opera – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Bizet’s CARMEN

Saturday was the opening night of a sold-out performance to one of the most popular operas of all time; CARMEN.

Sarah Mesco (Carmen) & Alok Kumar (Don Jose). Emily Cooper Photography

Congratulations to Vancouver Opera for celebrating 65 years with an awesome 2024-2025 lineup.

Once again, with my friend Rosa, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver to enjoy an evening of revered arias sung in French with projected English subtitles, interesting colourful characters, spectacular costumes and set design. My first time seeing it and her third time; once at the Met in New York. Of course I’d heard about it but didn’t really know the story until now.

The good thing about going with an opera buff friend (as opposed to opera buffa or buffoon) is that they already know about the story, the composer and the arias. They can tell you which ones are “must-sees.” This was one of them. Like everything else, some are much better than others.

In the lobby of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Photo Credit: a Stranger

It was probably the most enjoyable opera I’ve seen in a long time, if even a bit too long as it has four acts with a 25 minute intermission after the second act. I can’t believe how much detail goes into the making of a production of this scale. No small feat for the choreographer (Cydney Uffindell-Phillips). The actors suited their respective roles and gave magnificent performances. With so many actors on the stage all at once in several scenes, it makes you wonder how they all manage to get it together backstage. It must be organized chaos. It’s a grand undertaking that went seemingly seamless.

Emily Cooper Photography courtesy of Vancouver Opera.

The short synopsis tells the story of a hopeless soldier, Don José, who is seduced by Carmen, a fiery gypsy woman with an appetite for smuggling. As operas tend to go it’s full of infatuation, passion, jealousy, class conflict and gender inequality. Carmen; the dominant force here uses her beauty to get what she wants. Men fall in love with her at first glance and she knows it and uses it to manoeuvre her way in and out of situations. Oh; to have that much power in beauty alone. But she’s also cunning and a little dangerous. Men be warned! Blinded by her charm, they ignore the signals.

Nathan Keoughan (Escamillo the Toreador) at finale. Photo: d. king

The Acts are too long to describe here, but I suggest if you adore opera or want to learn more, check out the link below for tickets.

If you’re new to opera and want a brief description of popular opera terms check this out:

You’re at the opera house. You open the program book or you’re listening to the opera snobs talk, and you can’t understand a word — or at least some words. To get a handle on what they all mean, here’s a chart:

aria: An emotion-expressing song in an opera; the big number.	opera buffa: Funny opera, especially from the 18th century. Think Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”
bel canto: A style of sweet singing, taught to singers even today, that emphasizes breath control, a beautiful tone, and great flexibility in dynamics (going from loud to soft, for example).	opera seria: Formal, serious opera, especially from the 18th century.
cadenza: A moment near the end of an aria for the singer alone, with lots of fast, high, difficult notes, designed for showing off.	prima donna: The singer who plays the heroine, the main female character in an opera; or anyone who believes that the world revolves around her.
coloratura: A singer (usually soprano) with an extremely agile, light, pure-sounding voice, capable of easily singing fast, high notes.	recitative (“ress-it-uh-TEEV”): Speech-singing, in which the singer semi-chants the words, imitating the free rhythms of speech.
dynamics: The loudness or softness of a musical composition, or the markings in the sheet music that indicate volume.	Singspiel (“SING-shpeel”): A German opera with spoken dialogue (instead of recitative) between arias.
Leitmotif (“LIGHT-mo-teef”): A little melody that plays every time a certain character or object appears; invented by Richard Wagner.	trouser role: A man’s part played by a woman.
libretto: The script of an opera.	verismo: A realistic, “documentary” style of opera that depicts the seamy underbelly of life.

CARMEN: April 27 – May 5, 2024 7:30PM

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

For Tickets: https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats-on/carmen/

Header photo: Emily Cooper Photography, courtesy of Vancouver Opera.

Opera chart taken from:

https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/music/voice/opera-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-209080

Art & Culture

Vancouver Opera’s Don Pasquale

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre is the stage for Donizetti’s madcap masterpiece set in 1960’s Rome.

A whacky story about inter-generational jealousy, deception and reconciliation This opera is bursting with vivid colour, engaging melodies, fun characters and plenty of cats.

Told in 3 acts, it’s on the lighter side of opera but not without a comedic element of cruelty. After all, what would opera be, if not deprived of a little misfortune? The amusing story and cast of characters will appeal to everyone.

The title character is Don Pasquale, a wealthy bachelor getting on in years, who has grown tired of his lazy, sole-inheretor nephew, Ernesto. Worried that his wealth will be squandered, he has chosen a bride for Ernesto. Ernesto, who is currently in love with a young widow named Norina whom Pasquale has never met, asserts that he won’t marry a woman of his uncle’s choosing.

So Pasquale determines to find himself a wife instead. A mutual friend of his & Ernesto’s named Dr. Malatesta, suggests his beautiful younger sister Sofronia, as Pasquale’s prospective bride. A thrilled Pasquale asks his friend to arrange a meeting at once. Pasquale tells Ernesto to move out of his pensione and announces his own marriage plans. Astonished, and with prospects of an inheritance slipping away, Ernesto sees his dreams evaporating. A further hurt: he learns that his confidant Malatesta has arranged Pasquale’s marriage.

Meanwhile, Norina confidently reflects on her ability to be able to charm a man. When Dr. Malatesta arrives, they decide to concoct a plan together. Norina will pose as Sofronia and marry Pasquale in a mock ceremony. Norina is keen to play the role of wife if it will result in her and Ernesto being together.

However, Ernesto is unaware of their scheme.

Don Pasquale is impatient to meet his prospective bride. When Norina (as Sofronia), the distinctly feline young lady turns up, he is instantly smitten. He decides they should get married immediately.

However; having a wife is not quite as straightforward as he expected…

Be careful what you wish for. In addition to her new shift in attitude, “Sofronia” has started living extravagantly, blowing through Pasquale’s money. Servants arrive carrying more of her purchases, and Pasquale, at wit’s end, angrily resolves to assert his rights as husband.

Can’t give it all away. The ending you’ll have to see for yourself!

February 10^th-18^th.Tickets still available for matinee and evening performances:

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats-on/don-pasquale

A very enjoyable opera.

Art & Culture

Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”

AKA: DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE

Had the pleasure of attending the season opener of “THE MAGIC FLUTE”at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Saturday night with my friend Rosa.

Opera is a rare art form that inspires and exhilarates all of the senses, and more often than not; procures life-long aficionados, also referred to as fanatics. Rosa is one of those, whereas I used to be more familiar with Broadway-type shows and musicals.

Kirsten MacKinnon and Owen McCausland – **Emily Cooper Photography**

Opera is trying to make sense of the nonsense. No good opera plot can be sensible because no one sings when they get stabbed or bitten by a dragon. It’s just an imaginative fairy tale set to music with romance (usually a damsel in distress and some bad or misunderstood guy), dancing, tragedy, comedy, special effects and a little supernatural. If they throw a king or queen and a crazy bird man into the mix; all the more magical.

There were bits and pieces of all of that in the Magic Flute. If you’re not already aware; this is considered a timeless classic; one of the greatest operas ever written. It concerns the search for truth and reason (I never did get the reason though), love and enlightenment. It follows the adventures of Prince Tamino and this silly bird-catcher called Papageno on their quest to rescue Pamina – daughter of the Queen of the Night.

Audrey Luna as The Queen of the Night with Kirsten MacKinnon – **Emily Cooper Photography**

Prince Tamino plays the Magic Flute and discovers it has the power to calm the most savage of beasts. Tamino and Pamina finally meet and pledge to endure the trials of initiation into the Temple of Wisdom together; trials that have their basis in the Freemasonry movement of the 18th century, of which Mozart was a member – a sneaky way of putting that in there without even realizing it. I knew there was some trial because they kept referring to it, but didn’t understand why, or where it was going to take place. Anyway, freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the world. More on that later…as I try not to go too off topic.

There’s lots going on in this 3 hour opera, including some monsters and 3 damsels that keep showing up out of nowhere. However, I must give special mention to the costumes and set design which were breathtaking. It is a fantasy after all I keep reminding myself.

And let’s remember that Mozart wrote it over 230 years ago.

“THE MAGIC FLUTE” was the last opera Mozart composed. It premiered on September 30^th, 1791 – roughly three months before he died at the age of 35. Mozart is perhaps the greatest composer in history. In his short creative lifetime he wrote more than 600 works, he redefined the symphony, composed some of the greatest operas ever written and lifted chamber music to new heights of artistic achievement. That’s some resume!

SECRET SOCIETY: Both Mozart and the opera’s librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, were devoted Freemasons, a fraternity famous for secret rites and rituals, at a time when the Masonic order was frowned upon by the authorities and mistrusted by the public. Its meetings were mysterious to outsiders and the order was believed to be connected to the principles of the Enlightenment, so established political leaders were a little nervous about it. The emperor of Austria even restricted the number of Masonic lodges allowed to operate in the country.

So, while Mozart’s drama fell into the general category of “magic opera” — works based on folk tales, with plenty of stunts, scene changes and spectacular stage effects — it was also a political statement in disguise, filled with veiled Masonic symbolism, including an homage to a Masonic initiation ceremony in Act II balancing four elements (earth, air, water, fire) in perfect harmony of the universe.

“The happy medium – truth in all things – is no longer either known or valued; to gain applause, one must write things so inane that they might be played on barrel-organs, or so unintelligible that no rational being can comprehend them, though on that very account, they are likely to please” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

You don’t say…

Now until October 29^th. For tickets:

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats-on/magic-flute/

Header Photo: The Magic Flute full stage – Emily Cooper Photography

Art, Architecture, Culture

Night at the Opera: The Flying Dutchman

What a privilege it was attending the opening night of the very last show of the 2022-2033 opera season – Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” presented by Vancouver Opera; the largest opera company in Western Canada.

There is only one show left -on May 7th. See link below for tickets.

The performances always take place at the spectacular *Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The theatre is a perfect setting to complement the range of productions that are staged here with an atrium that has sweeping staircases, gorgeous chandeliers and reflective surfaces. Snacks and wine are available to purchase before the show and during intermission.

Sidenote: you guessed it – the theatre was named after its most famous patron, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who attended a concert here when the theatre opened in July 1959.

Turbulence at Sea

The Flying Dutchman is a haunting story based on a European maritime legend about a sailor and his daughter who encounter a ghost during a storm at sea.

The Dutchman, who has been condemned to wander for eternity, is searching for a bride to finally bring him peace. This tragic tale of love and sacrifice is the composer’s first masterpiece and features magnificent orchestration of Wagnerian proportions.

Not to jump ahead but I’m really looking forward to next season’s productions which will begin with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” followed by “Don Pasquale” and finally the towering opera classic “Carmen.”

With my friend Rosa who is an avid opera enthusiast. I can always count on Rosa to be my plus-one for an opera date and we enjoy a glass of wine before the show and a late night snack afterwards – usually at Joey’s on Burrard (fyi: the kitchen there closes at 1:30 am)

*Built in 1959 as part of an international design competition, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre served as a prototype for more than a generation of theatre complexes across Canada and the U.S. The architects’ vision was to create a “strong, unitary building” that gave “maximum delight and spatial excitement”.

Photos: Tim Matheson

Some tickets still left for closing show @ https://www.vancouveropera.ca/

Art, Architecture, Culture

Night at the Opera

On Saturday I attended the opening night of “The Pearl Fishers” – George Bizet’s 1863 opera taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

I went with my friend Rosa, who is an opera buff and always fills me in on what is good and what is not. The Pearl Fishers; a good Opera, is here in Vancouver until October 30^th.

The opera is an aquired taste. Going to the opera is either a love or hate relationship for most people – unlike the storyline involved in most operas where love and hate coexist. I’m somewhat in the middle. If the sets are beautiful, if the costumes are exotic and the music is wonderful (and of course the singing is always excellent) then I’m happy. But like going to a foreign film where you have to read the subtitles to know what they’re talking about, in an opera our eyes tend to wander up and down between the stage and reading the lines high above the stage to find out what exactly they’re trying to convey. Things happen fast in opera land. It’s emotionally charged and super dramatic. Obviously over the top to make sure the point gets across, but with soulful song and dance. And simply gorgeous costumes.

If you want my simple synopsis of this opera, think Popeye the Sailor Man and his old muscular navy buddy Bluto whose friendship ends due to their rivalry over Olive Oyl. Maybe this is how bullying began – on the account of a woman.

Emily Cooper Photography

If you want the real synopsis here is the overview taken from the opera website:

The Pearl Fishers returns to Vancouver Opera for the first time in nearly 30 years. Directed by Vancouver favourite Rachel Peake, this dramatic opera tells the tale of two devoted friends and the woman that comes between them. The famous “friendship duet”, Au fond du temple saint, is one of the most beautiful and recognizable pieces in the opera repertoire. Be swept away by the lush orchestration and Bizet’s trademark melodies.

Do you see the similarity but different?

To purchase available tickets please visit:

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/

Art, Architecture, Culture, Girl Who Would be King

Music/Culture: OPERA in the PARK

Opera unites music, poetry, drama, and spectacle in the most elaborate of all art forms.

So it was an absolute pleasure to finally attend “Opera in the Park“, the Palm Springs premier cultural event in April . This is the first time I’ve stayed here this long. Usually I’m gone by the end of March because it gets too hot here, but this time I decided to stay a little longer. The event takes place at Sunrise Park which is a very short drive from where I live (part-time of course).

I originally had a spot reserved under the big white tent but decided to sit on the grass just outside it in a shady area with my lawn chair and the lunch I packed because I wasn’t sure they’d have food. But they did have food and drinks. And souvenirs. Most people were sitting outside the tent. It was lovely.

This live concert with arias from operas by Bizet, Delibes, Donizetti, Gounod, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini and Verdi draws thousands of people from all over Southern California every April in a celebration of great music with a professional orchestra conducted by Valery Ryvkin. In addition, a special tribute to Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial featured music from West Side Story and Candide. It also marked the 20th Anniversary of Opera in the Park. Oh, did I mention that it’s free?

The Palm Springs Opera Guild Orchestra performed from 1-4 pm with famous operas including Carmen, Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, Faust and more.

There were food vendors from well known establishments offering delicious sandwiches, salads, platters, wine, beer, and cocktails. You could even pre-order online from Trio restaurant.

Presenting Sponsors: The Augustine Foundation and

*Newman’s Own Foundation

Using the power of philanthropy to transform lives*Newman’s Own Foundation is all about supporting people doing great things. People whos stories inspire us.

This month there’s also Coachella, a more famous and enormously profitable music festival with a great long lineup. A lot of musicians whom I’m familiar with and many I’m not. But it was actually Opera in the Park that I really wanted to go to. Coachella maybe another time.

Have you been to either?

Opera in the Park: Music Director: Mona Lands. Artistic Director: Andrew Eisenmann.

Girl Who Would be King, STYLE

Style: Dolce & Gabbana find inspiration in Opera

An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I’ve left the opera house. – Maria Callas

For the love of Fashion (and for those who love Opera) here is peek from the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Spring 2017 Show in Milan

Held at the backstage industrial area of the Teatro alla Scala di Milano, which is one of the Italian fashion capital’s most suggestive and evocative places, the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda spring 2017 couture show was an all-round fashion event, as it captivated the senses with both fashion and theatrical motifs. “This place is very magical,” Domenico Dolce explained. “We were fascinated when we came here a year ago. We both go to the opera–we’re Italian, drama is in our blood!” opera2

The theatrical vibes were captured and then brought to life by the designers not only through the structured figures and imposing silhouettes of the staples, but also after a well-thought, all-embracing journey into the characters, stories and notes of some of the opera’s most remarkable and trailblazing pieces, the costumes of which served as the main source of inspiration for Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda revolution. Motifs from works such as The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Falstaff, La Traviata, La Bohéme, Lucia di Lammermoor, played in our heads as soon as the first pieces were presented onstage, charming us with timeless aesthetics that exude haute couture vibes indeed. opera3

For these reasons, the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda spring 2017 show looked equally familiar yet new, with standard Dolce & Gabbana patterns, such as intricate lace embroideries and opulent jewelry designs going hand in hand with more street wear-inspired attire options, like oversized sweatshirts and animal printed coats.

My notes: I’ve visited the Teatro alla Scala di Milano years ago. I think at the best of times Dolce & Gabbana ready-to-wear (and couture pieces) are a bit theatrical mixed with romanticism but not necessarily practicality. And that’s exactly what we need at times like this. Take what you will from this. Sometimes it’s okay to be over the top!

Of all the noises known to man, opera is the most expensive. – Moliere

Photos: courtesy of Vogue

Story: Virginia Cafara for Fashionisers

Art & Culture

Vancouver OPERA presents Madama Butterfly

Don’t miss Vancouver Opera’s gorgeous production of Puccini’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY – a beautiful story of honour, love, heartbreak and sacrifice.

As they say; Fall in love at the OPERA.

Middle: Mihoko Kinishita as Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly). Photo: Tim Matheson

I went to the opening last night and thoroughly enjoyed the gorgeous set, incredible voices and achingly beautiful music brought to life by two of the world’s most in demand sopranos. There were many women fittingly dressed up in stunning Kimonos.

Mihoko Kinoshita as Cio-Cio-San (butterfly), Gregory Dahl as Sharpless, Richard Trotell as Pinkerton. Photo: Tim Matheson

About the Performers:

Sharing the role of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) for alternating performances will be Jee-Hye Han and Mihoko Kinoshita. Jee-Hye Han will be making her VO début. Mihoko Kinoshita was last seen in VO’s 2010 production of Madama Butterfly. Tenors Adam Luther and Richard Troxell will sing opposite them, sharing the role of Pinkerton.

Madama Butterfly is onstage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, corner of Georgia and Hamilton Streets,Vancouver, B.C. for only 6 performances, March 5 – 13, 2016.

Good seats still remain but are selling quickly for all performances, with the best availability at the Friday, March 11 and Sunday March 13 performances.

Not a kimono but at least it was colourful.

The Vancouver Opera Orchestra conducted by Leslie Dala. Photo: Tim Matheson

Dates:

Sunday, March 6 • 2:00pm matinée

Thursday, March 10 • 7:30pm

Friday, March 11 • 7:30pm

Saturday, March 12 • 7:30pm

Sunday, March 13 • 2:00pm matinée

Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage.

Approximate running time: 2 hours and 40 minutes, including 1 intermission.

Tickets are available exclusively through the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre: 604-683-0222 or www.vancouveropera.ca. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. Special pricing for groups of at least 10, and for families, is available by phone.

Follow Vancouver Opera on Twitter and Facebook for exclusive offers such as VO’s Get O.U.T (Opera Under 35) program, with $35 tickets for patrons aged under.

GODERE!

ENJOY!

Art & Culture

Art/Culture: OPERA – Madama BUTTERFLY

“INSPIRATION is an awakening, a quickening of all man’s faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements.” – Giacomo Puccini

My inspiration for the week: the Vancouver Opera‘s opening night performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly; a beautiful story of love, honour, heartbreak and sacrifice.

This famous opera which was composed by Giacomo Puccini in 1904 (and remained his personal favourite throughout the remainder of his life) is based on a short story “Madame Butterfly” (1898) by John Luther Long. In brief it’s about a pleasure seeking American naval officer based in Nagasaki, Japan who leases a house and weds a young geisha. He is only briefly enchanted with her (his “Butterfly” – oh you know what some men are like; they profess their love only to lose interest when they want to move on to the next) while she in turn, gives herself wholly to the marriage. He abandons her and then returns to claim their child. Butterfly is devastated and dishonoured and makes an ultimate sacrifice to honour her family.
Having spent some time in Kyoto when I lived in Japan, I was fascinated by the beauty and elegance of the mysterious geisha. I followed them around but never quite knew where they were going. I wanted to learn their secret but maybe it was best not knowing. For me, at the time it was a different world and an escape from the norm. They had a reserved, otherworldliness unlike other women which was refreshingly appealing. They gave the illusion of being faithful and trustworthy. I loved reading Memoirs of a Geisha (surprisingly it was written by a man; Arthur Golden).

“Why, in the Peking Opera, are women’s roles played by men?…Because only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act.” – David Henry Hwang (Tony-award winning creator of the beloved play M. Butterfly).

Some TICKETS are still available at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Only 6 performances from March 5 – 13, 2016.

Purchase Tickets:

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats_on/2015-2016_season/madama_butterfly

I’m so looking forward to seeing this!