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.
(l-r) Josef Wagner as Figaro and Uli Kirsch as Cherubim in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, 2016, photo: Michael Cooper

For the love of Opera: Marriage of Figaro

Mozart and Da Ponte crafted timeless characters that work well together. Mount that with simply beautiful music and you have the makings of a thoroughly enjoyable night at the opera. Debus hoped “we all should leave the hall uplifted and energised,” and we certainly do.
John Relyea as Duke Bluebeard and Ekaterina Gubanova as Judith in the Canadian Opera Company production of Bluebeard’s Castle, 2015. Conductor Johannes Debus, director Robert Lepage, revival director François Racine, set and costume designer Michael Levine, and lighting designer Robert Thomson. Photo: Michael Cooper Michael Cooper Photographic

Blood at the Opera: Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung

At the end of the night, what is clear, is that this Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung will creep through your psyche and remain there for days. Like Judith, we find ourselves simultaneously repulsed and intrigued, but we must see these disturbing tales through to their abysmal ends.
Renato Girolami as Doctor Bartolo and Joshua Hopkins as Figaro in the Canadian Opera Company production of The Barber of Seville, 2015. Conductor Rory Macdonald, director Joan Font, set and costume designer Joan Guillén, choreographer Xevi Dorca and lighting designer Albert Faura. Photo: Michael Cooper

Review: The Barber of Seville

I’m tempted to surmise that the music of Rossini's comic masterpiece The Barber of Seville is unparalleled in successfully penetrating pop-culture. Musically it’s vintage, memorable, tuneful and full of character.