P: Vancouver Opera Guild | Support and Education of Opera

array( '1.head' => 'Vancouver Opera Guild | Support and Education of Opera', '2.body' => array( '1.div' => 'Latest News', '2.div' => array( '1.div' => array( '1.div' => array( '1.span' => 'November 26, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '26', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Nov', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.div' => 'Upcoming Tours:', '2.div' => 'New York Metropolitan Tour', '3.div' => 'Britain Plus Paris: Opera, Ballet, Country Homes and Gardens', '4.div' => 'Opera in Sana Fe', ), ), '2.div' => array( '1.span' => 'November 26, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '26', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Nov', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.p' => '2019 Career Development Grant for Singers – $6,000', '2.p' => array( 1 => 'Each June, the Vancouver Opera Guild presents a Career Development Grant to a person involved in the field of opera. The purpose of the Career Development Grant is to assist young singers who are preparing for a career in the performance area of opera or those involved in the technical or production areas of opera by helping them financially so that they can improve their skills or work on a personal project related to opera. The Career Development Grant is available only to Canadian citizens or those with Landed Immigrant status.', '2.strong' => 'The Grant is not available to students for the completion of a music degree.', ), '3.p' => array( 1 => 'For more information, refer to the', 2 => 'page.', ), ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.span' => 'November 13, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '13', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Nov', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.p' => 'Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (MONC-Awards):', '2.p' => 'Gena van Oosten', '3.p' => 'Nicole Joanne-Brooks', '4.p' => 'Shane Hanson', '5.p' => 'Encouragement Awards:', '6.p' => 'Yenny Yi', '7.p' => 'Ian McCloy', '8.p' => 'Peoples’ Choice Awards:', '9.p' => 'Sodam Lee', '10.p' => 'Minghao Liu', '11.p' => array( 1 => 'For event report and pictures by Heather Clarke, see', 2 => '.', ), ), ), '4.div' => array( '1.span' => 'October 13, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '13', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Oct', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.p' => array( 1 => 'If you still haven’t bought your tickets for', '2.i' => array( '1.strong' => 'The Merry Widow', 2 => ',', ), 3 => ' please read the information below—and then I’m sure you’ll want to call the box office right away.  This is a production not to be missed!', ), '2.p' => 'Franz Lehar’s beloved operetta in a gloriously extravagant production for four shows only!', '3.p' => array( 1 => 'Get ready to indulge in Vancouver Opera’s season opener, the Viennese torte known as Franz Lehár’s', '2.i' => 'The Merry Widow', '3.strong' => array( 1 => '(', '2.i' => 'Die Lustige Witwe', ), 4 => '). This wonderfully lavish art nouveau production directed by Canadian Kelly Robinson—last at Vancouver Opera as director of the hit production of', '5.i' => 'Evita', 6 => '—is set in the heart of vibrant', '7.i' => 'fin de siècle', 8 => 'Paris.', ), '4.p' => 'Performances October 20, 25, & 27 at 7:30pm and October 28 at 2:00pm at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.', '5.p' => 'Sung in German with English dialogue and English SURTITLES™', '6.p' => 'For tickets:', ), ), '5.div' => array( '1.span' => 'October 7, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '07', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Oct', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.h3' => 'AWARDS', '2.p' => 'Although the Guild still has financial and fund-raising challenges, the Awards Committee is able to support the 2019 Career Development Grant (March) and the 2018 Metropolitan (MONC) Auditions (November). Thanks to Heather Clarke and Diana Herbst, the Guild’s submission for a Gaming Grant was successful, providing the Guild with the funds for bursaries to UBC Opera and Vancouver Academy of Music students.', '3.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (MONC) – 2018', 2 => 'Once again, the Vancouver Opera Guild will sponsor the Metropolitan (MONC) Western Canada District Auditions, where some of Canada’s next generation of operatic stars will perform many of your favourite arias. These auditions are designed to discover promising young opera singers and to assist in the development of their careers. They need your support!', ), '4.p' => 'Please note the change of date and venue for the MONC Auditions!', '5.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 10:00 am', '2.strong' => array( 1 => 'The Old Auditorium – UBC, 6344 Memorial Road', 2 => 'South side of Memorial Road at UBC, Vancouver', 3 => 'Admission: $15 – tickets available at the door', ), ), '6.p' => array( 1 => 'Parking is readily available:', 2 => 'a) at the Chan Centre (Credit cards or coins only – no bills accepted)', 3 => 'b) Fraser River Parkade, 6440 Memorial Rd (Old Auditorium is across West Mall from FR Parkade (east)', 4 => 'c) Parkade behind the Music Building. Entrance is off West Mall (block before Memorial Road)', ), '7.p' => 'Our sincerest thanks to Nancy Hermiston for ensuring the availability of the Old Auditorium and rehearsal facilities, and to Francesca Corrado for all her assistance in facilitating the Auditions.', '8.p' => 'The judges for this year’s Metropolitan Opera Auditions will be:', '9.p' => array( 1 => '•', '2.strong' => 'John Churchwell', 3 => ', who is Head of Music for San Francisco Opera. Previously (for 14 years) he was assistant conductor for both the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera. A champion of American music, Mr. Churchwell was involved in the world premieres of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby and Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the recital stage, Mr. Churchwell has partnered some of today’s most sought-after vocalists including Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Diana Damrau, Frederica von Stade, Dawn Upshaw, Carol Vaness and David Pittsinger. He is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program.', ), '10.p' => array( 1 => '•', '2.em' => 'Sandra Horst', 3 => ', who is currently Associate Professor, Opera Area Head and Opera Director of Musical Studies, University of Toronto Faculty of Music as well as Chorus Master of the Canadian Opera', 4 => 'Company and Audition Consultant for Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She has also worked with the Juilliard Opera Centre, Chautauqua Institute School of Singing, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Saskatchewan, Opera Ontario and the Banff Centre for the Arts.', ), '11.p' => array( 1 => '•', '2.em' => 'Ashlie Corcoran', 3 => ', who is a theatre and opera director who works across Canada and internationally, with such companies as the Canadian Opera Company, the Shaw Festival, Opera Philadelphia, the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Centaur Theatre, Tarragon Theatre and the Gateway Theatre. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver.', ), '12.p' => 'The three judges will choose the singers they feel have the greatest potential for a successful career in opera. And, once again by popular demand, you will have a chance to vote for your favorite singer in the People’s Choice Awards.', '13.p' => 'We wish all the contestants every success as they take another on another step towards the fruition of their careers.', '14.p' => 'Career Development Grant', '15.p' => 'Notice of the 2019 Career Development Grant for singers pursuing a career in opera will be publicized in early November, 2018. This competition is open to singers between the ages of 20 and 33 years of age.  The deadline for receipt of applications is April 15, 2019.', '16.p' => 'The winner of the 2018 Career Development Grant ($6,000) was Spencer Britten, a fine young tenor from Burnaby, BC. (You may recall his excellent performance in April at the Guild Spring Luncheon at the Vancouver Yacht Club). This grant enabled Spencer to participate in the Glimmerglass Opera Festival this summer and he will spend the next year in the Young Artists’ Program at Opéra de Montréal where he will work with a new team of coaches and teachers to further his training and continue his growth as a well-rounded performer of opera in all aspects.', '17.p' => 'UBC Opera School Mainstage Series, UBC Old Auditorium', '18.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Silent Night', '2.em' => ':', 3 => 'The Opera School’s first opera of the 2018-2019 season will be Kevin Puts', '4.em' => 'Silent Night', 5 => '– winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize. It will be directed by Nancy Hermiston with members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra conducted by Leslie Dala.  This powerful work recounts the remarkable true story of a miraculous moment of peace when, in 1914, during one of the bloodiest wars in human history, Scottish, French and German officers defied their superiors and negotiated a Christmas Eve truce.  Members of the Canadian Armed Forces will participate in this production.', ), '19.p' => 'Performances will be Saturday, November 3, 2018; Thursday, November 8; Friday, November 9 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 4 at 2:00 pm.', '20.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Die Zauberflote', 2 => ' (The Magic Flute), Chan Centre for the Performing Arts', 3 => 'The Opera School’s second opera of the 2018-2019 season will be Mozart’s', '4.em' => 'Die Zauberflote', 5 => '.  It will be directed by Nancy Hermiston with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra conducted by Neil Varon.  Performances will be held Thursday, January 31, 2019; Friday, February 1; Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 3 at 2:00 pm.', ), '21.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Don Giovanni', '2.em' => ',', 3 => 'UBC Old Auditorium', 4 => 'The final production of UBC’s Opera Division will be Mozart’s', '5.em' => 'Don Giovanni', 6 => ', directed by Nancy', 7 => 'Hermiston with members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra conducted by Norbert Baxa.   Performances: Thursday, June 20; Friday, June 21; Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 23, 2018 at 2:00 pm.', 8 => 'Tickets: Adults $45, Seniors $35, UBC Students $15, non-UBC students $20.', ), '22.p' => 'For further information about the upcoming season and tickets, call 604-822-6725 or e-mail info@ubcopera.com', '23.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'The Singer Behind the Song – Angela Meade', 2 => 'Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 1:00 pm The Old Auditorium', 3 => 'Tickets: Adult $28; Senior $23; Student $15 and $19 for subscribers', ), '24.p' => 'Presented in partnership with the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies – sponsored by The Sonya and Charlotte Wall Arts Fund, The Yulanda Faris Opera Coach Fund, UBC Opera and the Faculty of the Arts.', '25.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Opera Tea Series', 2 => 'Enjoy a concert of opera arias and song favourites in a casual setting in the Old Auditorium or the UBC Botanical Gardens. Countertenor Shane Hanson will be featured. The repertoire will range from the Baroque era through to the 18th Century and Romantic eras. Coffee, tea and light refreshments served.', 3 => 'Reservations are required for the Opera Tea series, call 604 822-6725 to reserve.', ), '26.p' => 'Performances are Sunday, October 14, 2018; Sunday, November 18, 2018; Sunday, February 10, 2019; Sunday, March 10, 2019 at the Old Auditorium at 2:00 pm and Sunday, April 7, 2019 at the UBC Botanical Garden at 2:00 pm. Tickets: Adults $28, Seniors $23, Students $15, Subscribers $19', '27.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'UBC Opera Ball Fundraiser, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Friday, March 1, 2019', 2 => 'Enjoy cocktails, a delicious 3-course dinner and dancing on the stage of the Chan Centre with serenades from UBC young stars. Dance to the fantastic music of a live orchestra. 6:30 pm – cocktails; 7:00 pm – dinner and program. Tickets are $200 (with $115 tax receipt) and must be purchased in advance. To order tickets, call 604-822-6725.', ), '28.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Vancouver Academy of Music', 2 => 'The Vancouver Academy of Music will present a Gilbert and Sullivan review on Saturday, December 1 at 7:30 pm in the Koerner Recital Hall.', ), '29.p' => array( 1 => 'Lyndon Ladeur-Jhuty, recipient of VOG bursaries, will present a recital for the Vancouver Women’s Musical Society at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 at The Unitarian Church of Vancouver, 949 W. 49th Avenue, Vancouver. Lyndon recently won Best Male Voice at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrowgate, UK for his performance of Marco in', '2.em' => 'The Gondoliers', 3 => '.', ), '30.p' => array( 1 => 'Gwen Murray, Chair', 2 => 'Susan LePage, Co-Chair', ), '31.h3' => 'DRESS REHEARSAL TICKETS', '32.p' => array( 1 => 'Dress rehearsal night for', '2.strong' => 'The Merry Widow', 3 => 'is Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and there are still a few tickets available.  They are $15.00 each with a limit of two per person.  Kindly make sure you have the right change as there is no Opera cash box available that evening.  Please PHONE ONLY 604-874-4042.', ), '33.p' => 'Pat Hancock', '34.h3' => 'EDUCATION', '35.p' => array( 1 => 'The Education Committee was asked to provide 2-3 volunteers for Vancouver Opera’s Cultural Days held in the Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall on Saturday, September 29. Due to its being a much smaller event than in previous years not many hands were needed.  There will be backstage tours for high school students during the run of', '2.strong' => 'The Merry Widow', 3 => 'and we will be providing docents to assist with that.  Date, numbers and time to be announced. The Guild has also been asked to provide a reception after the dress rehearsal of the new V.O.I.S. program which will not be until 2019—-more information in our next newsletter.', ), '36.p' => array( 1 => 'John Poruks, Chair', 2 => 'Pat Hancock, Co-Chair', ), '37.h3' => 'GUILD CENTRE', '38.p' => 'Welcome back to another Opera season.', '39.p' => array( 1 => 'The Guild Centre is a place where theatre patrons have an opportunity to be informed about Guild activities, Special Events and upcoming Opera Tours. Tables with posters, brochures and information are set up in the lobby and in the mezzanine of the QET and are staffed by volunteers', '2.u' => 'prior to each performance and during the intermissions', 3 => '.', ), '40.p' => array( 1 => 'The duties of the Guild Centre will start in October with four performances of', '2.strong' => 'The Merry Widow', '3.em' => ',', 4 => 'opening on Saturday, October 20, and continuing with a performance on Thursday, October 25, and on Saturday, October 27, then ending with a matinée performance on Sunday, October 28.  Committee members will be contacted by me in due course.', ), '41.p' => array( 1 => 'The next opera,', '2.strong' => 'La Boh', '3.strong' => 'è', '4.strong' => 'me', 5 => 'will take place in February of 2019 with performances on Thursday, February 14; Saturday, February 16; Tuesday, February 19; and Thursday, February 21; ending with a matinée performance on Sunday, February 24. Although this is still a way off, please mark these days into your calendar.', ), '42.p' => 'Please note that during the Opera season I will try and contact members of the Guild Centre Committee on a rotating basis, to make sure that everyone will have a chance to volunteer. If you already know ahead of time that you might be out of town during any of the above dates, I would appreciate it if you could let me know in advance.', '43.p' => 'I am looking forward to seeing you again in October.', '44.p' => array( 1 => 'Lore Hoffmann, Chair', 2 => 'David Steiner, Co-Chair', ), '45.h3' => 'MEMBERSHIP', '46.p' => 'As of September 13, the Guild has five honorary members and 154 regular members, of whom eight are new to the Guild since early June. Please see the “Welcome” announcement elsewhere in this Newsletter to read the names of our newest members.', '47.p' => 'We would very much like to increase our membership roll. Please do keep the Guild in mind when you talk to your friends and acquaintances, and consider inviting them to join, or to attend an event.  Personal invitations are an excellent form of advertising, and they are free!', '48.p' => 'At this point there are 45 people on the current membership list who have not yet renewed their membership for the current year. If you are among them, I do hope that this is merely an oversight, and that you will fill out the membership renewal form attached to this Newsletter and mail it promptly, together with your cheque, to:', '49.p' => array( 1 => 'Membership Chair, Vancouver Opera Guild', 2 => '1945 McLean Drive', 3 => 'Vancouver, BC  V5N 3J7', ), '50.p' => 'Your membership is valuable to us! However, members who are still in arrears as of December 31 will, with regret, be stricken from the list and receive no further Newsletters or other Guild messages until the situation is rectified.', '51.p' => array( 1 => 'Natalia Diaz, Chair', 2 => 'Gwyneth Westwick, Co-Chair', ), '52.h3' => 'REHEARSAL REFRESHMENTS', '53.p' => 'The rehearsal refreshment committee is busy contacting volunteers to bring food for the Tuesday, October 16 orchestra tech rehearsal evening. There are several singers who have severe allergies; consequently we have been requested by Vancouver Opera to make sure there are NO NUTS, SESAME SEEDS OR SESAME OILS in any of our contributions.  We have spoken to committee participants personally to make sure everyone is aware of this problem and we will be doing individual boxes for those afflicted even though some are not principal singers.', '54.p' => 'Pat Hancock', '55.h3' => 'TOURS', '56.p' => array( 1 => 'The VOG Tours Committee had a very successful Tour to the Italian Opera Festivals – the report follows this notice. We raised $10,300 for the Guild funds.  We are ready to advertise our 2018-2019 season and the material that follows will be in the VOA', '2.strong' => 'Merry Widow', 3 => 'programme.', ), '57.p' => array( 1 => 'We have 25 people signed up already for New York 2019 and the brochures for Britain plus Paris and Santa Fe will be ready in time for the performances of', '2.strong' => 'The Merry Widow', 3 => '.', ), '58.p' => 'As I write this 22 people will leave Wednesday for the San Francisco Opera and Symphony Tour, raising $3000+. Elaine Godwin and I are the Guild tour representatives on this tour.', '59.p' => 'New York Metropolitan Opera, March 30 – April 6, 2019', '60.p' => 'Spend a week in New York and see four sensational operas as well as the Met’s National Council Grand Finals Concert.', '61.ul' => array( '1.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'La Clemenza di Tito', 2 => '(Mozart) with Joyce DiDonato and Matthew Polenzani', ), '2.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'Don Giovanni', 2 => '(Mozart) with Peter Mattei and Susanna Phillips', ), '3.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'Tosca', 2 => '(Puccini) with Joseph Calleja and Wolfgang Koch', ), '4.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'La Traviata', 2 => '(Verdi) with Anita Hartig and Stephen Costello', ), ), '62.p' => 'Britain Plus Paris (Paris – Brighton – Buxton – London), July 6 – 18, 2019', '63.ul' => array( '1.li' => array( 1 => 'Paris with', '2.strong' => 'Don Giovanni', 3 => '(Mozart) and', '4.strong' => 'La Forza del Destino', 5 => '(Verdi) and ballet at the Palais Garnier', ), '2.li' => 'Glyndebourne Opera', '3.li' => array( 1 => 'Buxton International Festival in the beautiful Peak District with', '2.strong' => 'Eugene Onegin', 3 => '(Tchaikovsky) and', '4.strong' => 'Georgiana', 5 => ', a newly commissioned 40', '6.sup' => 'th', 7 => 'Anniversary opera pasticcio', ), '4.li' => array( 1 => 'Royal Opera, Covent Garden with', '2.strong' => 'The Marriage of Figaro', 3 => '(Mozart)', ), ), '64.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'Opera in Santa F', '2.strong' => 'é', '3.strong' => '– July 29 – August 4, 2019', ), '65.p' => 'Spend six nights at the popular Inn of the Governors in Santa Fé and enjoy four great opera performances:', '66.ul' => array( '1.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'The Pearl Fishers', 2 => '(Bizet)', ), '2.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'Cosi fan tutte', 2 => '(Mozart)', ), '3.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'Jenufa', 2 => '(Janacek)', ), '4.li' => array( '1.strong' => 'La Bohème', 2 => '(Puccini)', ), ), '67.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'ITALIAN OPERA FESTIVAL TOUR,', '2.strong' => 'August 8-20, 2018', ), '68.p' => array( 1 => 'The Vancouver Opera Guild recently organized an opera tour to the Italian Opera Festivals and actually managed to see operas at four Festivals, something that must be a record! Originally it was a group of 30 people but illness forced two people to withdraw, so it was a group of 28 people who finally met at the reception held in the Hotel San Luca Palace, Lucca on August 8', '2.sup' => 'th', 3 => '.  This was a very welcoming hotel which had had many uses (convent, hospital, school) during its 500-year history and was located just inside the city walls.  At the reception we met Sergio, our Tour Manager, whom we knew from our last tour to the Verdi Festival in Parma. Also joining us at the reception was Brian Nickel, the former director of development at Vancouver Opera who now lives in the Lucca area.', ), '69.p' => array( 1 => 'Lucca is said to be the hidden gem of Tuscany! It is a small city dating from Roman and Renaissance times and still with city walls that are now a park where it is possible to walk or cycle around.  We had a walking tour with Alexandra, our local guide, which included Puccini’s original home.  That evening we went to the Lucca Baptistery for an operatic concert featuring Puccini and Verdi.  The following day after a morning and afternoon to explore, shop or rest, we walked out to the bus park (no bus traffic is allowed in Lucca old town) for transfer to the dock for a boat ride across Lake Massaciuccoli to Torre del Lago where we were to see a performance of', '2.strong' => 'Madama Butterfly', 3 => 'at the open-air theatre.  The arena seats about 3,400 and faces the stage with the lake behind.  We had very good seats in the lower section of the orchestra.  The opera began at 9:15 pm when it was almost dark.  It was a minimalist production of the opera.  Critics called it “a passive entertainment that neither thrills nor moves,” which somewhat explains how we felt about it.', ), '70.div' => 'Suor Angelica', '71.p' => array( 1 => 'However the next evening was', '2.strong' => 'Il Trittico', 3 => 'and I don’t think anyone had ever seen the three operas performed together', '4.em' => array( 1 => '.', '2.strong' => 'Il Tabarro', ), 5 => 'went first and was well done.  It was followed by', '6.strong' => 'Suor Angelica', '7.em' => '(', 8 => 'photo above) which not only looked beautiful, being all white, but was gorgeously sung.  Finally, after midnight, we had', '9.strong' => 'Gianni Schicchi', 10 => 'which, hearing the audience laugh and laugh, must have included additional material we could not understand as there were no English surtitles.  What we could understand was entertaining, especially when the body in the bed was revealed to be a huge teddy bear – then we noticed that the ancestor’s portraits around the room were also of teddy bears!  As much as we enjoyed the three operas it was almost 2:00 am when we arrived back at the hotel – it had been a long day as we had been out by bus that morning to Puccini’s grandfather’s home in the hills outside Lucca and had also visited the smallest theatre in the world!', ), '72.p' => 'On Sunday, August 12 we left the hotel around 10:15 am. to transfer to Macerata, an old university town in', '73.div' => 'The Magic Flute', '74.p' => array( 1 => 'the La Marche Region. We drove along the autostrada through Florence, Assisi, and Perugia before coming to the Apennines Mountains.  Here engineering made our journey easier as tunnel after tunnel had been cut through the mountains, and we reached Macerata around 3:30 pm.  Our hotel was Hotel Villa Quiete, formerly a private home that had become a hotel.  It stood in lovely grounds including delightful gardens, trees, and a swimming pool.  We left the hotel late in the afternoon to travel to the centre of Macerata for dinner before the performance of', '2.strong' => 'The Magic Flute', 3 => ', which began at 9:00 pm.  It was performed in the Arena Sferisterio, a huge almond-shaped arena built in the 1820s for a form of handball.  It was a modern production directed by Graham Vick, who used it as a generalized representation of the power of politics, business and religion in the form of buildings on the huge stage.  It included 300 extras from among the locals and immigrant population of the town. Tamino and Pamina’s journey and trials bring down the edifices at the end of the opera.  There were very strong performances from a young cast and evident enjoyment from the audience – although there were a few boos!  At the end of the opera, with the edifices down, fireworks broke out at the top of the stage back wall!', ), '75.p' => array( 1 => 'The performance of', '2.strong' => 'The Magic Flute', 3 => 'gave rise to much discussion among the group.  The majority were entertained and many confessed at the end of the tour that it was one of their favourites.', ), '76.p' => array( 1 => 'From Macerata, after a morning walking tour, we travelled by coach a short journey to Pesaro, the Adriatic seaside town where both Rossini and Renata Tebaldi were born. We arrived at the Hotel Mercure Cruiser early in the afternoon and were very fortunate in that the majority of our rooms had lovely sea and beach views, although the beach was covered with chairs and umbrellas – for which one had to pay!  The following day, after shopping, walking, and exploring the beach area or the old town, we set off to the Adriatic Arena for a performance of', '2.strong' => array( '1.em' => 'The', '2.em' => 'Barber of Seville', ), '3.em' => '.', 4 => 'The arena is actually a sports facility but had been cleverly converted into a theatre that likely held around 3,000 seats, where we had good seats in the orchestra.', ), '77.div' => 'Ricciardo e Zoraide', '78.p' => array( 1 => 'Yves Abel, a Canadian, conducted the opera, which was a new production.  It had a young cast (Maxim Mironov, Ava Wakizono, Davide Luciano) who performed brilliantly and kept the action going.  It was true bel canto and included a tenor aria in the final scene that is rarely performed.  Next evening we saw a performance of', '2.strong' => 'Ricciardo e Zoraide', 3 => 'in which Juan Diego Florez and Pretty Yende led the cast.  The evening was a tremendous success for while the opera (a Canadian production of Opera Atelier) is perhaps the least successful of Rossini’s operas, the singing, especially of the two main characters, was (quoted from one critic) “a master class of bel canto”.', ), '79.p' => array( 1 => 'The following day we went to Urbino, a Renaissance town about 45 minutes from Pesaro. We met Francesca our local guide, who walked us through the town.  It is located, as many Italian towns are, on the top of a hill, so we had plenty of exercise.  Today it is primarily a university town but as it was an Italian public holiday, there were many visitors.  It was here that we found ourselves in a rain storm but were fortunate enough to be under cover when the rain began.  In the evening, a small group went to the small Teatro Rossini for a performance of', '2.strong' => 'Adina.', ), '80.p' => 'From Pesaro we travelled to Bardolino on Lake Garda, our stay for the operas in Verona, but we arranged a stop in Ravenna on the way. Ravenna was the capital of the western Byzantine Empire and is renowned for the beautiful mosaics found in the churches.  As in all old Italian cities we needed to walk to see the churches, as buses are not allowed into the centres of the towns.  We saw several churches which were wonderfully decorated with historical mosaics and were able to have lunch here before we continued our journey.', '81.div' => 'Dante Alighieri', '82.p' => 'Our hotel in Bardolina was Hotel Caesius Thermae and Spa Resort, about a 10-minute walk along the lakeshore from the centre of Bardolino. We were very comfortable indeed as the hotel had lovely rooms, large outdoor swimming pools, a heated indoor pool with thermal waters, extensive gardens, and a spa where some of us indulged! Shopping in the small town was a delight and there were many restaurants.  As we were in the middle of a wine-producing region we went to visit a large wine producer – the estate called Dante Alighieri (above) which produces MASI wines that we discovered were available in Vancouver.  We spent about one hour following our guide through the estate and grounds following the wine production before tasting the wines, including the specialty wine, Amorone.', '83.div' => 'Nabucco', '84.p' => array( 1 => 'Verona was about a 30-minute ride from Bardolino, so we left late in the afternoon to see the town and have dinner before the opera', '2.em' => 'Nabucco', 3 => '.  The town was crowded with Saturday shoppers and tourists, so many of us went into the arena early to see the stage.  As the skies grew darker the audience filed in and up in the higher rows candles were lit!', '4.strong' => 'Nabucco', 5 => ', traditionally a biblical opera about the Babylonian Captivity, had been brought forward to the Italian Unification and a few days in 1848 in Milan when a small group of people had tried to revolt against the Austro-Hungarian Empire that ruled them.  The Italians in the audience might have followed that but we didn’t!  The surtitles in English projected on the upper arena walls gave no clue (I looked it up when I returned) and we could not distinguish between the two sides!  However, the visuals were impressive and the singing was lovely.', ), '85.div' => 'Aida', '86.p' => array( 1 => 'The following evening it was', '2.strong' => 'Aida', 3 => 'and this brought no surprises.  It was a special experience where the music and the space, along with a cast of seemingly hundreds of extras, combined to create the greatest spectacle.  No one could have failed to be impressed!', ), '87.p' => array( 1 => 'The following day we left Italy on that high note indeed! We had had a wonderful operatic experience.  We saw three different kinds of operas, Verismo (Lucca), Bel Canto (Pesaro) and Grand Opera (Verona), plus a remarkable', '2.strong' => 'Magic Flute', 3 => '.  Italian festivals are not the same as going to the opera in Italy–the locations are so much larger than regular theatres and these venues are interesting in themselves.  One of the most impressive experiences is the audiences themselves.  They were quiet!  There was little shuffling, coughing or general noise such as you find in most North American theatres.  The audience was knowledgeable – they applauded much less than in the QE but then at the end they showed their appreciation and, even when it was very late, stayed to applaud the artists.  It was all very interesting and gave us lovely memories.', ), '88.p' => array( 1 => 'Genny MacLean and Lis Dawson, Tour leaders', '2.em' => 'Photography by Wayne Wiens', ), ), ), '6.div' => array( '1.span' => 'September 24, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '24', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Sep', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), ), '7.div' => array( '1.span' => 'September 23, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '23', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Sep', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.p' => 'OPERA TALKS 2018/19 SEASON', '2.p' => 'VANCOUVER OPERA CLUB', '3.p' => '2:00pm – 4:00pm', '4.p' => 'Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Campus, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver', '5.p' => 'Telephone 604 942-6646;', '6.p' => 'Bringing together opera lovers and those who wish to learn more about Opera since 1974.', '7.p' => 'September 23, 2018:   Neil Ritchie – Jonas Kaufmann', '8.p' => 'The life and career of this outstanding tenor. Prepare to enjoy some amazing singing from one of today’s biggest stars.', '9.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'October 21, 2018:   Ingrid Woldenga – Erte: Stage and Opera Designer Extraordinaire', 2 => 'Opera is the complete art form and needs wonderful settings to complement wonderful singing. Learn about one of the best.', ), '10.p' => 'November 8, 2018:   Tom Durrie – The Operas of Carl Maria von Weber', '11.p' => 'Considered an equal of Beethoven during his lifetime and idolized in after life by Wagner, Weber set new standards for conducting, singing and stretching the boundaries for orchestras and singers. Even today they astonish and move us.', '12.p' => 'January 20, 2019:   Kim Gaynor – Vancouver Opera -The Business of Opera', '13.p' => 'The General Director of the Vancouver Opera will talk to us about the challenges of producing Opera in the crowded music marketplace of our era.', '14.p' => 'February 24, 2019:   David Gordon Duke in Conversation with Judith Forst', '15.p' => 'What better way to spend a February Sunday afternoon than listening in on a conversation between super star Judith Forst and her friend, music educator, composer and writer, David Duke.', '16.p' => 'March 17, 2019:   John Silver – Opera Marriages', '17.p' => 'Some marriages are successful and others are not. In the world of opera, this is true in plots enacted on stage and also for singers who are/were married to each other.  As this is St. Patrick’s Day join us to find out who had the luck of the Irish in their Opera marriage.', '18.p' => array( '1.strong' => array( 1 => 'April 14, 2019:   Virginia Acuna – Empire and Anti-Spanish Propaganda in Verdi’s', '2.em' => 'Don Carlos', ), 2 => 'Don Carlos depicts Spain as a religiously fanatic and intolerant nation led by a tyrant monarch.  Find out why this opera may have been used to reinforce French discourses on cultural imperialism.', ), '19.p' => array( 1 => 'May 26, 2019:   Harvey De Roo – The Strange Case of', '2.em' => 'Turandot', ), '20.p' => 'This opera is popular with audiences but divides critics. Decide for yourself at the end of this lecture “if it’s a flawed masterpiece or a mawkish failure”.', '21.p' => array( '1.strong' => 'June 9, 2019:   David Godin – Who’s who in Opera? – disguises, aliases and secret identities.', 2 => 'If all is fair in love and war a little dissemblance is often part of plot. Finish off this season by learning who was deceived, who found out, who won and who lost.  Food for thought over the coming summer break.', ), ), ), '8.div' => array( '1.span' => 'June 6, 2018', '2.div' => array( '1.span' => '06', '2.span' => array( '1.span' => 'Jun', '2.span' => '2018', ), ), '3.div' => array( '1.p' => array( '1.span' => 'On Friday, May 25, 2018, the Awards Committee met with the judges (David Agler, Artistic Director of the Wexford Festival, Ireland; Dale Throness, an instructor in the voice faculties of the UBC School of Music and Kwantlen Polytechnic University; and Heather Pawsey, well-known Canadian soprano and winner of the', 2 => 'Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition).', ), '2.p' => array( '1.span' => 'The unanimous decision of the judges was to award the 2018 Career Development Grant of $6,000 to tenor', '2.span' => 'Spencer Britten', '3.span' => 'of Burnaby, BC.', ), ), ), '9.div' => array( '1.span' => 'Page 1 of 9', '2.span' => '1', ), ), '2.div' => array( '1.div' => 'Search', '2.div' => array( '1.h3' => array( '1.span' => 'Our', 2 => 'Mission', ), '2.div' => 'The purposes of the Vancouver Opera Guild are to stimulate interest and participation in, and otherwise encourage and support the continuation and growth of opera in Vancouver, Canada, and to provide financial support, including scholarships, bursaries, and awards, to young people pursuing a career in opera.', ), '3.div' => array( '1.span' => 'Upcoming', 2 => 'Opera Tours', ), '4.div' => array( '1.h3' => array( '1.span' => 'Upcoming', 2 => 'Events', ), '2.ol' => array( '1.li' => array( '1.span' => 'January 27 @ 3:30 pm', 2 => '-', '3.span' => '5:00 pm', ), '2.li' => array( '1.span' => 'March 30', 2 => '-', '3.span' => 'April 6', ), '3.li' => array( '1.span' => 'March 30', 2 => '-', '3.span' => 'April 6', ), '4.li' => 'April 15', '5.li' => array( '1.span' => 'July 6 @ 12:00 am', 2 => '-', '3.span' => 'July 18 @ 12:00 am', ), '6.li' => array( '1.span' => 'July 6 @ 8:00 am', 2 => '-', '3.span' => 'July 18 @ 5:00 pm', ), ), ), '5.div' => array( '1.span' => 'Latest', 2 => 'News', ), '6.div' => array( '1.h3' => 'Archives', '2.label' => 'Archives', '3.select' => array( '1.option' => 'Select Month', '2.option' => 'November 2018', '3.option' => 'October 2018', '4.option' => 'September 2018', '5.option' => 'June 2018', '6.option' => 'May 2018', '7.option' => 'April 2018', '8.option' => 'March 2018', '9.option' => 'February 2018', '10.option' => 'January 2018', '11.option' => 'November 2017', '12.option' => 'September 2017', '13.option' => 'May 2017', '14.option' => 'March 2017', '15.option' => 'February 2017', '16.option' => 'January 2017', '17.option' => 'November 2016', '18.option' => 'November 2015', '19.option' => 'June 2015', '20.option' => 'November 2014', '21.option' => 'October 2014', '22.option' => 'August 2014', '23.option' => 'June 2014', '24.option' => 'May 2014', '25.option' => 'January 2014', '26.option' => 'November 2013', '27.option' => 'October 2013', '28.option' => 'July 2013', '29.option' => 'May 2013', '30.option' => 'April 2013', '31.option' => 'January 2013', '32.option' => 'November 2012', '33.option' => 'October 2012', '34.option' => 'July 2012', '35.option' => 'May 2012', '36.option' => 'March 2012', ), ), ), ), '3.div' => Copyright -', ), )