Vancouver 
Events Description
Exploring the theme of Fairytales & Fables, the celebration officially opens on April 27th with performances of the mainstage festival operas. Rossini’s much-loved La Cenerentola(Cinderella) kicks off the day with a 2:00 p.m. matinee at the Vancouver Playhouse. Gounod’s masterpiece, Faust will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The celebration continues with a dynamic series of programs, panels and performances daily from April 27th to May 5th. Festival highlights include the world premiere of Brian Current’s The River of Light in co-production with the Vancouver Bach Choir on May 3 for one performance only. One of Canada’s outstanding composers, Brian Current conceived of this exciting large-scale oratorio for chorus, soloists and orchestra in a multi-movement composition.
On April 28th the Vancouver Opera invites audiences of all ages to its Festival Open House; a full day of free community stage performances, workshops and activities. Watch a live circus spectacular from CircusWest at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly QET Plaza), take part in a backstage tour of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, enjoy performances by the Roaming Diva, join talks and panel discussions and participate in VOF ArtWalks. These events runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the Patio Bar open all afternoon.
The CBC Chamber Music Series returns to CBC Studio 700. These short, original chamber music concerts performed by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and Chorus and invited guests feature music inspired by Fairytales and Fables. Artists will include the Bergmann Piano Duo, members of the Yulanda M. Faris Young ArtistsProgram, and members of the Standing Wave Ensemble.
Vancouver Opera presents Opera Off Site on May 1st; pop-up performances at the Main Street Brewing Company and a screening of the 1926 black and white film adaptation of Faust at the Fox Cabaret featuring live accompaniment and special presentation of Fenlon & Fenlon featuring soprano Rachel Fenlon
VOF is opera through many lenses: a choral extravaganza, a cutting edge commissioned video art installation, performances by international stars, and much more.
HOW MUCH
Tickets : Varies with event
How to get tickets?
WHEN & WHERE
Date & Time:
April 27 to May 5, 2019
Open House Day: Sunday, April 28 | 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre and šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn Plaza.
FESTIVAL OPERAS
Faust by Charles Gounod Queen Elizabeth Theatre Sung in Frenchwith English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage
Evening performances 7:30p.m.
Matinée performance 2:00p.m.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 Thursday, May 2, 2019
Sunday, May 5, 2019 • matinee
La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini @ Vancouver Playhouse
Sung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM projected above the stage
Evening performances 7:30 p.m. Matinée performances 2:00 p.m. Early matinée performances 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 • matinee
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Thursday, May 2, 2019 • early matinee/relaxed performance Saturday, May 4, 2019
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Sunday, May 12, 2019 • matinee
MUSIC AT VOF
The River of Light
Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. Queen Elizabeth Theatre
The Troubador and the Tallow Candle
April 28 at 11:30 a.m.
CBC Studio 700
Composed and written by Lesley Sutherland featuring the Kettle Choir and Writer’s Guild in an adaptation of the recently discovered tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
CBC Chamber Music Series
An original series of five short performances of vocal and instrumental chamber music inspired by fairytales and fables. Featuring musicians from the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and invited soloists. CBC Studio 700. Tickets $35.
LEGENDS ACROSS THE AGES
April 28 at 4:00 p.m.
Art songs featuring the members of the Yulanda M Faris Young Artist Program.
The River of Light is an exciting world premiere of a large-scale work for chorus, soloists and orchestra
conceived and composed by Brian Current, one of Canada’s outstanding composers who is the recent
recipient of the Jules Leger prize awarded by the Canada Council. It is a multi movement work based on
transcendence as described by writers from various traditions (Hindu, Christian, Hebrew, Indigenous
Canadian, Islamic, Secular and Chinese Philosophy). Presented in co-production with the Vancouver Bach
Choir.
SCHEHERAZADE
May 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Featuring the music of Ravel and George Crumb performed by Mireille Lebel, Leslie Dala, and Rachel Fenlon.
SPOTLIGHT ON COMPOSER BRIAN CURRENT, COMPOSER OF THE RIVER OF LIGHT
May 2 at 5:00 p.m.
Featuring soprano Caitlin Wood, pianist Tina Chang, and the Standing Wave Ensemble.
MEPHISTO’S WALTZ
May 3 at 5:00 p.m.
Featuring the Bergmann Piano Duo playing works by Ravel, Liszt and Marcel Bergmann.
ROMANTIC FAIRY TALES
May 4 at 5:00 p.m.
Featuring music by Dvorak, Debussy, Rossini, and de Sarasate.
OPERA OFF SITE
Pop-up Performances
May 1 at 5:00 p.m.
Main Street Brewing Company
Faust
May 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Fox Cabaret
Screening of Faust, a 1926 black and white film with improvised piano accompaniment by Chris Gestrin and performance by Rachel Fenlon.
OPERA SPEAKS
Exploring opera’s music, stories and productions through informative discussions and conversation.
Opera Speaks with Paolo Pietropaulo April 28 at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Queen Elizabeth Theatre Salon
Opera Speaks with Brian Current April 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Salon
Opera Speaks on Relaxed Performances: Where to Begin? May 2 at 4:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Salon
Opera Speaks with Rebecca Hass May 4 at 11:00 a.m.
The Orpheum Annex
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Masterclass featuring Jonathan Darlington
May 1 and May 3 at 1:00 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Salon
Maestro Jonathan Darlington coaches singers and provides constructive feedback in front of a live audience.
The Flight of the Hummingbird Presentation
May 4 at 2:00 p.m.
The Orpheum Annex
Composer Maxime Goulet and co-designers Michael Nicoll Yahgulanass and Barry Gilson present excepts from the weeklong music workshop. This is a chance to pull back the curtain and learn more about how opera is created.
