By Neil Crory on February 8, 2015
The Canadian Opera Company lost its star tenor, Clifton Forbis, yesterday due to illness. He was scheduled to sing the demanding role of Siegmund in the 4:30 performance of Richard Wagner's Die Walküre.
Fortunately the COC had engaged the young American tenor, Issachah Savage, as the 'cover' for the COC's run of seven performances. Yesterday Savage sang the third performance and, in so doing, has secured his reputation as a major contender for star status among dramatic tenors worldwide...
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By Michael Vincent on February 4, 2015
Since Jeanne Lamon stepped down as music director in 2014, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir have been busy stoking the fire until a new successor can be found. They have instituted Interim Managing Director Alexandra Skoczylas, and a Music Director search committee, consisting of musicians, board members, administrative staff, and community representatives, to search both nationally and internationally to identify possible candidates. Until then, Jeanne Lamon is keeping a close eye on things, and will perform with the orchestra for select Toronto and touring programmes leading up to the appointment of a new Music Director...
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By Michael Vincent on January 31, 2015
Since announcing his retirement from the stage last April, (due to an "unreliability" in his voice), Canadian tenor, Ben Heppner seemed content with maintaining his role as announcer for CBC II's radio program “Backstage with Ben Happner”. But the question remained – what of his singing? Is that really it?
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By Michael Vincent on January 29, 2015
The TSO have just released details on their upcoming 2015/2016 season and it looks to be much more collaborative and dare I say "innovative" than previous years.
The season starts with a concert gala on September 24, 2015 with violinist Itzhak Perlman, who returns to Roy Thomson Hall to perform Bruch's Violin Concerto with Music Director Peter Oundjian leading, and music by Dukas and Grieg...
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By Michael Vincent on January 28, 2015
The 44th Annual JUNO Award Nominees have just been released. Each will participate in the 2015 JUNO Awards and JUNO Week celebrations over March 9-15. The awards will be broadcast on CTV from FirstOntario Centre on Sunday, March 15, 2015...
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By Michael Vincent on January 22, 2015
Have you ever wanted to ask the TSO’s movers and shakers a question? Now is your chance. On Thursday, January 29 at 11:45am EST, Music Director Peter Oundjian and CEO Jeff Melanson will be participating in a live Reddit "Ask Me Anything" Q&A...
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By Michael Vincent on January 22, 2015
Announced this morning by the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, Tafelmusik has been awarded the 2015 National Arts Centre Award for Distinguished Contribution to Touring in the Performing Arts...
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By Michael Vincent on January 21, 2015
Around this time last year, Opera Hamilton made the announcement that due to a lack of funding, it was closing its doors for good. It wasn’t the first time Hamilton has lost an opera company. Opera Hamilton’s predecessor, Opera Ontario, went bankrupt in 2008, and despite moving from Hamilton Place to the Dofasco Theatre —(a smaller venue designed to cut costs) it wasn’t enough to balance the books...
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By Neil Crory on January 16, 2015
On Wednesday evening the Canadian Opera Company announced its 2015-2016 season in Grand Opera style. No exclusive little cocktail party for a handful of press here – instead General Director, Alexander Neef went straight to his public and pulled out all the stops. Over a 90 minute programme he offered the crowd of over 1700 an 'event' overflowing with informal chat, Q & As, video segments, interviews, live music, surprise guest singers, a full orchestra conducted by COC Music Director, Johannes Debus - and the complete Act II finale of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Brent Bambury, the affable CBC Radio One host, functioned as moderator and kept the various elements moving along in a quick and orderly fashion. With the massive set for Richard Wagner's Die Walküre in the background, all that was missing was the chorus...
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By Michael Vincent on January 14, 2015
Tonight marks the Canadian Opera Company’s Season Launch Event ushering in a new season, and a number of exciting new initiatives for Canada's premiere opera company.
Musical Toronto’s opera expert, Neil Crory will be on hand to cover the event, and also discuss the news with COC General Director, Alexander Neef.
Until then, here is a brief overview as well as the entire press release reprinted below...
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