Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!The world premiere of CHINATOWN opens on 13 September.By librettist Madeleine Thien, composer Alice Ping Yee Ho, and translator Paul Yee, CHINATOWN is a love story, a tale of a great neighbourhood and its people, an examination of racism and resistance.“It may be the most important new opera premiered in Canada this year.”— Margaret Atwood, writerRegarding *Alice Ping Yee Ho's score* for the new opera CHINATOWN, /"She has written just gorgeous music, tangible and ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!The world premiere of CHINATOWN opens on 13 September.By librettist Madeleine Thien, composer Alice Ping Yee Ho, and translator Paul Yee, CHINATOWN is a love story, a tale of a great neighbourhood and its people, an examination of racism and resistance.“It may be the most important new opera premiered in Canada this year.”— Margaret Atwood, writerRegarding *Alice Ping Yee Ho's score* for the new opera CHINATOWN, /"She has written just gorgeous music, tangible and ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!/“Countless stars, and this ocean too small to hold our memories/.”— Xon Pon to Saihin in /Chinatown/*CHINATOWN: a powerful new opera*by* Madeleine Thien, Alice Ping Yee Ho, *and *Paul Yee*13, 14, 15, and 16 September at 7:30pmSaturday 17 September at 2pmVancouver PlayhouseTickets on sale 15 July/“It may be the most important new opera premiered in Canada this year.” /– John Atkin, Margaret Atwood, Sean Bickerton, Shirley Chan, Winnie Cheung, Catherine Clement, J ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!Hello All,We're excited to announce that City Opera’s premiere production of Chinatown has received a major donation in the form of a huge sale of BC pottery, most from the studio and collection of Charmian Johnson.For this event, May 28 & 29, Charmian Johnson’s pots are priced to sell. We want all of them to find new homes!  Many great values are to be found.Bring bags, or boxes, or both. You’ll be astonished by what’s available.Sales are cash only ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!*CHINATOWN*a new opera by Madeleine Thien, Alice Ping Yee Ho, and Paul Yee13 – 17 September 2022 / The Vancouver Playhouse/preserving the legacy / telling the story/CHINATOWN is a story of family and neighbourhood, racism and resistance, history and ourselves. Set in 1961, it pivots to the building of the CPR, and forward to our own times.It deals frankly with the Head Tax, the Exclusion Act, Paper Sons, and paper promise.*It is a Western opera,* but incorporates trad ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!*CHINATOWN*a new opera by Madeleine Thien, Alice Ping Yee Ho, and Paul Yee13 – 17 September 2022 / The Vancouver Playhouse/preserving the legacy / telling the story/CHINATOWN is a story of family and neighbourhood, racism and resistance, history and ourselves. Set in 1961, it pivots to the building of the CPR, and forward to our own times.It deals frankly with the Head Tax, the Exclusion Act, Paper Sons, and paper promise.*It is a Western opera,* but incorporates trad ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!Chinatown / 13 – 17 September 2022 / Vancouver PlayhouseJoin the 1000+ people who have already watched a preview trailer from our new opera Chinatown. It stars Erica Iris Huang as the Hoisan Singer, and will amaze.Tickets go on sale in July. Please join us, and bring someone you love.Concerts in 2022Last year, thanks to BC Gaming, we gave 33 free concerts – ten of them in the DTES. They included first performances at Cottage Hospice, Four Sisters Co-op, and ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!*COVID and concerts...*Musicians improvise. COVID demands improvisation. In 2021, we gave 33 PoPUpOpera concerts. These included two at Cottage Hospice, three in support of vax clinics at the Convention Centre, and four at Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. Below, two of the staff who came outside for our concert at the DTES Coastal Health Clinic.They were outdoors – where it was safe for artists and audiences to gather. We made our first appearance at ACT in Maple Ridge. When PHOs ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!Chutzpah, Marxes, & City Opera Chinatown Preview • Virtual Studio Missing in Alaska DTES PoPUpOpera • 14th AGMChutzpah Festival. Marx Brothers. City Opera.None had more chutzpah than the Marx Brothers. In their 1935 MGM classic, A Night at the Opera, their absurd and subversive humour is in full bloom. Join City Opera as we open this year’s Chutzpah Festival with the original music parodied in the film – and then present the film itself. Thursday 4 Novem ...Continue Reading

Having trouble viewing this message? read it online!Pictured above: City Opera at ACT Maple RidgeCovid and Concerts…Waterfront StationMusicians improvise. COVID demands improvisation. And it means taking our music to people where they live. We gave 19 PoPUpOperas last season, and plan 35 PoPUp and long-form concerts this season. So far, we have given 34:Roedde HouseSun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens (4 events), Maple Ridge ACT, Vancouver Coastal Health (3 events), Museum of Vancouver, Jewish Community Centre, Cottag ...Continue Reading