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Thursday, January 27, 2011
Nanaimo News Bulletin
Each season The Port Theatre Society presents a series of events called the “Spotlight Series,” chosen by the society for their professional excellence in North America. The series includes opera, chamber music, modern dance and more.
Pages 20-23
From rock star to opera star:
Richard Margison takes on the world
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Richard Margison performs at the Port Theatre March 20 at 2:30 p.m., accompanied by Kinza Tyrrell on piano. Tickets $52; $48/members; $25/students. Please call 250-754-8550.
Quickfacts
Hailed for his ringing top notes and spine-tingling power, Richard Margison is one of the most critically acclaimed singers on the international stage today. His performances are legendary – yet he took the most un-traditional route to the opera stage. Margison’s career began in the coffee houses and clubs of Victoria, B.C., where he performed with his rock band for more than a decade. Since making his debut in 1980 with Pacific Opera Victoria, he has gone on to take the opera world by storm and has been, for many years, one of the most sought-after tenors on the international stage. Considered the “paragon of Calàfs” (The Stage), Margison recently stared in Opera Lyra Ottawa’s season-opening production of Turandot at the National Arts Centre. He sang the role’s most famous aria ‘Nessun Dorma’ on the stage and screen, from command performances for the Queen and the Governor General of Canada to gala fundraisers across the globe. Margison is touring Canada this year, bringing some of his most acclaimed opera roles to cities across Canada, including Nanaimo, with renowned pianist
RICHARD MARGISON performs at the Port Theatre March 20, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $52; $48/members; $25/students. Call 250-7548550.
Kinza Tyrrell. In the midst of all this, Margison heads to Valencia, Spain, in February to reprise the role of O’Brien in Lorin Maazel’s 1984, which premiered at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 2005. Along with the role of O’Brien, his highly acclaimed appearances as Bacchus in Adriadne au Naxos with the Metropolitan Opera, Cavaradossi in Tosca and Enzo in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda are all available on DVD. He is also the featured in the Bravo documentary Folk-singing Opera Star, which features Margison in collaboration with Bruce Cockburn, at major performances and in discussion about his life and career. Margison performs at the Port Theatre March 20, 2:30 p.m., with pianist Kinza Tyrrell. Tickets $52; $48/members; $25/students. Please call 250-754-8550 or visit www.porttheatre.com.
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Three shows to delight families Each season staff at the Port Theatre look far and wide across the country for events and concerts that received critical acclaim by peers in the artistic community to include in the Spotlight Series. This season includes the family series, three affordable shows for all ages. Beginning March 17, 7 p.m., is Darwin the Dinosaur, a wonderful hour of glow-in-the-dark fantasy that combines puppetry, ancient, wordless storytelling with modern technology and music – both orchestral and pop. It is a delightful tale about a scientist, his creation and discovering love. The series continues April 3, 2:30 p.m., with Old Thomas and the Little Fairy, inspired by the children’s book by Dominique Demers. A beautiful tale about an old sailor who discovers a tiny water fairy, exploring love, life,
Grand dance Margie Gillis, a choreographer and performer of more than 100 solo dance works, performs at the Port Theatre May 20, 7:30 p.m. The show is in partnership with Crimson Coast Dance Society. Tickets $35; $31/members; $15/ students; $5/eyeGO. Please call 250-7548550. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Old Thomas and the Little Fairy is one of three shows aimed at families at the Port Theatre this year.
family audiences. Their show, At Nightfall, was part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Tickets for each show are $16, or buy all three events and save $2 per ticket. Purchase four or more tickets to one Family Series event for only $14 each.
loneliness and friendship, this production will warm the hearts of one and all. It is also part of TheatreOne’s Just Kidding Series. The series wraps up May 8, 2:30 p.m., with the Sursaut Dance Company, which is devoted to the creation of dance shows for young and
Couple finds love in unlikely place – and shares story with audience Wry, humorous – and heartbreakingly hopeful. Made up of Yukon singersongwriter Kim Barlow and The Burning Hell’s Mathias Kom, this lovely banjo and ukulele duo write funny little folk songs about the inevitable end of love called Spring Breakup, taking place on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Spring Breakup can mean one
of two things: the term for river ice breaking apart in the northern spring thaw, or the term Yukoners give to the phenomenon of the end of all the Yukon winter romances. As the dark days turn lighter, some folks sometimes realize that their winter mating choices are best left in the dark. Spring Breakup came to be when Mathias Kom decided
to leave Peterborough, Ont. to spend some time in Whitehorse, Yukon, where he got better acquainted with fellow songwriter Kim Barlow. The two, both jaded by broken romances, quickly realized that they had more in common than just writing sad songs about breakups. Before long, the two were romantically linked and decided to create a band poking
fun at love. Onstage, Barlow and Kom create an engaging musical concert with their subtle and often hilarious songs. Both songwriters are intelligent, witty word-crafters and skilled players. Kom’s extremely deep baritone is a wonderful contrast to Barlow’s clear alto. Spring Break is the perfect Valentine’s Day date night for
couples with a sense of humour about love. Or bring a group of single friends and enjoy your first anti-Valentine’s Day celebration. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet your perfect match. Tickets are $28; $24/members; $15/students. The show also qualifies for the eyeGO program. Please call 250-754-8550 or visit www.porttheatre.com.
Vancouver Island Symphony presents
French Kiss
Saturday February 19 7:30 pm GUEST ARTIST: Nadya Blanchette, soprano
Seduction, charm, wit, humour and love dominate this original Valentine’s Day Concert created for and premiered here with the VI Symphony. An additional, intriguing, surprising twist is the pairing up of husband and wife as a team: conductor/artistic director Pierre Simard and former Cirque du Soleil artist, soprano Nadya Blanchette—femme fatale, ingénue and Carmen all rolled into one. French love songs and arias are on the menu for this attractive, emotional, romantic evening of great music for voice and orchestra.
Airs d’Espagne
Saturday March 5 7:30 pm GUEST ARTIST: Daniel Bolshoy, guitar
José Evangelista — Airs d’Espagne Rodrigo — Fantasia para un Gentilhombre Schchedrin / Bizet — Carmen-Suite
Experience the passions of the Spanish guitar: the matinee idol good looks paired with consummate artistry of guitarist Daniel Bolshoy, brilliant and ingenious folk melodies penned by Canadian José Evangelista, and the ironies and humour of Schchedrin’s take on Bizet’s Carmen-Suite, derived from the most famous of all operas. This concert features intimacy and power, familiar grounds and surprises, with a special emphasis on the VIS Strings and Percussion sections.
Water
Saturday April 30 7:30 pm Jonathan Bernard, percussion
Tan Dun — Water Concerto
Vaughan Williams — A Sea Symphony (Symphony no. 1)
In celebrating the ocean, its mystery and all it means to Nanaimo, the VIS presents two very unique and magnificent compositions. Water Concerto, with phenomenal percussion involving light and water, is written by Tan Dun, famous on the international scene for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . A Sea Symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, based on poems by Walt Whitman, will have patrons beaming from ear to ear on their maritime journey, buoyed on by the sheer power of more than 150 artists on stage! Majestic, imaginative, thrilling music for the VIS grand season finale! OFFICIAL HOTEL
www.vancouverislandsymphony.com | Port Theatre Ticket Centre | 250.754.8550
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PORT THEATRE
Nanaimo News Bulletin Thursday, January 27, 2011
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Series showcases local talent
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Pteros Tactics Toronto Dance Theatre performs Pteros Tactics, a Christopher House work, a modern dance piece which explores instant desire, inspired by poet Anne Carson’s essay Eros the Bittersweet. The show takes place Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $35; $31/members; $15/ students; $5/eyeGO. Please call 250-754-8550.
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Sweet Melody & Daveton Jones
Sat., Feb. 12 Port Theatre P 8:00pm • All Ages 8:00 Tickets aavailable at The Port Theatre Ticket Centre $25 regu regular, $20 students, $12 kids 250-754-8550 250-754• www.porttheatre.com
The Studio Series, originally created to showcase the need for a state-of-the-art studio theatre in Nanaimo, features intimate shows with local artists and their unique talents. The series opens Jan. 31 with noonhour and 7:30 p.m. performances until Feb. 3. All performances are by donation of $5 to $10. The lineup includes: Tony Deo, guitarist, followed by Skagway Bluegrass duo of Ira Pelletier on mandolin and Tad Ruszel on guitar, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.; David Person plays a mix of classical, big band and jazz on concert accordion, followed by Bobbi Schram’s original lyrical work on keyboard and guitar, Feb. 1 at 12:15 p.m.; Storyteller Sandy Cole shares The Blue Faience Hippopotamus, an ancient Egyptian tale of true love, followed by magician Craig McKee Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Jeffery Randle performs roots music, followed by the Overdrive Quartet – Bill
Staton, Jay Cousins, Mac Dallman and Dave Atchison – singing ’50s-style music and barbershop tunes Feb. 2 at 12:15 p.m.; Jazzalele features Anna Acevedo Lyman and Steve Sutton accompanied by ukulele, followed by Sarah Wood and friends performing From Broadway to B.C. musical revue of Wood’s original works Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Shine features Narissa Young, Kay Nielsen and Heather Haseltine performing Celtic, folk and pop music, followed by storyteller Margaret Murphy sharing the story of Sylvia Stark, the Saltspring Island pioneer, whose daughter was the first black school teacher on Vancouver Island, on Feb. 3 at 12:15 p.m.; The series wraps up with Andrea Smith and Pat Coleman performing blues, roots, country and more, followed by Ryan McMahon and his original music on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please call 250754-8550 or visit www.porttheatre.com.
Discount sees students sitting in front row High school students pay only $5 to see one of the shows in the Port Theatre’s Spotlight Series. The eyeGO arts program is a national program designed to remove barriers for students wanting to attend events. The Port Theatre Society, which manages the performing arts venue, has a goal to stimulate and enhance artistic, cultural and economic activity of central Vancouver Island. The Spotlight Series is part of this mandate and includes events which have shown professional excellence in North America. The eyeGO program was created to assist high school students by encouraging them to purchase their own tickets to
Nanaimo Conservatory of Music presents
events. The majority of productions in the Spotlight Series are available for only $5 for high school students. Look for the eyeGO logo to see which shows qualify. Students only qualify for eyeGO programs if they purchase the tickets themselves. Parents may encourage students by giving their kids an eyeGO calendar of events, provided by the theatre. Students need their school ID when they stop by the ticket centre on Front Street, or online at www. porttheatre.com, to purchase tickets. ◆ Want free tickets to events and concerts? Join the Port Theatre Fan Club on Facebook for ticket giveaways!
olo Pian a o 200th Birthday of
Franz Liszt program also includes works by
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
Nanaimo News Bulletin
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Humble origins for music group Hot on the world music scene and winners of several awards, H’Sao combines African rhythms with gospel, jazz, soul, pop and R&B. Rooted in their home country Chad and now living in Montreal, the six-member band of siblings Caleb, Mossbass, Israel, and Taroum Rimtobaye along with childhood friends and brothers Charles and Service Ledjebgue, travelled internationally and performed on national stages, gifting their audience with masterful a cappella singing and contagious energy. With powerful voices and original compositions which include some unique dance moves, H’Sao also portrays humanity’s truth and struggles in a type of musical activism. The elaborate vocal harmonies that are H’Sao’s hallmark reflect the sextet’s humble origins. At first only Caleb could afford an instrument and his guitar frequently lacked strings. “When we got together to make music,
Quickfacts H’SAO performs at the Port Theatre Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.
often all we had was our voices, and objects that we tapped for percussion, so we worked with these resources,” he said. “It’s only really when we started touring overseas, first to Europe and then to Canada, that each of us acquired an instrument to play.” The group chose the name H’Sao for two reasons – H for hirondelle (swallow) in honour of birds searching for higher ground and Sao to honour the ancestors of the people of Chad. H’Sao performs Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $28; $24/members; $15/students; $5/ eyeGO. The show is a partnership with the Nanaimo African Heritage Society.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Jazz spirit World-class chamber musicians perform some of the best music of the roaring ’20s. James Campbell, Mark Fewer, Guy Few, James McKay, John Novacek and Chloe Dominguez perform March 13, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $35; $31/members; $15/students; $5/eyeGO.
Trio pushes boundaries of chamber music A true Canadian treasure in the world of chamber music, the Gryphon Trio will be performing at The Port Theatre Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Formed in 1993, this Juno award winning ensemble continues to delight audiences around the globe with their highly refined and dynamic performances. Based in Toronto, the trio tours regularly throughout Canada, the United States and Europe. Strongly dedicated to pushing the boundaries of chamber music, they have collaborated on special projects with clarinetist James Campbell, actor Colin Fox, choreographer David Earle, and a host of jazz luminaries at Toronto’s Lula Lounge. For their performance at The Port Theatre, the trio will perform Beethoven’s
Op. 11 in B Flat Major, one of the piano trios from their latest album. In addition, they will perform Brahms’ monumental trio, Op. 8, No. 1 in B Major. To round off the program, they will also feature works by Steven Gellman and Astor Piazzolla. The Gryphon Trio eagerly awaits their return to the islands. Having performed on numerous occasions from Victoria to Campbell River and many points in between over the course of the trio’s career, musicians Annalee, Roman and Jamie are easily at home amongst the audiences in this vibrant arts community. Tickets $35; $31/members; $15/students. The show qualifies for the eyeGO program. Please call 250-754-8550 or visit www.porttheatre.com.
Smoke R
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