BOV: Opera Singing Dog: Paw-varotti

Vancouver Opera has formed a "pack" to support the BCSPCA Paws For a Cause on Sept 13th. Join our team or pledge as part of our Community Connections Program and help us donate 10,000 hours to local charities in celebration of our Golden Anniversary.

Join the Vancouver Opera Pack and enjoy this week's video!

This week's talent is a tenor in duet with Luciano, from our friends at Pawnation.




Want to see more of our favorite videos? Join us at our YouTube Channel!

Vancouver Opera and the Furry Faces

Why is Vancouver Opera taking part of the BCSCPCA's Paws for a Cause walk on Sunday, September 13?

Because we love our animals, that's why. And, it's a great cause to support!

This year, BCSPCA has set a goal to raise $950,000 to help companion, farm and wild animals.

Every dollar donated for the Paws for a Cause walk will help in the following:

$80 feeds a litter of puppies for eight weeks;
$100 feeds a litter of abandoned kittens for one month;
$75 neuters one cat;
$84 feeds and cares for a cat for one week;
$100 neuters one dog;
$105 feeds and cares for a dog for one week;
$110 spays one cat;
$120 covers emergency response for animal rescue for one night;
$150 spays one dog;
$200 pays for emergency and first aid equipment for our constables;
$250 pays for one dental exam;
$1,000 provides 20 beds for dogs;
$10,000 pays for the investigation and prosecution of one animal cruelty case.

For more facts on how your dollar will help animals in your local community, click here.

Vancouver Opera would love to invite anyone who's interested in participating to join us! Be a part of our team! You can either make a donation or come out with us on the walk September 13. Email us if you'd like to join in the fun at lchan@vancouveropera.ca

To sponsor Vancouver Opera, click here to go to our fundraising page. Online donations are secure and you'll receive an instant electronic tax receipt.

We're super excited and look forward to the walk with our two and four-legged friends!

And yes, expect more cute animal pictures!

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Operamania 101: Dy-Na-Mo!

Raise your hand if you've watched an Arnold Schwarzenneger movie? Raise your hand if you like at least one Arnie movie? C'mon, I know you're out there.

I won't deny it. I like watching "save the day" action movies because of the IMAX sized screen, Dolby/THX surround sound and the larger than life stars who are all about the kicking a** and taking names.

In 1987, a Stephen King novel called The Running Man made its way to the big screens, starring Arnie, Maria Conchita Alonso, ex-wrestler Jesse Ventura and Mr Velveeta himself, Richard Dawson of Family Feud fame.

In the not too distant future, convicted criminals known as "runners" could seek a pardon by out-dodging/outwitting executioners aka "stalkers" in a gladiator-type, reality tv game show being broadcasted from underground.

Influenced by the 80s popularity of WWF, I'm sure, these stalkers are outfitted in ridiculous costumes and weaponry, as well as having cheesy alias' such as Sub-Zero, Fireball, Buzzsaw, Captain Freedom and...Dynamo, the opera-singing stalker.



Click here to see Dynamo make his entrance by singing the aria from Act III of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.

Now click play to hear the real deal, Vedro, mentr'io sospiro.

Dynamo is perhaps the most comical of all the hitmen. His gladiator-like costume consists of flashing lights, reminiscent of a Christmas tree and a Marvin the Martian/hoplite helmet. His weapon of choice is the Wainwright Electrical Launcher, a taser type gun. Dynamo hunts down his prey in a dune buggy, all while singing arias from Italian operettas.

In the pursuit of Arnie, Dynamo's dune buggy is flipped, pinning him inside the vehicle. Arnie refuses to kill Dynamo.

However, Dynamo does bite it spectacularly in the end, in a laugh out loud electrocution scene when he tries to rape Maria Conchita Alonso and she shoots up the sprinkler system above them thus short-circuitng his electrical power pack. But not before the viewers sees him in all his glory; the opera-singing Dynamo in his granny panties.

You can't beat the 80s in action movies with its body counts and wisecracking one-liners. Hello, Bruce Willis and Sly Stallone?

Ah, they just don't make movies like that anymore.

Thanks to Sean for letting me know about this opera related find!

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Everybody's A Critic: Transported by Seattle Ring

As someone interested in opera but relatively new to the form (it has only been 20 years since I saw my first opera), the notion of attending one of Wagner’s Ring cycles has held some appeal. Knowing that Seattle Opera is almost synonymous with the Ring, I made a point of subscribing when I moved to Vancouver 18 months ago. Sadly, when my chance to purchase tickets for the 2009 cycle came around, what I found was beyond my means. That’s why it was with great interest when last week I read the email from a gentleman looking to sell a single seat to the series for less than $300. With all of the stars aligning, I embarked this week on my journey through Wagner’s more than 15 hour signature contribution to the operatic canon.

After purchasing my ticket, I immediately began soliciting advice from known Ring lovers about how to best prepare for this journey. I had already reviewed nearly an hour of online video of behind the scenes footage and interviews that resided on the Seattle Opera web site that made me more interested in seeing this technical undertaking. The key advice that I took was to purchase a two CD set of insights into the musical motifs of the cycle. That is what filled my drive from Vancouver down to Seattle with only about 5 minutes to spare.

As I approached downtown, I noticed that the fly loft of the stage house at McCaw Hall stood out among the urban landscape as it proclaimed simply “The Ring”. I knew this would be different than the other operas I had seen here. I parked and entered the opera house at 5:20. Salvation! The curtain for the evening’s performance was not until 7 PM - not 6 PM as is the case with the rest of the cycle. That meant that I was able to land a ticket and attend the opera preview.

Throughout the hour, Jonathan Dean gave some very interesting perspectives. He spoke about how in this first installment we would not really be seeing any human characters. The cast we would meet would be gods and such personifying elements of water, earth, air and fire. He also spoke on the political themes, power struggles and issues of relationship that were being addressed in this performance.
I appreciated learning more about Wagner’s youth, his mother, his sisters and how these are believed to influence the development of the Rhine Daughters and the overall theme of original sin being cruelty that one being subjects another to. It was also impressive how Mr. Dean addressed Wagner’s known anti-semitism, and how he as a Seattle jew in 2009 values the opera’s ability to generate discussions on larger topics. (Another opera connection forwarded to me an interesting article on how Los Angeles is grappling with concern over Wagner’s racist nature and civic differences over the appropriateness of celebrating an individual who was a known influence over Hitler. To that end they are preparing an honest discourse on all aspects of Wagner and the political issues brought about by his work - proving yet again, that opera is still a relevant medium for both entertainment and generating discourse.)

Finally, it was time to start making my way into the theatre. While it was clear that people had come from around the world and many had dressed to the nines, complete with opera-length white gloves, I was thrilled to see others in jeans. What else is a guy to wear for a casual day at the office, a roof-top barbeque luncheon, followed by a 3 hour drive and then a 2.5 hour opera without intermission? As I drank my iced double espresso (I didn’t want to miss any part of the evening’s performance due to involuntary eye closure), there were two elements in the lobby that were new to me and that caught my attention. First were the signs asking people to refrain from texting or emailing during the performance. Interesting. I guess there is no live tweeting from this theatre. The second novelty was a number of flat screen televisions with live camera feeds from back stage showing people getting ready and a clock counting down the minutes and seconds until the show began. BRILLIANT!

I took my seat (house left end in the second tier with a wonderful view of he stage). The lights dimmed. Then the amazing happened. With the house dark, including the orchestra pit, the music began. What?

Without the typical fanfare that accompanies the maestro taking the podium, Wagner’s composition began. Once we were several beats into the journey, the lights in the pit came on, but there was no artifice at the beginning to keep us from immersing ourselves immediately. The opera opened with the signature Rhine Daughters swimming/flying. I enjoyed the effect, although the cables were readily visible. What was really impressive were these artists’ abilities to sing while suspended in harnesses and being moved about the space. With the incredible lighting it really did feel as though one was under water.

Richard Paul Fink was a vocal force who truly threw himself into the action. When we finally saw the Rheingold, it had the exact look of those treasures that reveal themselves under water. How rewarding!

Next we moved to the forest, and other than the fact that Valhalla was unfortunately still swinging back and forth when the curtain rose proving that technical glitches can strike anywhere, the transformation was incredible! This was one of the most impressive settings I have EVER seen in live theatre. With more than 30 years of work in the theater, it takes a lot to “wow” me, but this certainly did. I could certainly see why this production is affectionately known as the “Green Ring”. The forest looked exactly like a slice of the Pacific Northwest - not a stage set at all. This expansive locale was filled with tremendous voices. There were some incredible vocal instruments, but they were not all as balanced in size as I might have liked. Still, there were some real highlights. Greer Grimsley is an powerful Woton, and Stephanie Blythe’s musicianship and artistry continue to be astounding. Andrea Silvestrelli was powerful in his role as one of the giants and convincing that he was actually capable of love. (This is one point where I must interject that the set and the stage direction really did lead me as an audience member to believe that these gentlemen were giant in scale to their companions on stage. Kudos!)

The third scene is in the underground. It adds more technical challenges as cast members are required to become invisible and then reappear with the use of a magic helmet. Success again. We are also introduced to the vocal strength of Dennis Petersen as Mime. The disappointment I had with this act came in the serpent. At one point, Alberich transforms himself into a snake. As someone who is terribly afraid of these creatures, this was the one time where the result felt more like a mid-way prize than the naturalistic epic I was immersed in. Still the act was a success and we really visited the underworld that had been taken over by someone with an unquenchable thirst for power.

For the final scene, we returned to the forest. Thinking there could be no more surprises, I was proven wrong when Maria Streijffert rose out of the ground as Erda to warn Wotan against making a bad decision - a musical moment played with as much artistry and force as if the whole cycle had been named after her. Wow! The rest of the act played out pretty much as expected with a couple of pleasing exceptions. When one giant kills the other, we get some good blood flow. I do love it when such actions incorporate some graphic detail. (I hate seeing someone lie shot or stabbed without a drop of red stain. They make death so neat and tidy.) The final theatrical wow factor for the evening (and the one where I would have appreciated the opposite view of the stage) was seeing the gods walk over a rainbow “bridge” toward Valhalla. It was another piece of technical artistry.

When the curtain came down and we heard applause for the first time in the evening, I realized how quickly these 2.5 hours had passed. It was a remarkable production of Das Rheingold, and it made me eager to continue the journey through Wagner’s composition and Seattle Opera’s landscape. Now, I hope I can say the same after some of the lengthier installments.

~ Jeff Sodowsky, Chief Development Officer

"Everybody's a Critic" is a series where we invite VO fans to review shows outside the Vancouver/Victoria area.

Tuesday Trivia: Doctor! Doctor!

Is there a doctor in the house? Each of these professional characters appear in these opera…match them up.

1. Doctor Bartolo
2. Doctor Grenvil
3. Doctor (unnamed in an Alban Berg opera)
4. Title of John Adams opera
5. Dr. Miracle
6. Dr. Blind (who is actually a lawyer)
7. Dr. Dulcamara
8. Doctor (unnamed in a Claude Debussy opera)
9. Title of Ditters von Dittersdorf opera
10. Surgeon (unnamed in Verdi opera)

a) L’elisir d’amore
b) The Tales of Hoffmann
c) Pelleas et Mellisande
d) The Marriage of Figaro or Barber of Seville
e) La Forza del Destino
f) Doktor und Apotheker
g) Die Fledermaus
h) Wozzeck
i) Doctor Atomic
j) La Traviata

Congrats to Geoduck for winning last week's quiz on men in uniform! First one to post the most right answers wins........something medicinal.

And now for an opera/doctor joke (not many of those, let me tell you):

An opera singer asked her agent if anyone had shown interest in her recordings. "I’ve got good news and bad news," he said. "The good news is that some guy inquired if they would appreciate in value after you died. When I told him they would, he bought all 5 of your recordings."

"And the bad news?"

"The guy was your doctor."

~ in memory of opera (and clean joke) fan Asher Nichols

Congrats to Geoduck for answering correctly the "We love a Man in Uniform" trivia contest last week. Please contact lchan@vancouveropera.ca for your opening night tickets to Norma!

Volunteer Opportunities with Community Connections!

Who: Foodbank Vancouver
Where: PNE
When: August 25-September 8

The PNE is coming up on August 22nd through September 7th, which means some of the best sculptures from Canstruction 2009 will be on display! This year the sculptures will include Marvin the Martian by BC Hydro, The World by AMEC, Baby Dino by Accenture, Wall-E by Terasen Gas, and of course, the PNE Prize Home by the PNE

Responsibilities:
 Maintain area of sculptures
 Interact with PNE guests by providing information about the food bank and sculptures
 Ensure the safety of the sculptures.

Two volunteers are required during weekday shifts and three during weekend shifts. We are also looking for 8-10 volunteers on September 8th for the sculpture teardown from 9am to 12pm. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

This is one of our most popular volunteer events so please sign up early! It’s a chance to enjoy the sun and volunteer with friends while supporting a great cause! Each volunteer will receive one PNE pass per shift that can be used anytime throughout the PNE.

Please contact Martice Milton, Director, Volunteer & Depot Services at volunteer@foodbank.bc.ca


Who: Power to Be
What: Power to Be Kayaking
When: Aug 29 (9am-4pm)

Every summer, one of Power To Be's programs is an adaptive sea kayak program that operates out of Deep Cove in North Vancouver. We are looking for 2 volunteers to assist in taking youth out sea kayaking. This is a full day commitment with an estimated time of 8 hours. It is important that each volunteer feel comfortable on the water in a sea kayak and most importantly enjoys working with kids living with a disability.

In addition, starting in the fall of 2009, Power To Be will be expanding its current services for children living with cancer. This program will include a new accessible lodge being built by The Abilitas Foundation www.abilitasfoundation.org. We will be looking for volunteers interested in enjoying a weekend of construction work to help us build the lodge while having some fun in the outdoors. Dates TBA.

For more information about us, please see our website at www.powertobe.ca


Who: Word on the Street
When: Sunday, Sept 27 (11am–5pm)
What: Membership / Survey Rovers

Responsibilities:
 Gather memberships ($2) for the Society
 Survey attendees

For this position, we need outgoing volunteers who are comfortable approaching people and initiating conversation. Word on the Street is looking for minimum of 12 volunteers for 4-hour shifts each (or 6 people for all-day shifts)

If you're interested, please email: lchan@vancouveropera.ca


Who: UBC Botanical Gardens
What: Apple Fest
When: Saturday October 17 + Sunday October 18 (11am-4pm)

Responsibilities:
 Set up of event
 Bagging apples

For more information, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Barbara Wynn at barbarawynn@shaw.ca


Who: Friends for Life
What: The 16th Annual Art for Life Gala Dinner & Fine Art Auction
Where: Rocky Mountaineer Station
When: Saturday, November 14

For more information on volunteering, please contact Azfir at azfir@friendsforlife.ca

Proceeds will benefit the Vancouver Friends for Life Society, whose mission is to serve as a catalyst to enhance the wellness of individuals living with a life threatening illness by providing complementary and alternative health and support services. ART FOR LIFE raised over $94,000.00 in 2008 and these funds have allowed us to continue providing popular complimentary therapies such as massage, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, exercise and social programs.

Lillian Alling: An Operatic Journey

A little google interactive map I made of Lillian Alling's journey from NYC to Telegraph Creek.



View Lillian Alling - An Operatic Journey in a larger map

I'll keep tweaking it as we go along....

Video Excerpt: The Chairman Dances

This excerpt from Nixion in China has become part of the expanding repertoire of orchestral works regularly produced. Very popular. Hope you'll see why.



What is particularly exciting is to imagine the new choreography that Wen Wei Wang will create for us.

Video Excerpt: The Chairman Dances

This excerpt from Nixion in China has become part of the expanding repertoire of orchestral works regularly produced. Very popular. Hope you'll see why.



What is particularly exciting is to imagine the new choreography that Wen Wei Wang will create for us.

Act 1, Scene 1

A little sample from Nixon in China. I think this is the original Houston production.



Our production will be a bit different, but here's a little taste of the opening.

BOV: Dogs Singing Opera - Opera Dog

Vancouver Opera has formed a "pack" to support the BCSPCA Paws For a Cause on Sept 13th. Join our team or pledge as part of our Community Connections Program and help us donate 10,000 hours to local charities in celebration of our Golden Anniversary.

Join the Vancouver Opera Pack and enjoy this week's video!

This week's talent is a soprano from unknown parts and of unknown pedigree and simply named "opera dog" from our friends at Pawnation.




Want to see more of our favorite videos? Tune in to our YouTube Channel!

Nixon In China Cast Announced

Vancouver Opera will present the Canadian première of John Adams’ opera Nixon in China in March, 2010 as part of its 50th anniversary season. Esteemed Toronto-based stage director Michael Cavanagh will direct a new VO production designed by the gifted American scenic designer Erhard Rom.

Nixon in China was written during the period 1985 to 1987 and is considered by many to be a modern masterpiece. Composed by John Adams to a libretto by poet and scholar Alice Goodman, the opera tells the story of U.S. President Richard Nixon’s momentous trip to China in 1972, when he met Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong and opened the political door to the Far East.

The drama features four other major figures: First Lady Pat Nixon, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, and Chairman Mao’s wife, Madame Mao (Jiang Qing). Three “secretaries to Mao” and a large chorus, who play, variously, soldiers, peasants and Communist Party workers, complete the formidable singing forces.

In announcing the production, VO’s general director, James W. Wright, said, “We are thrilled to be presenting the Canadian premiere of Nixon in China. This is an important work that deservedly holds a place alongside the greatest operas of the 20th century. I believe that Vancouver audiences of all ages and all levels of opera-going experience will appreciate this work and connect with it on many levels. Adams’ modern score for 55 players holds great emotional power and will move audiences deeply. The libretto is poetic, richly evocative of the period, and revealing of the characters’ inner lives. In its fascinating character studies and in the drama of the story, Nixon in China holds profound cultural and political significance for Canadian audiences, and especially here in Vancouver, where the effects – and the symbolic significance – of Nixon’s historic visit continue to resonate.”

Vancouver Opera is assembling a superb creative team and singers. Casting confirmed for the production include baritone Robert Orth as Richard Nixon, soprano Sally Dibblee as Pat Nixon, and soprano Tracy Dahl as Madame Mao. Sally Dibblee and Tracy Dahl are well known to Canadian audiences. Robert Orth is a highly respected American singer whose vivid, detailed portrayal of Richard Nixon has been cheered in leading opera houses. Opera News, in describing a performance, said, "The supremely talented Robert Orth captured Nixon's high-strung, self-satisfied character with beautiful command of the physical and poetic language of the role…”

The cast to date includes:
Richard Nixon - Robert Orth























Mao Tse-tung - Alan Woodrow











Henry Kissinger - Thomas Hammons





















Pat Nixon - Sally Dibblee























Chou En-lai - Chen-Ye Yuan





















Chiang Ch'ing - Tracy Dahl


Nixon in China opens March 13, 2010 as part of the Cultural Olympiad of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Nixon in China: New Designs Unveiled

Vancouver Opera's Canadian Premiere of Nixon in China will feature an original design by Erhard Rom.

Erhard has designed over 100 productions nationally and two of his designs were featured in the ’07 Prague Quadrennial, the pre-eminent scenographic exhibition in the world. Some of his most recent projects include: Jane Eyre for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Alcina and Ariadne auf Naxos for Wolf Trap Opera and The Tales of Hoffmann for Virginia Opera. He has worked with many of the worlds leading directors throughout his career including: Leon Major, Lillian Groag, Colin Graham, James Robinson, Rhoda Levine , Robin Guarino and Tim Ocel.

You can see photos taken of the design model here:









Nixon in China opens March 13, 2010 as part of the Cultural Olympiad of the Winter Olympics of 2010 hosted in British Columbia.

Everybody's A Critic: A Ring for Fricka

Forget the modern stylized stoic interpretations of the Ring, so popular in Europe, and the absurd production coming up in Los Angeles. Seattle’s Ring, touted as the “Green” Ring when first produced in 2001 because of its Pacific Northwest rainforest scenery, is beautiful, warm and accessible with realistic human feelings and interactions. It’s a great Ring for first time goers to experience!

The Prologue opens with the E flat chord on a simply magnificent scene of the Rheinmaidens supposedly guarding the Rheingold. They are suspended above the stage in specially designed harnesses so they can play and turn somersaults and flips in the Rhein as they sing and tease the dwarf, Alberich, who subsequently forswears love and steals the gold to start the drama of the Ring des Nibelungen. Seventeen hours of music later, spread over six nights, the drama ends with again magnificent scenes of the Rhein overflowing, the Rheinmaidens swimming in the Rhein with the returned ring and Valhalla aflame being destroyed along with the gods. This production shows off Seattle Opera’s renowned technical expertise at its best.

This 2009 production should be termed the “Fricka-centric Ring”. Stephanie Blythe as Fricka was fantastic and emphasized the importance of Fricka and the principles she represents in how the story unfolds. But not to be outdone, Greer Grimsley, as Wotan, held his own. What a majestic voice he has developed, since he sang Wotan here in 2005. It is now absolutely perfect for Wotan!

The singing, as always in a Ring production, was inconsistent. The Ring is simply too large for everyone’s voice to be in top form at the same time. South African, Kobie van Rensburg, was a disappointment as Loge. Janice Baird, who sang a great Elektra last fall, did not have the voice or stage presence required for a great Brünnhilde. Before the Siegfried performance, it was not certain Stig Andersen would sing due to a recent viral infection. He did sing Siegfried, but he sang cautiously in the performance. Both Baird and Andersen sounded much better two nights later in Götterdämmerung. The orchestra, especially the horns so critical in Das Rheingold, was not up to par initially, but seemed to improve with each performance under the baton of Robert Spano.

Dennis Petersen was a pleasant surprise as Mime. He has a lovely warm voice and played this role with human warmth and feelings – a very different interpretation than what is normally seen with this somewhat grotesque cartoon-like character.

The Norn scene in Götterdämmerung was most memorable. Often young singers just starting their careers are cast as the Norns, but not so in this production. The voices, experience and stage presence of Stephanie Blythe, Margaret Jane Wray and Luretta Bybee paid off for a magnificent performance in this short, but important, scene. Blythe did double duty in Götterdämmerung by also singing Waltraute, resulting in a beautiful scene with Brünnhilde on the rock.

Ring Director, Stephen Wadsworth, and Seattle Opera’s General Director, Speight Jenkins made this production as realistic as possible and as true as possible to Richard Wagner’s text and music. Those of us experiencing this Ring benefitted from the results. I left feeling totally rejuvenated from this celebration of love and life.

~ D.S. Spring is a long-time patron and subscriber to Vancouver Opera. A Vancouver native, Dr. Spring travels extensively to see opera around the world.

Seen anything good outside the Vancouver/Victoria area this summer? Let us know! We'd like your review to share with your fellow Vancouver Opera fans.

Top 10 Fridays: Hughes the Man!

Anyone who grew up in the 80s knew who John Hughes was. The director's name was as recognizable as the stars he cast in his movies.

Unfortunately, John Hughes passed away on August 6 in New York from a heart attack.

So in honour of the man who brought us THE best teenage-angst filled movies, we dedicate today's Friday Top 10 poll to all the Hughes fans out there and ask: What John Hughes movie would you like to see turned into an opera?

Cast your vote on the right sidebar and we'll post the results next week!


Uncle Buck
Why? Because we ALL have a family member like Uncle Buck. (11% of votes)


Sixteen Candles
Why? Sometimes birthday wishes do come true. (17% of votes)


She’s Having a Baby
Why? I personally would LOVE to hear an operatic version of Kate Bush's This Woman's Work. (zero votes)


Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Why? Girls loved him. Boys wanted to be him. (41% of votes - tied for first place)


Weird Science
Why? Isn't it every boy's fantasy to build himself the perfect woman? (5% of votes)


The Breakfast Club
Why? Because no matter which clique you belong to, we all share the same problems. So which breakfast clubber were YOU? (29% of votes)


Pretty In Pink
Why? The classic from the wrong side of the tracks love story. Blaine may have had the car, but Duckie had the style. (41% of votes - tied for first place)


Some Kind of Wonderful
Why? Another triangle. Tomboy is in love with the sensitive artiste who is in love with the girly girl. (5% of votes)


Home Alone
Why? Cheek pinchable 8 year old takes on dim-witted home invaders. Bumbles and fumbles ensue. (11% of votes)


National Lampoon's Vacation
Why? Because nobody does vacations better than the Griswalds. And Christmas for that matter. (zero votes)

Wow, there is some great opera buffa material in here.

So vote for your favourite(s)! And if your choice is not on this list, leave it in our comments page.

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

An Epic Drive for An Epic Opera

Last week, Selina, Jen and I got to go on a little fieldtrip.

To celebrate their production of Wagner's Ring Cycle, Seattle Opera's Bravo Club was hosting Laser Ring (a la Laser Floyd or Laser Zeppelin style) at the Pacific Science Museum. So with the blessings from the higher-ups, we drove down to the States.

What should've taken 3 hours to get to downtown Seattle turned out to be 4+ hours excruciating drive. You gotta love the I-5 during rush hour.

We made it in one piece (barely) and were late 15 minutes to the one hour laser show. But we got there just in time for the Ride of the Valkyries!



Laser Ring offered a condensed version of The Ring, with the best of music handpicked by the General Director, Speight Jenkins, accompanied with live commentary. The arias chosen came from different recordings, some featuring the Met Opera and Bayreuth Festival.

As we were "fashionably" late, it was pitch black by the time we got inside the laser dome. We sat on the floor, along with the scores of other people. The seats were filled up already but I think that being on the floor was the better way to see Laser Ring cuz you could really spread out or kick back.

When the laser lights were especially bright, I could make out the silhouettes of people laying down on their backs, some with pillows and blankets. It was like a giant slumber party!

The commentator's voice and enthusiasm reminded me of the fieldtrips I took in elementary school, where school kids would oooh and aaaah at what was being explained to us. There were quite a number of families at Laser Ring which I was glad to see. Get those kids young with the appreciation for opera!

When the show was over and the lights turned on, I was delighted to see that there were tables down at the front of the auditorium selling chips and other snacks, along with pop, beer and wine. Had we not been late, I would've totally indulged and am sure this would've added to the whole experience.

I risk sounding like a dork here, but I only wish that the sound was better. It may have been the recordings, (perhaps they were not re-mastered recordings) it may have been the speakers, but the music sounded a bit muddy and scratchy. It would've rocked so hard if you could hear the music THX, Dolby surround sound style. Because it's all about the music, you know.



However, everyone looked like they had a lovely time. Overall an enjoyable experience and a great way to bridge newcomers or the opera-curious to the world of opera.

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Woof! VO Goes to the Animals

To all our two legged and four legged friends:

On Sunday, September 13, Vancouver Opera will be doing the walk with the BCSCPA's 2009 "Paws for a Cause...Walk for the Animals" campaign. This event is the largest fundraising campaign in support of animals in BC.

VO is participating in Paws for a Cause as a part of our Golden Anniversary Community Connections program, where VO has pledged a total of 10000 hours of volunteer service to charitable organizations as a thank you to the community for 50 years of support.

The Community Connections program which launched July 1 has already raised 2000 volunteer hours! And we've just begun.

Some organizations touched were: BC Children's Hospital Foundation, Camp Moomba Yogathon, Weekend to End Breast Cancer, Powell Street Festival, Union Gospel Mission and Blogathon.

So if you're a lover of opera and animals like we are here, join us! Be a part of our team! You can either make a donation or come out with us on the walk September 13.

To sponsor Vancouver Opera, click here to go to our fundraising page. Online donations are secure and you'll receive an instant electronic tax receipt.

Who knows? We may even have some skittles candies to give out on our walk...



~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Operamania 101: Big Lucy

This is for all the sports junkies out there who may think what's opera have to do with football? And by football, I mean "footie" or soccer to most North Americans.

Well, perhaps prior to 1990, the 2 worlds went together like chalk and cheese.

But that was before Luciano "Big Lucy" Pavarotti stepped onto the pitch with his lung-busting performance of the epic show-stopper Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Nessun Dorma, which translates to "None Shall Sleep", became the signature tune for the BBC's coverage of that year's World Cup as English fans watched their teams make it all the way to the semi-finals.

Football and opera were Pavarotti's passions. His father was a tenor and as a boy, Pavarotti was a goalkeeper and winger of his town's football team. But his love for football was edged out when the choir that he performed with won first prize at the Llangollen Festival, an international competition in Wales.

By 1990, Pavarotti was a famous opera tenor. But his fame broadened to celebrity status when he performed as one of The Three Tenors during the World Cup, thus entwining football and opera together and winning him legions of new fans. Football fans who may have never heard opera before. Football fans who have made the Nessun Dorma aria the most widely-played football song ever.

With closing lyrics of "Vanish, o night! Set, ye stars! At dawn, I will win!", it's no surprise this aria became an anthem of conquest.



For his final performance before his death in 2007, Pavarotti chose Nessun Dorma for the finale of the opening ceremony at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. The 35,000 strong crowd responded with a thunderous standing ovation.



The spirit stirring and heart soaring Nessun Dorma will forever be Luciano Pavarotti's signature song.

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Tuesday Trivia: We Love A Man In Uniform

Carmen, mistress of the Tuesday Trivia Quiz, has cooked up one near and dear to her cold little heart....She loves a man in uniform.....so:

Match these dishy dudes in uniform to the opera in which they appear.


1. Tonio
2. Ferrando and Guglielmo
3. Cassio
4. Radames
5. B.F. Pinkerton
6. Don Jose
7. Le Chevalier des Grieux
8. Don Alvaro
9. Daland
10. Arsace


a) Otello
b) Manon
c) The Flying Dutchman
d) Carmen
e) La fille du regiment
f) Aida
g) La Forza del Destino
h) Semiramide
i) Madama Butterfly
j) Cosi fan tutte



Post your answers as comments. First one with the most right wins. This week's prize is two tickets to opening night of Norma, which opens our Golden Anniv. season November 28th!

Congrats to Pam Atnikov for winning the "Pop Quiz" last week. Please contact lchan@vancouveropera.ca and Ling will set you up with opening night tickets to Norma.

BOV: Dogs Singing Opera - Carolina

Vancouver Opera has formed a "pack" to support the BCSPCA Paws For a Cause on Sept 13th. Join our team or pledge as part of our Community Connections Program and help us donate 10,000 hours to local charities in celebration of our Golden Anniversary.

Join the Vancouver Opera Pack and enjoy this week's video!

This week's featured talent for Bizarre Opera video is Carolina, again from our friends at Pawsnation.




Want to see more of our (human) favorite videos? Tune in to our YouTube Channel.

VO singer Oh Joins Place des Arts Music Faculty

A singer known for her debut as Obasan in a new opera based on Joy Kogawa's book "Naomi's Road" will join a Coquitlam arts school next month.

Gina Oh will be part of the Place des Arts' music faculty in September to teach private voice lessons and singing fundamental classes for kids aged seven to 11. She will also instruct an advance musical theatre class for teens aged 13 to 17.

The Vancouver-born chanteuse was a member of the Vancouver Opera touring ensemble when she performed in the world premiere of the Kogawa opera, for which she received the Joe Boxer Memorial Award with a career development scholarship as the most promising artist.

Oh holds a bachelor's degree from UBC, a master's degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston and a doctoral degree in voice performance from l’Université de Montreal.

Last year, Oh was invited to sing at the South Korean Presidential Blue House, where she was honoured as one of the most influential Korean Women of the World of 2008. Currently, she is on the board for the Pacific Rim Initiative with Vancouver Opera, co-producing a concert series that showcases multi-cultural talent. And, this year, Oh was the producer and artistic curator for Vancouver Opera's Voices of the Pacific Rim II and worked as the production assistant to Vancouver Academy of Music’s "Die Fledermaus."

Among her upcoming performances include an appearance at the 2010 Olympics.

To sign up for a class, call 604-664-1636.

original story here

UBC Course on Opera Offered

Opera 101: An Opera Primer
DIANE KING, BMus

This course will delight opera veterans as well as newcomers as you journey through the history of opera listening to classic DVD recordings of the greatest singers past and present. Learn (or review) the fundamentals – the history of opera, its various styles and forms, the voice types, the terminology and the process of producing opera for the stage – and attune your ears to the glories of opera in performance.

UP252F09A Sat, Oct 3, 9am-3:30pm; UBC. $85, seniors $75, CLS students $125

Course Info Here

There's no VO connection here, just passing this along...

Stream Vancouver Opera Anytime

Why not join us at Blip.fm? You can stream all our favorite cuts, including all the cuts we use in our Operamania101 posts.

Any time, anywhere. Take a little piece of Vancouver Opera with you.

Free service. Don't think you even need to download anything.

Check us out, where we have our own "radio station" as it were at Blip.fm

Or click on the sidebar, where you can see our latest uploads anytime.

Cheers.

Top 10 Fridays: Opera in the Movies

Opera story lines are so rich in emotions, with its high highs and low lows. It's no wonder that operas are ripe for the picking in being adapted into movies.

In fact, you may have watched some of these movies without knowing they were based on very famous operas.

So for this week's poll, we'd like to know which one is your favourite contemporary movie inspired by an opera? Tick off your choice(s) on our poll on the right sidebar and we'll post the results next week.


M. Butterfly directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeremy Irons and John Lone. The 1993 movie is based on Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. (20% of votes)


First Name: Carmen by Jean-Luc Godard. This 1983 movie is loosely based on Bizet's Carmen. (6% of votes)


Rent, the 2005 movie is based on Giacomo Puccini's La boheme. The movie stars Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin and Taye Diggs. (13% of votes)


Carmen: A Hip Hopera starring Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def, Wyclef Jean, Mekhi Phifer, Lil' Bow Wow. Based on Bizet's Carmen. (6% of votes)


The Magic Flute directed by Kenneth Branagh. This 2006 English adaptation film was set during World War I. (26% of votes)


The 1999 movie Topsy-Turvy tells the story about the creation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. (no votes)


Onegin starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler is a 1999 film adaptation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. (no votes)


Tristan and Isolde is based on legend that inspired Wagner's opera of the same name. The 2006 movie stars James Franco and Sophia Myles. (13% of votes)


Lovespell, the 1981 movie starring Richard Burton and Kate Mulgrew (yes, of Star Trek: Voyager fame) also inspired by Wagner's Tristan and Isolde opera. (6% of votes)


2001's Moulin Rouge starred Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor. Directed by Baz Lurhmann, the movie is based on Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata. (60% of votes)

Not to fear - I haven't forgotten all you old time technicolour movie buffs! Classic movies inspired by operas will be featured in a future top 10 post. Stay tuned!

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Saturday Afternoon at the Opera

Janacek’s The Makropulos Case on this week’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera on CBC Radio 2

Don’t miss Doug Tuck, Director of Marketing & Community Programs at Vancouver Opera, as he hosts Saturday Afternoon at the Opera tomorrow. On this week’s broadcast: an all-Czech program, beginning with The Makropulos Case, from the Prague National Theatre, led by conductor Tomás Hanus and featuring soprano Gun-Brit Barkmin as 337-year-old Emilia Marty.

For more information, here.

Tune in to CBC Radio 2 tomorrow Saturday August 15th from 1 – 5pm.

Click here to go to the CBC website for more information.

Listen on your radio or stream online at CBC Radio 2.

Operamania 101: Fire Up the Bat Signal

Still in a superhero kinda mood, this week's Operamania 101 will spotlight the thinking person's superhero: Batman. Without any superpowers such as invisibility, wall crawling or superhuman breath, Bruce Wayne used his smarts, his infinite moolah and technology to kick some serious criminal butts.

But like all superheroes, there was a trigger that spurred him to don on a latex costume and fight crime.

In Batman Begins, the 2005 movie by Christopher Nolan, the young Bruce Wayne falls down a well and right into the nest of a bat's cave, where he is swarmed.



Bruce's chiroptophobia from the recent trauma strikes one fateful night when he goes to see the Mefistofele opera with his parents. The bat costumed performers flapping around on stage bring back the memories of being attacked in the cave. Bruce asks to go home and the family leaves the opera early to meet their doom in a desolate alley.



Mefistofele is an opera based on the Faust legend and written by Italian composer Arrigo Boito. Mefistofele aka the Devil lays a bet with the heavens that he can win the soul of Faust. Instead of being terrified when Faust meets Mefistofele, he strikes a deal: his soul in exchange for worldly bliss.

The song Folletto! Folletto! as heard on Batman Begins is from Act 2: The Witches Sabbath. It is here where Mefistofele takes Faust to witness an orgy on Brocken Mountain. Faust then has a disturbing vision that his love, Margarita is in chains with her throat cut.

Not quite the appropriate viewing material for a young boy, yes? But then again, Bruce Wayne turned out to be not just an ordinary boy.

~ Ling Chan, Assistant to Managing Director

Tuesday Trivia: Pop Quiz

Do you know the following facts about Vancouver Opera?


1. The first opera produced by Vancouver Opera in April 1960 was….?
2. Which Australian soprano debuted her Norma role with VO?
3. What was Vancouver Opera’s 1st commissioned opera in 1994?
4. Who was Vancouver Opera’s 1st artistic director?
5. Richard Bonynge was also an artistic director – true or false?
6. The Vancouver Opera Guild initiated the “Opera in the Schools” project in 1972 – true or false?
7. Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti have both appeared with Vancouver Opera during its history – true or false?
8. What does “Amatori dell’Opera” mean?
9. There will be a 1-act opera this season – which is it?
10. This season will have 4 languages sung on stage – can you name them?


Post your answers as comments. First one with the most right wins. This week's prize is tix to opening night of our Golden Anniversary production of Norma.

Congrats to Ainslie for winning the "W" quiz last week and props to Geoduck for busting us on "starts with a W" re: Fanciulla. Ainslie, contact lchan@vancouveropera.ca and Ling will set you up with a prize.

Help Wanted: Individual Giving Coordinator

Development Coordinator – Individual Giving
Deadline August 14, 2009

DESCRIPTION: Vancouver Opera seeks a fundraising professional to join the individual fundraising operations of the company. The primary function of the role is to assist in the annual individual giving and membership campaigns. This includes data entry, solicitation and stewardship of donors, implementation of direct mail and telefunding campaigns. This individual would be expected to deliver a high level of accuracy, possess strong organizational skills and demonstrate the ability to work well within a team. The Development Coordinator – Individual Giving reports directly to the Development Manager, Individual Giving.

CRITICAL SKILLS:
The Development Coordinator – Individual Giving should:
- possess strong organizational skills
- demonstrate good communication skills
- be client-centric, in order to effectively steward individual donors and grow the donor base
- be highly accurate for data input and preparation of analytical reports
- have high level of English speaking and writing abilities
- possess strong skills in the following: Word, Excel, and Outlook. Experience in Tessitura is preferable but not mandatory, basic knowledge of web-page maintenance is preferable but not mandatory
- have an appropriate level of understanding of financial accounting for budget maintenance and tracking purposes
- possess a Bachelors Degree
- have minimum 2 years experience in fundraising or related non-profit experience

SPECIFIC DUTIES: The Development Coordinator – Individual Giving will be required to perform the following duties:
- Provide timely, consistent and accurate donor services to all individual donors, assisting development staff as needed in support of donor services for corporate, foundation, government and/or major donors as needed.
- Serve as a liaison to Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre for Friends of Vancouver Opera (“FoVO”) and/or Opera Round Table (“ORT”) members as needed.
- Ensure timely and accurate recording and recognition of all activities related to individual donors in the Tessitura system.
- Execute the direct mail and telefunding campaigns for FoVO and ORT, as well as FoVO and/or ORT specialized subscription renewal campaigns.
- Draft and prepare for FoVO the annual and ongoing campaign strategy, including timelines, target donor base and track the success of each appeal, to be approved by the Development Manager, Individual Giving.
- Provide to Development Manager, Individual Giving a regular reporting of the progress and success of each FoVO appeal.
- Take responsibility and ownership of the annual forecast and plan for achieving FoVO targets.
- Provide to Development Manager, Individual Giving a regular reporting of the FoVO campaign, including progress to plan.
- Provide to Development Manager, Individual Giving a regular reporting of the ORT progress to plan.
- Provide individual donor prospect research as part of the overall prospecting activities of the development department.
- Represent Vancouver Opera and the Individual Giving team at meetings and events that may occur within the office, theatre or elsewhere as assigned.
- Prepare and create support documentation necessary for the above, including Tessitura lists, extractions, reports, spreadsheets.
- Take minutes, disseminate information to committee members for relevant meetings involving Individual Giving.
- Develop and implement fundraising initiatives with the Development team.

SALARY: Commensurate with experience, generous benefits package provided

Please send a letter, resume and salary expectations by mail or email to:

Development Manager, Individual Giving
Vancouver Opera
835 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2P4
cmurphy@vancouveropera.caThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

BOV: Dogs Singing Opera: Amber

Vancouver Opera has formed a "pack" to support the BCSPCA Paws For a Cause on Sept 13th. Join our team or pledge as part of our Community Connections Program and help us donate 10,000 hours to local charities in celebration of our Golden Anniversary.

Join the Vancouver Opera Packand enjoy this week's video!

We had such a strong response from last week's little Reggie singing opera, we're back this week with Amber, trying out her vocals.



Little easier this week, but again, a prize for whoever can identify the music...

Want to see more of our favorite videos? Join us on Youtube!

VO volunteers at Powell Street Festival

Last Friday, Vancouver Opera was pleased to volunteer for set up at the Powell Street Festival. Here are some pictures of our day of fun.


Putting up the 3 dozen or so pop tents before pitching the big frame tents and laying out wood flooring to the show stage


Tim Horton's breakfast van provided coffee, juice and timbits


Opening the tents up


Moving tents across Woodland Park


Taking a break


A bit of shade in the 30C heatwave

Special thanks to the volunteers: Jim, Adrianne, Tracey, Jennifer, Jenny, Caroline, Selina, Annie, Jen, Heather, Iris and Chris.

Photos by Ling Chan