Vancouver Opera has just announced their 2018-2019 season and festival! The season will open with the comic operetta, The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) by Franz Lehár and conclude with a “Fairytales & Fables” themed Vancouver Opera Festival in 2019 featuring Gounod’s, Faust.
In making the season announcement, Kim Gaynor, Vancouver Opera’s General Director, said, ‘I am thrilled to announce this new season and our 3rd annual opera festival. I have chosen works from the standard repertoire which will be reimagined with new productions and fresh, exciting casts offering many opportunities to Canadian talent, and to the emerging artists in our Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program. I have invited a number of very talented conductors who have never directed for us before, as well as welcoming back Jonathan Darlington to conduct Gounod’s Faust.’”
Vancouver Opera 18/19 Highlights
The Merry Widow
Canadian Kelly Robinson’s will direct Merry Widow, which was last performed at VO in 1990. This production will be set in Paris, where Hanna Glawari, a wealthy widow, played by Italian-Canadian soprano Lucia Cesaroni, tries to win the heart of Count Danilo, played by tenor John Cudia. Costumes are by Susan Memmott-Allred and Michael Yeargan will set the stage. Conductor Ward Stare leads the VO Orchestra.
La Bohème
Canadian conductor Judith Yan makes her Vancouver Opera debut with this new production of La Bohème. Prepared to be taken back to the 1920s, as Canadian designer and director duo André Barbe and Renaud Doucet will create a vintage-themed spin on this beloved opera.
Faust
Gounod’s Faust will be presented in a production not seen before in Vancouver in the classic story of a man who loses everything in his search for youth and love. Faust features an all-Canadian cast, including world-renowned Toronto-born Robert Pomakov as Mephistopheles making his VO debut. David Pomeroy and Marianne Fiset return to the VO stage, along with Jonathan Darlington to conduct the VO Orchestra and Chorus.
La Cenerentola
Vancouver Opera is bringing back La Cenerentola for the first time since 1981. In this twist on the famous fairy tale, the evil stepmother becomes a stepfather; the glass slipper, a bracelet, and the fairy godmother, a philosopher. Cinderella will be sung by Vancouver-born Simone McIntosh, along with “a refreshingly youthful cast.” Jessie Richardson along with Award winner Rachel Peake will direct this production with Leslie Dala leading the VO Orchestra.
2019 Vancouver Opera Festival: Fairytales & Fables
2019 marks the 3rd annual Vancouver Opera Festival which next season, celebrates ‘Fairytales & Fables.’ In addition to two main-stage operas (Faust and La Cenerentola), look for other special events, speakers, family events—additional programming will be announced early in 2019.
Angela Bell is Opera Canada’s Digital Media Specialist. She has held digital and PR roles with various businesses including the Walt Disney Company, Sullivan Entertainment and Toronto International Film Festival.
