Tag Archives: opera revue

Risqué at the Rivoli 2026

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The latest edition of Opera Revue’s Risqué at the Rivoli happened on Saturday night.  There was Mozart and Weill and Bizet and show tunes and lots more.  And of course there was burlesque; which was really the point.  The show featured singers Alex Hajek, Danie Friesen and Maddy Cooper (@kissthknee) with Claire Elise Harris at the keyboards. Also performing in various states of dress and undress were A’Slayna von Hunt (@aslaynavon), Jamaica (@jamaicafraser), Lacy Jane (@lacyjaneburlesque), Tuckker (@matteldracher #TUCKKER) and Magz (@magzviolet).

It is, of course, excellent fun to see Zerlina (Danie) put a collar and leash on a very willing Don G (Alex) and while it might have been amusing to see Danie tied to a bedpost and spanked, alas, she only sang about it. But really it’s a show that’s very much about the bulesque performers and that’s pretty visual.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so there’s thirty thousand or so’s worth below the cut. But, be aware, definitely not safe for work!

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Opera Revue at Granite Brewery

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Last week I caught Opera Revue’s last Toronto show of the year at Granite Brewery.  The usual gang; Danie Friesen, Alexander Hajek and Claire Elise-Harris, were joined by tenor Ryan Downey for, what else, a holiday themed show.  There was a mix of secular  and sacred Christmas music plus a few parodies.  And the Grinch put in an appearance.  So a pretty typical OR show and, as always, a welcome opportunity to hear some music performed well in an informal setting, beer in hand.

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Operamania

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Wednesday evening at The great Hall witnessed a seminal event in the history of opera; Operamania.  Our beloved art form; courtesy of the indefatigable Opera Revue, mashed up with pro-wrestling; in the persons of Junction City Wrestling.  What could possibly gio wrong you ask?  Well how about Mango Mussolini showing up during the Anthem to claim his 51st state?  No worries!  Danie Friesen despatched him with a whack over the head with a chair.

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Coming up in November

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Here’s what’s coming up next month as best I know.

  • Canadian Stage’s presentation of Robert Lepage’s The Far Side of the Moon opens at the Bluma Appel Theatre on November 1st and runs until the 16th.
  • In the RBA lunchtime series we have the Wirth Vocal Prize winner in recital on the 6th
  • Branden Jacob-Jenkins’ The Comeuppance is playing at Soulpepper.  Previews are October 30th to November 5th with opening night on the 6th and the run continuing to November 23rd.

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Opera Revue (alcohol free edition)

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Regular readers will know that I’ve seen my fair share of shows by Opera Revue but pretty much always in a bar or pub and as the band always says “The more you drink, the better we sound”.  Thus it was with some trepidation that I went to see them in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre on Wednesday.  It was the core gang; Danie Friesen, Alex Hajek, Claire Harris.  No ringers (except for the person who forgot to turn off their phone).

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Free pizza!

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German food conglomerate Dr. Oetker are promoting their new up-market frozen pizza offering, Suprema, in a unique way. They have commissioned a 15 minute opera called, unsurprisingly, Suprema from the good people at Opera Revue.  It’s a jolly romp about a sculptor (Danie Friesen) whose creation (Alex Hajek) comes to life and gets hooked on pizza.  Accompaniment is by Claire Harris on piano and pre-recorded strings (Drew Jurecka).  It’s short, well executed and fun.

It’s free, you don’t need a ticket and there is rather good free pizza after each show.  It’s playing in the TD Music Hall (i.e upstairs at Massey Hall).  There are three shows this afternoon and a bunch next weekend.  Times and so forth here.

Photo credit: Darryl Edwards

Back to Castro’s… again

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It’s been a while since I’ve been to a regular Opera Revue show and they were playing my favourite of their regular venues; Castro’s yesterday.  Also, besides the usual gang of Alex Hajek, Dani Friesen and Claire Harris there was Alex Hetherington, so I went.  I had a great time.  It was classic Operas Revue; some arias, some music theatre, Kurt Weill and a couple of parodies.  And Alex H.  Boy does she sound loud in a small space like Castro’s!  Plus this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear her sing the Countess from Marriage of Figaro (which will surely lead to expulsion from the Mezzos Guild).

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Coming up in December

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december2024Here’s what’s coming down for the holiday season, as best I know:

  • December 3rd sees the Ensemble Studio performing a lunchtime concert in the RBA.
  • Soundstreams has a concert called Invocations on December 5th at the Jane Mallet Theatre.
  • Also on the 5th Oraculum opens at Buddies in Bad Times.  Previews are the 1st and 3rd and the run extends to the 15th.
  • On the 8th Opera Revue have BACH Humbug at the Redwood; the antidote to holiday music.
  • Confluence have their annual Young Associate curated gig at Heliconian on the 10th.
  • VOCES8 are appearing at Koerner Hall on the 13th.

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Raining, cats and dogs

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The Redwood Theatre was packed on a wet Sunday evening for the latest gala from Opera Revue.  This time the theme was circus with guests Kalen Davidson juggling and setting things on fire, Haley Shannon on aerial silks, Ambur Braid doing Ambur things and Walter Bowen Braid jumping through hoops.  The usual gang; Danie Friesen, Alex Hajek and Claire Elise-Harris were of course also clowning it.

Circus Alex and Danie Here comes the pie

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