Kopernikus: immersive, disorienting, thought-provoking

By John Gilks, 05 April 2019

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“no tonal anchor points... ethereally beautiful rather than abrasive”

Reviewed at Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto on 4 April 2019

Vivier, Kopernikus

Against the Grain Theatre

Topher Mokrzewski, Conductor

Joel Ivany, Director

Jason Hand, Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Marissa Kochanski, Costume Designer

Danielle MacMillan, Agni

Alain Coulombe, Merlin

Matjash Mrozewski, Choreography

Jonelle Sills, Soprano

Anne-Marie MacIntosh, Soprano

Krisztina Szabó, Mezzo-soprano

Bruno Roy, Baritone

Dion Mazerolle, Bass-baritone

COC's visually arresting Hänsel und Gretel brimming with ideas

John Gilks, 6th February

Leaving unresolved loose ends aside and viewed from a child’s perspective, Joel Ivany’s new Hänsel und Gretel at the Canadian Opera Company it’s a fun night at the opera.

***11

Arrestingly effective: Dead Man Walking at Minnesota Opera

Katherine Syer, 27th January

Dead Man Walking is currently the most frequently performed contemporary American opera. Joel Ivany's staging, first mounted in Vancouver, opened recently at Minnesota Opera just days after the opera's Spanish première in Madrid.

****1

The Drover's Wife brings Aboriginal Dreaming to opera audiences

Jeremy Eccles, 16th May

Emerging from different incarnations of Leah Purcell’s play, George Palmer’s opera develops traditional Dreaming elements from Aboriginal mythology, premiering in Brisbane.

****1

Nabucodonosor: Riccardo Chailly’s triumphant farewell to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 16th May

Riccardo Chailly’s final new production as artistic director is a celebration of Verdi and of a conductor whose relationship with the Milanese audience has clearly deepened over the years.

*****

Iolanta paired with Luonnotar in dramatic Helsinki double bill

No’a L. bat Miri, 15th May

In Helsinki, Antony McDonald pairs Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta with a staged version of Sibelius’ tone poem Luonnotar, brilliantly voiced by soprano Silja Aalto.

*****

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

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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.

Kopernikus: an immersive, disorienting and thought-provoking experience in Toronto