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Photo: Brent Calis

Patrick Corrigan: “We have to take measured risks.”

By La Scena Musicale Team on 21 June 2021 Interviews, Opera

Opéra de Montréal general director Patrick Corrigan speaks to La Scena Musicale about the 2021-22 season. On Verdi’s La Traviata in a production inspired by the entertainer Josephine Baker and Paris in the Jazz Age: “[Baker] was defined by the fact that she was an artist, an American, and by race. She took Paris by storm but certainly would not be considered a suitable match for well-bred young man. So we have the same sort of plot construct. She takes up with a well-bred young man. Controversy ensues, and sacrifice. “We thought this was a chic new approach. The idea…

Festival Classica: “Finally, we will have people in the hall!”

By Hassan Laghcha on 4 June 2021 Classical Music, Interviews

“Finally, we will have people in the hall!” So exclaims Marc Boucher, general and artistic director of Festival Classica, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Under the theme “From Wolfgang to Amadeus,” this edition will feature the participation of elite Quebec artists, who will give more than 20 live-audience concerts in the Roman Catholic parish of Saint-Lambert. “The entire Festival Classica team is happy to finally welcome back its festivalgoers,” Boucher said. “We missed them terribly. We are looking forward to this reunion, especially since, as relaxed regulations are announced, they will also be able to take the opportunity to…

Orchestre classique de Montréal takes a Slavic Turn

By Arthur Kaptainis on 7 April 2021 Classical Music, Interviews, Technology

“Sort of a Romeo and Juliet thing,” Taras Kulish, executive director of the Orchestre classique de Montréal, says of Mykola Lysenko’s epic 1891 opera Taras Bulba, the overture of which will be one of the highlights of the “Great Slavs” program heard in Salle Pierre-Mercure on May 18. “A love story between a Polish princess and a Ukrainian warrior,” Kulish continues. “They are destined not to be together because of the fighting. Lots of historical things in there, the Poles against the Ukrainians, who’s invading whom.” And lots of percussion in that rousing overture as it was orchestrated after the…

Julia Haferkorn on Livestreams: How do we make it pay?

By Jacqueline Vanasse on 7 April 2021 Classical Music, Interviews, Technology

During the first lockdown in the U.K., which started on March 21, 2020, Julia Haferkorn, senior lecturer in music business and arts management at Middlesex University in London, became aware that many musicians were going to struggle financially. “I became very interested in the question of music streaming and started to think of how it could help musicians make at least some income,” she said. “But, at the same time, what happened, especially during the first lockdown in U.K. and Europe, is that many started to livestream from home but did so for free. It is absolutely understandable that they did…

Corona Serenades: Q & A with Jonelle Sills, Soprano (Canada)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 13 August 2020 Interviews

Meet Jonelle Sills, soprano (Canada), new singer for Corona Serenades How has Covid-19 affected you? During these times of physical distancing I have been privileged to be surrounded by family. Covid-19, has allowed me to slow down, take care of myself and gain new perspectives in every area of my life. Most singing opportunities have been postponed or cancelled to ensure the spread of the Covid-19 slows down. While new opportunities have come to life, such as this. I have also been able to participate in live outdoor performances with Jamii Esplanade and Canadian Stage. Jamii (Swahili for ‘community’) is…

Corona Serenades: Q&A with Dominic Veilleux, baryton-bass (Canada)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 7 August 2020 Interviews

Meet Dominic Veilleux, bass-baritone, singer for Corona Serenades, (Canada) How has the pandemic affected you? Like most people in artistic fields, I saw all my contracts cancelled one after the other. The advantage of having all this free time is that I’ve really been able to concentrate on my technique and take time to reconnect with my voice. We live very quickly, contract after contract, and we sometimes risk forgetting why we do this in the first place. So, the pandemic has had a positive impact on me, as it has allowed me to make use of this time to…

Corona Serenades: Q & A with Bradley Christensen, baritone (New-Zealand)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 3 August 2020 Interviews

Meet Bradley Christensen, baritone (New-Zealand), new singer for Corona Serenades How has Covid-19 affected you? Professionally, this has been a frustrating time. I’ve had numerous engagements cancelled, which for any artist, has had a big financial impact. Add to this the unknowing of when concert-life opens up again has doubled my concern. However, in saying that, it has been interesting to see the discussions that are happening surrounding the distribution of artistic creations, not just during this pandemic, but going forward. The conversations on a variety of topics can only be good for this art form. I have been keeping…

Corona Serenades: Q&A with Jennifer Carter, soprano (Canada-UK)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 22 July 2020 Interviews

Meet Jennifer Carter, soprano for Corona Serenades How has Covid-19 affected you? In addition to the loss of performances (as for all singers everywhere), Covid-19 has meant taking all my voice teaching online. There are pluses and minuses, but lot more students took the summer off than usual, because online is not the same as in person. Unfortunately the science looks like it’s going to be a while yet before we can safely sing in person, so I will be staying online for some time. I also have a pre-schooler and a school age child. While their dad and I…

Corona Serenades: Q&A with Bruno Roy, Baritone (CANADA)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 17 July 2020 Interviews

Meet Bruno Roy, baritone for Corona Serenades How has Covid-19 affected you? Like many of my colleagues around the world it meant hitting pause on a few exciting projects and travel plans. It meant a lot of time at home, taking a break from the busy fall that I had and focusing on other avenues than classical singing. Since my partner and I moved to Vancouver Island, I often bemoan the fact we live far away from our friends and colleagues in Montreal, Toronto and Frankfurt. Although we are in the midst of a public health crisis it was definitely…

Corona Serenades: Q&A with Philip Kalmanovitch, baritone (Canada)

By La Scena Musicale Team on 10 July 2020 Interviews

Meet Philip Kalmanovitch, baritone singer for Corona Serenades (Canada) How has COVID-19 affected you? COVID-19 has affected me in a big way. I was set to travel to Sweden for a big audition literally the weekend the travel ban went into effect. I lost a handful of gigs, and missed out on three competition opportunities. I also lost my side job at a restaurant for obvious reasons. The silver lining was I decided to head home to stay with my parents for the majority of quarantine, so I was able to spend some quality time with them for the first…

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