PURSEuasion is heating up...

The word is spreading! People are readying their paddles for our 4th annual PURSEuasion designer bag auction + luncheon.

Last year's bidding was fierce and this year's crop of bags promises to incite the same level of competition. Here's a peek at what you'll see at the auction:

Prada - East West Handbag - Value $2260
Deep brown leather, this structured handbag goes from the office to an evening out, with gold accents and snap closure. The perfect departure from the everyday black purse. Crafted from calfskin and featuring a rich red lambskin lining, double top handles and a detachable shoulder strap.

Versace - Barocco Medusa Handbag - Value $1145
This Versace pattern tote adds the perfect punch to any outfit with its striking pink details. Large enough to be used as a weekender, or perfect for carrying every day essentials. Double top handles and clasp enclosure with the classic Versace Medusa print.

Tiffany - Channing Bag - Value $1300 Exclusively available only at PURSEuasion, the Channing bag in natural grain Italian leather with palladium-plated solid brass hardware will be not be available in Canada until Fall 2011. The Channing bag boasts Tiffany Blue® leather lining with two small interior pockets, a zipper compartment and a key ring. Fold-over front flap with turn-lock closure in the signature Tiffany Blue® enamel.

Chanel - Caviar Clutch - Value $1900
A timeless clutch for all occasions, the traditional style of the caviar clutch is instantly recognizable in any colour. This clutch is shaped by a frame closure, with a silvertone CC forming the top clasp. The traditional Chanel beige compliments any outfit for an evening out.

Blumarine - Suede Bag with Rings - Value $895
From the Blumarine Spring/Summer 2011 collection comes this soft deep brown calf leather purse with rings. Removable shoulder strap easily transforms the bag from day to evening. Inside zip pocket and magnetic front closure. Handcrafted in Italy.

Balenciaga - Giant Hip Silver - Value $795
This gorgeous lavender is a must have from Balenciaga’s summer 2011 collection. Crafted from soft vintage lambskin and palladium plated metal hardware, a top zip closure, hand stitched handles and front zip pocket complete this piece. Bonus leather framed hand mirror compliments the fine textile lining and interior zip pocket.

Ports 1961 - Oversize Clutch - Value $590
Crafted from lambs leather and genuine German felt, this statement clutch is sure to draw attention. Magnetic closures and hidden zippers give this bag a unique look.

Plus many more from Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Stuart Weitzman, John Fluevog, Obakki and others!

Join in the bidding action on Thursday, June 2, 2011 at The Vancouver Club, 915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Champagne: 11:30am Luncheon + designer bag auction: noon - 2:00pm Dress: Urban Chic

Tickets are $250 per person (with a tax receipt of $125). Contact Colette Lynch at 604-683-2871 for tickets!

Proceeds to benefit Vancouver Opera's acclaimed education and community programs

VO's Music Director honoured in Duisberg

Vancouver Opera Music Director Jonathan Darlington bid farewell to his post as Music Director of the Duisburger Philharmoniker with a pair of concerts in Duisburg on May 18 and 19. The featured work was Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Jonathan also was awarded the “Mercatorplakette” in honour of his achievements in the fields of music and cultural life of the city and the region. In the sold-out Mercatorhalle, the Duisburg Philharmonic’s concert hall, lord mayor Adolf Sauerland presented the medal and gave the “laudatio,” in which he pointed out that Mr. Darlington’s greatest achievement has been to firmly establish the Duisburg Philharmonic in the city, the region and beyond.

I was unfortunately unable to attend this gala farewell, but a couple of Vancouver Opera family members were there, and they reported that the evening was quite a special occasion and a great artistic success.

Peter Klucken, in the Rheineische Post, wrote, “Many concertgoers in the sold-out Mercatorhalle concert hall had tears in their eyes as Jonathan Darlington bade farewell to his orchestra with a personal handshake for each musician. The cheer after the terrific rendition of Mahler’s “Resurrection Symphony” morphed into a prolonged ovation of gratitude for the past nine years, in which music director Jonathan Darlington has undoubtedly greatly elevated the quality of the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra.”

Congratulations, Jonathan, on a wonderful tenure as Music Director of the Duisburger Philharmoniker and on receipt of the Mercatorplakette.

Next up for Jonathan: performances of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene with the Dresden Semperopera, June 19 – July 3.

- James Wright

Win a Car! Win a Bike!

The grand prize draws for both our lotteries are coming up soon! There's still a little time to buy tickets.

Porsche Draw! You still have a chance to win your choice of a 2011 Porsche Boxter or $50,000 cash.

One grand prize to be awarded, and the Boxter is worth $73,718 including taxes.

There are only 5,250 tickets and you can buy as many as you'd like! A single ticket is $40 (there are 1500 of them), a pack of 3 is $100 (there are 900 of them) and a pack of 7 tickets is $200 (there are 150 of them). Pretty good odds!

Credit card ticket sales will be cut off at 9:00pm on June 29 and cheque sales on June 23. The Grand Prize Draw will be held here at the VO offices, 835 Cambie St on June 30, 2011.

Click here to enter online!



Or, if you prefer a bike, you can enter to win a Harley!

Your choice of
- a 2011 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic (worth $22,012 including taxes)
- a 2011 Harley-Davidson Fatboy (worth $20,780 including taxes)
- or a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road King (worth $22,483 including taxes)
- Or $20,000 cash! (worth $20,000 cash!)

There are only 4,700 tickets for this draw: 700 single tickets for $20 each, 600 packs of 3 tickets for $100 and 250 packs of 7 tickets for $100. (The packs of 15 tickets are SOLD OUT!)

Credit card sales will be cut off at 9:00pm on June 23 and cheque orders on June 17. The Grand Prize will be awarded on June 24, 2011 here at the VO offices, 835 Cambie St.

Click here to order tickets online!

VO and the Jessie Awards

The Jessie Richardson Award nominations list has just been released, and we're proud to report a few VOIS folks are on it!


Drew Facey
Designer for VOIS's Hansel & Gretel and Cinderella.

Drew has been nominated for:

Outstanding Set Design, Small Theatre
Playland, Pacific Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design, Small Theatre
Love Fights: Coffee Makes Me Cry & The Trolley Car

Outstanding Set Design: Theatre For Young Audiences
Munscha Mia, Carousel Theatre

Rachel Peake
Director for VOIS's Cinderella

Rachel has been nominated for:

Outstanding Direction, Small Theatre
Love Fights: The Trolley Car, Solo Collective Theatre


Ami Gladstone
Director for VOIS's Jack Pine and Hansel & Gretel librettist and director.
Ami was also the director for VO's Lucia di Lammermoor in December 2010.

Outstanding Production, Small Theatre
Tape, Alley Theatre


Veda Hille
Composer of VOIS's Jack Pine

Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition, Small Theatre
Peter Panties, Neworld Theatre/Leaky Heaven Circus

The complete list of nominees is available here.

The Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Society is a non-profit charitable organization that exists to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of the Vancouver Professional Theatre community by producing the annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. The society was formed in 1997, and took over the production of the Awards Ceremony from the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, who had presented it since its beginning in the 1982-83 season.