followed by success. I mean, in the 19th century, a story about a woman who tried to "train" her fiancé with a whip is pretty darn honest.
Live theatre & respecting short attention spans
Op-edThe other day, I was witness to the stunning brevity of a first-grader's attention span. I spent a couple of days playing opera for kids, and I remembered how easy it was to lose an audience of young listeners; any lulls in the action, in the drama, any slow-ish music that goes on for just a bit too long, these are opportunities for kids to get bored during the show, and instead spot something fascinating on the opposite wall, or on the bottom of their shoes.
4 steps to taking (& fixing) notes
EditorialOne mark of a professional opera singer is his or her ability to take notes. At the end of a rehearsal, a singer may have a collection of notes from music staff, diction coaches, their teacher, even an enthusiastic donor or two. Taking notes "well" isn't necessarily about being a polite professional and not taking anything personally; it's about what a singer does next.
HOS: Cocktails & a concert
NewsHighlands Opera Studio is entering its 10th season, and they're ready to throw a party about it. The afternoon will feature performances by star tenor and HOS Artistic Director Richard Margison, as well as alumni singers Adam Luther, tenor, Marjorie Maltais, mezzo (and recent COC Ensemble Studio Competition finalist), baritone Michael Nyby, and soprano Lauren Margison.
Don't miss: Sondra Radvanovsky at Koerner Hall
NewsHer performance of Queen Elizabeth I stayed with me a long time after seeing the Canadian Opera Company's 2014 production of Roberto Devereux, so Sondra Radvanovsky's upcoming recital at Toronto's Koerner Hall is on my absolutely-do-not-miss list.
Short list: this month with the TSO
NewsNovember is a great month for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and I figured I'd share a couple of my picks for the coming weeks.
Gems: Millan & Faye's Top 10 Opera Deaths
HumourSinging through tuberculosis, poisonous leaves, or death by high note? Millan & Faye are soprano and opera comedienne Kyra Millan, and pianist and straight man extraordinaire Tina Faye. In this hilarious short, they opera's ten best death scenes in under 5 minutes. I'll admit to laughing out loud at Rigoletto.
Gems: The Operatic Alphabet
HumourOpera comedienne duo Millan & Faye are soprano Kyra Millan and Tina Faye, pianist extraordinaire. In this little short, they go right back to basics with their operatic stylings of...the alphabet. Talk about singing on your consonants.