Cirque Du Soleil is one of those attractions that is not easily explained because it has elements from many entertainment genres. Their shows have a very theatrical quality to them while melding circus elements in as well. At their core is fine storytelling, really good production values and dazzling circus skills. Another plus is that their shows always boast an international cast and crew. You will notice where each performer and artist come from in parenthesis throughout this review.
Pacific Opera Victoria presents Rinaldo, an exotic story of adventure and danger, heroism and love, April 19 through 29, 2018, at the Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street, in Victoria.
Returning to the COC stage after an absence of nearly 40 years is Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entf hrung aus dem Serail) in a new COC production from Lebanese-Canadian Wajdi Mouawad, a playwright and director whose work is internationally recognized for its moral impulse. His reinterpretation of Mozart's opera a piece about relations between Enlightenment-era Europeans and Muslim Turks was first presented in 2016 at Op ra de Lyon, where the New York Times suggested Mouawad's artistic vision could be an example of opera becoming an agent of change. Seven performances take place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on February 7, 13, 16, 18, 22, and 24, 2018.
The Canadian Opera Company presents a 2017/2018 season that defies conventions on what opera can be and cements the art form's enduring relevance as a reflection of timeless human relations and universal themes.
