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.
(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.
Phillip Addis as Tancredi and Krisztina Szabó as Clorinda in the Canadian Opera Company’s world premiere production of Pyramus and Thisbe (with Lamento d’Arianna and Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda), 2015. Photo: Michael Cooper

For the Love of Opera: Review Pyramus and Thisbe

Barbara Monk Feldman’s Pyramus and Thisbe, not an opera for the uninitiated Everything about Pyramus and Thisbe seems dull and muted, including lighting and costumes. Let's start on a high note. Canadian...