In review: Madama Butterfly

Review

On Wednesday, October 15th I made my way on over the Four Seasons Centre at University and Queen Street West to check out the Canadian Opera Company‘s production of Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini (duh, Greg.)g

On Pianists, Those Vicarious Opera Singers

Op-ed

I remember working with a class of first year voice students a few years ago; I saw them all individually (totally a bad idea, switched to masterclass format the next year), and I got the sense that for a majority of these students, they were working with a vocal coach for the first time. One particularly outspoken singer asked an unexpected question during our first coaching session together: "But, you're a pianist. Why are you telling me what to do?"

Falstaff: He said/She said

Review

Greg and I went together to the COC's current production of Verdi's Falstaff, starring the cream of the Canadian crop. We decided to combine forces and write a joint review. Who loved what? Read on to see.

In review: A Shropshire Lad

Review

I went to another installation of the Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, to hear COC Ensemble members Iain MacNeil and Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure sing. The program was two sets of song by English composers: George Butterworth's Six Songs from a Shropshire Lad and Ivor Gurney's Ludlow and Teme, both with texts from the 63 poems in Alfred Edward Housman's A Shropshire Lad.

The Microphone Question

Op-ed

The other day I was presented with one of those artistic conundrums that's so simple it rarely occurs to me: the question of using microphones in live opera. If you're an opera lover, your nose probably just scrunched up a little bit at the thought of Violetta sporting a headset mic.

Opera: the Inside Job

Op-ed

When I started Schmopera, I started checking out how the "pros" do this blogging thing. What were they saying, and how? Were they talking about artists, concerts, recordings? Were they spreading the word about shows to see? Were they publishing profiles and reviews of artists? Were they vouching for the arts and bringing awareness to the current events that concern artists and art-lovers?

Music Bloggers Unite!

Editorial

We've got exciting news! MusicalToronto.org has expanded into a whole new site, and you should get over there to check it out. It's got a new look, a great new way to keep track of upcoming concerts and events, and it'll soon include an interactive map of Toronto concert venues.

Netflix: Why Not Opera?

It's a fair question, isn't it? I mean, anyone who's into opera and classical music knows that the Internet is not our friend. While there's always trusty YouTube to the rescue when you've got an urge to watch that old Met Gala, or Jonas Kaufmann is anything at all. But wouldn't it be amazing to be able to browse an opera collection of old and new broadcasts?

Birdcalls and Spoilers

Humour

The above is a photo of a birdcall. It was recently loaned to me by the COC, because I’l be using it backstage during the twelve upcoming performances of Madama Butterfly (I know, I spoiled the magic of live birds). Backstage things like birdcalls, offstage conducting, ominous door knocking, cueing foghorns, etc., are all neat bonuses of the Music Staff job description.

In review: Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera By Request

Review

Last night I went to see Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera By Request. It was one of those nights I often have in Toronto, where a good chunk of the cast is made up of friends and colleagues, and my curiosity was piqued to hear some of these young singers in their Lucia roles.