Begin the overture on a history-making event in Vancouver. It’s opening night for the Vancouver Opera (VO) – not just for a new production, but for a radical and ambitious new endeavour. Instead of presenting a standard season of mainstage productions throughout the year, VO has elected to instead present the first-ever Vancouver Opera Festival. Starting today and running until May 13, three mainstage productions will be performed: Otello, Dead Man Walking and The Marriage of Figaro. Meanwhile, two solo concerts, a major art exhibit, and a flurry of community-based activities will surround these operas. In short, (VO) is taking over the city and it’s going be glorious.
The Festival Tent in the Queen Elizabeth Plaza will be the main hub of activity, complete with a restaurant, pop-up activities and an innovative art exhibit by Audain Prize-winning artist Paul Wong. Titled “Five Octave Range”, Wong’s exhibit captures archival images from five decades of VO productions.
Daniel Okulitch in "Dead Man Walking". Photo credit: Trudie Lee, courtesy of Calgary Opera.
Both Otello and Dead Man Walking will play at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, while The Marriage of Figaro will be performed at The Playhouse. Be prepared to be blown away by the tremendous talent assembled, sensational orchestras (Otello boasts a 65-piece orchestra), and breathtaking sets and costumes.
The Vancouver Opera Festival promises to be a spectacular new addition to the Vancouver arts scene, and local theatre fans are ecstatic to welcome it.
To purchase tickets and for more information, visit the Vancouver Opera’s website.