Keira Grant

The extreme minimalism did not land for me or my guest, but it was clear that other members of the audience loved it. It all comes down to how much you love contemporary baroque singing and agree with a 'less is more' approach to mounting opera.

This production is comfort food without being boring and sure to appeal to opera lovers and Romeo & Juliette lovers of all ages, stages and walks of life.

Given this strong inaugural production, I am curious to see what else Artistic & General Director Michael Mori and Tapestry Opera do next in their new playground. Intimate and approachable, the Nancy and Ed Jackman Performance Centre seems like a great place to experiment, innovate, and bring new ideas to life.

Meredith Mullen is a strong singer and a charming storyteller, and we had a very nice evening watching her solo show “AmeriCanadian” and the improv set that preceded it at Beer Beer, the Saturday comedy night at SOCAP Comedy.

Seeing a fully staged new operatic production in an environment as airy and luxurious as the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is a treat in itself. La-Reine Garcon, produced jointly by the Canadian Opera Company and Opera Montreal, offers this and more. It blends superb new music with absorbing historical drama, exploring some of the most controversial themes of current times.

The COC’s 2025 production of this masterpiece seamlessly blends performance practice tradition with a contemporary perspective on the story’s timeless themes.

Opera Atelier’s production of G. F. Handel’s Acis and Galatea was a fun and fresh take on an opera that has delighted audiences since its premiere in 1718. Handel referred to it as his “little opera.” This production is a very “user-friendly” introduction to Baroque opera and historically informed performance.

Vocally and musically, the Canadian Opera Company's production of Gounod's Faust directed by Amy Lane was a sumptuous feast for the ears. While elegant, The restrained production values didn't quite sell the delights of debauchery, leaving the well-known story's premise somewhat flat.