W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
HMS PINAFORE APR 30–MAY 8
2021–2022 SEASON Tom Wright, General Director
HMS PINAFORE
Jonathan Darlington, Music Director Emeritus
VO Ticket Centre Sponsored by Mission Hill Family Estate T: 604 683 0222 tickets@vancouveropera.ca www.vancouveropera.ca
Vancouver Opera acknowledges that we work and perform on the unceded and traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
CA NADA’ S O NL Y 5 - TI ME WIN N ER OF WI NE R Y O5-TIME F THE Y EW AR CA NADA’S ONLY I N N ER O F
WINERY OF T HE YEA R
Since 1981, Mission Hill Family Estate has pioneered British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley as a premium wine making region. Founded by Proprietor Anthony von Mandl, the iconic family-owned winery is known as Canada’s only 5-time winner of the Winery of the Year Award by WineAlign Canada. Guests Since 1981, Mission Hill Family Estate has pioneered British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley as a premium can experience international award-wining wines and indulge in an epicurean adventure all while wine making region. Founded by Proprietor Anthony von Mandl, the iconic family-owned winery is enjoying the panoramic views of mountains, lakes, and vineyards.
known as Canada’s only 5-time winner of the Winery of the Year Award by WineAlign Canada. Guests can experience international award-wining wines and indulge in an epicurean adventure all while enjoying views mountains, and M the I Spanoramic SIONH I L of LW I N E Rlakes, Y.C Ovineyards. M
MISSIONHILLWINERY.COM
Vancouver Opera is a professional company. It operates under the jurisdiction of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, Vancouver Musicians’ Association, and IATSE, and is a member of OPERA America and the Association for Opera in Canada.
COVER: CURT OLDS AND EMILY PULLEY IN HMS PINAFORE. PHOTO BY ARI DENISON, COURTESY OF EUGENE OPERA. SEASON ARTWORK BY CIELE BEAU.
7
Cast & Creative Team
8
Synopsis
11
Notes from the Conductor
13
Notes from the Director
14
Biographies
26
Orchestra
27
Chorus & Production
28
VO Board & Staff
WELCOME TO HMS PINAFORE
Supporting the arts, locally.
It is with much enthusiasm that we welcome you to this production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. We are excited to welcome back stage director Brenna Corner and soprano Caitlin Wood, who were among the earliest members of our Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program. We have watched them go on to direct and sing in productions around the globe and are thrilled to have them back on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage. This production of HMS Pinafore will delight fans of traditional Gilbert & Sullivan operetta but may also surprise you with some of its updates. This opera has a history of being adapted and altered to reflect the current issues of the day and our version promises to entertain and make you laugh. Very soon, some of you will be receiving your subscription renewal packages in the mail. While we have had an unusual couple of years, we believe we have curated a season that will excite and please our past subscribers. Subscriptions have always been the backbone of our company and we want to thank you for your ongoing support. We hope to see you back at the theatre again soon.
At BMO, we take pride in our local art communities. That’s why through various sponsorships and community involvement we are committed to helping. BMO is proud to support Vancouver Opera as the 2021-2022 Season Sponsor.
Sincerely,
Tom Wright, General Director
Richard Rees, Board Chair 5
HMS PINAFORE
CAST IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE
or The Lass That Loved a Sailor
Dick Deadeye Marcus Nance
Captain Corcoran Jorell Williams
Buttercup Megan Latham
Josephine, the Captain’s daughter Caitlin Wood
Bill Bobstay, Boatswain Luka Kawabata
The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter KCB Peter McGillivray
Ralph Rackstraw, Foremost hand Ernesto Ramirez
Cousin Hebe Hillary Tufford
Operetta in Two Acts Composed by Arthur Sullivan Libretto by W.S. Gilbert Libretto Adaptation by JD Derbyshire with Brenna Corner
Bob Becket, Carpenter’s mate Jason Cook With the Vancouver Opera Chorus as First Lord’s Sisters, Cousins, Aunts, Sailors and Marines and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
Conductor Rosemary Thomson
Director Brenna Corner
Assistant Director & Choreographer Amanda Testini
Libretto Adaptation JD Derbyshire
Women in Musical Leadership Conductor Juliane Gallant
The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes, with one intermission. In English with English SurTitles™ First performed at Opera Comique, London, 25 May 1878. Vancouver Opera Premiere. Sets and Properties Courtesy of Eugene Opera. Costumes Built by Vancouver Opera Costume Shop. Thank you Cissors Tailor Shop, Arts Club Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach. 6
Associate Conductor & Chorus Director Leslie Dala
| HMS PINAFORE
Musical Preperation Tina Chang Amy Seulky Lee Scenic Consultant Jimmy Rotondo Principal Répétiteur Tina Chang Lighting Designer Chris Malkowski
Assistant Lighting Designer Echo Zhou Sound Designer Brad Danyluk Costume Designer Alaia Hamer Stage Manager Theresa Tsang Assistant Stage Managers Michelle Harrison Tamara Vuckovic English SurTitles™ Sarah Jane Pelzer
7
SYNOPSIS
H.M.S. Pinafore is a British warship anchored at Portsmouth harbour. Little Buttercup arrives to sell her wares to the sailors. Her vending is interrupted by the arrival of Ralph Rackstraw, a deckhand onboard the ship, who confesses that he is in love with a girl who is far above his social status: Josephine, the captain’s daughter who is supposed to marry Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty. Josephine tells her father she isn’t interested in marrying this man that she has never met. In fact, she has her eye on a cut deckhand, but out of respect for her position and her father she vows to never reveal her secret love. 8
| HMS PINAFORE
Sir Joseph is spotted with an entourage of female relatives and reveals to the crew his masterful thoughts about the social ranks. Ralph takes courage from Sir Joseph’s equality speech and confesses his love to Josephine. Josephine, staying true to the vow she made to her father, spurns his advances due to the difference in their social statuses. Eventually Josephine relents and confesses her love, and the couple plan their escape and possible elopement that very night. That evening, the captain is alone on deck, puzzling through the strange events of the day. He confesses to Buttercup that he would love her if only it were not for the difference in social statuses. Later, Dick Deadeye, another sailor aboard the ship (who incidentally has been working on a nautical children’s play), reveals to the Captain that Ralph and Josephine are planning to elope. The captain intercepts the couple, and in frustration breaks his vow never to swear.
Sir Joseph, who cannot abide by such language, has the captain arrested. He then discovers Ralph was about to run off with Josephine and has him arrested as well. In response, Buttercup reveals her long-kept secret: many years ago, while taking care of two infant boys, one high-born, one low-born, she mixed the children up. The captain was the common-born child, and Ralph the child of privilege! Ralph is the one of higher social rank and can choose to marry Josephine. The captain, being common-born, has no social standing over Buttercup and can marry her. Hebe, who has been admiring Dick Deadeye throughout the day, decides to make a go of it with him, and Sir Joseph decides that his own cousin (several times removed), would make a suitable wife and a celebration of the four couples ensues.
9
NOTES FROM THE CONDUCTOR Rosemary Thomson
SOUND TO COLOUR: AN EXPLORATION OF SYNESTHESIA, THROUGH PAINTING, BY CIELE BEAU. Artist Ciele Beau translates sheet music into colour, using her synesthetic responses to a piece of music. When Ciele hears music and tone she sees and feels colour. What you’re seeing is a piece of music translated into colour and in musical time. Synesthesia is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway in the brain leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.
HMS Pinafore | Aria: “I’m Called Little Buttercup” | Vocal melody translated: Buttercup
I am thrilled to be making my Vancouver Opera debut, at the musical helm of HMS Pinafore in this new adaptation, imaginatively conceived by JD Derbyshire and director Brenna Corner. The brilliance of Sirs Gilbert & Sullivan lay in their ability to bring the beauty of opera to the stage, while simultaneously cloaking it in irreverence. They were writing for their own time and place and, I believe, would encourage productions of their works to find ways to resonate for today’s audience. Arthur Sullivan’s music is timeless. He had an uncanny ability to imagine music to fit any lyric, whether a heartfelt aria or a
comedic patter song and his work flies effortlessly off the page. There is a lot of joyful energy expressed as the cast and creative team bring this show to life and it is very much a team effort. Ultimately, opera as an art form is all about musical storytelling, which Gilbert & Sullivan understood intrinsically. This production stays true to the essence of the story while adapting elements for our specific time and place. HMS Pinafore has it all: fun characters, glorious music, and unexpected surprises—all the ingredients for a joyous breathing space from our topsy turvy-world. 11
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR Brenna Corner
I am so excited to be returning to Vancouver with this new adaptation of HMS Pinafore. When the works of Gilbert & Sullivan were first produced, they were so relatable and enjoyable for the audiences, poking fun at the institutions and ridiculousness of British society.Through the years, our society has shifted, as have our ideals and our ridiculousness, but the charm and delightful nature of G&S have stayed the same. This new adaptation marries the original comedic genius with our more modern outlook on some PHOTO BY ARI DENISON, COURTESY OF EUGENE OPERA.
themes. We worked to keep the charm and gaiety of the piece ever present, while sprinkling in some modern references and swapping out some less pertinent text. I am thrilled to have had the collaboration of JD Derbyshire the genius behind our up-to-date comedic outlook, along with Maestro Rosemary Thomson and the rest of the creative team for this re-creation of such a musical gem. I personally believe that (as the song goes) as of now “this should be its customary attitude”. 13
BIOGRAPHIES
14
ROSEMARY THOMSON Conductor VO debut Rosemary is In her 15th season as Musical Director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra; she started her tenure as Artistic Director of Opera Kelowna in 2020. She is equally comfortable at home conducting opera, symphony, choral, and contemporary music as she is guest conducting across the country. She lives in Kelowna with her children and husband, Dan, who willingly attends the opera with her in exchange for company at CFL games.
JD DERBYSHIRE Libretto Adaptation VO debut JD Derbyshire is a writer, comedian, mad activist, performer, playwright, theatre maker, director, inclusive educator, and innovator. JD’s work involves solo shows, community and artist collaboration, traditional writing, experimental storytelling, audio, digital interactions, event creation, participatory experiences, co-design, and stand-up comedy.
BRENNA CORNER Director Last at VO: Carmen: Up Close and Personal Brenna Corner is an opera director who has worked across North America and Europe. Recent directing projects include Don Giovanni (Seattle Opera); Sweeney Todd (New Orleans Opera); Der fliegende Höllander (Houston Grand Opera & Cincinnati Opera). Upcoming productions include Il Trovatore (Washington National Opera); Don Giovanni (North Carolina Opera); and Tenor Overboard (Glimmerglass Opera). Brenna Corner is also the Artistic Director of Manitoba Underground Opera.
JASON COOK, BARITONE Bob Becket, Carpenter’s mate Last at VO: Amahl and the Night Visitors Vancouver-born baritone and UBC music graduate, Jason Cook, is honoured to be making art with Vancouver Opera again. Some performance credits include King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors (VO), Marco in Gianni Schicchi (Pacific Opera Victoria), and Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia (Burnaby Lyric Opera). Following the world premiere of Beauty’s Beast (East Van Opera), Schmopera wrote, “vocally, [he] is a force of nature”.
AMANDA TESTINI Assistant Director & Choreographer Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Amanda Testini (she/her) is a performer, choreographer, director, and educator based on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. She has worked for organizations such as the Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, the Cultch, Theatre Replacement, the Firehall, Vancouver Opera, Savage Society, VACT, and Axis. Amanda is a Jessie Award nominee and a graduate of Studio 58.
LUKA KAWABATA, BARITONE Bill Bobstay, Boatswain Last at VO: Carmen: Up Close and Personal Nikkei-Canadian baritone Luka Kawabata returns to the Yulanda M Faris Young Artist’s Program for Vancouver Opera’s 2021–2022 season. This year, Luka will also make two company debuts as Schaunard in La Bohème (Edmonton Opera) and Escamillo in Carmen (Saskatoon Opera). He is an alumnus of the ‘Digital Emerging Artist Program’ with Manitoba Opera and ‘Opera in the 21st Century’ program at the Banff Centre.
| HMS PINAFORE
15
BIOGRAPHIES
16
MEGAN LATHAM, MEZZO-SOPRANO Buttercup Last at VO: Eugene Onegin Mezzo-soprano Megan Latham is equally comfortable on the operatic stage and in the concert hall. Nicknamed “Canada’s Digital Opera Queen”, Megan premiered many digital productions to much acclaim over the past two years. Some highlights of her most recent season include the Canadian Opera Company’s Gianni Schicchi (digital), Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Victoria Symphony, and Hoiby’s Bon Appetit!/The Italian Lesson (in-person) for Pacific Opera Victoria.
ERNESTO RAMIREZ, TENOR Ralph Rackstraw, Foremost hand VO debut Mexican/Canadian tenor Ernesto Ramírez is garnering rave reviews for his distinctive Italianate sound and “wonderfully fluid line and brilliant high notes”, combined with his “suave, nuanced lyricism”. Ernesto debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Mexico’s Opera de Leon, Rodolfo in La bohème with Pacific Northwest Opera, and sang his first Don Jose with Opera Kelowna’s Carmen. In 2022, Ernesto stars as Don Jose in concert performances of Carmen with Orchestre Classique de Montréal.
PETER MCGILLIVRAY, BARITONE The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter K.C.B Last at VO: La Cenerentola Saskatchewan-born baritone Peter McGillivray is an alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company ensemble, the Tanglewood Festival, and a prize winner at the Eckhardt-Gramaté, Lotte Lenya, Montréal International, and Queen Sonja competitions. Recent projects on the opera stage include, La bohéme (Calgary Opera), Le Nozze di Figaro (Edmonton Opera), Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera), and La Cenerentola (Vancouver Opera).
HILLARY TUFFORD, MEZZO-SOPRANO Cousin Hebe Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Hillary is a recipient of a Jeunesse Ambassadeurs Lyriques bursary and an RBC Emerging Artist Project Grant. A finalist in the Mozart Project Competition, she was part of Tapestry Opera’s Dora Award-winning ensemble (Oksana G). Hillary has performed roles such as Ramiro (La finta giardiniera), Clara (The Light in the Piazza), and Despina (Così fan tutte); and with the Magisterra Soloists Chamber Group.
MARCUS NANCE, BASS-BARITONE Dick Deadeye VO debut Hailed as “thrillingly powerful” by the New York Times, bass-baritone Marcus Nance masterfully straddles the worlds of opera and musical theatre. Recent engagements include Sondheim’s Follies at Koerner Hall and Why We Tell the Story, a Stratford Festival cabaret, which Marcus directed and curated. Other highlights include Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway and his acclaimed performance in Egoyan’s Elsewhere with Tapestry Opera.
JORELL WILLIAMS, LYRIC-BARITONE Captain Corcoran VO debut Jorell Williams is a lyric-baritone with a variety of experience from standard repertoire to premiere pieces. Career highlights include the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater’s critically acclaimed co-production of Intimate Apparel, the US / UK tour of Wynton Marsalis’ Abyssinian Mass with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the title role of Don Giovanni with Opera Columbus, and Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Seattle Opera.
| HMS PINAFORE
17
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Sarah Roa (Puck) Photo: Emily Cooper
BOOK EARLY FOR BEST SEATS!
S HAKESPEARE
F E S T I VA L
J U N E 8 to S E P T E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 2 2 Season Sponsor
Full Season details at bardonthebeach.org
Production Sponsors
Media Sponsors
WIN!
YOUR CHOICE OF A 2022 A4 40 2.0T KOMFORT QUATTRO 7SP S TRONIC OR $56,413!
PLUS 50/50 BONUS DRAWS
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
VANCOUVER OPERA LOTTERIES
Audi Lottery: Chances are 1 in 5,500 (total tickets for sale) to win a grand prize! BC Gaming Event Licence #: 132263 50/50 Lottery: Chances are 1 in 7,500 (total tickets for sale) to win a grand prize! BC Gaming Event Licence #: 132264 Problem Gambling helpline: 1-888-795-6111
www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca
Know your limit, play within it. 19+ to play!
BIOGRAPHIES CAITLIN WOOD, SOPRANO Josephine, the Captain’s daughter Last at VO: The Overcoat Alberta-born soprano Caitlin Wood was “absolutely vibrant” and showed “great comic flair” in her debut as Susanna in Vancouver Opera Festival’s The Marriage of Figaro. Caitlin portrayed Ava in City Opera Vancouver’s world premiere of Missing, showing “exquisite vulnerability”. Caitlin’s 2021/22 season includes Despina in Edmonton Opera’s Cosi fan Tutte and The Housewife in the world premiere of Gould’s Wall with Tapestry Opera.
TINA CHANG Principal Répétiteur Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Described as a “scintillating player”, pianist and coach Tina Chang is on the music staff at Vancouver Opera. Based in Vancouver, she has been involved with various musical organizations in town: Chor Leoni, Sound the Alarm Music Theatre, re:Naissance Opera, and Health Arts Society. She is currently adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, and on faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
IAN CLEARY, TENOR Understudy Ralph Last at VO: Carmen: Up Close and Personal Tenor Ian Cleary completed an Opera Diploma at the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Music from Wilfred Laurier University. Ian has performed Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Armoured Guard in Die Zauberflöte with the UBC Opera Ensemble; Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Schoolmaster in Cunning Little Vixen with Opera Laurier; Judge Roan in Parade, and Giuseppe in The Gondoliers with Opera Nuova. 19
BIOGRAPHIES LESLIE DALA Associate Conductor & Chorus Director Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Conductor and pianist Leslie Dala is VO’s Associate Conductor and Chorus Director, the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir, and the Music Director Emeritus of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted in France, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, China, and Taiwan, and recently made his debut at Carnegie Hall. In 2021 he released the Complete Piano Etudes of Philip Glass for the Redshift label.
Proud to support Vancouver Opera.
We are working together with Vancouver Opera. It’s just one way we are helping to open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.
td.com ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
VANCOUVER OPERA GUILD ESCORTED TOURS NORTHERN ITALY & SICILY MILAN-PARMA-CATANIA-PALERMO
M05636 (1019)
BRAD DANYLUK Sound Designer VO debut Brad is a Vancouver-based sound engineer who specializes in musical theatre sound design, and acoustic music recording and mixing. His design credits include productions for Theatre Replacement, Patrick Street Productions, Arts Club, Gateway Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Royal Manitoba Theatre, and others. He also works as a sound system design consultant.
OCTOBER 12 – 24, 2022
• Verdi Festival, Parma (5 nights) • Catania, Sicily (3 nights) • Palermo, Sicily (3 nights) • Optional extension to Milan and Giordano’s Fedora at La Scala Plus sightseeing tours to Cremona, Busseto, Bologna & Agrigento For more information, call Genny MacLean (Great Expeditions) at 604-738-5535 or visit vancouveroperaguild.com
20
| HMS PINAFORE
JULIANE GALLANT Women in Musical Leadership Conductor VO debut Conductor Juliane Gallant is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio in London, UK. She has led productions for HGO, King’s Head Theatre, Opera on Location, St Paul’s Opera, Opera Up Close, Opera Mio, and Clapham Opera Festival, and in 2021, made her Royal Opera House debut in Mami Wata as part of the Engender Festival. 21
JOIN THE CREW AND HELP US SAIL Donate today, and your gift will be matched, up to $10,000, by the generosity of the McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund.
604 682 2871
OPERA SUMMER CAMPS Summer camps are back in session at Vancouver Opera… JUNIOR CAMP TEEN CAMP
July 4–8, 2022 July 11–17, 20022
Each camp concludes with a public performance at our Deer Lake summer opera event! To register, and for more info, visit
bit.ly/vosummerc
BIOGRAPHIES ALAIA HAMMER Costume Designer Last at VO: Carmen: Up Close and Personal Alaia Hamer is a theatre designer and artist located in Vancouver, BC. Recent projects include costume design on Carmen: Up Close and Personal (VO); Beneath Springhill, The Birds and the Bees, assistant costume design for Sweat, The Humans (Arts Club); assistant costume for Coriolanus, Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth (Bard on the Beach). Alaia is a graduate of the UBC Theatre Design program in 2017 and holds an English literature degree from 2012.
MICHELLE HARRISON Assistant Stage Manager Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Michelle has worked in stage management with Pacific Opera Victoria and Vancouver Opera on such operas as For a Look or a Touch, The Barber of Seville, and the Canadian premiere of The Music Shop. Theatre credits include Peter and the Starcatcher (Arts Club) and the Jessie Award-winning production of Whose Life Is It Anyway? (Realwheels). She is a graduate of UBC.
CHRIS MALKOWSKI Lighting Designer Last at VO: Orfeo ed Euridice Chris Malkowski is a professional lighting designer based in Toronto, Canada. He designs lighting for dance, drama, opera, musical theatre, and live events across Canada and internationally. Selected Lighting Designer credits include AF (Canadian Stage/Red Sky Performance 2020), The Black Drum (Soulpepper/Deaf Culture Centre 2019), and Pass Over (Obisdian Theatre/Buddies in Bad Times 2019). Chris is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. 23
BIOGRAPHIES
24
JAMES F. ROTONDO III Scenic Consultant VO debut James is a scenic designer based in Boston. Recent work includes a workshop production of the new musical Fountain of You (Zeiders American Dream Theater) and the world premiere opera film The Knock (Glimmerglass Festival). Upcoming work includes three world premiere musicals and operas: Holy Ground (performed with Taking Up Serpents), Jungle Book at the Glimmerglass Festival, and Make Way for Ducklings at Wheelock Family Theatre.
THERESA TSANG Stage Manager Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert In addition to her over 20 seasons with Vancouver Opera, Theresa is a member of the stage management teams for Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland and Garsington Opera in the UK. She has also been a long-time Faculty Stage Manager for the opera programmes at the Banff Centre, a guest lecturer for UBC’s Theatre Department, and guest stage manager for UBC’s opera department.
AMY SEULKY LEE Musical Preparation Last at VO: Cavellaria Rusticana in Concert Amy Seulky Lee holds a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of British Columbia. Amy made her debut with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra in 2010 and has since performed in concerts across Canada, the United States, South Korea, and Italy. She served as music director for Summer Opera Lyric Theatre and Malfi Productions.
TAMARA VUCKOVIC Assistant Stage Manager Last at VO: Dead Man Walking Tamara is a Toronto-based Stage Manager, Director, and Producer in both theatre and opera. Her work has taken her across Canada, from Toronto to Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, London, and Halifax, and to the US and overseas. This is her second production with VO. Tamara is the Managing Producer and Resident Stage Manager of the indie theatre company ARC, and the stage manager of the opera performance company Off Centre Music Salon.
JONELLE SILLS, SOPRANO Understudy Josephine Last at VO: Carmen: Up Close and Personal Jonelle Sills is a Dora Award winner for Outstanding Performance of an Ensemble in Vivier’s Kopernikus with Against the Grain Theatre. Jonelle has an Artist Diploma in Voice Performance/Opera from the Glenn Gould School and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Specialized Honours in Music from York University. Past highlights include her Canadian tour as Mimì in La Bohème with Against the Grain Theatre; and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus.
ECHO ZHOU Assistant Lighting Designer VO debut Echo is a Chinese immigrant, Tkaronto-based scenographer. She has designed for Buddies in Bad Times, Theatre Passe Muraille, Thousand Island Playhouse, Tarragon Theatre, The Theatre Centre, etc. Her design works have also been presented in Canada and Asia. Favourite works include White Girls in Moccasins (Manidoons Collective), Serving Elizabeth (Thousand Island Playhouse), Mr.Shi and His Lover (Music Picnic). | For Grandpa.
| HMS PINAFORE
25
HMS PINAFORE ORCHESTRA Flute Brenda Fedoruk, Principal Anne-elise Keefer Oboe Emma Ringrose, Acting Principal Clarinet Mary Backun, Principal Michelle Anderson Bassoon Ingrid Chiang, Principal Horn Laurel Spencer, Principal Nick Anderson Trumpet Tom Shorthouse, Principal Jim Littleford Trombone Jeremy Berkman, Principal Jim Tranquilla Percussion Phillip Crewe, Principal Violin 1 Mark Ferris, Concertmaster Angela Cavadas, Assoc. Concertmaster Rick Dorfer Yun Jung Lawrie Hill Joan Blackman Domagoj Ivanovic Evelyn Creaser-Rumley Heilwig von Koenigsloew Cameron Wilson 26
| HMS PINAFORE
Violin 2 Andrea Siradze, Acting Principal Ken Lin, Acting Assistant Principal Ellen Farrugia Sarah Westwick Toni Stanick Sandra Fiddes Adrianne Stride Karina Slupski Viola Isabelle Roland, Acting Principal Marie-Claude Brunet, Acting Assistant Principal Mila Tymoshenko Colin Miles Barbara Irschick Sarah Kwok Cello Jonathan Lo, Acting Principal Harold Birston, Acting Assistant Principal Susan Round Isidora Nojkovic Ashton Lim Bass Michael Vaughan, Acting Principal Meaghan Williams, Acting Assistant Principal Laurence Mollerup Yefeng Yin Orchestra Manager Jim Littleford Orchestra Stage Manager Jim Tranquilla Orchestra Librarian Tom Shorthouse
CHORUS Soprano Rebecca Collett Eve-Lyn de la Haye Aviva Lacterman Heather Pawsey Szu-Wen Wang Karen Ydenberg Mezzo-soprano Francesca Corrado Brenda Glass Heather Molloy Megan Morrison Elena Razlog Dionne Sellinger Tenor Kevin Armstrong Sergio Augusto William Grossman Adam Kozak Lyndon Ladeur Wade Nott Baritone/Bass Angus Bell DJ Calhoun Henry Chen Jason Cook Glenn deVerteuil Willy Miles-Grenzberg Supernumeraries Vinny Keats Colin Milne Susanne Sulzberger PRODUCTION Technical Director Autumn Coppaway Stage Manager Theresa Tsang
Assistant Stage Managers Michelle Harrison Tamara Vuckovic Apprentice Stage Manager Elyse Wall Assistant Technical Director Michael Kerns Apprentice Technical Director Chiara Guizzo Head of Properties Stephen Elgar Assistant Propeties Jesse Orr Head of Wardrobe Tiffany Bishop Apprentice Wardrobe Deanna Jarvinen Cutters Janet Dundas Victoria Klippenstein Jr. Cutters Evan Bergen Michelle O’Reilly Stitchers Eloise Pons Sarah Sosick Oriana Camporese Andrea Delano Jess Jandera Anna Potter Wigs Creation Hackman’s Head Office Head of Wigs and Hair Sean Malmas Head Scenic Carpenter/Welder Phil Piper Production Head Stage Carpenter Dan Woods Production Head Electrician Mike Bowen 27
VO BOARD AND STAFF
MARKETING
Company Manager Howard Lee Associate Conductor and Chorus Director Leslie Dala Repetiteur Tina Chang Orchestra Manager Jim Littleford Music Librarian Tom Shorthouse Orchestra Stage Manager Jim Tranquilla
Creative Director Annie Mack Database and Ticket Centre Manager Keltie Laidlaw Digital Marketing Specialist Neel Bali Marketing and Communications Coordinator Kaitie Sly Ticket Centre Associates Charlene Hibbard Kathryn Dobbs Publicist Cynnamon Schreinert
PRODUCTION
VANCOUVER OPERA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VANCOUVER OPERA STAFF
Chair Richard Rees Vice Chair Susan Van der Flier Treasurer Roger Flowerdew Secretary Krista Johanson
General Director Tom Wright Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington Director of Artistic Planning Adrianne Wurz Chief Development Officer Lisa Westermark Director of Finance and Administration Doug Querns Interim Director of Marketing Jennifer Lee
Massoud Abedi Amrita Ahuja Human Alghabi Meera Bawa Milton Carrasco Catherine Dangerfield Kirk LaPointe Pierre Lebel Maria Leone Bill Maclagan Jennifer Muench Jan Sampson Carol Tsuyuki Alexi White Andrea Wood
Technical Director Autumn Coppaway Assistant Technical Director Michael Kerns Head of Properties Stephen Elgar Head of Wardrobe Tiffany Bishop Stage Managers Theresa Tsang Marijka Asbeek Brusse Michelle Harrison Tamara Vuckovic
Manager, Annual Campaign Erin Reddekopp Manager, Strategic Partnerships Taryn Plater Manager, Major Gifts Lauren Watson
Accounting and Payroll Manager William Murgatroyd Office Services Administrator Haley Magrill
| HMS PINAFORE
PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT Manager of Partnerships and Engagement Ashley Daniel Foot Teaching Artists Jennifer Butler Eve-Lyn de la Haye Cara Guri Cassie Luftspring Lesley Sutherland Maya Occhionero Boyd Eve Daniell
DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Acting President, Vancouver Opera Guild Nancy Wu 28
ARTISTIC PLANNING
YULANDA M. FARIS YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM Program Head Leslie Dala Head Coach Kinza Tyrrell Coach Tina Chang Jonelle Sills, Soprano Hillary Tufford, Mezzo-Soprano Ian Cleary, Tenor Luka Kawabata, Baritone Amy Seulky Lee, Pianist Amanda Testini, Director 29
Since 2004, the David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Fund has been investing in emerging artists at Vancouver Opera, providing a boost for many artists training to become professional performers.
Vancouver Opera’s Inaugural
OPERA IN THE PARK
We sincerely thank the DSEEF Trustees for their role in helping VO become a focal point for young artists training in Canada.
July 17, 2022 | 7:30PM Deer Lake Park, Burnaby
In this production of HMS Pinafore, we recognize Caitlin Wood and Tina Chang as David Spencer Artists.
Vancouver Opera Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington will lead a program of
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS SEASON SPONSORS
SEASON PATRONS
Opera in the Movies Don’t forget your lawn chairs! This event is free to the public
Yoshiko Karasawa Martha Lou Henley, C.M. VO acknowledges the City of Burnaby for their generous support
TICKET CENTRE SPONSOR
WITH CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM
POST SHOW CHAT Join us after the show, in the front rows of the auditorium, for an engaging chat with the cast and creative team behind HMS Pinafore.
PLAZA CAST SPONSORS Jana and Bill Maclagan 30
| HMS PINAFORE
LOVE with OPERA all over Again Fall in
VO 2022–2023 SEASON ARTWORK BY HANNA BARCZYK
2022–2023 SEASON
vancouveropera.ca