Adrianne Pieczonka as Tosca and Markus Marquardt as Scarpia in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Tosca, 2017, photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Tosca Review

Paul Curran’s Tosca, the finale for the COC 2016/17 season, is filled with electric and memorable performances and is anything but shabby. Let me clue you in, in case you’re unfamiliar with Puccini’s Tosca, ev...
Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde and Andreas Schager as Siegfried in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Götterdämmerung, 2017, photo: Chris Hutcheson

For the Love of Opera: Götterdämmerung

(l-r) Martin Gantner as Gunther, Ain Anger as Hagen, Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde, Andreas Schager as Siegfried and Ileana Montalbetti as Gutrune the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Götterdämmerung, 2...
Andrew Haji as Tamino and Elena Tsallagova as Pamina in the Canadian Opera Company's production of The Magic Flute, 2017, photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: The Magic Flute Review

The Magic Flute is both sublime and ridiculous. The piece has ties to the Freemason movement of which Mozart and Schikaneder were members. The production presents the ideals of enlightenment versus the vaudeville antics of the playful Papageno and Papagena.
Jane Archibald as Ginevra (on bed) with Alice Coote as Ariodante and Johannes Weisser as the King of Scotland (in front row) in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Ariodante, 2016, photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Ariodante Review

Handel’s Ariodante, like so many operas before it, weaves a tale of obsession, deception, heartbreak and redemption. Director Richard Jones updates this tale in both time and place, adding to it an empowering ending sure to satisfy.
Christian Van Horn as Escamillo (centre) and Sasha Djihanian as Frasquita (right, at table) in the Canadian Opera Company production of Carmen, 2016, photo: Michael Cooper

Carmen Opera Review

Carmen opera Review: COC’s Carmen, full of beautiful music and singing, but a more convincing portrayal of passion would help the opera from feeling flat.