Saskatoon Opera performs in diverse settings
Saskatoon Opera’s 2017-2018 season began with ‘Home for the Holidays,’ our annual benefit concert showcasing Saskatoon’s emerging opera singers who have come home for the Christmas holidays. These talented local singers and their accompanists performed opera arias, generously donating their performances to our company.
Saskatoon Opera (SO) also strives to present opera in diverse settings. In January 2018, SO presented A Prairie Boy’s Life, an evening of contemporary Canadian compositions including John Greer’s opera inspired by the works of Canadian artist and writer William Kurelek. This multi-media event featured faculty of the University of Manitoba: five singers, including international opera star, Tracy Dahl, in her Saskatoon debut, and three pianists, including the composer. Strong visual and narrative elements paid tribute to Kurelek’s genius, and to the merging of all arts: the essence of the opera art form.
Since 2001, Saskatoon Opera in Schools has performed for over 80,000 elementary and high school students in this province. In 2018, SOIS presented The Scorpions’ Sting, based on an ancient Egyptian legend, by Canadian composer Dean Burry. Featuring puppetry and audience participation, debuting director Erica Mcfadden and her team including Saskatchewan singers Emma Johnson, Chris Donlevy, Jardena Gertler-jaffe, Jean van der Merwe, and pianist Maria Fuller created an entertaining production that fascinated our young audiences.
In June 2018, at the Remai Arts Centre, Saskatoon Opera’s main stage production was La Bohème, the world’s favourite romantic opera. Set in contemporary Saskatoon, debuting stage director Charlie Peters’ production moved and delighted our audiences while sending a strong message about present-day issues of poverty and health care. Maestro Eric Paetkau conducted an exciting all-canadian cast of opera stars, the Saskatoon Opera Orchestra & Chorus and the Saskatoon Children’s Choir (Artistic Director: Phoebe Voigts).
Saskatoon Opera’s 2017-2018 season concluded with a series of summertime Prom concerts on Wednesday evenings at Christ Church Anglican. Highlighting the series was a special benefit recital, “No Place like Home,” with rising Canadian opera star Danika Lorèn and pianist Mark Turner. A native of Saskatoon, Ms. Lorèn is a graduate of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, a recent prizewinner of the Stella Maris International Competition and will appear next season at the COC as Musetta in La Bohème.
Our 2018-2019 season includes some exciting initiatives, beginning with a Saskatoon Opera/saskatoon Symphony co-production of Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock by Winnipeg composer Neil Weisensel. Based on Leacock’s short story written in 1914, it is the author’s cry against the horrors of war. Performances are November 23 and 24, 2018.
On December 29, SO’S fourth ‘Home for the Holidays’ takes place, when Saskatoon’s opera singers perform some of opera’s greatest hits.
In January 2019, It’s Romance!, is an opera cabaret of love songs and ensembles with a quartet of singers in an intimate setting. Saskatoon Opera in Schools 2019 presents A Tapestry of Dreams, an original narrative focusing on some of opera’s best-loved characters.
Elementary school performances in Saskatoon and area are early – mid May. In June 2019, Saskatoon Opera’s season culminates in a fully staged opera with orchestra and a cast of some of Canada’s finest emerging opera stars at the Remai Arts Centre. Stay tuned for our season announcement in September! For complete details, visit saskatoonopera.ca.