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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
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
“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
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
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
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
"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
La bohème reliable as ever, even in reverse

La bohème reliable as ever, even in reverse

It is surprising how little effectiveness Puccini's score loses when performed in reverse order, and the score still lands each emotional beat even when the context feels radically different.

Arturo Fernandez
Cosmic Cowboy a strong premiere, despite a cursed opening night

Cosmic Cowboy a strong premiere, despite a cursed opening night

The score's harmonic language is relatively simple, but it is also quite full of little treasures like this, and I found myself enamoured by it by the end.

Arturo Fernandez
Calgary Concert Opera returns with regal love triangle

Calgary Concert Opera returns with regal love triangle

"This production of Roberto Devereux will be a really intimate performance for the audience," says King. "In this format, you'll really feel the emotions Donizetti has woven so brilliantly in his music."

Oliver Munar

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