Featuring the UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE & Members of the VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA SEPTEMBER 12 & 13, 2022 OPERA & ARIAS: A Celebration!
Gilda
UBC Opera Ensemble Chorus
Alyssa Nicole Samson
Ming-Xuan Chung
Flora Alexandra Baird
Leonora
CARMEN – Georges Bizet
SEPTEMBER 13, 7:30pm SEPTEMBER 13, 2pm
Duet: “Quel vecchio maledivami”
Maddalena Holly Duerichen
SEPTEMBER 12, 7:30pm
“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” Don José Ian McCloy Ian McCloy
Magdalena How Rachel Buttress
Marchese Jason Somerville Liam Robertson
Rigoletto Neil Craighead Neil Craighead
Alessandra Ianni
Gastone Kevin Liu
Leila Kirves
Rigoletto Neil Craighead Neil Craighead Sparafucile Philip Wing Liam Robertson
Alfredo Gabriel Chona Rueda Wanshuai Yu
“Je dis que rien ne m’epouvante” Micaëla Catherine Thornsley Catherine Thornsley
“Pari siamo’’
RIGOLETTO – Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto Neil Craighead Neil Craighead Count Wanshuai Yu Ian McCloy
Habañera: “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”
Barone Denis Petrov Pablo Romero Moreira Dottore Philip Wing Philip Wing
“Pace, Pace”
Emma Jang
UBC Opera Ensemble, directed by Nancy Hermiston Members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, led by Maestro Leslie Dala With Bard’s Artistic Director Christopher Gaze
UBC Opera Ensemble Chorus
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO – Giuseppe Verdi
A Celebration!
Violetta Mariana Iguavita
“Libiamo”
SEPTEMBER 12, 2pm
LA TRAVIATA — Giuseppe Verdi
Carmen Alyssa Nicole Samson Alyssa Nicole Samson
Quartet: “Bella figlia dell’amore”
Leila Kirves
Giuletta
Champagne Trio
“Les oiseaux dans la charmille”
Giuletta finale
Alessandra Ianni Katie Fraser Adele Kenda McDermott Hannah Ernst Eisenstein Kevin Sohn Gabriel Chona Rueda
Intermission
Orlofsky
Orlofsky
Alessandra Ianni
Olympia Emma Petersen Melland Magdalena How Spalanzani Ming-Xuan Chung Kevin Sohn Cochenille Xiang Li Kevin Liu Hoffmann Wanshuai Yu Ian McCloy Nicklaus Alexandra Baird Holly Duerichen UBC Opera Ensemble ChorusGIUSEPPE VERDI — Rigoletto
Dapertutto Zachary Martin Yuhui Wang Schlemel Jason Somerville Liam Robertson Pitichinaccio Ming-Xuan Chung Kevin Sohn
“Brüderlein und Schwesterlein, Du und Du”
Katie Fraser Rosalinde Christina Demeo Carly King Eisenstein Kevin Sohn Gabriel Chona Rueda Falke Zachary Martin Yuhui Wang
Rosalinde
Ida Melanie Hiepler Olivia Rapos UBC Opera Ensemble Chorus
Sarah Anderson-Caulfield Rachel Buttress Eisenstein Kevin Sohn Gabriel Chona Rueda Falke Zachary Martin Yuhui Wang
Adele Kenda McDermott Hannah Ernst Frank Liam Robertson Philip Wing
SEPTEMBER 12, 7:30pm SEPTEMBER 13, 7:30pm SEPTEMBER 13, 2pm
SEPTEMBER 12, 2pm
LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN – Jacques Offenbach
Giulietta Mara Ayque Leila Kirves Nicklaus Kathleen Isaza Katie Fraser
DIE FLEDERMAUS – Johann Strauss
Cszárdás: “Klange der Heimat”
“Belle Nuit’’
Mara Ayque Leila Kirves Hoffmann Wanshuai Yu Ian McCloy Nicklaus Alexandra Baird Katie Fraser
DIE LUSTIGE WITWE — Franz Lehár
Tenor: Zhilun Liu, Gabriel Chona Rueda, Ian McCloy, Jing Jiang, Kevin Liu, Kevin Sohn, Ming-Xuan Chung, Wanshuai Yu, Xiang Li
DAS LAND DES LÄCHELNS — Franz Lehár
“Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” Prince Sou-Chong Jing Jang
Hanna Glawari Christina Demeo Catherine Thornsley Danilo Zachary Martin
“Ja, wir sind es die Grisetten”
UBC Opera Ensemble Chorus
Hanna Glawari Sarah Anderson-Caulfield Catherine Thornsley UBC Opera Ensemble Chorus
SEPTEMBER 12, 7:30pm
SEPTEMBER 13, 7:30pm
SEPTEMBER 12, 2pm
“Vilja”
Ian McCloy
Ian McCloy
UBC Opera Ensemble
Mezzo-soprano: Adriana Zaharijevic, Alessandra Ianni, Alexandra Baird, Alyssa Nicole Samson, Holly Duerichen, Kathleen Isaza, Katie Fraser, Mara Ayque, Rebekah Leon, Sarah Anderson-Caulfield, Saba Taghiakbari
Dodo Emma Petersen Melland Emma Petersen Melland Jou Jou Olivia Rapos Olivia Rapos Frou Frou Rachel Buttress Rachel Buttress Clo Clo Alexandra Baird Alexandra Baird Margot Holly Duerichen Holly Duerichen Valencienne Katie Fraser Katie Fraser Njegus Christopher Gaze Christopher Gaze
Lolo Emma Jang Emma Jang
Soprano: Caelan Prescott, Carly King, Christina Demeo, Claire Bidulka, Emma Jang, Emma Petersen Melland, Hannah Ernst, Kenda McDermott, Kendra Baldwin, Magdalena How, Mariana Iguavita, Melanie Hiepler, Olivia Rapos, Rachel Buttress, Skye Wilkinson
Baritone/Bass: Denis Petrov, Hans Grunwald, Jason Somerville, Liam Robertson, Matthew Gorlitz, Neil Craighead, Pablo Romero Moreira, Philip Wing, Rafael Laurindo, Zachary Martin
SEPTEMBER 13, 2pm
“Lippen Schweigen”
Programme and performers subject to change. Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices. The use of cameras or recording devices in the theatre during the performance is strictly prohibited.
UBC Alumnus Leslie Dala is the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Associate Conductor and Chorus Director of Vancouver Opera, and the Music Director Emeritus of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. He has worked at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Canadian Opera Company, Carnegie Hall, the Santa Fe Opera, l’Opera National du Rhin, the Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland, Tapestry Opera, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Saskatoon Opera, the University of Toronto Opera Department, the Glenn Gould School Opera program and he is a frequent guest conductor with the UBC Opera Ensemble, the COSI Program in Sulmona Italy and Soundstreams Canada. He has conducted a wide range of repertoire including world premieres: The River of Light, an oratorio by Brian Current; The Overcoat, an opera by James Rolfe and Morris Panych co produced by Vancouver Opera, Tapestry Opera and Canadian Stage Theatre; Stickboy, an opera by Neil Weisensel and Shane Koyczan produced by Vancouver Opera. He has conducted twelve productions for Vancouver Opera including La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, Le Nozze di Figaro and West Side Story. He has also conducted twelve productions with UBC Opera and 16 summers of Opera and Arias with UBC Opera and Bard on the Beach. During the Covid-19 lockdown, Les returned to his first love, the piano, and recorded the complete Etudes of Philip Glass which is available on the Redshift label and on all of the major streaming platforms. www.lesliedala.com
Canadian-born lyric coloratura soprano Nancy Hermiston has performed throughout Europe and North America. Parallel to her extensive singing career, Ms. Hermiston worked as a voice teacher, stage director, and Co-coordinator with the University of Toronto’s Opera and Performance Divisions. In 1995, she joined the University of British Columbia’s School of Music as the Head of the Voice and Opera Divisions, where she established the UBC Opera Ensemble. Professor Hermiston is also a favourite guest for master classes throughout Canada, the United States, China, and Germany. Her UBC Opera Ensemble tours regularly to the Czech Republic, Germany, Ontario, and throughout British Columbia. The Opera Ensemble gave their first performances in Beijing and Chengdu in May of 2009 and Shanghai in 2010 and 2011. Ms. Hermiston appeared as Stage Director with the Regina Opera for The Barber of Seville and La Cenerentola and with the Vancouver Opera twice for Die Fledermaus, La Traviata, La Bohème and in 2016, directed their production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, starring UBC Alumna and her former student, Simone Osborne. In 2004, Professor Hermiston was named the UBC University Marshal, and in 2008, UBC awarded her the Dorothy Somerset Award for Performance and Development in the Visual and Performing Arts. She was also honoured with a Killam Teaching prize in 2010. In October 2011, she received an Opera Canada Rubie Award for her contributions to opera in Canada. Ms. Hermiston was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in December 2013. In 2017, she was awarded the Canadian Music Centre’s BC Award of Excellence, and in November 2017, Alumni UBC recognized Professor Hermiston with the Honorary Alumnus Award. In 2018, she received the Faculty of Arts 2017/18 Dean of Arts Award for her outstanding contributions to UBC’s creative research, teaching, and service to the scholarly and broader community. In 2018 Ms. Hermiston was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.
LESLIE DALA Conductor
NANCY HERMISTON, O.C. Director
His many honours include Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal, Honorary Doctorates from UBC & SFU, the Mayor’s Arts Award for Theatre and the Order of British Columbia. –Night’s Sarah Roa (Puck)
Christopher plays a leading role in British Columbia as an advocate for the arts in general, and his passionate dedication to Bard has fueled its growth into one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in North America, drawing close to two million patrons since its inception in 1990.
Photo: Emily Cooper
SEASONENDSSEPT24 –BOOK NOW! Season Sponsor SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL HOWARD FAMILY STAGEMAINSTAGE ROMEOJULIETANDA NIGHT’SMIDSUMMERDREAM
Lighting Designer TICKETS FROM $27 604-739-0559 | bardonthebeach.org SponsorsMediaSponsorProduction A Midsummer
Dream
CHRISTOPHER GAZE, O.B.C., Host
BARD CREDITS Amir Ofek – Set Designer Gerald King
Christopher is best known as the Founding Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. He hosts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s popular Tea & Trumpets series and has hosted the VSO’s annual traditional Christmas concerts for the past three decades.
VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA
SPECIAL THANKS
VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA
Angela Cavadas, Violin 1 Rebecca Ruthven, Violin 2 Tawnya Popoff, Viola Rebecca Wenham, Cello Michael Vaughan, Bass Brenda Fedoruk, Flute Michelle Feng, Oboe Christopher Lee, Clarinet Ingrid Chiang, Bassoon Laurel Spencer, French Horn Wenwen Du, Principal Keyboard Jim Littleford, Orchestra Manager
UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE
PRODUCTION TEAM
The Vancouver Opera Orchestra was established in 1977, replacing an orchestra made up of members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Comprised of the region’s leading freelance players, the VO Orchestra has developed into a fine ensemble that has taken the specialized and demanding art of pit performance to a very high level. Several of the current roster of musicians were in the pit for the orchestra’s inaugural performances, in 1977, of Massenet’s Le Roi de Lahore, starring Joan Sutherland and conducted by founding Music Director Richard Bonynge. There have since been two music directors: David Agler (1992–1999) and Jonathan Darlington (2002–2019).
Musical Preparation of UBC Opera Ensemble: Andrea Grant, Wenwen Du, Derek Hair/Wigs:StanyerElke
The David Spencer Endowment; Mr. Robert Dales; Judith Forst, O.C., O.B.C.; Vancouver Opera; Christopher Gaze and the Bard on the Beach Team
Technical Director: Keith Smith UBC Tech Crew: Liam Robertson, Gabriel Chona Rueda, Pablo Ramiro, Kevin Wardrobe:SohnBrittany St. Clair Gamble, Hannah Ernst, Carly King Office Assistant: Katie Fraser
The University of British Columbia Opera Ensemble was founded by Canadian lyric coloratura, Nancy Hermiston, in 1995. Beginning with a core of seven performers, Ms. Hermiston has built the program to a 90-member company. The Ensemble performs three main productions at UBC every season, several Opera Tea Concerts, and a series of Singer Behind the Song events featuring international stars who work with Ensemble students. As well, the Ensemble has several engagements with local community partners such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera, and Bard on the Beach. Past main-stage productions have included Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Suor Angelica, La Bohème, Dido and Aeneas, The Bartered Bride, Manon, Eugene Onegin, Florence: the Lady with the Lamp, Dreamhealer, Falstaff, Don Giovanni, Cendrillon, Albert Herring, the Western Canadian Premiere of Harry Somer’s Louis Riel, The Crucible, Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), Rusalka, Così fan tutte, Dialogues des Carmélites, Carmen, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Florentine Straw Hat, La Traviata, A Night in Venice (Eine Nacht in Venedig), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Consul, Orfeo ed Euridice, La Cenerentola, Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi, Silent Night, Pasażerka, Il Viaggio a Reims, Mansfield Park, and The Gondoliers.
Englicht
UBC Opera 2022/2023 SEASON Additional information on our full season can found at ubcopera.com GIACOMO PUCCINI TOSCA NOVEMBER 26, 2022 — 7:30 P.M. NINO ROTA THE FLORENTINE STRAW HAT FEBRUARY 2, 3, 4, 2023 — 7:30 P.M. FEBRUARY 5, 2023 — 2:00 P.M. ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK HANSEL AND GRETEL DECEMBER 8, 9, 10, 2022 — 7:30 P.M. DECEMBER 11, 2022 — 2:00 P.M. OTTO NICOLAI THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR MARCH 24, 25, 2023 — 7:30 P.M. MARCH 26, APRIL 1, 2023 — 2:00 P.M.
