City Opera News / June 17, 2011
Annenberg / Explore Chamber Opera
This project, City Opera’s second commission, is rolling ahead. Based on the real-life experiences of Christian Ellis (USMC, ret’d), who fought at the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, this is one of our most unusual and powerful creations. It is funded by a landmark $250,000 grant from the Los Angeles-based Annenberg Foundation, and its Explore organization.
Our first of four workshops was held on 15 and 16 May, and saw nine professional actors road-testing the libretto. This workshop was led by director John Wright, together with librettist Heather Raffo, composer Tobin Stokes, story consultant Christian Ellis and City Opera Artistic Committee members Harvey De Roo, Nora Kelly, and Janet Lea.
Table read with actors, Canadian Music Centre, 15 May 2011
Director John Wright, story consultant Christian Ellis, Russian Hall, 16 May 2011
On 29 and 30 May, we held auditions for the professional singers who will take the nine roles over the next year. These auditions attracted three dozen fine artists. It is always difficult to cast for an opera that doesn’t yet exist, but we will be announcing our choices very shortly. All thanks to Auditions Manager Sonia Stastny, pianist Greg Caisley, our Board members and volunteers, and our friends at Dunbar Heights United Church. More information on our website.
Board director Janet Lea, staff pianist Greg Caisley, workshop director John Wright
Workshop Two (focusing on Act 1) is set for 18 and 19 September, and Workshop Three (focusing on Act 2) for 13 and 14 November. The final workshop, with a 12-piece orchestra in the theatre, concludes on Sunday 13 May 2012.
Pauline
Our first commission is now scheduled for world premiere in 2013. This coincides with the passing of Pauline Johnson, in Vancouver, a century before. It is another wonderful story in music.
City Opera At Italian Day
Every year, City Opera Vancouver offers concerts and recitals across Metro. Regularly in the DTES, and recently in Richmond, we present wonderful young singers in great repertoire. Again this year we were honoured to headline at Italian Day on Commercial Drive.
Richard Epp, Andrey Andreychik, Rachel Fenlon, and hundreds in the crowd
On 5 June soprano Rachel Fenlon, baritone Andrey Andreychik, pianist Richard Epp, led by narrator and producer Tom Durrie, charmed the crowd. No wonder. Immediately after, we got an e-mail from someone attending asking to take voice lessons. She’s fallen in love with opera. Rightly so!
