Beautiful Feet

"UPCOMING EVENTS by Esprit Orchestra: Friday, May 1, 2009 Demon Along with presenting two of Esprit's outstanding players in soloist roles, Esprit highlights this concert with a welcome to the Nathaniel Dett Chorale for a fanciful Afro-Latin collaboration. The featuring of two World Premieres makes this event a powerful gala finale to Esprit's season. Saidôki (Demon), Maki Ishii's concerto for percussion and orchestra, strides two musical worlds in multi-layered time and sonic textures. Combining Western compositional methods with elements of Japanese traditional music, the late Japanese composer's piece also calls for the cidelo, a rare and unusual instrument created by his friend, metal sculptor Kazuo Harada. Cidelos are octagonal or rectangular metal boxes with ornate artistic cuts in their top surfaces creating metal sections, that, when struck, create vivid colours and a rich array of pitches. Esprit member Ryan Scott, featured as soloist, will play a set of ...

Photo: Bruce Zinger / Peggy Kriha Dye & Michael Maniaci Opera Atelier's production of The Coronation of Poppea OMG, I don't know where to start, as usual with Opera Atelier. Their production of Monteverdi's Coronation of Poppea is so spectacular--every season of OA's success brings larger corporate sponsorship and excellent subscription results, but really they do know how to put it on.... Last night I was treated to their latest offering; and I do love Monteverdi so....Okay, on to the kudos: loved the deus ex machina thing going on; LOVED the fact that this production brought back a bit more of the baroque stylized gesturing; the monochromatic layering of the sets, stage dressings and costumes in the amorous colour of red was very a propos ; I continue to appreciate the subdued lighting (which I assume is intended to mimic the original candlelit productions); basically the whole thing was one big Big O, if you'll pardon the expression, although that may su...

Photo: Bruce Zinger / Meredith Hall & Laird Mackintosh Opera Atelier's production of The Coronation of Poppea THANK GOD it's OA season again. Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea is the current offering by Opera Atelier, running April 25, 28, 29 and May 1 & 2 at 7:30pm, and April 26 at 3:00pm at the Elgin, $30+. We are blessed to have Michael Maniaci back (as Nero), as well as Peggy Kriha Dye (Poppea), Olivier Laquerre (Ottone), Carla Huhtanen (Drusilla) and other top drawer performers. They are joined by artists of Atelier Ballet and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir under David Fallis. Despite all this talent, Maniaci is worth the price of the ticket alone if you ask me. Various ticket packages and further info are available at 416 872 5555 or at www.ticketmaster.ca or www.operaatelier.com .

cbc.ca has an interesting article about Grey Gardens. didja know that money breeds eccentricity? it's true.