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Russell Braun, Photo: Johannes Ifkovits

Canadian Opera Legend Russell Braun Joins Faculty of NAC’s Young Artist Program June 5-24

By Newswire on 5 June 2017 Education, Newswire, Opera

June 5, 2017 (Ottawa) – From June 5-24, 2017, 64 talented young musicians from all around the world will embark on a three-week coaching and mentorship program during the 19th edition of the National Arts Centre’s Young Artists Program (YAP). This year, renowned Canadian baritone Russell Braun, joins the all-star faculty, at the helm of its rigorous vocal program. Founded in 1999, by NAC Conductor Emeritus Pinchas Zukerman, the YAP features outstanding private instruction, chamber music coaching with additional career-related sessions and mentoring. This instruction includes performance opportunities such as public chamber music concerts, public master classes, closed works-in-progress sessions…

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Festival d’Opéra de Québec: 2017 edition

By Orphée Russell on 1 June 2017 Canadian Music, Classical Music, Opera

This year’s Festival d’Opéra de Québec takes place from July 24 to August 5 in Quebec City. Now in its seventh year, the festival has garnered significant recognition, including at the 2012 Opus Awards, were it received prizes for Concert of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, and Artistic Director of the Year. This summer’s edition will kick off with the Opera Under the Stars Gala, a large, open-air event set against the historic backdrop of the courtyard of the Vieux-Séminaire de Québec and featuring eight singers. Headlining the festival is Louis Riel, an opera about the controversial Métis…

First Episodic Made-for-TV & Online Opera “VIREO: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser”

By Newswire on 1 June 2017 Newswire, Opera, Scena Arts

Burbank, CA – May 31, 2017 – Today, KCETLink Media Group – a leading national independent non-profit public broadcast and digital network – releases all 12 of the approximately 15-minute episodes of made-for-TV and online opera “VIREO: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch’s Accuser,” composed and conceived by Lisa Bielawa, at once for free, on-demand streaming at KCET.org/Vireo and LinkTV.org/Vireo, and on Apple TV and Roku. VIREO will make its world broadcast television premiere on Tuesday, June 13 at 8pm ET/PT on both KCET in Southern California and Link TV (DirecTV375 and Dish Network 9410) nationwide. Produced in partnership with Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center (GCAC), the two-and-a-half-hour broadcast will be a special edition…

Barbara Croall plays the pipigwan

Wiikondiwin in the Haliburton Highlands

By Kiersten van Vliet on 1 June 2017 Canadian Music, Opera

Wiikondiwin, meaning feasting or feast, is the title of Odawa composer Barbara Croall’s latest project, a commission by the Highlands Opera Studio in partnership with the Atelier Lyrique de L’Opera de Montreal. Valerie Kuinka, general director of the Highlands Opera Studio, approached Croall a number of years ago about the possibility of commissioning an opera. With funding from Canadian Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts: New Chapter associated with Canada’s Sesquicentennial, this year was an opportune time to pursue the project. It will be presented for the first time this August in a semi-staged performance. There is a…

Photo Bo Huang

Canadian Classical Summer Music Festivals 2017: Ontario

By Kiersten van Vliet on 1 June 2017 Canadian Music, Classical Music, Opera

The Highlands Opera Studio in Haliburton has an exciting season lined up this summer. See one of two (or both!) concerts of selections from opera and Broadway August 9 and 12, or catch up with past alumni on August 23. The mainstage production this year is Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte (August 27, 29, 30, and 31), but don’t miss out on the premiere of Barbara Croall’s opera Wiikondiwin in a semi-staged performance on August 19 (read an interview with the creator). Of course, you’re always welcome to attend masterclasses led by Richard Margison (August 3–5)! www.highlandsoperastudio.com The 30th season of…

Canadian Stage’s Matthew Jocelyn Pens Libretto for Major International Opera

By Newswire on 31 May 2017 Newswire, Opera

Toronto, ON – Canadian Stage Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn, along with internationally-acclaimed Canadian-born Soprano Barbara Hannigan, will represent Canada at the 2017 edition of the UK’s Glyndebourne Festival, one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated opera festivals. For his latest international venture, Jocelyn has penned the libretto of Hamlet, Australian composer Brett Dean’s (Bliss) new opera based on Shakespeare’s best-known tragedy. With Hannigan making her Glyndebourne premiere in the role of Ophelia, Hamlet is set to perform at the East Sussex opera rendez-vous from June 11 to July 6, directed by Neil Armfield and conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Called “one of…

France Bellemare (Mimi) et Luc Robert (Rodolfo), Photo: Yves Renaud

Opéra de Montréal presents a young La Bohème!

By Adrian Rodriguez on 20 May 2017 Concert Reviews, Opera, Romantic

This year Opéra de Montréal is betting on a young, all-Canadian cast to present their last opera of the season, La bohème. Five of the eight singers in the opera are part of the alumni of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. The soprano France Bellemare – who portrays the lead role of Mimì – is the indisputable star of the show. She displayed great legato and good chemistry with conductor James Meena, who pulled out some magical moments by emphasizing nuances in the score. Bellemare’s strongest moments came in Mimì’s aria “Si, mi chiamano Mimì” and in the duet scene with Marcello interpreted…

Lebrecht Weekly – Kathleen Ferrier Remembered (Somm)

By Norman Lebrecht on 19 May 2017 Art Song, CD and Book Reviews, Lebrecht Weekly

When the English contralto Norma Procter died a few weeks ago at the age of 89, readers remembered seeing Kathleen Ferrier in her audience at Norma’s London debut, at Southwark Cathedral, in 1948. This was typical Ferrier. Six years before she had been a switchboard operator in Lancashire with no hopes of a music career. Now an international star, she took every opportunity to offer support and encouragement to others on the way up. Hearing that Norma was studying in London with her own teacher, Roy Henderson, Ferrier invited her to stay over at her own West Hampstead flat rather…

Calgary Opera Announces Opera in the Village Programming and New Location

By Newswire on 16 May 2017 Newswire, Opera

May 16, 2017 (Calgary, Alberta) – Today, Calgary Opera announced today the return of Opera in the Village, presented by Imperial, Canada’s only outdoor summer opera festival, in a brand-new location at ENMAX Park, featuring a main stage production of South Pacific by Rodgers & Hammerstein, a one-act opera of Cinderella based on music by Rossini & Massenet, a special performance featuring Brett Polegato, Baritone, and an array of free musical programming from the local arts community, over the span of two weekends. Opera in the Village will be held the weekends of August 10 – 13, and August 17 – 20, 2017. “Calgary Opera, along with Imperial, is excited to present Opera…

The Nova Scotia Choral Federations is Accepting Registrations for Sing Summer Choir Camps

By Newswire on 16 May 2017 Choral, Education, Newswire

Since 1976 the Nova Scotia Choral Federation has presented residential choir camps for singers of all ages and abilities. Once again in August, the Nova Scotia Choral Federation will have their home base at the Berwick United Church Campgrounds as they present their annual Sing Summer Program. There are opportunities for singers of all ages to spend a wonderful week singing under the majestic Hemlocks as they develop and expand choral skills in a friendly, fun and encouraging atmosphere. Come and join us for Junior, Youth or Adult Choir Camps. Celebrated as a national leader in summer choral music programming,…

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