Listen, Watch and Read with Maestro Darlington

Can't get enough of VO's Music Director Maestro Jonathan Darlington?

Well then, tune in tomorrow at 11am PST to listen to the live broadcast of the 3rd Philharmonic Concert on German radio station WDR3.

Click on the link "Stream" under the right hand column, sit back and be swept away.

And if that's not enough, (and we know it's not) watch the Maetro interview organist Wayne Marshall:



Last but certainly not least, read Jonathan Darlington’s programme notes for the 3rd Philharmonic Concert with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Wayne Marshall and the Mercatorhalle concert hall’s new organ.


Photo by Christoph Müller-Girod

~ Ling Chan

Operabot Screening Party

Operabot Screening Party, presented by The Georgia Straight and hosted by Rainmaker Studios will take place Tuesday, November 17.

If you would like to come for the screening, have some bevvies and eats, shoot me an email at lchan@vancouveropera.ca and I'll add you to the guestlist. But hurry, seating is limited!

~ Ling Chan

Can You Spot The Difference?

If you've been to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in the past year+, you'd of course notice the renovations going on in and around the 50 year old building.

On November 12, Vancouver Civic Theatres director Rae Ackerman was happy to report that all renovations are now completed!

So what are our opera-loving friends in for when they join us for Norma on November 28?

We don't want to ruin the surprise just yet, but we CAN tell you that the acoustics grading have now be raised from "a D to an A", thus rivaling the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.

Check out the Georgia Straight video for more details:


Video by Matthew Burrow

~ Ling Chan

Dress You Up

We got a local celeb in our midst!

Our very own wardrobe supervisor, Parvin Mirhady, is getting featured in BC Business Magazine!

Every month BC Business Magazine spotlights a full page on different businesses or industries at work. For the November issue, Vancouver Opera was selected!

The Assistant Art Director, Ben Oliver met Parvin at the wardrobe department and spent half a morning taking pictures on the preparations for the upcoming Norma production.

Here are a couple of shots taken of the photoshoot:





Thanks to Parvin who's makes sure that the outfits everyone wears on stage stand out and look absolutely amazing!

~ Ling Chan

Vote Now For Operabot

Vote Here on the blog for your favorite Operabot video!

Through midnight, November 13th, we'll be hosting the Operabot popular vote contest right here on our blog.

View all the entries HERE ON OUR CONTEST SITE.

Then come back and choose your favorite!

One of four prizes will be given to the video with the most votes. Another three videos will be awarded prizes based on the choices of our judges from the animation industry here in Vancouver.

Big thanks to Wacom for a donation of a Intuos 4 Tablet! Wacom rules!

News on our Operabot screening party to come.

Vote now for your favorite!

Operabot sponsored by The Georgia Straight



~ Ling Chan

Big Norma Is Watching You

If you happen to be on the corner of Robson and Granville, take a look skywards at the giant screen of the Future Shop building.

And wait for it...wait for it...

Vancouver Opera's flaming Norma head looking out at you! Oh, the wonders of technology!


Illustration by Edel Rodriguez / Video by Tim Matheson

If you like that, you're going to LOVE our Norma opera!

Tickets to Norma can still be purchased online or call our box office at 604-683-0222.

~ Ling Chan

7 More Operabots. All in a Row.

Just as the clock struck midnight on November 1, Operabots #10, #11, #12, #13, #14 and #15 made like stealth ninjas, storming the Vancouver Opera office and making their presence known.

A big thank you to the final Operabot submissions:


The Marriage of Figaro by Amanda Pierce, Beverly De Moss and Kim Chang Fatt


Madama Butterfly by Brandon Cathay at Art Institute of Colorado


Madama Butterfly by Irene Ha


Madame Boterfly by Christine Cornell


Madama Butterfly by Olaf Miller, Curt Spurging and Arron Robinson


Madama Butterfly by Gabriela Mejia and Chris Holbrow


Madama Butterfly in a Nutshell by Mary & Sacha of SimpleSwitchDesign.com

Operabot has now officially closed! Vancouver Opera would like to thank everyone for their Operabot submissions. Really, we are totally amazed at all the creativity and effort.

Three winners will be chosen by a panel of judges from Vancouver's leading animation studios. One winner will be chosen by popular vote. The judging will take place at a special screening party we'll be hosting! (details to come!)

So tell your friends and make sure to vote for your favourite animated shorts!

Operabot contest is sponsored by The Georgia Straight



~ Ling Chan