Opera Through the Ages
Message from Artistic Director
Welcome to the Jenny Belzberg Theatre!
We are incredibly excited to welcome you to Banff Centre for the first live opera experience since 2019.
Our program this year focused on the old and new. We welcomed 15 participants from across North America to work with our faculty and be on campus. We filmed contemporary opera scenes and held lessons, masterclasses, and one-on-one sessions as well (a couple of campfires, too).
Tonight you will experience opera through the ages as we give our singers the opportunity to sing some glorious music with orchestra musicians led by our two conductors, Rosemary Thomson and Casey Robards.
You will hear works by Mozart and Handel as well as Canadian composers Ian Cusson and John Estacio.
Thank you for supporting live music, Banff Centre artistic programming, and opera!
This is my 8th summer here at Banff Centre and it has been one of the most rewarding. I hope you enjoy the show.
-Joel Ivany
About the Program
Join us in the newly-renovated Jenny Belzberg Theatre for a gala-style opera performance featuring operatic hits performed by participants from the Opera in the 21st Century program and musicians from some of Canada's top ensembles.
The program will feature a mix of classics and contemporary pieces - with selections that highlight the breadth of the operatic repertoire from Handel to the Canadian great John Estacio!
Concert Repertoire:
"Au fond du temple saint" , The Pearl Fishers, Bizet performed by Zachary Rioux and Marcel Sokalski
"Melons! Coupons!", Carmen, Bizet performed by Simran Claire, Chelsea Pringle-Duchemin, and Brittany Rae
"son nata a lagrimar", Giulio Cesare, Handel performed by Sean Haid and Christine Li
"Largo", Il barbieri di Sivilgia, Rossini performed by Marcel Sokalski
"una voce poco fa", Il barbieri di Sivilgia, Rossini performed by Simran Claire
"An Evening Prayer", Hansel and Gretel, Humperdink performed by Madison Craign and Chelsea Pringle-Duchemin
"Joan's Aria", Empire of Wild, Cusson performed by Brittany Rae
"hab mir's gelobt", Rosenkavalier, Strauss performed by Simran Claire, Sawyer Craig, and Kourtney Holmes
"ist ein Traum", Rosenkavalier, Strauss performed by Brittany Rae and Christine Li
"Hai gia vinta la causa", Nozze di Figaro, Mozart performed by Marcel Sokalski
"Storm Aria", Filumena, Estacio performed by Madison Craig
"Qui m'aurait dit la place", Werther, Massenet performed by Christine Li
"pourquoi me reveiller", Werther, Massenet performed by Zachary Rioux
"No word from Tom", The Rake's Progress, Stravinsky performed by Brittany Rae
"Brindisi", La Traviata, Verdi performed by Kourtney Holmes, Zachary Rioux, and all
Please note: concert repertoire is subject to change
Opera in the 21st Century is generously supported by the David Spencer Endowment Encouragement Fund.
About the Company
Production Staff:
Brendan Briceland - Projection Designer and Head of Projection
Brett Rayner - Head Stage Carpenter and Props
Raj Rathore - Assistant Head Stage Carpenter, Lighting Console Programmer
Lyle Fish - Head of Sound
Charles Culver - Assistant Head of Sound
John Limbrick - Sound Technician
Matt Flawn - Head of Lighting
Darrell Shaw - Assistant Head of Lighting
Carey Lees - Wardrobe Shops Facilitator and Running Crew
Albert Picknell - Head Piano Technician
Henry Ng - Audio and Music Technician
Genevieve Nevin-Jones - Production Coordinator
Samantha Hindle - Technical Director
Woody MacPhail - Senior Technical Producer
James Clemens-Seely - Senior Recording Engineer
Jennifer Chiasson - Lead Video Technician
Darcy Locke - Maintenance Technologist Video
