Friday, December 17, 2010

Coming To An Inbox Near You



On Monday, December 20, VO will be offering a wicked opera promo with group buying site, Groupon.

So whether you're an opera-lover, opera-curious or you've got some Christmas shopping left to do, make sure to keep an eye out for this daily deal.

~ Ling Chan

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Art of Blogging



Interested in social media for your business? Or know someone who is curious about starting a company blog? Or wondering what to get for the executive in your life? Christmas is just around the corner!

Pick up Blogging To Drive Business, written by Eric Butow and one of VO's Blogger Night at the Opera bloggers, Rebecca Bollwitt aka Miss 604. Rebecca was responsible for planting the seed for our blogger night initiative when she attended Eugene Onegin in the fall of 2008. She was also a part of our original blogger line-up.

Another reason to purchase the book? We're in it! Vancouver Opera was profiled as a case study, along with organizations such as Intel, Adidas, Vancouver Canucks, Molson Coors Brewing Company and Urban Spoon. You can find us on page 125 under the chapter, "Getting Eyeballs To Your Blog".

An insightful and informative read, it may even inspire you to start your own blog (for business or for pleasure).

Pick up your copy today!

~ Ling Chan

Bizet's Carmen In Concert



Say hello to Vancouver Concert Opera Cooperative! The newly formed company, "aimed at creating performance opportunities for Operatic Professionals and Emerging Operatic Professionals from Canada", will be making their debut by performing Bizet's Carmen in January.

You'll no doubt recognize many of the artists in VanCoCo from their close connection to Vancouver Opera:

Principle Repetiteur and Music Director of Vancouver Opera in Schools (VOIS), Kinza Tyrrell and Vancouver Opera choristers Natalie Burdeny, John Arsenault, Andrew Greenwood, Jeremy Griffin, Jeanine Fynn and Paul Just, as well as VO's Young Artist Coaching Intensive (YACIN) bursary winner Arianna Sovernigo.

Join VanCoCo for a fun-filled evening of opera!

January 8, 2011 @ 7:30pm
Canadian Memorial United Church
15th and Burrard, Vancouver, BC


Adults $22 and Students/Seniors $16 *

Ample FREE Parking available on 15th, Burrard and surrounding streets.

Click here to purchase advance tickets!

* General Seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reserved seating available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, click here.

~ Ling Chan

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Farewell to Lucia di Lammermoor

And we're closing 2010 with a bang...

Can you believe that we're just a couple of weeks away from 2011?! It seemed like just yesterday that the singers flew in to start Lucia di Lammermoor rehearsals.

We knew from the get-go that Lucia was going to be special. It was our chance to introduce you to rising star (soon to be superstar!) Michael Fabiano, as well as welcoming back Eglise Gutierrez, who had blew us away with her portrayal of Gilda in Rigoletto (2009). We fell in love with this production and it seems, so did our opera-goers.

So here's a look back at a Lucia di Lammermoor that thrilled you, made you weep and brought you to your feet.





Thanks to everyone who came to Lucia di Lammermoor! See you back at the theatre in the new year!

~ Ling Chan

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The World Is A Stage

Opera stages either come flat or raked. When an opera stage is raked, that means that the stage is angled towards the auditorium. This is so that theatre patrons, especially those sitting in the orchestra level, are able to see all the action happening on stage. (Well, that one advantage of sitting way up in the "god seats!")



To compare, VO's last opera, Lillian Alling, was performed on a flat stage while Lucia di Lammermoor is set on a raked stage. Actually, it takes the raked stage one step further into what VO's Director of Production, Terry Harper, calls a curved deck piece.

It's a simple set but it takes up a lot of space; most of which is the downstage part. To construct the set, it takes about 9 hours and a crew of 16. Surprisingly, the easiest part to put together is the curve, whereas the most difficult would be the top of the castle.


Lucia di Lammermoor blueprint details the sharp curve of the stage

Of course with a curve this extreme, I couldn't help but ask my friend who is a professional skateboarder if he would want to skate the Lucia set. And indeed he would! But of course, we didn't let that happen. (it was just a hypothetical question)



The set was designed by Gerard Howland for San Francisco Opera's 1999 production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Unfortunately, the set was heavily criticized when it premiered.

San Francisco Opera revived a 1994 production by Gerard Howland, a sad mistake of design then, no better now, and best trashed before used again. Its sole distinguishing element is a heavily skewed view of the castle seen from the perspective of someone lying on the ground in a courtyard and looking up, suggesting that the castle is an uncomfortably confined space, in which, of course, our heroine is trapped. Not a very profound point for such an aggressively vertiginous visual assault. - Culture Vulture

Gerard Howland’s production, in which Swenson appeared when it was new a few years ago, is a one-gimmick concept, that of a "worm’s eye view" of the courtyard with stone walls in sharp perspective ringing a rectangle of sky. - Concerto Net

The set provides one initial visual jolt, as the audience realizes that it's looking straight up the walls of a medieval Scottish fortress. After that, though, it's three hours of characters walking perpendicular to the backdrop, as if in an unintentional parody of M.C. Escher. - SF Gate

In all likelihood, Howland's productions are destined for the scrap heap, when new General Director Pamela Rosenberg arrives in mid-2001. The "Lucia" is the one with the unit set which represents a worm's eye view of a castle courtyard; the Ashtons apparently live in a Scottish bunker. - SF Gate

It could very well have not been appreciated in its time. The consensus amongst the opera patrons and reviewers who attended Lucia this past week was that they loved the set.

The set by Gerard Howling and lighting by David Fraser were exceptional. Reading like an MC Escher painting, a style called impossible reality, the set at first glance seemed gorgeous and functional but on closer examination, it changes the audience’s perspective, leaving the performers treading across a stage that in reality is the floor but should really be a wall. The audience’s perspective would be that of lying down on a floor looking up at a ceiling. This is crazy stuff but serves the purpose brilliantly in a story whose main character goes mad. - Vancouver Observer

The eye-catching set by Gerard Harland was a view of the castle from the perspective of someone looking straight up from the ground. Omnipresent and demanding it enveloped the Lammermoor family. A lowering forest from the same perspective continued the dark and brooding theme. - Review Vancouver

The opera unfolded gently, ominously, on a set that resembled something from an M.?C. Escher print—the view is of a castle’s four walls as seen directly from the ground, as if from a grave, with the action taking place, surreally, on one of the walls. A few minimal furnishings and some evocative projections were all that was needed to create a moody, darkly brooding atmosphere. - The Georgia Straight

Like what happens when making movies, sometimes the city that it's being shot in becomes another character. In my opinion, Howland's set is just as important as all the other characters it houses. I loved the forced perspective of this set, whereby your eyes are drawn to the "tops of the castle" and in the opening, videos such as ominous dark skies and silverly moonlight are projected.


Photo credit: Ken Friedman

This is where Lucia, bloodied and with knife in hand, lingers prior to coming down to be amongst all the reception guests. In those few moments, one wonders if she would really jump from the castle roofs, having gone completely mad.


Photo credit: Tim Matheson

And lastly while watching it in the dark of the theatre, I was reminded of the 2004 movie, Alien vs. Predator. Although hardly set in the lowlands of Scotland, AVP takes place 2000 ft below ground on Bouvetøya Island in the Antarctic ocean. Like Howland's set, the movie features stone pyramid structures and chambers, the lighting is dark and ominous and there's only one opening where the nightsky could be seen. In this case a long tunnel that takes the remaining survivors back up to the surface. An inspiration perhaps?

It may just have been me that saw that, although when I told a fellow opera-goer afterwards of my thoughts, he was then able to see it too.

Yes I know. The cheese stands alone.

~ Ling Chan

Friday, December 10, 2010

The Sextet From Lucy



Oh, those 3 stoogies and their madcap antics. In their short film, Micro-Phonies (1945), Moe, Curly and Larry encounter a pretty aspiring opera singer while working at a radio station. Curly later gets mistaken for the soprano by a talent scout as the trio were messing about in a recording studio.

To keep up with the charade, a cross-dressing Curly aka Señorita Cucaracha has to sing or should I say, lip synch at a posh dinner party. And the record The 3 Stooges choose to lip synch to? None other than the Lucia di Lammermoor sextet, "Chi mi frena in tal momento" or as they call it "Sextet from Lucy."



Fast forward to 2:10 for the hilarity.

To hear the non-Stooges version, press play:



Or even better, hear it sung live by Eglise Gutiérrez, Michael Fabiano, Gregory Dahl, Thomas Macleay, Burak Bilgili and Dionne Sellinger at the final performance of Lucia di Lammermoor tomorrow night.

~ Ling Chan

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Love For Lucia di Lammermoor

Beautiful. Tremendous. Outstanding. Spectacular. Imaginative.

It may be a tragic opera, wrought with grief, heartbreak and bloodshed, but that didn't stop our opera patrons from loving Lucia di Lammermoor to pieces.

Tremendous. The vocalists were outstanding and the music was just top-notch. I really enjoyed it. A very professional production.

I enjoyed it tremendously. It was one of the best we have seen. Absolutely fabulous.

Wonderful. Outstanding. The music was spectacular. It just gave you shivers. It was a treat, a real treat. And the chorus was just so rich.

I loved it. It was my favourite one. The best ever, I think.

I feel like I'm on another planet. It was so beautiful.

I thought the set was quite imaginative. This is a first class performance.

I'm always impressed with the productions at this theatre. It's really great.

Wonderful ending to it. It ended off with a bang.


Press play to hear what everyone had to say. Or double-click the video to see it directly on VO's Youtube channel.


Video by Mike McKinley and Bombshelter Productions

Get your tickets now! Only 2 performances left! Call 604.683.0222 to speak to our box office or order online!

See you down at the theatre!

~ Ling Chan

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Lucia di Lammermoor: Bloggers Final Thoughts


From left: Miranda Lievers, Frances Sprout, Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belanio

A big thank you to our bloggers who joined us for Blogger Night at the Opera. As suspected, all of our bloggers were really enjoyed Lucia di Lammermoor.

Here are their thoughts on Lucia, Eglise Gutierrez, Michael Fabiano and the excitement of opening night:

The Vancouver audience roared their approval when the final curtain fell. When the lead performers returned to the stage, the Vancouver audience leapt to their feet in the most spontaneous standing ovation I have ever see. The Vancouver audience needed this performance and unequivocally showed their love for the performance. Well done. Very well done.

The bottom line; if you are going to see one Vancouver Opera performance this season, make sure it is Lucia di Lammermoor. This is the opera of the season.
- Stacey Robinsmith

To read more from Stacey, click here.


This opera is astonishingly beautiful, stunning music, really. and Lucia's first aria -- the end of a duet with Alisa (mezzo-soprano Dionne Sellinger) had the crowd applauding and even, from a gentleman in the row ahead of us, several heartfelt hoots. Gutiérrez's soprano is breathtaking -- how can something so powerful appear to float so effortlessly, note piling on note in a sumptuous wreath of sound... - Frances Sprout

To read more from Frances, click here and here.


Wow! Eglise Gutierrez is like none other! A stunning performance. Her range is extraordinary. I'm speechless. - Nik Belanio

To read more from Nik, click here and here.


I was told ahead of time I was in for a treat with Eglise Gutiérrez playing the part of Lucia, but I was not prepared to be so completely blown away by her performance. I don’t want to lessen the work of the rest of the cast as it really is beautiful – particularly that of Gregory Dahl who plays Lucia’s brother Enrico and of course Michael Fabiano’s performance as Edgardo, especially in the final scene where the power of his voice really shines.

That said – Eglise has my heart. I think I could listen to her for hours, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any more incredible Act 3 started and…well… if you’ve been on the fence about heading out to the opera, this is absolutely the show to see. She will blow you away.
- Miranda Lievers

Thank you Bloggers for being a part of such an amazing night! We look forward to welcoming you back for La Clemenza di Tito!

~ Ling Chan

Monday, December 6, 2010

On The Town With Lucia's Men

What do you get when you invite Lucia di Lammermoor's Michael Fabiano, Gregory Dahl and Thomas Macleay out for coffee and CD shopping?

Hours of merriment, loads of cheeky fun and some pretty lively discussions. (there were some doozies!)

When you get these guys together, it's no surprise they will draw people's attention. Gregory Dahl was even recognized and stopped by a passerby in the middle of the street!

Here's a peek of what it was like to hang out with affable and charming men of Lucia di Lammermoor.


CD shopping with Michael Fabiano & Gregory Dahl


Michael Fabiano buying a Verdi's Requiem CD


Thomas Macleay & Michael Fabiano talking music



Press play or go to our Youtube channel to listen to the men talk about opera, music and what it takes to be an opera singer.

Big thanks to Michael, Gregory, Thomas, Sikora's Classical Records, Subeez Cafe and Queen Elizabeth Theatre!

For Lucia di Lammermoor, call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here. Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee).

BONUS: To get your free Lucia di Lammermoor poster with your tickets, give our box office PROMO CODE 2956 when you call in or enter PROMO CODE 2956 on the login page on our website.

Tweet A Conductor December 8

#Askaconductor Day is just around the corner!

This Wednesday, folks on Twitter will be able to ask maestros from around the world their burning questions. Vancouver Opera's Music Director, Jonathan Darlington, will be participating with 40 other conductors in this exciting initiative. You can ask a general question to any conductor or you can pick a specific conductor you'd like to ask.


Photo credit: Christoph Müller-Girod

Maestro Jonathan Darlington at @j_darlington will be available for your questions between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm (Pacific Standard Time).

To participate:

Step 1: Think of a question

Step 2: Log in to Twitter (free to join if you are not already a member)

Step 3: Pose your question on December 8. Just remember to stick to 140 characters or less and be sure to include the hash tag #askaconductor

Step 4: Wait for the conductor to answer!

Whether you're a longtime classical music/opera fan or a newbie, everyone is welcome to join in on the conversation on December 8.

See you online!

~ Ling Chan

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Lucia di Lammermoor: The Trailer

Here's your first look at the thrilling and tragic bel canto masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor starring Eglise Gutiérrez, Michael Fabiano and Gregory Dahl.

Press play or double-click the video to see it directly on VO's Youtube channel.


Video by Bombshelter Productions & Mike McKinley

Get your tickets now!

Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee). Call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here.

BONUS: To get your free Lucia di Lammermoor poster with your tickets, give our box office PROMO CODE 2956 when you call in or enter PROMO CODE 2956 on the login page on our website.

~ Ling Chan

Friday, December 3, 2010

Christmas With Les Dala



When Leslie Dala, VO's Associate Conductor and Chorus Director, was appointed the new Music Director of Vancouver Bach Choir last year, we were thrilled. The opportunity couldn't have happened to a nicer and talented-beyond-belief guy. Les was recently named one of the 'Top 10 Artistic Leads Whose Stars Are On The Rise' by the Vancouver Sun.

To open Vancouver Bach Choir's 80th anniversary season, Les will take the podium to conduct a trio of Christmas concerts at the Orpheum Theatre.



Christmas with the Bach Choir
December 5


Leslie Dala's first season as Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir begins with this ever-popular annual concert. The concert brings together all the choirs of the Bach Choir organization.

Handel's Messiah
December 11


A grand performance of Handel's Messiah, surely the most popular work of all time, in the fabulous setting of the Orpheum Theatre. Music Director, Leslie Dala conducts the Bach Choir, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and noted Canadian soloists Allison Angelo, soprano; Lauren Segal, mezzo; Colin Ainsworth, tenor, and Alexander Dobson, bass.

The Sing-Along-Messiah
December 12


The Bach Choir's Sing Along Messiah will receive its 30th Annual performance on Sunday afternoon, December 12th. The Sing Along Messiah is an afternoon of music making and good fellowship which includes the audience, the Bach Choir, the Vancouver Symphony and fifteen auditioned soloists.

Three wonderful events to get you in the mood for Christmas. (It's approaching fast!)

For more information, click here for the Vancouver Bach Choir website.

~ Ling Chan

Lucia di Lammermoor Ticket Giveaway!


Artwork by Leonard Dente

Up for grabs are 2 tickets to Tuesday, December 7 performance of Lucia di Lammermoor!

Here's what you need to do:

1. Track down a street or bus shelter poster of Lucia di Lammermoor

2. Scan the QR code on the poster

3. First person to scan and email their location gets the tickets!

And go!

~ Ling Chan

Thursday, December 2, 2010

A Food Drive For The Food Bank



Vancouver Opera will once again be collecting non-perishable food items on behalf of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

We will have Food Bank boxes placed throughout the Queen Elizabeth Theatre during our run of Lucia di Lammermoor, so we invite you to make a donation if you can.

We welcome all food donations from EVERYONE during our performance hours down at the QET:

Saturday, December 4
Tuesday, December 7
Thursday, December 9
Saturday, December 11

The Food Bank receives 75% of its yearly donations during the holiday season. It is through the support of individuals that they are able to continue to provide food to those who are struggling to make ends meet. The Food Bank continue to serve up to 25,000 recipients each week, 40% (10,000) of whom are children. The Food Bank receive no government funding.

If you are unable to attend Lucia di Lammermoor but would like to make a contribution, please feel free to drop by the theatre too! Vancouver Opera staff will be one hand to receive your donation from 630pm to 10pm each night.

All efforts are much appreciated during this holiday season!

~ Ling Chan

Blogging Lucia di Lammermoor

The drama! The heartache! The madness!

Bloggers Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout will take on the dramma tragico, Lucia di Lammermoor, this Saturday.

The quartet will also be sharing their thoughts on the entire experience: from hobnobbing with other opera patrons, reporting from the backstage tour and listening to the exquisite bel canto singing.

Follow along the sidebar to the right for their weblinks as they blog pre-show and during the intermission.


Clockwise from top left: Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout

Don't be shy! Stop by and say hello to our friendly bloggers on opening night in the main lobby of the QET. They can't wait to meet you!

Sponsored by:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Why Is Lucia Mad?



Wanna know why Lucia is mad? To find out, scan this QR code.

~ Ling Chan

The Philly Trio

Didja know that not only did Lucia di Lammermoor's Michael Fabiano, Eglise Gutiérrez and Burak Bilgili train at the esteemed Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, but the trio also live in Philadelphia?



And yes, when they're all in town at the same time, they do hang out.

Find out more about Lucia di Lammermoor.

Don't miss out! Get your tickets now!
Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee). Call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here.

BONUS: To get your free Lucia di Lammermoor poster with your tickets, give our box office PROMO CODE 2956 when you call in or enter PROMO CODE 2956 on the login page on our website.

~ Ling Chan

Monday, November 29, 2010

Shadow Of The Ninja



Our Opera Ninja army is growing!

A stealthy welcome to the newest addition to our clan: Opera Ninja Tris Hussey. Like a ghostly apparition at midnight, one can never sure if they've seen our newest shadow. Ninjas are known to possess invisibility and shape-shifting abilities, you know.

It'll be one clan watching two others on Thursday, December 2. Join Opera Ninja Tris as he reports on all the intrigues between the Ashtons and the Ravenwoods at the Lucia di Lammermoor dress rehearsal.

Whether employing tactics such as Tanuki-gakure (camouflaging oneself up in the trees) or Ukigusa-gakure (camouflaging oneself under water with duckweed), Opera Ninja Tris will get you closer to all the action.

Follow along Thursday night's dress rehearsal at our Twitter: @Operaninja or along the right side-bar of this blog.

The action begins at 7pm.

Sponsored by:


~ Ling Chan

Lucia Fan Night & Backstage Tour



Lucia Fan Night is Tuesday, December 7!

If you're coming to Lucia di Lammermoor on December 7, come a wee bit earlier and get a backstage tour. The tour will be led by our artistic team who will give you some behind the scenes insights to what you'll be watching on stage.

When: Tuesday, December 7, 630pm
Where: Meet at the far east side of the lobby


Please RSVP by December 6 to lchan@vancouveropera.ca for your exclusive look backstage.

Twitter/Facebook Fan Night sponsored by The Georgia Straight:



~ Ling Chan

Friday, November 26, 2010

Lucia Here, Lucia There, Lucia Everywhere

Soprano Eglise Gutiérrez looks like she was born to sing the role of Lucia di Lammermoor. Ms Gutiérrez has sung Lucia for Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Connecticut Opera, Teatros Bellas Artes in Mexico, Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland, Florida Grand Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin and now she's performing her signature role at Vancouver Opera.

Lucia is in her blood. Really! Ms Gutierrez recently gave birth to a baby girl whom she's named Lucia.

For a preview of Lucia's famous "mad scene", press play on the video:



Don't miss out! Get your tickets now! Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee). Call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here.

BONUS: To get your free Lucia di Lammermoor poster with your tickets, give our box office PROMO CODE 2956 when you call in or enter PROMO CODE 2956 on the login page on our website.

~ Ling Chan

Lucia di Lammermoor: The Manga

Two feuding families. A love that could never be and an emotionally fragile girl who is forced into a marriage that ends in tragedy.

Here's Lucia di Lammermoor as seen through the eyes of manga artist Lily Dai and editor Roy Husada.













To supersize, double click on the images.

~ Ling Chan

It's A Mad World

Well if THIS isn't a fitting song for Lucia di Lammermoor! You know the song I mean.



You may have grown up listening to the original Tears for Fears version. Or you may have heard the stripped down cover version by Gary Jules in the movie, Donnie Darko, which was also later used in the movie trailer for The Crazies.

We're talking Mad World to go along with Lucia's psyche. Speaking about the song's meaning, Tears for Fears' Curt Smith is quoted as saying, "It's very much a voyeur's song. It's looking out at a mad world from the eyes of a teenager."

A VO staffer put together this "Mad World" video with still photos from Opera de Montréal's 2009 production of Lucia di Lammermoor starring Eglise Gutiérrez.




To prep you for next week's opening of Lucia di Lammermoor, press play and get a sense of Lucia's doom and gloom.

~ Ling Chan

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Ask A Conductor Day



Maestros are fascinating, mysterious and a force to be reckoned with. These master musicians stand above his orchestra and help everyone keep a steady beat. They set the tempo, the mood and are there to cue orchestra sections of when to start playing. To be a maestro, you have to have an amazing ear and incredible artistic expression.

And yet, so little is known about these enigmatic conductors and their world.

Well, that curtain is about to be lifted.

Join us on December 8 for Ask A Conductor Day on Twitter:

On December 8, 2010, conductors around the world will come together to engage fans, first-timers and complete strangers. It is an opportunity for orchestras and conductors to share their love and passion, 140 characters at a time.

The concept is simple: conductors make some time available to answer questions on December 8; Twitter followers ask their burning questions, and the conductors answer.


The brilliant project is organized by Lacey Huszcza, Director of Operations and Promotions at Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Marc Van Bree, consultant and blogger at Dutch Perspective. Inspired by the Ask A Curator Twitter event, Ask A Conductor day is the perfect way for audiences to connect with maestros and their orchestras and learn how music truly comes together.


Photo credit: Christoph Müller-Girod

VO's Music Director and Maestro Jonathan Darlington will be available for all your questions December 8 between 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm (Pacific Standard Time).

Just tweet him a question at @j_darlington and he'll respond. You can also follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #askaconductor.

For a list of other participating conductors, click here.

Join VO on December 8 for this fun event! Put on some opera or classical music to set the mood and get tweeting!

~ Ling Chan

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Greg Steffensen: VO's Renaissance Man



Gregg Steffensen is a multi-talented, multi-faceted kinda guy. Not only is he VO's Assistant Technical Director but he's also a musician, an audio technician, a carpenter and mixed media artist.

When not building props in our prop shop, he's participating in exhibitions such as The Drift: Art on Main Street.


Gregg's most recent project features acrylic and photo transfers onto small blocks

When he doesn't have a paintbrush in hand, he's wielding a pair of drumsticks.





Greg has played drums and percussion for shoe-gazing/dreampop band Hinterland. The band were featured on MuchMusic and CBC TV and also won recognition from Georgia Straight Music Awards for best local album, best vocalist and most underrated band.

Drawn Ship, his current band with with vocalist Lynn Heinemann, is described as "two person rock music from the back of the classroom." The band's next gig will be November 26 at the Art Bank Gallery.



Where does he find the time? Not only does Gregg work, paints and drums, he's also completing the Fine Arts Certificate program at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. With endless amounts of energy and creativity, Gregg is truly a renaissance man.

~ Ling Chan

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Amiel Gladstone Takes On Lucia's Mad Scene


Photo credit: Fabrice Glover

Stage Director Amiel Gladstone is well-known in the Canadian theatre community, having directed a great many productions for companies such as Belfry Theatre, Theatre Replacement, Electric Company and the Arts Club.

Amiel took on the role as Assistant Director for VO's Eugene Onegin (2008) and returns as the Stage Director for Lucia di Lammermoor. He's also directed the Vancouver Opera In Schools touring production of Jack Pine and is the recipient of a Vancouver Opera Foundation Award, a Vancouver Opera Guild Emerging Artist Award, and two Jessie Awards.

Press play to listen to Amiel, who was a panelist at Opera Speaks, talk about how he set up the famous "mad scene" in VO's production of Lucia di Lammermoor.



~ Ling Chan

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Lucia Gets QR Coded



Our behind-the-scenes QR codes are back for Lucia di Lammermoor!

Street posters, as well as, bus shelter posters are now up and in your neighbourhoods.

Here's where you can find the bus shelter posters:

* King Edward Avenue and Laurel Street
* Main Street and 16th Avenue
* Broadway and Larch Street
* Cambie Street and 61st Avenue
* Commercial Street and Adanac Street
* East 49th Avenue and Knight Street
* Fraser Street and East 23rd Avenue
* Nanaimo Street and East Hastings Street
* SW Marine Drive and Granville Street
* West Boulevard and 51st Street

Just look for the QR code on the lower right hand side of the poster. Scan the code with your smartphone and get some very interesting facts about the stars of Lucia di Lammermoor.

All to get you that much more excited come opening night!

~ Ling Chan

Western Canada Winners of the Met Auditions


Left to right: David Gibbons, Michael Nyby, Alicia Woynarski, Sylvia Szadovszki, Xiao Dong Zhang and Michael MacKinnon.

Big thanks to everyone who came out for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Western Canada District Auditions on November 14 at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Thanks to Dawne Dye, former member of the VO Chorus, and the Vancouver Opera Guild for hosting and organizing the event.

Thirty five singers came out and sang their hearts out for judges Richard Gaddes, former director of the Sante Fe Opera Company, Cynthia Munzer, an internationally known mezzo-soprano from Los Angeles and a professor at USCThornton School of Music and Christine Bullin, former director of San Francisco Opera Center and present director of San Francisco's Chantecleer.

It was a toughie, what with so many talented singers!

The 5 winners of the competition are David Gibbons (who won the Encouragement Award), Michael Nyby, Alicia Woynarski, Sylvia Szadovszki, Xiao Dong Zhang and Michael MacKinnon. The winners will share the $4500 prize money which was provided by the Vancouver Opera Guild. The quintet will go onto the Northwest Finals which takes place in Seattle on January 16.

One step closer to landing a coveted spot with the Met! Good luck to everyone in January!

~ Ling Chan

Lucia di Lammermoor: Cast Interviews


Video by Bombshelter Productions & Mike McKinley

The story of Lucia is about a young girl who is very romantic and in love with the wrong person, someone who is feuding with her family. Through various machinations, she descends into madness and the whole thing ends in a very romantic and tragic way. - Amiel Gladstone

It's a story that anybody would relate to because everybody remembers probably what it was like to be 16 and in love. - Gregory Dahl

This piece is unique in that you can't always see the direction that the music's going in. Sure, there's choruses, there's cavatinas, there's cabalettas but there's not always an order to the madness, which is different than some of the other operas that Donizetti's composed. - Michael Fabiano

It's one of the beautiful Italian operas, so you'll get all the spectacles in terms of the beautiful sets, the lighting and full chorus. Also, the cast that's been assembled is just some of the world-class talents so that the singing, matched with Donizetti's music, is stunning. - Amiel Gladstone

Don't miss out! Get your tickets now!

Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee). Call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here.

BONUS: To get your free Lucia di Lammermoor poster with your tickets, give our box office PROMO CODE 2956 when you call in or enter PROMO CODE 2956 on the login page on our website.

~ Ling Chan

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

VO used QR codes to promote Lillian, It is amazing!!!! *Was it a special Marketing campaign? *Why did you decided to use QR code?* Did the company mea

Thanks for the question!

We'll be using QR codes for all our operas this season. Prior to the show, we'll have one QR code that followers can scan to get a behind-the-scenes look at the production. This code can be found on our outdoor posters and bus shelter posters.

Down at the theatre, you can find 4 QR codes on a poster in the lobby, with each QR code featuring something different. These 4 QR codes can also be found in our house program, so you can scan them at home and after the performance ends.

With smartphones on the rise, we thought implementing QR codes might be a fun way to enhance our patron's experiences of the opera.

The Lillian Alling opera was the first time we've used QR codes, but the feedback we received have been very positive. As QR codes are fairly new to North Americans, we're looking forward to seeing QR codes really take off. (I see more and more retailers making use of QR codes)

We hope to be highlighting different QR code exclusives with every opera. Stay tuned!

Ask me anything



~ Ling Chan

Lucia On Your Wall


Artwork by Leonard Dente

We're offering a little Lucia di Lammermoor keepsake to go with your night at the opera. The posters, which measure 19" x 28", are the one you'll be seeing around town.

Hang it up in your house or at your office, they look great anywhere. The posters also make a great stocking stuffer for the opera-lover in your life. (Christmas is ONLY 5 weeks away!)

So how does one get a poster?

Option 1.

Call the good folks at our ticketing centre and give them PROMO CODE 2956 when you purchase your Lucia tickets.

Option 2.

Purchase your tickets online and enter PROMO CODE 2956 The promo box can be found under the username and password box on the login page. (click on the image to view)


Get your tickets and posters now!

Single tickets starting at $29 (plus handling fee). Call our ticketing centre at 604.683.0222 or purchase online here.

~ Ling Chan

Monday, November 15, 2010

Q & A With Lucia's Michael, Gregory & Burak



When did Michael, Gregory and Burak start singing, and why or when they knew singing was ‘it’ for them?

Greg, what have you done to prepare for this first performance as Enrico? Is it any different than your normal routine?


That's just a sample of the questions that are coming in for the sit-down with Lucia di Lammermoor's Michael Fabiano, Gregory Dahl and Burak Bilgili.

Get your questions in to the fellas by Friday, November 19. We'll be recording Michael, Gregory and Burak's answers by video and posting it right here on our blog and our Youtube channel the following week.

~ Ling Chan

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Setting The Tragedy

Ancient clan hatred.

Madness and murder.

Devastating consequences.

All set amongst the brooding lowlands of Scotland, a country known for its castles, lochs, moors, remote glens and the wild North Sea. What a perfect setting for all the deception and tragedy found in Lucia di Lammermoor.

Here's your first look at our Lucia di Lammermoor set, rented from San Francisco Opera and designed by Gerard Howland:













A dark set for Lucia's dark side. Can't hardly wait.

Photo credit: Ken Friedman

~ Ling Chan