In Five Months, We Present “Missing”

A story everyone knows, about a woman no one remembers.

With libretto by Marie Clements, music by Brian Current, Gitxsan materials by Vincent Gogag (Gawa gani), and directed by Peter Hinton, this may be the most important work we have ever done. Missing is a co-production with Pacific Opera Victoria. It has been created by an extraordinary award of $127,000 from The Vancouver Foundation.

Missing is set in Vancouver, and along the Highway of Tears. It is a story of two young women, one indigenous and one white, and the terrible and moving intersection of their lives. It opens in a way you might expect, and closes in a place you cannot imagine.

On Wednesday 1 November, in partnership with Vancouver Moving Theatre and the DTES Heart of the City Festival, we present the opera to families and friends of the missing. This event is free, by invitation only, and sponsored by the City of Vancouver.

On Friday 3 November, at The York Theatre on Commercial Drive, we begin its public run. Tickets are available for sale through the Cultch Box Office after Labour Day. Please join us.

Meantime...

Sunny Shams and Michelle Koebke

On Sunday June 11, we gave our 104^th concert. It was at Italian Day on The Drive, and featured City Opera artists Michelle Koebke, Sunny Shams, and pianist Roger Parton. It was free to all, and terrific fun.

Tom Durrie, Michelle Koebke, Roger Parton and Sunny Shams at Il Centro.

And then last night, we presented our 105^th concert. This was at Il Centro:  The Italian Cultural Centre, again with City Opera artists Michelle Koebke, Sunny Shams, pianist Roger Parton, and host Tom Durrie, in an evening of Neapolitan music. The audience seemed to know – and love – all the melodies. Free, of course.

And coming up:

On Wednesday 26 July, at 7pm in the piazza at Il Centro, we offer an evening of love and laughter Italian style. Free

On Thursday 17 August, again at 7pm in the piazza at Il Centro, we present love duets you have always known, and have never heard before. Free

Produced in partnership with IL CENTRO:  The Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan, at Grandview Highway

From our friends at East Van Opera…

Opera, ballet and burlesque! East Van Opera invites you to join our premiere of Alma, by composer Allison Cociani. It is a new opera for five singers, five dancers and an orchestra of twelve players. Alma is about the struggle between a young girl with special powers, and people who wish to profit from these abilities. She is abducted by Griselda and her three cohorts Kelsh, Tesh and Vidar. Alma must find a way to escape her captors. On learning that the evil-doers had not only kidnapped her, but in fact murdered her grandmother, Alma understands she is completely alone and must rely on her own wits to save herself. Ultimately Alma is a story about the road to personal understanding, and the end result of that path – forgiveness.

Metro Theatre ~ 1370 Marine Drive SW, near Granville
June 22 to 24 ~ 8:00 pm, June 25 ~ 2:00pm
$37.50 in advance ~ $42.50 at the door (+GST)
https://tickets.metrotheatre.com / eastvanopera.com

And From Our Friends At Opera Opulenza...

Opera Opulenza presents
Les Contes d’Hoffmann
by Offenbach

In a crowded tavern the poet Hoffmann, urged on by his fellow drinkers, recounts the stories of his wildest, most outrageous loves and losses. First performed after the death of its composer, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann is a masterful riot of characters and intrigue. Brought to life by a stellar cast, Opera Opulenza’s production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann reveals a world of danger, delirium and desire. Sung in French with English subtitles.

7pm on July 21st & 22nd at the York Theatre.

Tix: tickets.thecultch.com. For more info: operaopulenza.ca.