Calgary Opera has announced its first digital production, which will be streamed starting on Dec. 18, 2020. The concert event, entitled “The Yuletide Sessions: a holiday concert from home” will feature members of the company’s 2020-21 Emerging Artist Development Program as they present some holiday favorites. The production is a co-creation between stage director Vanessa Porteous and music director Mark {…}
Calgary Opera has announced that Artistic Director Bramwell Tovey, O.C. has decided to resign from his position with the company. Tovey has held the position since January 2019 and decided to step down to address an ongoing battle with cancer, for which he was diagnosed in June of 2019. In his stead, Managing Director and CEO Heather Kitchen will lead {…}
Calgary Opera has postponed its 2020-21 season. The productions that will be affected by the decision include “Fidelio,” “The Merry Widow,” “La Traviata,” “Christmas at the Opera,” Opera Brunches, Master Classes, and Student Dress Rehearsals. In a press release, Bramwell Tovey, O.C. – Artistic Director, and Heather Kitchen, Managing Director and CEO of Opera Calgary said, “It’s been 106 days {…}
The Calgary Opera has announced its 2020-21 season, which will include four opera productions. Beethoven’s “Fidelio” opens the season with Tracy Cantin as Leonore, David Pomeroy as Florestan, Melody Courage as Marzelline, Gregory Dahl as Don Pizarro, and Owen McCausland as Jaquino. Michael Cavanagh directs the production and Bramwell Tovey conducts. Performance Dates: Nov. 21, 25 & 27, 2020 Omer {…}
The Calgary Opera has announced its 2019-20 season, which will feature a number of operatic classics and a few rarities as well. The season kicks off with “La Bohème,” which will star Miriam Khalil and Antoine Bélanger as Mimì and Rodlfo, respectively. Jonathan Brandani conducts a production by Brenna Corner. Performance Dates: Nov. 9-15, 2019 Aviva Fortunata will star in {…}
As February, gets underway, more and more opera companies are opening their doors. This week’s offerings feature numerous modern works, but also have their fair share of classic repertoire. Here is the list (in alphabetical order by company). Dead Man Walking – Atlanta Opera Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s famed opera will get a major showcase in Atlanta in a {…}
The Calgary Opera has announced its 2018-19 season showcasing five operas and a number of collaborations. Here is a look at what will be on offer. The season opens on Sept. 28, with BreakThru Films’ animated film, “Magic Piano & The Chopin Shorts,” entertaining for both children and adults, accompanied by a live performance of Chopin. This work will be presented {…}
The opera world continues to showcase more and more around the continent and this week’s recommendations stretch around the US and Canada, with the focus solely on staples of the operatic canon. If last week’s emphasis on the modern was too much for the more conservative opera goer, then this week will offer a “palette cleanser” of sorts. I Puritani {…}
The battle against racism is growing these days and it seems that any action against inequality is drawing out no-tolerance responses from offended communities. Just look at what happened at the Calgary Opera this past week regarding its production of “South Pacific.” The company opted for casting a Tonkinese character with a white woman, leading to a massive overhaul of {…}