17-18-02-MC-D-0543 – Andrew Haji as Nemorino in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of The Elixir of Love, 2017. Conductor Yves Abel, director James Robinson, original costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, revival costume designer Amanda Seymour, set designer Allen Moyer, lighting designer Paul Palazzo,. Photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: The Elixir of Love

The Elixir of Love. The strength of this particular elixir is that it’s a character-based, romantic comedy, filled with a very fun and happy score. There’s heartache and longing and it’s all brought to life by Gaetano Donizetti’s thoughtful capacity to create beautiful melodic hooks.
Erin Wall as Arabella and Tomasz Konieczny as Mandryka in the Canadian Opera Company’s new production of Arabella, 2017. Conductor Patrick Lange, director Tim Albery, set and costume designer Tobias Hoheisel, and lighting designer David Finn. Photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Arabella Review

Canadian Opera Company’s Season Opener, Arabella: A comedy of errors with girls dressed as boys, mistaken identities, family scandal and trouble caused by the passing on of a key.
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...
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.