(Photo: Craig Fuller) “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t,” proclaimed Mark Twain. Who knows what he would have made of Verdi’s “Un ballo in Maschera,” currently being performed in London’s Holland Park Opera, where the hugely implausible plot is based on the real-life assassination of King Gustav III {…}
The Canadian Opera Company releases the details of its 2025 Free Concert Series. This article only features classical vocal events. All performances are held in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. “Meet the Ensemble Studio” opens the season. Soprano Emma Pennell, mezzo-soprano Ariana Maubach, tenor Angelo Moretti, baritone Ben Wallace, and bass-baritone Nicholas Murphy will introduce themselves by singing one of their {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced three emerging Canadian artists for the 2024-25 season. The artists are sopranos Emily Rocha and Gabrielle Turgeon, and bass Duncan Stenhouse. The singers join six returning Ensemble Studio members soprano Karoline Podolak, mezzo-soprano Queen Hezumuryango, tenor Wesley Harrison, baritone Korin Thomas-Smith, and pianist/coaches Brian Cho and Mattia Senesi. All three incoming Ensemble Studio artists {…}
The Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) 10th annual Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition took place on Oct. 26, 2023, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais from Chicoutimi, QC, sang “Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s “Tosca.” She won the First Prize of $7,500 and the Audience Choice Award of $1,000. St-Gelais was named Radio-Canada’s 2023/2024 classical breakout {…}
(Photo credit: The Canadian Opera Company) The Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition finalists have been announced. Those moving forward in the competition are sopranos Gabrielle Turgeon, Elisabeth St-Gelais, and Emily Rocha, tenor Matthew Bermudez, baritone Jamal al Titi, and basses Matthew Li, and Duncan Stenhouse. At the annual fundraiser and vocal competition each participant will perform an {…}