Yesterday evening we had the piano dress rehearsal of Idomeneo. Even though the lighting is still incomplete, this was the first run-through of the full opera with make-up and costumes. Our brave Ensemble Studio member Erin Fisher replaced Krisztina Szabó, our Idamante, who had called in sick, and did a wonderful job.

The production, which we co-produced with the Opéra national du Rhin in Strasbourg, looks wonderful on our stage; with the colours of the set corresponding to the colour palette of our auditorium it all feels like one single space.

Idomeneo is a very special piece to me, maybe my favourite of all of Mozart's operas. With our strong cast and Harry Bicket in the pit, we're heading for an outstanding series of performances. I can't wait for the first stage and orchestra rehearsal on Friday.

While we prepare the opening of our spring season on Saturday I will make good use of two days with relatively few rehearsal activity to travel to Chicago for two very rare operas, Rossini's Mose in Egitto and Cavalli's Giasone.

This past Sunday was the last free day in quite a while. Maria Stuarda had its first two stage and orchestra rehearsals on Saturday and Monday and yesterday evening we had the dress rehearsal of The Flying Dutchman in front of an enthusiastic young crowd. We are in good shape for the opening on Saturday.

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I am writing this from this evening's orchestra run-through of The Flying Dutchman and it is with great pleasure that I introduce my first guest blogger. The idea was born rather spontaneously last week and from now on you might find some guest contribution here from time to time. Here we go:

Hello everyone, this is Sandra Horst, chorus master of the Canadian Opera Company. I am grateful to have this inaugural "guest" spot on Alexander's blog to let you know how the chorus is preparing for the upcoming operas.

It is a very busy time right now, and we are doing something that the chorus has not done in a long time, or possibly ever . . . three big productions at the same time. Fifty-five chorus members started preparation on March 4, three days after Otello and Carmen closed, and worked for two weeks on music and then straight into staging.

Tonight we head into the final orchestra rehearsal of The Flying Dutchman before the dress on Tuesday, tomorrow afternoon we review all of the chorus scenes in Idomeneo and in the evening we are back at the theatre for the first staging with orchestra rehearsal of Maria Stuarda. It has been a hectic and exciting time! It is very rewarding for the chorus to be performing this challenging and beautiful repertoire with excellent collaborators from around the world.

See you soon,

Sandra