After its busy summer of online content and Pop Up Opera performances, Pacific Opera Victoria is set to host in-person audiences with its new concert series, “Live at the Baumann”. The concerts will allow for an intimate and socially-distanced audience, seated cabaret-style; each program will receive multiple live performances, including one that will be livestreamed for free at pacificopera.ca.
The series kicks off on October 28, with a joint recital featuring Canadians Daniel Okulitch and Lara Secord-Haid and their program of songs with personal importance to the two artists. The eclectic mix includes music by Ravel, Previn, Golijov, Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino, and Israeli composer Mordechai Zeira. “Some of the pieces on this program are very personally meaningful, such as the Ravel, that was a favourite of my late father,” says Secord-Haid.
Okulitch and Secord-Haid are joined by violinist David Visentin, cellist Rachel Kapon, pianist Kimberley-Ann Bartczak, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Poynter. Performances run October 28-31 at 7:30pm, and November 1 at 4pm. The October 30th performance will be livestreamed. Live audience tickets start at $15, and are available here.
The Baumann Centre, Pacific Opera Victoria’s home for community programming.
“Live at the Baumann” continues November 4, 6, and 8 with Canadian mezzo-soprano Megan Latham, and her timely programme titled, My 3 C’s: Copland, Cancionnes, & Corona. “The repertoire will reference some of the artistic confusion I’ve been feeling,” says Latham of her concert, which balances humour with angst. “The groups of songs each tell their own stories. I think their texts and sentiments apply to what we’re all experiencing now, whether it’s nostalgia for the past we knew, our frustration in the present, or positive energy for the future.”
Latham is accompanied on the piano by Kimberley-Ann Bartczak. Performances run November 4 and 6 at 7:30pm, and November 8 at 4pm; the November 6th performance will be livestreamed. Live audience tickets start at $15, and are available here.
Jenna is the editor and co-creator of Schmopera. She also writes for The Globe and Mail and Opera Canada. She’s a pianist and vocal coach, and working with singers is how she fell in love with opera.
