Browsing: Opera

UofT Opera opened a sparkling new production of Massenet’s Cendrillon on March 15 at Toronto’s historic, neo-Baroque Elgin Theatre, the perfect setting for director Maria Lamont’s 1930s Busby Berkeley-inspired conception. Massenet’s 1899 version of the familiar Cinderella fairy tale, while not without its Belle Epoque froth, is also lined with a deeply moving vein of melancholy that was successfully brought to the fore by a promising band of student artists. The Elgin’s acoustic is notoriously dry, and so it was perhaps fortuitous that conductor Sandra Horst elected to reduce the size of Massenet’s original orchestration, especially given the lack of…

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Renowned Canadian opera director Michael Cavanagh has passed away suddenly at the age of 62. Cavanagh was one of Canada’s most prolific and sought-after opera directors who in 2020 was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. Cavanagh directed over 150 opera productions at 32 companies in Canada, U.S. and Europe. He had a particularly close relationship with San Francisco Opera where most recently, he directed new productions of their Mozart/Da Ponte trilogy: Le nozze di Figaro (2019), Così fan tutte (2021) and Don Giovanni (2022). Previous to his appointment in Stockholm, he directed high profile productions…

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Opéra de Montréal’s production of La Reine-garçon showed how important a strong cast can be to carry a contemporary opera, especially when its story of female empowerment and self-determination resonates with contemporary subject matter. Story Based on true events, the opera is set in 17th-century Sweden where after years of war, reigning monarch Queen Christine has brought peace and art and philosophy to her land. Now, she is expected to marry and produce an heir, but she deflects a multitude of suitors. Her secret is that she is in love with Countess Ebba Sparre, her lady-in-waiting. The story is about…

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[DALLAS, February 13, 2024]—The Dallas Opera (TDO) presents the final round of The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition on Friday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., at the Winspear Opera House. Hailing from across the U.S. and four countries, the nine finalists are: soprano Katerina Burton, soprano Adia Evans—who won TDO’s 2023 Lone Star Vocal Competition and automatically advanced to this final round, soprano Elisa Sunshine, mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali, countertenor Cody Bowers, tenor Matthew Cairns, baritone Navasard Hakobyan, baritone Yeongtaek Yang, bass-baritone Jongwon Han. Finalists in the 32nd annual competition, which is sponsored by Bravo!, formerly The Dallas Opera Guild,…

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It is now common parlance to note that even up until the early 1980s, Dvořák’s 1901 opera Rusalka was little-seen outside of its native Czech land. Since then, and it seems even more true in recent seasons, it has become a staple at major houses throughout Europe, the U.K. and even in North America. However, it had never been presented by the Hungarian State Opera barring two guest productions from Bratislava and Prague in 1956 and 1976. That neglect has now finally been corrected with János Szikora’s brilliant new production that premiered on January 27, and which I saw on…

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FEBRUARY 9, 2024, VANCOUVER, B.C. / Traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations – Vancouver Opera celebrates 65 years of extraordinary opera with the announcement of its 2024–2025 season. In October, Strauss’ eternally-charming Die Fledermaus opens the season, followed by Jonathan Dove’s compassionate contemporary classic Flight in February 2025. Puccini’s sublime masterpiece Madama Butterfly closes the season in blockbuster style with an extended run in April/May 2025. “Through dynamic mainstage productions and grassroots outreach, Vancouver Opera is celebrating all-time operatic triumphs for our 65th anniversary,” said Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera General Director. “Since our inaugural 1960…

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