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Photo: Marco Monteferrante

Review: Rossini’s Little Gem

By Marco Monteferrante on 5 May 2019 Choral, Classical Music, Opera, Vocal

The Société philharmonique du nouveau monde performed Gioacchino Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle on April 27. While the Société chose the original version scored for two pianos and harmonium, the vocal parts in this production were sung entirely by the 150 choristers (instead of four soloists and eight choristers). The pianos were played by Danielle Maisonneuve and Jenna Richards, and the harmonium by Mélanie Barney. Michel Brousseau conducted from memory, which is not surprising given his leadership of the choristers’ rigorous rehearsal series. The chorus was evidently very well-prepared and well-responsive to Brousseau’s direction. In the heart of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough…

Tamara Wilson as Desdemona and Russell Thomas as Otello. Canadian Opera Company. Photo: Michael Cooper

COC’s Otello Visually Stunning but a bit Wanting

By Denise Lai on 30 April 2019 Opera

The Canadian Opera Company closes its 2018-19 season with Verdi’s Otello. A former slave, Otello is now captain of the Venetian fleet and the new governor of Cyprus. When Iago, Otello’s trusted advisor, is passed over for a promotion, he plots to destroy Otello by turning him against his friends and his beloved wife, Desdemona. Preying on Otello’s insecurities, Iago plants suspicions about Desdemona’s fidelity. Consumed by paranoia and blind rage, Otello strangles her and — upon learning about her innocence — kills himself. What you missed? The star of the night was Canadian baritone Gerald Finley who gave an…

A Carmen for all of Quebec!

By Newswire on 26 April 2019 Newswire, Opera

Presented at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, May 4, 7, 9, 11, and 13, 2019 at 7:30 pm Montreal, April 25, 2019 – The Opéra de Montréal is proud to announce that it is one of eleven organizations and nine professional artists that will receive financial assistance from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for the development of new, large-scale digital projects. The funds will allow for the recording of this unique production of Carmen—whose cast and creative team shine a spotlight on Quebec talent—with a goal of having various multidisciplinary presenters throughout Quebec show it at…

Boris Brott. Photo: Annette Woloshen

Orchestre classique de Montréal: A New Name for The McGill Chamber Orchestra!

By Newswire on 24 April 2019 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Orchestral, Vocal

80th Anniversary Season Boris Brott, Artistic Director | Taras Kulish, Executive Director 2019-2020 Season Highlights Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal, Soprano Aline Kutan, Poulenc Organ Concerto, Italian pianist Giuseppe Guarrera, Handel’s Messiah & Much More! For Immediate Release, April 24, 2019, Montreal, Quebec …. In anticipation of its 80th anniversary season (2019-2020), the McGill Chamber Orchestra is to be rebranded Orchestre classique de Montréal or OCM, as announced today by Artistic Director Boris Brott and Executive Director Taras Kulish. The celebratory launch event took place at the headquarters of BMO Bank of Montreal, the orchestra’s presenting sponsor, with…

Met Opera opens it's 2018 Summer Stage series , 6/111/18. Photo by Chris Lee

Metropolitan Opera’s 2019 Summer Recital Series

By Newswire on 23 April 2019 Newswire, Opera

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2019 Summer Recital Series features six free concerts, bringing opera to all five boroughs Met stars Ying Fang, Ben Bliss, and Nathan Gunn will sing in the recitals at Central Park SummerStage and Brooklyn Bridge Park on June 10 and 12 Rising young artists Leah Hawkins, Mario Bahg, and Joseph Lim will sing in the remaining four recitals in the series The series is presented in collaboration with City Parks Foundation New York, NY (April 23, 2019)—The Metropolitan Opera’s 2019 Summer Recital Series once again brings free outdoor recitals, featuring established artists and young talents of the…

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Dialogues des Carmélites to conclude his first season as Met Music Director

By Newswire on 20 April 2019 Classical Music, Newswire, Opera

Poulenc’s operatic masterpiece stars Isabel Leonard, Adrianne Pieczonka, and Karita Mattila Dialogues des Carmélites will be transmitted live to movie theaters around the world on Saturday, May 11, as part of The Met: Live in HD series New York, NY (April 19, 2019)—The Metropolitan Opera’s Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer Music Director, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, concludes his first season in the position with three performances of Dialogues des Carmélites. Poulenc’s opera about an order of nuns whose faith is tested during the height of the French Revolution, returns to the Met on May 3, 2019. Isabel Leonard and Adrianne Pieczonka sing the leading roles…

Photo: Andrew Dobrowolskyj

Impressive Mahler from the OUM — and some friends

By Arthur Kaptainis on 14 April 2019 Choral, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic, Vocal

Hard to fault the Mahler Third Symphony heard Saturday night (April 13, 2019) in Salle Claude-Champagne. Very hard, if the criteria are performing standards and the grasp of the score shown by Jean-François Rivest, founding artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre de l’Université de Montréal. It should be noted, however, that the 100-plus players on stage included a high proportion of professors and alumni, including veterans we see often enough in professional situations. Only three of the eight double bassists, to judge by the printed program, were students. The first timpani part was undertaken by none other than…

from l. to r. Lefebvre, Sandoval, De Cruz, Scalia, Vérayie.

The Don Takes a Wife – Review of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale

By Marco Monteferrante on 12 April 2019 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Opera, Vocal

Gaetano Donizetti’s 1843 opera buffa Don Pasquale was recently staged by Opéra immédiat, in collaboration with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura. This review covers the last of just two performances, held on April 6th at the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Chapel. The part of Don Pasquale was sung by bass Steeve Vérayie. His acting was more physical than vocal, as he amusingly broke the fourth wall on several occasions. The aria, Un foco insolito, as well as other comedic lines, felt rushed. Fortunately though, his patter was impressive in the Son tradito, beffeggiato outburst. Singing the role of Norina/Sofronia was luminous soprano Sophie…

Tonight, Tonight! A 100th Birthday Tribute to Leonard Bernstein

By Newswire on 12 April 2019 Arts Industry, Vocal

Featuring excerpts from West Side Story, Candide, The Chichester Psalms & more Leah Edwards, soprano | Cantor Gideon Zelermyer, tenor The McGill Chamber Orchestra Roï Azoulay, Conductor | Boris Brott, Guest Conductor With the Choirs of Shaar Hashomayim & St. Matthias’ Anglican Church For Immediate Release, April 11, 2019, Montreal, QC … Shaar Hashomayim Music & Arts (SH’MA) proudly presents Tonight, Tonight!, a concert celebrating the magnificent music of Leonard Bernstein, part of “Leonard Bernstein at 100,” a two-year global celebration of the life and career of the 20th-century cultural giant. The multimedia concert on Wednesday, May 29 at…

Vancouver Opera receives large fitness equipment donation from Fitness Town for the charity's new wellness initiative. (CNW Group/Fitness Town)

Vancouver Opera and Fitness Town Launch First Opera Wellness Program in Canada

By Newswire on 10 April 2019 Education, Opera

VANCOUVER, April 10, 2019 /CNW/ – Vancouver Opera and Fitness Town today announced the collaboration between the charity and the fitness equipment provider to launch the official Vancouver Opera wellness program. Azfir Balenciaga, a Vancouver Opera staff member, initiated a Vancouver Opera wellness program for staff, volunteers, orchestra, chorus and visiting artists but was challenged with their limited fitness equipment and the charity’s budget. Fitness Town’s CEO, James Newman, personally assessed the Vancouver Opera fitness needs and selected the organization as a recipient of their “Fit Fund” community program. He outfitted the team by donation with quality brand cardio, strength…

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