McVicar's grim and creepy Macbeth impresses at Canadian Opera Company

Quinn Kelsey (Macbeth)

Alexandrina Pendatchanska (Lady Macbeth)

Quinn Kelsey (Macbeth)

Macbeth, Act 1

By John Gilks, 30 April 2023

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“COC’s most ambitious show since the pandemic”

Reviewed at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto on 28 April 2023

Verdi, Macbeth

Canadian Opera Company

Speranza Scappucci, Conductor

Sir David McVicar, Director

John Macfarlane, Set Designer

Moritz Junge, Costume Designer

David Finn, Lighting Designer

Canadian Opera Company Orchestra

Canadian Opera Company Chorus

Quinn Kelsey, Macbeth

Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Lady Macbeth

Önay Köse, Banquo

Matthew Cairns, Macduff

Adam Luther, Malcolm

Tracy Cantin, Lady in Waiting

Vartan Gabrielian, Doctor

Andrew George, Choreography

Canadian Opera Company’s Barber proves as fresh as ever

John Gilks, 5th February

The Barber is back in Toronto with an excellent cast, young and old, and it’s as lively, colourful and energetic as ever.

****1

Christopher Alden’s Rigoletto returns to Canadian Opera Company

Michelle Assay, 28th January

Christopher Alden’s Victorian-era Rigoletto still divides opinions, despite top-notch performances all around in this Toronto revival.

***11

Canadian Opera's Orfeo returns elegant, restrained and very satisfying

John Gilks, 9th October

The restrained beauty of Robert Carsen’s production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is matched by musical elegance in its revival current revival at the Four Seasons Centre.

*****

Canadian Opera Company opens season with Roméo et Juliette

John Gilks, 27th September

Amy Lane’s production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the COC is eye-catching and enjoyable but doesn’t offer the same level of insight as her Faust last season.

***11

Eugene Onegin revival fails to find the magic spark in Toronto

John Gilks, 2nd May

Robert Carsen’s 1997 production of Eugene Onegin has aged remarkably well but the latest Canadian Opera Company revival of it doesn’t quite recapture its magic.

***11

COC triumphs with Kentridge’s brilliantly conceived Wozzeck

John Gilks, 25th April

William Kentridge's production of Berg’s Wozzeck has it all: wonderfully imaginative and disturbing designs, terrific acting and singing plus fabulous orchestral playing.

*****

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John Gilks

John trained as a mathematician before working all over the world in management consulting. He’s now settled in downtown Toronto as an e-health strategy consultant. His operatric interests are eclectic but lean to the very early and very modern. He is also passionate about art song. His writings can be found in Opera Canada magazine and in his blog. He is owned by a small, grey cat called Jane.