Programs at The Banff Centre

Opera as Theatre Program

Canada's Premier Opera Training Program

2010 Productions

  • Little Women
  • Pelléas et Mélisande

Program dates: Monday, June 21, 2010 - Sunday, August 8, 2010

Application deadline: Applications will be accepted as space permits.
Arrival: Sunday, June 20, 2010
Departure: Monday, August 9, 2010
Audition tour: November 2009 — Details

Program Information

Faculty: Kelly Robinson - program director, David Agler - music director/conductor, Robin Wheeler - senior coach/repetiteur, Andrea Grant - senior coach/repetiteur, Michael Waller - acting coach/stage director, Vicki St. Denys - movement instructor, Michael Greyeyes - viewpoints instructor, Adrian Thompson - vocal teacher, Tracy Dahl - vocal teacher, Kathryn Labouff - diction coach, Joan Patenaude-Yarnell - voice teacher,
The Banff Centre has given me the special opportunity to develop, create, and explore as a person, artist, and colleague. The atmosphere of support and encouragement, coupled with challenges and expectations, has been the foundation to my development. I wouldn’t be the kind of artist I am without the help of The Banff Centre.
Leslie Davis, 2009 Opera as Theatre participant

The Opera as Theatre program is designed to give emerging and established opera singers the opportunity to train with leading professionals and pedagogues in the field, while preparing roles within a professional production environment. The program is rigorous and rewarding, operating on a six-day work week with classes scheduled in the morning and staging rehearsals and coachings in the afternoon and evening. Both productions feature original physical productions and are accompanied by the Banff Festival Orchestra. Classes include Stage Combat, Diction, Viewpoints, Improvisation, Yoga, Dance, Spoken Word, and Musical Theatre.

2010 Productions

Little Women

Composer/Librettist: Mark Adamo

Pelléas et Mélisande

Composer: Claude Debussy
Arranged by Stephen McNeff

The program delivers:

  • Studies in the interpretive dramatic arts (characterization, simultaneous “script” and score study)
  • Daily access to Master coaches and mentors from the national and international opera, theatre, and music communities
  • Daily classes that emphasize body alignment, breath, speech, and movement

Performance opportunities:

  • Two Mainstage Operas in original productions (sets, costumes, props) accompanied by the Banff Festival Orchestra
  • Cabaret
  • Vocal Chamber Music
  • Vocal Recitals
  • Community Concerts

Audition Tour Dates

The Banff Centre will hold live auditions for the 2010 Opera as Theatre program. Applicants will be notified of exact location, date, and time of audition/interview.

  • Montreal: Friday November 6, 2009
  • Toronto: Monday November 9, 2009
  • Toronto: Tuesday November 10, 2009
  • New York: Friday, November 13, 2009
  • London, UK: Thursday November 19, 2009
  • Vancouver: Sunday November 29, 2009

Detailed information will be provided upon receipt of application. All dates subject to change.

All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of The Banff Centre.