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Daily News Roundup: 14 November 2016

By Nicole Yeba on 14 November 2016 Daily News Roundup, Education, Opera, Orchestral

Opéra de Montréal presented Don Giovanni on November 12, 2016, which satisfied most audiences. The opera is playing again on the 15, 17 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. Christophe Rodriguez of Journal de Montréal talks about the success of the opera. Arthur Kaptainis of Montreal Gazette believes the balance between the comic and tragic elements is right. Christophe Huss of Le Devoir doesn’t like David Lefkowich’s adapation of Don Giovanni. Caroline Rodgers of La Presse enjoys the simplicity of the opera and believes it’s a success. Sophie Jama of Huffington Post Québec admires the all-Canadian cast with beautiful and strong voices. Our writer Robert Kilborn enjoyed the…

Photo: Yves Renaud.

Opéra de Montréal coutures a mid-20th century Don Giovanni with éclat

By Robert Kilborn on 14 November 2016 Classical, Concert Reviews, Opera

Why do women respond to rascals, seducers, and merely self-assured men? Don Giovanni cannot match the sexual prodigality of Gene Simmons of hard rock band KISS. The Don’s conquests in the salons, kitchens, and petticoats of 18th century Europe comprise a mere 640 women and girls in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France, 91 in Turkey, and 1,003 in Spain. Gene Simmons’s worldwide conquests exceed either 4,600 or 4,800 eager groupies, depending on whether you ask him or his wife. Rake. Libertine. Trickster. Don Giovanni embodies the notorious womanizer, seducer, and serial rapist at concert pitch. His quicksilver sociopathy…

CMIM announces New Positioning for Future Voice Editions

By Newswire on 10 November 2016 Art Song, Newswire, Opera

Competition will honor both Aria and Art Song Toronto, November 10, 2016 – The Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) announces at the IAMA Toronto 2016 conference (International Artists’ Managers Association) its new positioning for future voice editions. Starting in 2018, the vocal competition will feature two divisions: Aria and Art Song. Eligible candidates will be able to compete in either or both divisions. The same amount of prizes, grants, and awards will be assigned to both divisions, resulting in a record amount of more than a quarter million Canadian dollars to be awarded to prizewinners. The next Voice competition…

Daily News Roundup: 10 November 2016

By Nicole Yeba on 10 November 2016 Arts Industry, Classical, Daily News Roundup, Opera, Strings

A concert recorded in Geneva in September will be broadcast on the radio today Thursday November 10 at 8 p.m on ICI Musique and on television on Saturday November 12 at 1 p.m. at ICI ARTV. The concert supports press cartoonists who are threatened in the home countries. Two cartoonists, Chappatte and Plantu, were on stage with the Suisse Romande Orchestra who interpreted Beethoven’s Third Symphony. The Sony Centre announced a multi-year film concert series featuring the first two films of Harry Potter. In a partnership with CineConcerts and Attila Glatz Concert Productions, the Sony Centre presents Harry Potter…

Anna Netrebko "Aida" Collection de thé - Photo presse

Daily News Roundup: 9 November 2016

By Nicole Yeba on 9 November 2016 Daily News Roundup, Opera, Orchestral

The British government is cutting funding for proposals of a new concert hall in London. Leading figures in the world of classical music have expressed their disappointment in the government’s decision. Conductor Daniel Harding spoke to The Guardian and said: “We find a lot of money for building all sorts of sports arenas, which is wonderful, but the arts are hugely important too.” Last year’s government granted £5.5-million. Approximately £1.25-million was spent until today and the remainder will return to the Treasury. Three public accountants were severely punished for having failed to notice that Corinne Auguin, the previous stage manager of the…

This Week in Montreal (November 7-13)

By Nicole Yeba on 7 November 2016 Classical Music, Opera, This Week in Montreal

Opera McGill’s 60th The McGill Schulich School of Music is offering up a vibrant season in celebration of Montreal’s 375th anniversary. Opera McGill is also celebrating a milestone in turn with its 60th anniversary this year. To satisfy your Baroque opera cravings, catch their season opener: Handel’s wickedly magical opera seria, Alcina. Directed by Patrick Hansen, with the McGill Baroque Orchestra conducted by Hank Knox. (Salle Pollack, Nov. 5 & 7, 7:30PM and Nov. 6, 2PM). www.mcgill.ca/music Opéramania: Giovanna D’Arco by Verdi Projection of the film Giovanna D’Arco made by the Production du Teatro alla Scala de Milan. (Nov.…

Daily News Roundup: 7 November 2016

By Nicole Yeba on 7 November 2016 Daily News Roundup, Opera, Orchestral

American conductor Robert Trevino, 32, was named principal conductor of the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra in San Sebastian, Spain. He will assume his new role in September 2017, succeeding to Jun Märkl. Hungarian virtuoso pianist and conductor, Zoltán Kocsis, died at age 64 on Sunday. Kocsis served as musical director of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra since 1997. He was known around the world from the United States to Japan by music fans. In 2012, he underwent heart surgery and cancelled upcoming concert last month on the advice of doctors, according to the orchestra. Dutch director Jim Lucassen resigned…

Daily News Roundup: 4 November 2016

By Nicole Yeba on 4 November 2016 Canadian Music, Daily News Roundup, Vocal

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) held their annual vocal competition, the COC Ensemble Studio Competition, on November 3, 2016 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. There were seven contestants this year who participated: sopranos Andrea Lett, Andrea Nunez, Maria Lacey, and Myriam Leblanc, mezzo Simone McIntosh, and baritones Geoffrey Schellenberg and Samuel Chan. There are two parts to the competition, a private part for a small audience of COC donors and members of the media and a public part for anyone who purchased a ticket. The First Prize went to mezzo Simone McIntosh from Vancouver; the Second Prize…

Lebrecht Weekly – Schoenberg and Shostakovich (CSO.Resound)

By Norman Lebrecht on 4 November 2016 Choral, Contemporary, Lebrecht Weekly

Two composers in despair, reaching deep into their souls. Arnold Schoenberg, a penniless refugee in Los Angeles in 1938, was commissioned by a liberal temple to make a modern version of the Yom Kippur introductory prayer. Dmitri Shostakovich, dying of lung cancer in 1974, wrote a song cycle for bass singer and piano from Michelangelo’s battle between public expectation and personal need. Together, the two works contains some of the darkest moments known to music. Schoenberg, unexpectedly, delivers confidence, hope and consolation. Without yielding to the temptations of simple faith or melody, he conjures serenity out of musical austerity by…

Lang Lang Receives RCM Honorary Fellowship - Chancellor Michael M. Koerner, President Dr. Peter Simon, and Lang Lang (Christina Gapick photo)

Industry News: November 2016

By Kiersten van Vliet on 1 November 2016 Arts Industry, Classical Music, La Scena Spotlight, Opera, Orchestral

Big Canadian Debut Many are abuzz after the mid-October announcement that Russian soprano Ana Netrebko, one of the world’s biggest opera stars, will make her Canadian debut on April 25, 2017 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Netrebko will be joined on stage by her husband, Yusif Eyazov, as well as baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky – otherwise known as Trio Magnifico. They will be accompanied by the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra conducted by Jader Bignamini in a concert of opera arias, duets, and trios. Tickets to the event are bound to be expensive, some estimate they…

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