An enchanted evening – almost
To mark 50 years to the day that Place des Arts opened, Opéra de Montréal presented a crowd-pleaser, the melodic, exotic and – by opera standards – short Lakmé. No less then Pauline Marois was in...
View ArticleFunny stuff is Falstaff
It's an amusing irony that Verdi, best known for great tragic operas such as La traviata, Rigoletto and Otello, closed out his oeuvre with a comedy – and a funny one at that. Opéra de Montréal has...
View ArticleI loves you, Porgy
It's difficult to know how to respond to George Gerswhin's opera Porgy and Bess. Should we be a bit offended by this condescending representation of African-Americans, or revel in those beautiful...
View ArticleOperatic origins, from Shakespeare to Anna-Nicole
From the sublime to the occasionally ridiculous, here are some great moments in literary-inspired opera, and operas with unexpected narrative origins – from Nixon to Walter White. The post Operatic...
View ArticleSugar and spice and operatically nice
Hänsel and Gretel was Herr Engelbert Humperdinck's one operatic hit, but since its 1893 premiere in Weimar, it has, unlike his name, never gone out of style. The post Sugar and spice and operatically...
View ArticleSounds from heaven, via Montreal
Montreal vocal ensemble VivaVoce is nothing if not adaptable. Unusually, they seem equally adept at everything from John Cage to the Renaissance, which is the focus of this sumptuous new recording,...
View ArticleFrench feast with a little Britten
Looking elegant, Karina Gauvin set the mood with the opening section, comprising one line and delivered with implosive force: “J'ai seul la clef de cette parade sauvage.” The post French feast with a...
View ArticleHigh drama in the Chinese court
Turandot is a moving but morally bankrupt tale, as soaring voices, swirling fabric and a bit of beefcake set the stage for a night of high drama and spectacle. The post High drama in the Chinese court...
View ArticleMelting pot bursts with laughter
With the Charter of Values behind us, it's time to lay back and take the piss out of our differences, and the Ethnic Show at Just for Laughs is just what the doctor ordered. The post Melting pot bursts...
View ArticleDown Under for a gay old time
With Wil Anderson hosting and fresh acts each night, every evening of JFL's Stand Up Down Under will likely be different, but the opening was a gay old time. The post Down Under for a gay old time...
View ArticleOne plus one equals countless laughs
With Al Madrigal and Jimmy Carr at JFL, we get one night, two very different solo stand-up gigs, and laughs beyond counting. It's a good time of year to be in Montreal. The post One plus one equals...
View ArticleJFL goes back to Black
Lewis Black was back at JFL and incensed as ever, as he trained his sarcasm-bathed rant on the ills of American society. Is he gonna burst? Is there a doctor in the room? The post JFL goes back to...
View ArticleHistory repeats in operatic style
The opera that launched the young Giuseppe Verdi's career, Nabucco premiered in Milan in 1842. The post History repeats in operatic style appeared first on Rover.
View ArticleA close shave with success
The Opéra de Montréal gets a little too amped up in their production of The Barber of Seville The post A close shave with success appeared first on Rover.
View ArticleComic bliss in the missionary position
How did the creators of South Park achieve a Broadway miracle with The Book of Mormon? Montreal finally gets the chance to find out. The post Comic bliss in the missionary position appeared first on...
View ArticleSamson trimmed back to basics
Opera de Montreal marks its 35th birthday with a stripped-back Samson et Dalila and a temple-shaking performance from Marie-Nicole Lemieux. The post Samson trimmed back to basics appeared first on Rover.
View ArticleMuted blast from Napoleonic past
L'Aiglon, a long neglected opera about Napoleon's hapless son, is given the OSM treatment under Kent Nagano's baton. The post Muted blast from Napoleonic past appeared first on Rover.
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