APRIL 28 — MAY 6 PRESENTED BY
CELEBRATING THE RUSSIAN WHITE NIGHTS WITH TWO NEW OPERA PRODUCTIONS PLUS DOZENS OF EVENTS OVER 9 DAYS
vancouveropera.ca | 604 683 0222
PRESENTED BY
RUSSIAN WHITE NIGHTS FESTIVAL OPENING DAY | APRIL 28 To kick off the Russian White Nights Vancouver Opera Festival in style, everyone is invited to an outdoor celebration featuring Russian cultural performers, food trucks, market vendors, a spectacular circus presentation, a movie screening, and a patio bar. from 2pm | QET Plaza RUSSIAN CULTURAL PERFORMANCES FREE April 28 from 2–6pm Children’s Performance | 2–3pm Concert for Families | 3–6pm In partnership with Russian Theatre Palme
SCARLET SAILS PERFORMANCE FREE April 28 at 6:15pm and 7:30pm April 29 at 12:45pm | May 3 & 5 at 6:15pm The Russian White Nights Festival celebrates the time of year around the summer solstice in areas of high latitude when darkness is never complete. The festival highlight is the arrival of a Scarlet Sails schooner. Vancouver Opera has partnered with CircusWest, to stage the Scarlet Sails love story. A specially created 40-foot long red schooner will serve as the stage for gravity-defying acrobatic feats, with music and custom designed projections on the 22-foot tall sails in a performance for all ages.
OPERA SPEAKS: RUSSIAN ARTS AND CULTURE FREE April 28 at 3pm, 4pm & 5pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre lobby Education sessions led by cultural leaders discuss the Russian music and arts featured during the festival. MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA FREE April 28 at 8pm A unique vintage Russian silent film Man with a Movie Camera, caps off the day on the QET Plaza – complete with movie snacks and drinks in our Happy Hour Patio Bar. Admission is free. Presented in partnership with VIFF
Details, programming, and casting are subject to change. Please check website for latest information.
MAINSTAGE OPERAS
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
EUGENE ONEGIN
April 29 at 2:00pm, May 3 & 5 at 7:30pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s best-loved opera, Eugene Onegin, is based on Alexander Pushkin’s verse novel of the same name. When Tatyana is introduced to the dashing, unconventional Onegin, she believes that he is the hero of her dreams. He coldly rejects her. Bored, he flirts with her sister Olga, outraging Lensky, Olga’s fiancé and Onegin’s only friend. Tragedy follows. A co-production with Calgary Opera, directed by Tom Diamond. CAST:
Konstantin Shushakov as Onegin, Svetlana Aksenova as Tatiana, Alexey Dolgov as Lensky, Carolyn Sproule as Olga, and Goderdzi Janelidze as Prince Gremin, with the VO Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Jonathan Darlington. This production is generously sponsored by
JAMES ROLFE
THE OVERCOAT
A MUSICAL TAILORING April 28 & 29, May 4, 9, 10, 11, & 12 at 7:30pm, May 2, 5, & 6 at 2pm Vancouver Playhouse A groundbreaking new opera in co-production with Toronto’s Tapestry Opera and Canadian Stage Company. Based on a short story by Russian author Nikolai Gogol, The Overcoat was transformed into a smash-hit physical theatre production in 1998 by Morris Panych and Wendy Gorling. Morris Panych returns to craft this new opera as librettist and director to an original score by James Rolfe. CAST:
Geoffrey Sirett as Akakiy, and Peter McGillivray is Petrovich. Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program Alumni Caitlin Wood and Aaron Durand join the all Canadian cast,with members of the VO Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Leslie Dala. A co-production with
This production is generously sponsored by
The McGrane-Pearson Endowment Fund
TICKETS AND FULL EVENT LISTINGS: vancouveropera.ca | 604 683 0222
CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 28
APRIL 29 SCARLET SAILS QET PLAZA 12:45PM
EUGENE ONEGIN
OPENING DAY
QET PLAZA 2PM UNTIL LATE RUSSIAN CULTURAL PERFORMANCES 2-6PM PERFORMANCE FOR CHILDREN 2-3PM CONCERT FOR FAMILIES 3-6PM
OPERA SPEAKS
QE THEATRE 2-5PM (preview talk 1PM)
RUSSIAN ARTS & CULTURE
MAY 1
MAY 2
OPERA SPEAKS
CREATING COLLABORATIVE WORK
SFU WOODWARDS 10AM-12PM
THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 2-4:30PM (preview talk 1PM)
THE OVERCOAT MOVIE SCREENING
PLAYHOUSE 2:30-4:30PM
QE THEATRE 3, 4 & 5PM
CHAMBER MUSIC
CHAMBER MUSIC
CBC STUDIO 700 5-6PM
CBC STUDIO 700 5-6PM
ANNA AKHMATOVA
OPERA SPEAKS
JAMES ROLFE
WOMEN IN OPERA
THE POST AT 750 5-6PM NEW WORKS PROJECT
SCARLET SAILS 6:15PM & 7:30PM DR ZHIVAGO SCREENING
MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA SCREENING 8PM
VENUES:
THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 7:30-10PM (preview talk 6:30PM)
THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 7:30-10PM (preview talk 6:30PM)
VANCITY THEATRE 6:45-10PM FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE CONCERT
THE POST AT 750 6-7PM OPERA SPEAKS
THE ARTS ROLE IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
SFU WOODWARD’S 7-8:30PM
RUSSIAN SONGFEST
PLAYHOUSE 7:30-9:30PM
PLAYHOUSE 7:30-9:30PM
HAPPY HOUR PATIO BAR Afternoons & Evenings, April 28 — May 5 (closed April 30 & May 1) | QET Plaza Throughout the Festival, patrons can enjoy light refreshments and live performances on the Queen Elizabeth Plaza.
QE THEATRE 630 Hamilton St
MAY 3
PLAYHOUSE 600 Hamilton St
CBC STUDIO 700 700 Hamilton St
MAY 4
THE POST AT 750 750 Hamilton St
SFU WOODWARD’S 149 W Hastings St
MAY 5 FAMILY DAY
PLAYHOUSE from 9:30AM PETER & THE WOLF
PLAYHOUSE 10-11AM
PETER & THE WOLF
PLAYHOUSE 11:30AM-12:30PM
VANCITY THEATRE 1181 Seymour St
CHAN CENTRE 6265 Crescent Rd
MAY 6
NEW WORKS PROJECT
OPERA BAR 11:AM-12:30PM THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 2-4:30PM (preview talk 1PM, postshow family talkbalk 5pm)
THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 2-4:30PM (preview talk 1PM)
REQUIEM FOR A LOST GIRL
SFU WOODWARD’S 2--4:30PM
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
CBC STUDIO 700 1-2PM CHAMBER MUSIC
RUSSIAN COMPOSERS
CBC STUDIO 700 5-6PM SCARLET SAILS QET PLAZA 6:15PM
EUGENE ONEGIN
QE THEATRE 7:30-10:30PM (preview talk 6:30PM)
CHAMBER MUSIC
Activities for young listeners including theatre tours and art activities. Bring the whole family for a day of fun and music. Suitable for ages 4+
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS
CBC STUDIO 700 5-6PM NEW WORKS PROJECT
THE POST AT 750 6-7PM
THE OVERCOAT
PLAYHOUSE 7:30-10PM (preview talk 6:30PM)
REQUIEM FOR A LOST GIRL
SFU WOODWARD’S 7:30--10PM
CHAMBER MUSIC
BERGMANN DUO
CBC STUDIO 700 5-6PM
RUSSIAN WHITE NIGHTS CONCERT
CHAN CENTRE 3-6PM
SCARLET SAILS QET PLAZA 6:15PM
EUGENE ONEGIN
QE THEATRE 7:30-10:30PM (preview talk 6:30PM)
OPERA BAR 9pm — 1am, April 28 — May 5 (Closed April 30, May 2) | QET Salons The popular Opera Bar returns as the go-to destination to socialize with artists, complete with performances, as well as snacks from the hottest local food trucks at select times.
TICKETS AND FULL EVENT LISTINGS: vancouveropera.ca | 604 683 0222
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
REQUIEM FOR A LOST GIRL May 4 at 7:30pm, May 6 at 2:00pm Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts A powerful chamber musical written and directed by Onalea Gilbertson about homelessness, mental illness and the plight of missing and murdered women. The work, composed by and conducted by Marcel Bergmann, includes additional music by the Kettle Choir and the Kettle Writers Guild. Performed with members of the VO Chorus and Orchestra, the Kettle Choir and Kettle Writers Guild. Presented in partnership with The Kettle Society and SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs.
OPERA SPEAKS: CREATING COLLABORATIVE WORK ALONGSIDE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FREE April 29 from 10am-12pm SFU Woodward’s This workshop, featuring the artistic team behind Requiem For A Lost Girl, explores the challenges and successes of collaborative art making.
OPERA SPEAKS: WHAT ROLE DO THE ARTS PLAY IN ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS? FREE May 2 at 7-8:30pm SFU Woodward’s Billy Guinness and Rhoda Rosen (Red Line Services, Chicago IL) are the keynote speakers in this community forum about the impact of the arts on those experiencing homelessness.
OPERA SPEAKS: CREATING OPPORTUFREE NITIES FOR WOMEN IN OPERA May 2 at 5-6pm The Post at 750 This panel of industry experts will lead a conversation about what needs to change to raise the profile of female artists.
ELEMENTS: AN ARTS UMBRELLA EXHIBITION FREE April 29 – May 12 Vancouver Playhouse Lobby Exhibition of visual art from senior students in the Arts Umbrella Advanced Visual Arts classes.
MUSIC AT VOF
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE TO JONATHAN DARLINGTON May 1 at 7:30pm Vancouver Playhouse To pay tribute to Jonathan Darlington’s extraordinary music-making partnership with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, join us for an evening full of surprises, including Maestro Darlington and friends performing “Two Pieces for 6 hands” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Russian arias performed by principals from Eugene Onegin, Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale – Suite” and a special appearance by Goh Ballet dancers.
A RUSSIAN SONGFEST
Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program & Coaching Intensive Program Alumni Recital
May 2 at 7:30pm Vancouver Playhouse An evening of musical riches featuring alumni of Vancouver Opera Training Programs performing a wide range of their favourite Russian songs accompanied by the music staff of Vancouver Opera. NEW WORKS PROJECT FREE May 2 & 4 at 6pm, The Post at 750 Final performance May 6 at 11:00am The Opera Bar UBC student composers and writers collaborate with performers from the UBC Opera Program to create new chamber opera works. See the creative process in action.
MUSIC AT VOF RUSSIAN WHITE NIGHTS: OPERA ARIAS FROM 18TH CENTURY ST. PETERSBURG May 6 at 3pm Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Hear the world’s reigning soprano in Baroque and classical repertoire-Karina Gauvin--for a programme of virtuosic opera arias. In partnership with Early Music Vancouver. Tickets at earlymusic.bc.ca or 604 822 2697
RUSSIAN CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES AT VOF Various dates at 5pm | CBC Studio 700 Five short concerts celebrating Russian, and Russian inspired, instrumental and vocal chamber music and featuring musicians from the VO Orchestra in chamber formations. Concerts are approximately 50 minutes in length. Curated by Leslie Dala. A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO ANNA AKHMATOVA, CELEBRATED RUSSIAN POET April 28 Step into an intimate salon concert featuring poems by one of the most significant Russian poets of the 20th century set to music by John Tavener and Sergei Prokofiev. THE MUSIC OF JAMES ROLFE, COMPOSER OF THE OVERCOAT A MUSICAL TAILORING April 29 A selection of Rolfe’s vocal and instrumental chamber music repertoire, including “Beloved” for voice and piano, “The Connection”, “Moths”, and “Simon & Garfunkel & The Prophets of Rage”.
TCHAIKOVSKY AND THE GREAT RUSSIAN COMPOSERS May 3 A sampling of Tchaikovsky’s extensive chamber music repertoire for voice and that of his contemporaries including RimskyKorsakov, and Mussorgsky. Featuring singers from the cast of The Overcoat—a musical tailoring. A STUDY IN CONTRASTS: THE MUSIC OF RACHMANINOFF AND SHOSTAKOVICH May 4 Including Rachmaninoff Romances Op 38 for soprano and piano and “From Jewish Folk-Poetry” Op. 70 by Shostakovich for soprano, contralto, tenor, and piano. RUSSIAN PIANO MUSIC May 5 Featuring the electrifying duo pianists Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann performing Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Marcel Bergmann’s Echoes of Tchaikovsky
TICKETS AND FULL EVENT LISTINGS: vancouveropera.ca | 604 683 0222
PRESENTED BY
FAMILY DAY AT VOF | MAY 5 The Playhouse comes alive for young listeners including theatre tours and art activities. Bring the whole family for a day of fun and music. from 9:30am | Suitable for ages 4+ PROKOFIEV’S PETER AND THE WOLF May 5 at 10am & 11:30 am Vancouver Playhouse Leslie Dala conducts this performance which introduces young listeners to the instruments and sections of the orchestra. Narrated by Shannon Chan-Kent from My Little Pony and The Arts Club’s Beauty and the Beast. Suitable for ages 4+ WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE FREE May 5 at 1pm | CBC Studio 700 VO and the Delta School District present an original adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. Suitable for ages 6+
THE OVERCOAT - A MUSICAL TAILORING May 5 at 2pm pre-show talk at 1pm Vancouver Playhouse This pre-show talk will provide young audiences with information about the work and its creation. Admission with ticket to performance. After the performance meet the cast in the lobby. Suitable for ages 9+ EUGENE ONEGIN May 5 at 7:30pm pre-show talk at 6:30pm Queen Elizabeth Theatre A pre-show talk designed for teens. Admission with ticket to performance. Reduced price performance tickets available for those under 19 years of age for this performance only. Family Pack and Under-19 pricing for select performances. Call 604 683 0222 for details.
FILMS AT VOF THE OVERCOAT (2001) FREE April 29 at 2:30pm Vancouver Playhouse Morris Panych’s original CBC film iteration of The Overcoat, followed by a talkback panel featuring movement artist Wendy Gorling and composer James Rolfe. SEASON SPONSOR
FESTIVAL PATRON
Martha Lou Henley, C.M. WITH CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM
MEDIA SPONSORS
DR. ZHIVAGO May 1 at 6:45pm | Vancity Theatre Tickets through viff.org An epic love story released in 1965, set amidst the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. Presented in partnership with VIFF