Review | COC’s Tosca
Tosca is a riveting drama of love, lust and betrayal. Add in Puccini’s impossibly lush score and a few show-stopper arias, this opera is the…
Denise Lai
Denise Lai
Denise Lai is a Physiotherapist and College Professor. She is an alumnus of the McGill Choral Society and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and a rusty piano player.
From this author
Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Macbeth a Hit with some Misses
Emboldened by witches’ prophesies and with strong encouragement from his wife, Macbeth turns into a power-thirsty man who uses violence to annihilate everything in his…
Amadeus Choir: An Immersive Experience of a Unique New Commission
When Artistic Director and Conductor Kathleen Allan first took the helm of the Amadeus Choir in 2019, she commissioned Cree cellist and composer Cris Derksen…
Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Salome a Love-Hate Production
Richard Strauss’ Salome is a story of lust, obsession and unrequited love. Salome, step-daughter of King Herod, is the object of desire of both Herod…
Review | The Marriage of Figaro Makes a Triumphant Return to Canadian Opera Company Stage
The Marriage of Figaro features a convoluted plot filled with love and desire, disguise and deception, mischief and jealousy–all elements that make for a juicy…
Mendelssohn Choir – Journey through Bach’s B Minor Mass
Conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée programmed his second season at the helm of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) under the theme of journeys. On March 18, TMC…
Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio Competition Showcases Bright Young Talents
After a two-year hiatus, COC’s Ensemble Studio Competition made a comeback last night. The competition is the feature event of the COC gala fundraiser Centre…
Jeanick Founier: A Tour de Force
Life has taken a dramatic turn for Quebec native Jeanick Fournier—one she sometimes can’t quite believe herself. Her love of music is finally paying off,…
The Season Of Messiahs
With the holiday season approaching and the pandemic hopefully almost behind us, Handel’s Messiah is returning in full force, with a proliferation of productions in…
Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Carmen a magnificent spectacle
Easily the most popular and often-performed opera of all times, Carmen is a hit-parade of recognizable tunes, with vibrant characters and a titillating story of…
