Opera - my/maSCENA

Michael Cavanagh (1961-2024)

By Gianmarco Segato on 13 March 2024 Arts Industry, Obituaries, Opera

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…

Joyce El-Khoury (Christine) et Pascale Spinney (Ebba). Photo: Vivien Gaumand

Review | Strong Cast Makes OdM’s Reine-garçon Worth Hearing

By Wah Keung Chan on 4 March 2024 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Montreal, Opera

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…

Concert Review | VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents Verdi’s Ernani

By Gianmarco Segato on 26 February 2024 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Opera, Toronto

VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents Verdi’s Ernani for Toronto Audiences

A scene from Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Nabucco, 2016 (Photo by Cory Weaver)

Newswire | Five New Productions and a COC Favourite Headline 2024-2025 Season

By Newswire on 22 February 2024 Newswire, Opera

The Canadian Opera Company has announced its 2024-2025 season with exciting programming comprised almost entirely of new-to-Toronto productions, including the first-ever COC staging of Verdi’s Nabucco.

Erin Morley as Olympia in Offenbach's "Les Contes d’Hoffmann." (Photo by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera)

Newswire | Met Opera Announces 2024-2025 Season with Four Met Premieres

By Newswire on 21 February 2024 Newswire, Opera

The Metropolitan Opera announced today the 2024–25 season lineup, showcasing timeless classics of the operatic repertory in revivals and new productions, alongside four Met premieres.

Newswire | Canadian Tenor Matthew Cairns Amongst Nine Finalists for The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition

By Newswire on 13 February 2024 Music Competition, Newswire, Opera, Vocal

[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,…

Károly Szemerédy (Vodnik) and Andrea Brassói-Jőrös (Rusalka) in Hungarian State Opera’s Rusalka. Photo: Attila Nagy

Review | A compelling, psychoanalytic Rusalka premieres at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest

By Gianmarco Segato on 10 February 2024 Concert Reviews, Opera, Vocal

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…

Newswire | Vancouver Opera announces celebratory 65th Anniversary Season

By Newswire on 9 February 2024 Classical Music, Newswire, Opera, Vancouver, Vocal

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…

Highlights | Juno Award Nominees and Grammy Winners Announced

By Zenith Wolfe on 9 February 2024 Classical, Highlights, Montreal, Opera, Orchestral, Toronto

From the announcement of JUNO nominations to GRAMMY winners, it’s been a busy week for awards!

Joel Allison as Masetto and Simone McIntosh as Zerlina in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Don Giovanni (Photo by Michael Cooper)

Concert Review | COC’s Don Giovanni Leaves Audiences Yearning for More

By Denise Lai on 7 February 2024 Concert Reviews, Opera, Orchestral

In the COC’s latest performance of Don Giovanni, bass-baritone Gordon Bintner nails the titular role, and the orchestra breathes life into Mozart’s thrilling and elegant score.