Shooshing To A Slope Near You

Vancouver Opera's online auction of custom Prior snowboards, featuring award-winning illustrations by world-renowned artist Edel Rodriguez is almost here!

These one-of-a-kind, signed snowboards will be available in an online auction February 15-25, 2010.

Proceeds will benefit the Young Artist Coaching Intensive program (YACIN)at Vancouver Opera, a program designed to bring the hottest young opera singers together for a week of intense vocal coaching.

About the artist:

Edel Rodriguez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1971. He majored in painting at Pratt Institute (BFA) and Hunter College (MFA). HIs work has appeared in five picture books, on stamps for the US Postal Service and on posters for films and Broadway shows. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine and was an art director at TIME magazine for over a decade. He has won numerous awards for his illustrations.

~ Ling Chan

Her Name Is Carmen

Photo credit: Michael Cooper

Go Rinat Go!

The extraordinarily gifted Rinat Shaham stepped into the role of Carmen at the Canadian Opera Company (after American mezzo-soprano Beth Clayton withdrew due to health reasons) and made an indelible mark on Toronto opera-goers, as written up in The Globe and Mail.

Was there any doubt?! Of course not.

Shaham who played Carmen in VO's production last season wowed and powed both Vancouver audiences and critics. There is a reason that she is known as the world's definitive Carmen.

Congrats from everyone here at VO for a wonderful opening!

~ Ling Chan

Opera Props: Valencia Opera House

Photo credit: JP Holecka

Today launches our newest feature, Opera Props, in which the VO community share with everybody their thoughts on what's hip, what's hot and what's what.

JP Holecka, Creative Director of Powershift Media and friend of VO, travelled to Spain last year and of course, had to stop off at the Valencia Opera House (Queen Sofia Palace of the Arts)

How could one not?

Resembling "a giant Spartan war helmet", this architectural marvel is on JP's must-see list.

"...Simply amazing and will dazzle and delight all those of any age."

We couldn't agree more!

To hear more about JP's thoughts on the Valencia Opera House, click here.

So if you have opera-related items you'd like to give a thumbs up to, drop me a line at lchan@vancouveropera.ca and we'll get you featured!

~ Ling Chan

We Want You

Who do you go to when you need a yea or a nay on what you're wearing? Who do you turn to when you need to find the perfect restaurant to charm your date? Who do you ask when you can't decide between a Blackberry or iPhone?

Your friends, that's who!

We go to our friends-in-the-know for their picks and recommendations. We turn to our friends for their experience.

Starting tomorrow, VO will introduce a new feature called Opera Props, where any of our friends (that's you! and you! and YOU!) can give shout outs and high fives to:

* opera houses you visited
* opera/classical movies or books you've enjoyed
* opera music you've stumbled upon
* anything opera-related you'd like to share with VO's community of friends

If you've been chomping at the bit to spread your opera knowledge, drop me a line at lchan@vancouveropera.ca and we'll get you in the spotlight.

This could very well become a virtual block party. I'll bring the dip!

~ Ling Chan

Button Up

VO has pieces of flair to give away!

We're giving away a set of 3 Nixon in China buttons:


Nixon in China


Vote Mao


Nixon's the One

So how can I get my hands on these awesome buttons, you may be wondering? Simple.

We'll be handing them out on the street (follow @operaninja on Twitter for times and locations)

Buttons will also be available at most VO community engagement events

Or you can get your set by dropping by at the VO office Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

The city will soon be awashed with Vancouver Opera buttons. Get yours before they're gone.

Wear one at a time or wear them all at once. I guarantee they look good with everything. I'll leave it up to you if you want to decorate your suspenders with them.

~ Ling Chan

Go To The Head Of The Class

Want to know more about Nixon in China?

Well, you're in luck!

Opera America is offering FREE multimedia online learning courses. The courses are four weeks long and cover many aspects of Vancouver Opera's upcoming Nixon in China: the history, music analysis, the people involved, etc.

The course begins Feb 1.

For those of you who are already signed up for VO's E-news, you'll automatically receive an email invitation to join the course. And if you aren't signed up, go here!

Participants receive an email each week letting them know when the newest content is online, then they can go and look at it at their leisure.

Latecomers can join after the Feb 1 start date and still have access to anything they’ve missed.

Here's the course curriculum:

Week 1:
* Overview with introductions by composer John Adams and librettist Alice Goodman
* A detailed look at what happens in Nixon in China
* Overview of the six principal characters: Richard Nixon, Mao Tse-tung, Henry Kissinger, Pat Nixon, Chou En-lai and Chiang Ch'ing

Week 2:
* In-depth analysis of Act 1
* Introduction to Minimalism in music and Adam's approach to this style

Week 3:
* In-depth analysis of Act 2
* Discussion on how Adam uses orchestration

Week 4:
* In-depth analysis of Act 3
* A look back at how Nixon in China was received when it premiered in 1987

For more information, click here.

So sharpen those pencils and put on your thinking caps - school is about to begin.

~ Ling Chan

Seal Of Approval

This past weekend, The Guardian UK asked David Bowie what was on his iPod playlist. Guess what was one of his song choices?

Soldiers of Heaven hold the Sky from Act 1, Scene 1 of the Nixon in China opera by John Adams.

Asked why this selection was on his playlist, Bowie replied "Adams's minimalism disguises the rich romanticism of his melodies. Ever ascending, rising through the clouds."

The Thin White Duke is liking the Nixon in China! Can we say that's SO cool?!

And it just so happens that Vancouver Opera will be performing Nixon in China in March!

For a preview of Soldiers of Heaven Hold the Sky, click here.

See what the buzz is all about! Call 604-683-0222 to get your tickets now.

~ Ling Chan