Image Credit: Contributed
August 03, 2015 - 7:30 PM
KELOWNA - This year Opera Kelowna will be joined by prestigious international musicians in its presentation of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” A professionally hired cast, chorus, orchestra and youth ballet will make this a truly outstanding production.
Artistic Director Alexandra Babbel has gathered an excellent team including Scottish conductor Bernard McDonald, Vancouver Opera’s premier vocal coach, Kinza Tyrrell and local director, Mark Wells. The role of “Figaro” will be sung by Canada’s rising star Tyler Fitzgerald.
"A riotous comedy with a revolutionary sub-text, The Marriage of Figaro follows the Almaviva household through a single tumultuous day as Count Almaviva, his wife, his valet Figaro and his servants spin a tangled web of love affairs, plots and counterplots. The opera is based on the Beaumarchais play that caused an uproar in 18th century France for its subversive portrayal of uppity servants outwitting their aristocratic betters.
The opera charges along on steroids as the predatory Count tries to seduce Figaro's fiancée Susanna on her wedding day. But even as the Count receives his comeuppance, the opera becomes a poignant study of love, jealousy and ultimate forgiveness.
Mozart's score is an absolute masterpiece, at once sunny and sublime, unrivalled for beauty, grace and theatrical truth.”
"Opera is the ultimate team sport. With the multifaceted nature of a production, it takes an extensive team to pull off a complete opera,” states Babbel. “There, are in fact, far more individuals behind the scenes than on stage. Opera Kelowna’s mandate is to keep our artistic residents in the city by offering work in stage set design, painting, diction coaching, dance, fine art, conducting, costume design, wig mastering, make-up artistry, photography, filmography, graphic design, print, marketing, developing, event planning, styling and more.”
"The Marriage of Figaro” will be sung in Italian with English titles in order to keep the Kelowna audience engaged and enthralled. Nearly fifty performers will participate on the Opera Kelowna stage.
“This is an unprecedented gathering of international talent along with the inclusion of our own local musicians. The combination is both inspiring and rewarding. We are so delighted to offer this 'only in a big town' experience to our beloved community as we position ourselves on the national opera scene. While our audience will enjoy some of the best talent in this business, they will also see some of their children and grandchildren sharing the stage with the pros!” exclaims Babbel.
Community and private foundation partners include the Central Okanagan Foundation, the City of Kelowna, the Almond Family Fund - In Memory of Sean Almond at the Central Okanagan Foundation, and Business for the Arts.
What: The Marriage of Figaro
When: 7:30 p.m. | August 14th & 15th, 2015
Where: Rotary Centre for the Arts | 421 Cawston Avenue
Tickets online at www.operakelowna.com and www.selectyourtickets.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015