It’s not often you can start off a post about opera with a quote from Star Trek. Since the opportunity was there, I just had to take it. Regardless, it’s opening night for Vancouver Opera’s production of Nixon in China, which is the Canadian première of the opera (take that Toronto and COC!). This production is a rarity in the opera world because this is a brand new production that Vancouver Opera commissioned for this premiere. Meaning sets, costumes, everything is new. Putting on a new production is a tremendously [...]
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Let’s see we have Druids, a Priestess out for blood against the Roman army, love, lust, and death. Okay that sounds like an opera to me! It is, in fact, it’s Bellini’s Norma which kicks off Vancouver Opera’s 50th anniversary season, just like it did in its first season! I’ve been getting a taste of the opera as Sheila has been rehearsing at home with it. You have to love an opera when I get stuff from Sheila like “Oh, so that’s the Italian for slaughter…”
Yes, Norma is in Italian, [...]
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Ah the end of the opera season. I’ve been lucky enough to attend all of the opera’s this season at Vancouver Opera, though tonight is the first time I’m seeing one without Sheila as a member of the cast. Sheila would be here to enjoy Salome, but she’s at home sick.
Anyway, Salome. This is a Strauss opera and I have been told that it is, umm, rather different than the others I’ve seen thus far. Of course being opera there is the standard fare of death, lust, sex … you [...]
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by Tris Hussey on March 8, 2009 · 2 comments
in Uncategorized
As is tradition, after opening night there is a party backstage to celebrate the night and the performers. Food, drink, and (swoon) the lovely ladies of the the opera.
What did I think of Rigoletto?
Honestly Carmen is still my favourite. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Rigoletto. It is intense and challenges us to understand things like revenge, hate, and you can’t shield the ones you love from the outside world.
Rigoletto is a tragic figure. His anger and lust for vengeance cost him his daughter. His daughter, who he tried to [...]
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With the end of act one …
Heck you can you can read the others for a plot synopsis (Kimli, Tanya, Rebecca, So Misguided ), for me this is about Sheila. I came to see her and would have gladly paid top dollar to be here.
What can you say when you get to see the person you love on stage, doing what they love, and doing it … well awesome of course.
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by Tris Hussey on March 7, 2009 · 0 comments
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We’re all in the house now. Miranda is happily snapping away while the rest of us type our first posts. Well, this is my second of course.
Had a quick break for a tour backstage with Tom Wright Dir. of Artistic Planning as our guide.
After hearing about the sets for weeks now, and surviving my third tech week hell (I don’t know how the performers last if the partners are so stressed), it’s great to see it for myself.
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I’m getting ready for Blogger Night at the Opera: Rigoletto and I thought you might like a little behind the scenes insight into preparing for a performance.
It’s very important before a performance for a performer to feel ready. Relaxed, rested, stress free. What this boils down to is sleeping in, PJs most of the day, and relaxing.
Okay relaxing entirely because there is a tradition to give gifts opening night so Sheila was preparing things for people. I won’t spoil the surprises, but they are very nice.
Myself I helped her choose [...]
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by Tris Hussey on October 24, 2008 · 0 comments
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I never thought I’d ever have not only known this, but also know what the Vancouver Opera is presenting this season. Chalk it up to dating an opera singer.
Anyway, first up is Eugene Onegin (pronounced like on-yay-gin hard “g”) and rehearsals start tomorrow. The opera is by Tchaikovsky and will be sung in Russian. If you’ve been following my tweets you’ll know that Sheila has been singing in Russian a lot lately. Believe me, not an easy language to sing in.
The performances start November 22nd through the 29th.
After that is [...]
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Tris Hussey is a writer, teacher, blogger, and speaker on all facets of Internet life, WordPress, and social media. He is the author of Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Blogging Projects to Start Blogging Like a Pro and Using WordPress.
