Tag Archives: tapestry opera

Jacqueline redux

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Most new Canadian operas get an initial run (if they are lucky) and then disappear.  Luna Pearl Woolf and Royce Vavrek’s Jacqueline is unusual in that following it’s premiere at Tapestry Opera in Toronto in 2020 it also played in San Francisco in 2024 and is now back in Toronto for a revival at Tapestry; once again directed by Michael Mori.  There’s even, we are told, a fourth run at a yet to be disclosed company in the works.  In some ways it’s not such a surprise.  In these cash strapped times the appeal of a very good full length opera that only requires two soloists; no orchestra, no chorus, ought to be obvious!

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February 2025

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Before looking forward to next month I want to mention a couple of things this weekend that I haven’t previously noticed.  Saturday (Jan 25th) at 12.30pm there is a Met HD broadcast of new production of Aida with a pretty interesting looking cast.  Later, at 6pm there’s a rather special concert at the Arts and letters Club to celebrate the 100th birthday of Morry Kernerman (former assistant concertmaster of both the TSO and OSM).  The concert is presented by Canzona Chamber Players and wiull feature Trio Uchida-Crozman-Chiu. Continue reading →

News and stuff

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Royce_Vavrek_at_the_Kennedy_Center,_2018

Roiyce Vavrek. Photo by Ser Amantio di Nicolao

Today’s big news is that Against the Grain Theatre have announced the appointment of a new Artistic Director and it’s Royce Vavrek.  He’s probably best known to opera audiences as a librettist.  He has written the libretti for 23 operas including a bunch with Missy Mazzoli of which perhaps my favourite is Proving Up, done in Calgary recently by Ammolite Opera.  He’s also the writer for Ian Cusson’s Indians on Vacation and Luna Pearl Woolf’s Jacqueline which features in Tapestry’s recently announced season and is just out on CD.   So not dead yet then!

And talking of Tapestry, they announced their season today.  With the new space at 877 Yonge almost ready they have emerged from semi-hibernation.  As implied above the first show is Luna pearl Woolf’s Jacqueline in The Betty Oliphant Theatre in February .  I’m assuming it’s essentially the same show as five years ago (see Opera Canada Summer 2020).  There’s also a venue launch concert for the new home on March 22nd.  The first Tapestry show at the new venue will be Sanctuary Song; music by Abigail Richardson, libretto by Marjorie Chan, which, apparently, is about an elephant.  Which may be an operatic first. Continue reading →

Another conducting masterclass

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Jennifer Tung

About a year ago I attended the Women in Musical Leadership‘s conducting masterclass with the TSO and Gustavo Gimeno at Roy Thomson Hall.  Last night I went back for this year’s version.  Three of last year’s participants; Jennifer Tung, Juliane Gallant and Naomi Woo were back.  Last year’s fourth participant, Maria Fuller, was off in Poland conducting Hänsel and Gretel which I think says a lot for the programme.  There were two new conductors; Monica Chen and Kelly Lin. Continue reading →

Iron Chef d’Orchestre

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The second Tapestry show this week which played Wednesday night at Theatre Passe Muraille was Jennifer Tung’s Iron Chef d’Orchestre.  Knowing Jennifer’s kitchen prowess I expected this to be at least as food inspired as the previous night’s Le Kitchen Party but it wasn’t.

1.keith-randy

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Le Kitchen Party

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On Tuesday night Theatre Passe Muraille hosted the first of two “music and food” shows curated by members of the Women in Musical Leadership programme under the auspices of Tapestry Opera.  Juliane Gallant trawled her Acadian roots to create Le Kitchen Party.fun.

TapLeKitchenParty-photobyDahliaKatz-4942

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Tap:Ex Versus

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Tapestry’s Tap:Ex shows are experimental by design.  They combine “classical” music making with something else in the hope that some interesting, and maybe even useful, ideas will emerge for future projects.  This year’s show; Tap:Ex Versus in the Great Hall at OCAD, combined piano improvisation with an “art battle”.  There were two shows with different pianists.  At the early show Morgan-Paige played while Julie Amlin and Enrique Bravo painted.

TAP EX Versus - Photo by Brian Medina - 89[Cropped]

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Rocking again

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Seven years ago Tapestry Opera premiered Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton’s Rocking Horse Winner at the Berkeley Street Theatre.  Last night they opened an eight show re-run at Crow’s Theatre, once again directed by Michael Mori.  There are lots of similarities and a some differences between the productions and I’m going to concentrate on the latter so if you aren’t familiar with the piece you might want to read my 2016 review.

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November gigs

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november24Here’s what I’m looking forward to in a busy November.

  • The reprise of Tapestry’s Rocking Horse Winner at Crow’s Theatre.  That’s November 1st to 12th.
  • The Glenn Gould School’s fall opera offering.  It’s a presentation of five of Tapestry’s short operas from the 2000s.  November 3rd and 4th in Mazzoleni Hall.
  • Voicebox are doing Verdi’s Un giorno di regno at the St. Lawrence Centre on the 5th.

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Sundry season announcements

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Some organisations hold off on their season announcements later than others!  Two came in today.

tapestryTapestry Opera announced a season that includes:

  • A remount of Rocking Horse Winner at Crow’s Theatre from November 1st to 12th 2023.
  • Songbook XIII at the Redwood Theatre on March 28th 2024.  It’s a lovely, restored theatre with a really good beer selection.  There will be music too.  Keith Klassen and Naomi Woo headline.
  • Juliane Gallant hosts Le Kitchen Party; a celebration of Acadian music and culture and, it says, food.  That’s me in then.  It’s on May 21st 2024 ant TBD.
  • And the following night Jenn Tung hosts Iron Chef d’Orchestre also at TBD.  Also involves food.  I scents a theme here.

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