The Canadian Opera Company’s production of Death in Venice tiptoes so near perfection, it’s like a prayer of gratitude to the muses. In this case, inspiration came from life. Both the novella’s author, Thomas Mann, and the opera’s composer, Benjamin Britten, had life experiences that fed into the story of an artist’s demise. With world-renowned actor and director Yoshi Oida at the helm of this production, the story is at its most poignant, a masterpiece of beauty and destruction.
Death in Venice reveals the winding journey of novelist Gustav von Aschenbach from prominent success to humiliation, despair and a...
Alan Oke, front, in the Canadian Opera Company production of Death in Venice
JH: The difficult thing about writing reviews of operatic productions mounted by a world-class company like the Canadian Opera Company is that when it comes to the 'technical' aspects such as vocal and musical performances, there is often much to praise and little to complain about. Or in other words, a lack of stinkers can sometimes make for a dull and frothy article - which is not necessarily a negative, as the purpose of a review by no means to be 'interesting' or pithy but rather informative and hopefully insightful.
Thankfully, the COC has also proven to be a...
Rosario La Spina (back) and Sondra Radvanovsky (front) in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Aida. Photo by Michael Cooper
The venerable PLANK Panel return with their take on the Canadian Opera Company's recent production of Gaetano Donizetti's Maria Stuarda
Justin: It may be strange to start a opera review with a note about a work’s libretto - one of the unmodifiable elements of any Canadian Opera Company production - but it is still a key part of the artistic experience and as such a legitimate topic of discussion. The thing that strikes me most about Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda is the drastically unfamiliar treatment Queen Elizabeth I receives in this work. Compared to the moderate and headstrong...
Simone Osborne as Anna Kennedy and Serena Farnocchia as Maria Stuarda. Photo credit: Michael Cooper
Brevity is the order of the day; go and see Otello at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Canadian Opera Company’s production of Verdi’s timeless piece, the crowning glory of a brilliant career, leaves little to be desired. Famed tenor Clifton Forbis in the title role can only be described as sublime. His voice, prowess with Verdi’s score and dramatic force combine to make his performance a masterful one. Scott Hendricks is diabolical and enticing as the evil Iago, though his rounded voice is sometimes drowned out by the orchestra or the chorus. I’m...
(l – r) (kneeling) Emanuele D’Aguanno as Cassio, Tiziana Caruso as Desdemona, Clifton Forbis as Otello, Scott Hendricks as Iago and Adam Luther as Roderigo in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Otello. Photo: Michael Cooper
