Vancouver Opera 2019-2020 Season and Festival

2019 – 2020

SEASON & FESTIVAL La Traviata The Barber of Seville Another Brick in

The Wall: The Opera Così Fan Tutte

2019–2020

SEASON & FESTIVAL

La Traviata October 17–27, 2019

another brick in

the wall: the opera April 23–May 2, 2020

the barber of seville February 13–23, 2020

così fan tutte April 24–May 9, 2020

RENEW TODAY AND YOU COULD WIN A WHOLE YEAR OF OPERA! RENEW BY MARCH 25, 2019 and be entered in a contest to win your subscription FINAL RENEWAL DEADLINE APRIL 26, 2019

TICKETS & SUBSCRIPTIONS vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222

JOIN ME FOR OUR NEW SEASON

I am excited to announce our 2019—2020 Season and Festival a n d i nvite yo u to renew your subscription. The season opens with a well-loved classic, La Traviata, in a sumptuous new production. Two other favourites—The Barber of Seville and Così fan tutte—are sure to please opera fans who appreciate the classics. Our 4th annual Festival opens with Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera, based on the

lyrics and music of Roger Waters; lyricist of the band, Pink Floyd.

A udiences i n Mon treal an d Cincinnati rushed to attend soldout performances of this opera and I am thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of this contemporary work. Subscribers have priority for the best seats and the best prices so I am hoping you will join me for our new season!

KIM GAYNOR, GENERAL DIRECTOR

La Traviata GIUSEPPE VERDI

October 17, 19, 24, 27M ALL EVENING PERFORMANCES 7:30 PM M MATINEE PERFORMANCE 2:00PM QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES™

Conductor: Yves Abel Director: Alain Gauthier Designer: Christina Poddubiuk Violetta: Emily Dorn Alfredo: Andrew Haji with the VO Orchestra and Chorus Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave

La Traviata, a glorious work that deserves to be revisited time and again, was last performed eight years ago at Vancouver Opera. This perennial favourite has been given a brand-new look and features a terrific cast. And, in an unprecedented collaboration, five Canadian opera companies have joined forces to produce lavish sets and costumes inspired by the decadent music hall scene of 1920s Paris. Violetta, a famous Parisian courtesan who is consumed both by love and a lifethreatening illness, is sung by Canadian Emily Dorn. Tenor Andrew Haji, who delighted audiences as Nemorino in last year’s production of L’Elisir d’amore, is the love-struck Alfredo.

Canadian conductor Yves Abel, whose international career spans more than twenty years—including appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House and the Vienna State Opera—makes his Vancouver Opera debut.

RENEW TODAY AND SAVE! vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222

the barber of seville GIOACHINO ROSSINI

February 13, 15, 20, 23M ALL EVENING PERFORMANCES 7:30 PM M MATINEE PERFORMANCE 2:00PM QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES™

Conductor: Nathan Brock Director: Ashlie Corcoran Designer: Ken MacDonald Figaro: Edward Nelson Rosina: Julie Boulianne Count Almaviva: Isaiah Bell Libretto: Cesare Sterbini

Chase away the February blues with The Barber of Seville, a feast of frivolous fun. Enjoy Figaro’s mischievous escapades as he assists Count Almaviva in prising the beautiful Rosina away from her lecherous guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Rossini’s comic masterpiece fizzes with memorable melodies in an entertaining production that proves that the road to true love is paved with theft, lies, bribery, brawling —and wicked comedy.

Canadian stage director Ashlie Corcoran —recently named Artistic Director of the Arts Club Theatre—makes her mainstage Vancouver Opera debut. Originally from White Rock, Ashlie is a theatre and opera director who has worked internationally and across Canada at companies such as the Canadian Opera Company, the Citadel Theatre, the Shaw Festival and many more.

Making his Vancouver Opera debut is Canadian Conductor, Nathan Brock.

Brock began his career in Montreal under the tutelage of Kent Nagano.

RENEW TODAY AND KEEP YOUR SEATS! vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222

OPÉRA CONCEPT M.P.’S 2017 PRODUCTION OF ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL: THE OPERA. PHOTO BY YVES RENAUD.

April 23–May 3, 2020 Join us for the 4th annual Vancouver Opera Festival. Each spring we round out our season with an intensive week of performances anchored by two mainstage operas, and packed with chamber music, workshops, family events and more. The community is invited to discover this multi-faceted art form and to participate in the conversation about opera.

another brick in

The Wall: The Opera BASED ON THE LYRICS AND MUSIC OF ROGER WATERS’ THE WALL OPERATIC VERSION COMPOSED BY JULIEN BILODEAU CONCEPT & STAGE DIRECTION BY DOMINIC CHAMPAGNE

April 23, 25, 26M, 29, 30, May 2 ALL EVENING PERFORMANCES 7:30 PM M MATINEE PERFORMANCE 2:00PM QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE IN ENGLISH WITH SURTITLES™ Scenic Designer: Stéphane Roy Costume Designer: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt Lighting Designer: Étienne Boucher Video Designer: Johnny Ranger Pink: Nathan Keoghan The Mother: France Bellemare The Wife: Caroline Bleau With the VO Orchestra and Chorus A Productions Opéra Concept MP & Cincinnati Opera co-production

Vancouver Opera’s 4th annual Festival opens with the West Coast premiere of Another Brick in the Wall: The Opera, based on the lyrics and music of Roger Waters’ The Wall.

Roger Waters was the lyricist and principal composer of the band, Pink Floyd. The opera is a psychological drama inspired by his life, told through a gripping story, with eye-popping video projections. A thrilling score by Quebec composer Julien Bilodeau transforms the iconic album into an operatic drama—-perfect for operagoers and rock fans alike.

Magnificent projection design by Johnny Ranger complements the action on an over-sized video screen. The result is exquisite and hypnotic.

RENEW TODAY AND YOU COULD WIN YOUR SUBSCRIPTION! vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222

PART OF THE VANCOUVER OPERA FESTIVAL

così fan tutte WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

April 24, 29M, May 2M, 3, 6, 7, 9 ALL EVENING PERFORMANCES 7:30 PM M MATINEE PERFORMANCE 2:00PM VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES™ Conductor: Leslie Dala Director: Brenna Corner Set Designer: Drew Facey Fiordiligi: Lucia Cesaroni Dorabella: Beste Kalender Ferrando: Owen McCausland Guglielmo: Iain Macneil Don Alphonso: John Fanning Despina: Nathalie Paulin Libretto: Lorenzo Da Ponte

Così fan tutte, last produced by VO in 2005, is a sharply satirical take on relationships between men and women. Mozart’s opera about fidelity is an intriguing story set to music of impossible beauty. Two men disguise themselves as Albanians and attempt to seduce each other’s partners in an elaborate ruse to win a bet, at the urging of the cynical old philosopher Don Alfonso. Così fan tutte contains some of Mozart’s most beautiful arias and attractive ensembles and is packed with both pathos and humour. It was Mozart’s final collaboration with the Italian librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, who based his story on a variety of sources including Greek myths and Renaissance tales. Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist alumnus stage director, Brenna Corner (Hansel & Gretel) returns to direct this popular opera. Leslie Dala conducts an all-Canadian cast.

RENEW TODAY FOR GREAT BENEFITS! vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222

PART OF THE VANCOUVER OPERA FESTIVAL

EDMONTON OPERA’S 2018 PRODUCTION OF LA TRAVIATA. PHOTO BY NANC PRICE.

JOIN US FOR OUR

2019–2020

SEASON & FESTIVAL DON’T DELAY RENEWING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION! Subscribing today allows you to plan your schedule, know when you will attend performances, and lock in the lowest available ticket price to avoid demand-based price increases. It offers you more opportunities to select better seat locations, exchange privileges and reduced ticket prices.

SUBSCRIBING MEANS YOU’LL GET THE BEST SEATS, AND MANY BENEFITS! SAVE UP TO 20% COMPARED TO SINGLE TICKET PRICES! EXCHANGE YOUR TICKETS FOR OTHER PERFORMANCES, FREE OF CHARGE! TAX RECEIPT FOR RETURNED TICKETS WITH 48HRS NOTICE. SAVE ON ADDITIONAL TICKETS AND SHARE YOUR LOVE OF OPERA!

EARLY BIRD RENEWAL MARCH 25, 2019 Renew by this date and be entered to win your subscription for free!

FINAL RENEWAL DEADLINE APRIL 26, 2019 Renew your subscription to keep your seats!

HOW TO RENEW ONLINE: vancouveropera.ca

BY PHONE: 604 683 0222

BY MAIL OR IN PERSON: VO Ticket Centre, 1945 McLean Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 3J7 9 am – 5 pm | Monday – Friday

2019 – 2020

SEASON & FESTIVAL Renew your subscription

by March 25 and you could win a whole year of opera! vancouveropera.ca 604 683 0222 For more information and to sign up to receive the latest updates about VO visit vancouveropera.ca

VO’s 2019—2020 season artwork is by Vancouver artist Nomi Chi. Nomi is an accomplished illustrator and a prominent tattoo artist with a global following. We are thrilled to have Nomi as our 2019—2020 season artist.

FESTIVAL PATRON MARTHA LOU HENLEY, C.M.

TICKET CENTRE SPONSOR

CASTING AND PERFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. WITH CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM