Spring 2024

Opera Canada

Canada's only Magazine Dedicated Exclusively to Opera

Opera Canada2 min read
Notebook
On our cover, we feature the talented conductor Jordan de Souza, who is set to take on the esteemed position of General Music Director of the City of Dortmund, Germany; he will be responsible for the Opera and the Symphony Orchestra. Jordan’s passion
Opera Canada1 min read
Opera Canada
FOUNDING EDITOR Ruby Mercer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eva Innes, Chair Stephanie Applin Davida Aronovitch Dorian Block Curtis Fichtner Wojtek Niebrzydowski ADVISORY COUNCIL Margaret Genovese James Warrillow EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elizabeth Bowman elizabeth@operaca
Opera Canada2 min read
Take Note
Canadian baritone Étienne Dupuis will sing the role of Sancho Pança in director Paris Opera’s new production of Massenet’s Don Quichotte May 10 - June 11. Shortly after, he takes on the title role in Rigoletto as the Royal Opera House takes Oliver Me
Opera Canada1 min read
Review Highlights
Dove’s The Walk from the Garden May 22-24, 2024 “Artistic Director Spencer Duncanson is to be commended for taking the road less travelled with this gripping, meta-phorical tale for modern times.” —HOLLY HARRIS Floyd’s Susannah Feb 22-25, 2024 “It wa
Opera Canada2 min read
Lucas van Lierop
Originally from the Netherlands, van Lierop immigrated to Canada at the age of seven. He attended McGill University, motivated initially by Montreal’s vibrant indie rock scene—he even had an Arcade Fire cover band! It was Michael McMahon’s Song Inter
Opera Canada7 min read
Letter From Detroit
THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN OPERA IS LED by Detroit. In a 2022 feature on the then-newly appointed Artistic Director of Detroit Opera, Yuval Sharon, New York Times writer and Detroit native Mark Binelli wrote: the future of American opera unfolding in Det
Opera Canada4 min read
Dr. Peter Simon Leave It Better Than You Found It
LC: What separates a good leader from a great one? PS: A clearly articulated vision and strategy for its execution are fundamental. But in the arts, from fundraising to management, a great leader is genuine—able to convince people that what you’re do
Opera Canada3 min read
Business Experts Interpret Opera …
… Opera and classical music are hyper international. Your career has spanned US, European and Canadian markets. What have you learned and what insights can you offer about operating in different contexts? Over the past year, managing the entire Europ
Opera Canada5 min read
Have voice Will Tr Avel
Joseph So talks to Edith Wiens, the great Canadian soprano and celebrated teacher, about advice for aspiring singers As Canadian opera lovers know well, the Great White North has produced many outstanding classical singers. While most of them receive
Opera Canada2 min read
A Roadmap For Canadian Singers Aspiring To Build A European Career
1. Initiate contact with administrators of opera houses, along with teachers and coaches integral to your studies and career. Their familiarity with your strengths and belief in your potential make them valuable allies who can assist in crucial netwo
Opera Canada7 min read
Menningful Leadership
JORDAN DE SOUZA LAUGHS UPON hearing he’s a prime example of positive leadership within the classical world. “I don’t know about that!” he says, chuckling, “but I do know that conducting makes you very aware of having to wear many different hats.” The
Opera Canada4 min read
Feeling + Play
Jessica Muirhead talks to Wendy Nielsen and Dr. Betty Allison When considering training programs for future Canadian opera performers, the larger cities are first to spring to mind. The Canadian Opera Company (COC) Ensemble Studio in Toronto, NUOVA V
Opera Canada5 min read
Gordon Gerrard Vision, Purpose, and Connection
Lev Bratishenko spotlights City Opera Vancouver’s new Artistic Director Survival isn’t enough. That’s the Gordon Gerrard, who sounds acutely aware conviction you take away from a conversation with City Opera Vancouver’s Artistic Director of the speci
Opera Canada7 min read
Tania Miller Connecting Communities To Music
It’s November 2023, and Tania Miller is at the helm of her first educational concert for the Brott Festival. She strides onstage, greeted by 2,000 screaming fans. As she waves and calls out, “Hello, boys and girls! How are you doing today?”, more ent
Opera Canada3 min read
Constance Fisher
The late actor and comedian Charles Nelson Reilly was a great opera fan, though he was often highly critical of the old-fashioned and staid productions he was seeing. When asked why he still faithfully attended operatic performances he answered, “I a
Opera Canada4 min read
Jacques Lacombe
Olivier Bergeron takes us to the West Coast where Lacombe has taken on the Music Directorship of Vancouver Opera Few Canadian conductors have had a career so rich and diverse as that of JACQUES LACOMBE. Born in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, in the province of
Opera Canada7 min read
Championing Canadians
In December 2023, Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) announced the nomi-nation of Canadian stage director Brenna Corner as Artistic Director and confirmed long-term Associate Giuseppe Pietraroia as Principal Conductor. This announcement signalled a major s
Opera Canada2 min read
For Love Of The Opera
Sharon Azrieli, driven by her passion for voice and music, talks to Sylvia L’Écuyer about major initiatives she has established IN 2014, THROUGH THE AZRIELI Foundation, Sharon established the Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) for Canadian and International

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