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A Busy Morning at the Michael and Inna O’Brian Centre for Vancouver Opera!

James Wright
General Director

Having completed our successful run of The Barber of Seville with a matinee performance yesterday (March 25), we took the evening off and started right up again on Monday morning with music rehearsals for Aida!

It has been an active morning at the O’Brian Centre. Not only are the Aida singers assembled and enjoying a music rehearsal with Maestro Jonathan Darlington; we are also loading the Barber of Seville scenery and costumes back into our scenery and costume shops and loading out last year’s Clemenza di Tito scenery, which we have given to the UBC opera department for their use.

And we started the morning with a “meet and greet,” an opportunity for the Aida singers and artistic/production team, along with the administrative staff, to mingle and get acquainted, which kicks off every production period.

It is very exciting and inspiring to be in the midst of so much operatic activity; it builds the kind of spirit that is important for every artistic endeavour. We are all so grateful to be in our new home!

- James Wright
General Director
@jwwright61

when will you post the opening night B. of Seville audience photos?

They're posted on our Facebook page. Here's the link.

Ask me anything

The Reviews Are In!

If you don't have your tickets yet, get 'em quick! The Ticket Centre phones are ringing non-stop. Check out these great reviews:

From the Vancouver Sun:
"This production thrives on relentless comic momentum, packed with meaningful stage business, and studded with outrageous sight gags. It’s designed for laughs and gets them.

"Kudos for this production’s fresh concept and flashy execution."

"[Joshua Hopkins] has the tone, the timing, and the confidence to make it appear effortless fun; from quicksilver recitatives to solo work and ensembles, Hopkins is the focus of the production. And he couldn’t be better."

From Review Vancouver:
"Thomas Hammons almost steals the show as the buffoonish studio head Bartolo who bears an uncanny (stage) resemblance to (former Italian prime minister) Silvio Berlusconi."

"Parvin Mirhady’s exquisite clothing, particularly Rosina’s wardrobe and film extras’ extravagant costumes provide a dimension of quality to an already high level production and Dennis Garnhum may have reached a new plateau in comic inventiveness."

"Both opera aficionado and neophytes should delight in this superior production."

From the Georgia Straight:
"Opening night of Vancouver Opera’s The Barber of Seville had the theatre packed to the rafters, proving that Gioachino Rossini’s beloved comic masterpiece can still draw, and please, a crowd."

"The superb cast of mainly young singers proved to be as gifted comedically as they were vocally."

"René Barbera as the lovesick Count Almaviva played up his character’s various disguises to the hilt; his slightly off-key take on a drunken soldier, and his obnoxious music teacher were inspired—that he possesses a sweet, flexible, and clear tenor voice only added to his appeal."

"A good-natured, frothy bit of fun... it’s just what the barber ordered."

From the Globe and Mail:
"When [René Barbera] masquerades as a music teacher, costume designer Parvin Mirhady situates him hilariously, somewhere between Liberace and Harpo Marx."

"Barber has endured for 150 years because it has made people laugh. It still does."

The More You Know...

Coming to Barber of Seville? Here are a few tips to help you plan your night at the opera.

• Read up on the opera in advance on the Vancouver Opera website. We have synopses, music clips, videos and interviews.. and a manga version of The Barber of Seville. Check it all out here.

• If you don't have time to explore the website, not to worry: you'll be given a house program at the theatre that includes a synopsis, history, notes on the production, and notes on the music.

There is no dress code.

• And if you don't get a chance to read all that, that's fine, because there will be English translations projected above the stage during the performance, so you'll still know exactly what's going on.

• Remember: there's no dress code. Some people like to dress up, especially on opening night, but many people go casual.

• The Barber of Seville running time is just under 3 hours. The first act is 90 minutes, followed by a 25 minute intermission, then just about 55 mins for the rest of the show.

• For evening performances: Doors are at 6:15pm, the free Preview Talk starts at 6:30pm, and the show starts at 7:30pm.
• For the matinée: Doors are at 12:15pm, the free Preview Talk starts at 12:30pm, and the show starts at 1:30pm.

• The performance is at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which is on the corner of Hamilton and Georgia, downtown Vancouver. (NOT at the O'Brian Centre! You want to go downtown, not to East Van!) The closest Skytrain is Stadium-Chinatown. Here are some tips for driving and parking.

• Park under the BC Hydro building for $10! The lot opens at 6:00pm for evening performances. For the Sunday, March 25 matinee, the lot will open at 12:00pm. The lot is located at the corner of Homer and Dunsmuir Streets, 1 block from the theatre. Enter from Homer St. and identify yourself as a VO patron.

• Here are some options for pre-show and post-show dining.

Any other questions? Call our friendly Ticket Centre staff at 604-683-0222, or look for our Ambassadors at the theatre. Enjoy the show!

First Look at Barber!

Here's a taste of what you'll see at Barber...

All photos by Tim Matheson

Figaro (Joshua Hopkins) keeps the chaos in check

Almaviva (René Barbera) and his love, Rosina (Sandra Piques Eddy)

The gang's all here: Berta (Barbara Towell), Rosina (Sandra Piques Eddy), Almaviva (René Barbera),
Basilio (Thomas Goerz), Figaro (Joshua Hopkins) and Bartolo (Thomas Hammons)

Shenanigans!

I challenge you to a duel

A tender moment between friends

Another tender moment. (They're really good friends).

Basilio has a nefarious plan!

Yes, there is underwear in this show. Quite a bit of it, in fact.

The studio stylist displays his skill

Some slight Bugs Bunny influence here

This calls for a drink... or eight

Barber previews!

Here's a round up of previews for our Barber!

In The Vancouver Sun David Gordon Duke is "looking forward, with considerable anticipation, to [Joshua Hopkins's] Figaro."

In The Province
Stuart Derdeyn talks to director Dennis Garnhum, Joshua Hopkins (Figaro) and Sandra Piques Eddy (Rosina).

In The Straight
Dennis Garnhum, Joshua Hopkins and Sandra Piques Eddy are interviewed by Jessica Werb in this week's Straight.

In Entertainment Vancouver

Monika Forberger talks to Joshua Hopkins in Entertainment Vancouver

And catch these upcoming radio interviews!

Today at 3:40pm on CBC Radio One (88.1FM):

VO's Director of Marketing Doug Tuck will be interviewed on On the Coast with Stephen Quinn

Today at 4:40pm on Radio-Canada Première Chaine (97.7FM):

VO's Assistant Conductor/Chorus Director Leslie Dala will be interviewed by Pierre Philippe Bibeau on Six pieds au-dessus de la mer

Friday at 8:15am on Radio-Canada Première Chaine (97.7FM):
Leslie Dala will be interviewed by Myriam Fehmiu on Phare Ouest

Saturday 6:00am - 9:00am on CBC Radio One (88.1FM):
Sheryl MacKay will interview VO's Head of Costumes Parvin Mirhady on North by Northwest

Watch this space on Monday morning for opening night reviews!

Get O.U.T and see Barber!

Alert alert! The Get O.U.T. (Opera Under Thirty) promo code has been released!

These means that patrons aged 18 - 29 can buy prime seats to The Barber of Seville for just $25!

Call the VO Ticket Centre at 604-683-0222 or visit us online. You must quote promo code 3621 to get the deal.

The fine print:
Ticket limit is 2 per person. Tickets are only available for pick-up on the night of the show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre: come to the VIP desk just inside the front doors. Each patron must show valid photo ID that identifies them as between the ages of 18-29. Offer isn't valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Behind the Scenes at Barber

Interviews with Dennis Garnhum, the director of The Barber of Seville, Joshua Hopkins (Figaro) and René Barbera (Almaviva).

And here's the TV ad created for us by our talented friends at Giant Ant Media!

Barber of Seville Rehearsals Begin!

Our Barber stars landed in Vancouver this week and got right to work. Here are a few shots from behind-the-scenes.

A barber's chair for our Barber

Sandra Piques-Eddy as Rosina


René Barbera gets into character as Almaviva

Move over, Tarantino!

Rosina! It's all about Rosina!

The pantless mannequins approve

Almaviva tries a little liquid courage

Dr. Bartolo is fed up with Almaviva's antics

Rosina makes her entrance

Did we mention that this production takes place on a movie set?

In the 1940s?

Figaro is still a barber, though

And here's proof!

Associate Conductor and Chorus Director Leslie Dala works some magic on the pianoforte

Thomas Goerz (Basilio) looks on

These three are having too much fun

and you will too when you come to see it!

Director Dennis Garnhum sets them up for the next scene

Rossini's Ghost at Vancity

In partnership with the Vancity Theatre, Vancouver Opera presents a series of films that explore themes and issues related to the season's operas.

Rossini’s Ghost
Saturday, March 3, 2012

Vancity Theatre, Vancouver International Film Centre
1181 Seymour Street (at Davie)
Doors: 2:00pm • Introduction and Screening: 2:30pm

Regular admission: $11/$9 senior or student (includes $2 Vancity Film Centre membership).

$6 for children under 17 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Rossini’s Ghost is a classical music film for all the family.

Directed by David Devine, the film opens in a kitchen in Italy in 1862 as little Reliana (Melissa Pirrera) helps her grandmother Rosalie (Frances Bay) make pasta sauce. As steam swirls magically through the kitchen, Rosalie tells the story of an opera composer they once both knew. Soon, Reliana finds herself transported through time back to a theatre in Rome nearly 50 years earlier.

She is invisible to everyone but the composer, Signor Rossini (Joseph DiMambro). It is 1816, the year The Barber of Seville had its disastrous premiere, and Reliana watches in alarm as one of the singers puts a curse on the production and everything begins to go wrong. Rossini's Ghost is the story of three women who learn that friendship, like opera or great pasta sauce requires nurturing, patience, and time.

This special screening will feature an introduction by Michael Grice, VO’s Director of Education, and includes a special guest appearance by Bugs Bunny in a bonus short, The Rabbit of Seville.

Michael Grice is a graduate of the School of Music, University of British Columbia, where he did a double major in trombone and voice. He was a Music Teacher with the Coquitlam School District for 34 years; since his retirement from the school system five years ago, he has been with Vancouver Opera as Director of Education. Away from the VO office, Michael is the Conductor of the 65-voice Adult Choir of the Coastal Sound Music Academy, centred in the Lower Mainland’s Tri-City area.

Seating is limited. This special event continues a series of co-presentations between Vancouver Opera and the Vancity Theatre.

The Barber is everywhere!

If you've never been to an opera before, Rossini's The Barber of Seville is a great place to start! Chances are extremely high that you've heard snatches of this opera before. Perhaps in a very familiar Bugs Bunny cartoon?

Or perhaps in a Woody Woodpecker cartoon!

Maybe you've heard it performed by your favourite barbershop sextet....

Or on America's Got Talent? (Skip to 1:00 - unless you'd also like to hear his rendition of La donna e mobile)

See? Opera's not scary at all! The Barber of Seville opens on March 17th.

VO’s Count Almaviva Scores Big Competition Win!

Rene Barbera

Our tenor for our upcoming Il Barbiere di Siviglia, René Barbera, has won the top prize in all three categories of the 2011 Operalia Competition held a few days ago in Moscow.

This international contest was founded by Placido Domingo in 1993 and is one of the world’s most prestigious vocal competitions. René, an American hailing from Texas, is a third year ensemble member with the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center.

Barbera, who is 27, won the men's first prize for opera, men's prize for zarzuela, and the “audience favorite” prize (a Rolex watch). He is the first artist to solely receive all three prizes in the history of the competition. He sang “Ah! mes amis” from Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment, in which he scored a great success with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis just before departing for the Moscow competition.

Operalia 2011

This season at The Lyric Opera Barbera will portray Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos. He is making his Vancouver Opera debut singing Count Almaviva in Barbiere, and will make his Canadian Opera Company debut this season as well, as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi

Barbera also won the 2008 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.