Passion for opera at Rutland Senior Secondary
A passion for opera is spreading through Rutland Senior Secondary School.
Opera is the greatest art form invented by humankind — it is “Gesamtkunstwerk” (the all-embracing art form), a sublime mixture of wonderful symphonic music, lyrical singing, dramatic theatre, beautiful dance and grand spectacle, all in one perfect performance.
Once students have attended an opera at the Vancouver Opera, they are bitten by the operatic bug, and demand more and more performances.
Already this year, I’ve taken students to see three different operas — Giuseppe Verdi’s tragic “Otello,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic “Marriage of Figaro,” and Giacomo Puccini’s spectacular “Turandot.” Each trip was sold out, and 54 students on each trip not only attended the opera performance itself, but also got a fantastic backstage tour to see the costumes and the sets.
During the backstage tour, the students got to meet the wonderful Argentinian tenor, Marcelo Puente, who spoke about developing an appreciation of opera, and even sang the famous aria “Nessun Dorma” with two of the students.
Everyone dressed formally for the opera performance in the evening and all were mesmerized by the whole spectacle; their very souls were nourished by the beautiful music and drama.
The students enjoyed the opera so much, that our next opera in January, Gaetano Donizetti’s delightful Elixir of Love is completely sold out, with over 130 students applying to go.
Long live opera at Rutland Senior Secondary – Viva l’opera!