Inside Vancouver Opera
By Vancouver Opera
This podcast offers an insider’s glimpse into the artistry, experiences, and perspectives of the talent involved in taking breathtaking opera productions from the page to the stage.
Find out more at VancouverOpera.ca
When Two Butterflies Meet
Today we're joined by two extraordinary sopranos, Karen Chia-ling Ho. and Yasko Sato. Karen and Yasko are double cast in the role of Cio-Cio San in our upcoming production of Madama Butterfly, running April 26th to May 4th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Credits:
Karen Chia-ling Ho - Cio-Cio San April 27 & May 4
Yasko Sato - Cio-Cio San - Cio-Cio San April 26, May 1 & 3
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Un bel dì, A Life Begins: The World of Puccini
Today we’re stepping into the world of one of opera’s most passionate, enduring, and beloved composers.
His name is synonymous with soaring arias, impossible love stories, and music that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. This is the story of Giacomo Puccini.
Inside Vancouver Opera presents: Un bel dì, A Life Begins: The World of Puccini written and performed by Jane Potter.
So settle in, whether you're a seasoned opera lover or just Puccini-curious. This is a story of artistic fire, of human drama—and of one man’s quest to give voice to the most fragile and fierce parts of the human soul.
Credits:
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Richard Wolfe - Voice of George Bernard Shaw
Reclaiming Madama Butterfly
In this conversation, we explore how director Mo Zhou has re-imagined Madama Butterfly for today. In her Canadian directorial debut, Mo Zhou brings this fresh vision to Vancouver Opera from April 26 to May 4, a production that honours Puccini’s masterwork while offering audiences a chance to see Madama Butterfly in a new light.
Credits:
Mo Zhou - Director of Madama Butterfly
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Music That Remembers Us: Together with Amica Senior Lifestyles
Together with Amica Senior Lifestyles, Vancouver Opera shares the power of live music to inspire connection, joy, and reflection in senior living. Amica Senior Lifestyles is one of Vancouver Opera's wonderful sponsors, and today Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by Ashley Sumler, the Director of Quality of Life at Amica Senior Lifestyles.
CREDITS:
Ashley Sumler - Director of Quality of Life at Amica Senior Lifestyles
Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Host, Engagement Strategist at Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Support Sisters: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Perri Lo, Emma Parkinson, & Tabitha Brasso-Ernst
In this special International Women's Day episode, host Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by two powerhouses in classical music – pianist Perri Lo, and mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson.
Credits:
Perri Lo - Pianist
Emma Parkinson - Mezzo-Soprano
Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Cover Illustration by @barryekko
Music Credits:
A Certain Peace from Tobin Stokes' Rattenbury, performed by Emma Parkinson and Perri Lo
Quintet from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, performed by OperaBox Company with:
- Perri Lo, Pianist
- Luka Kawabata, Baritone – Dancairo
- Katie McCullough, Soprano – Frasquita
- Katie Miller, Mezzo-Soprano – Mercedes
- Nolan Kehler, Tenor – Remendado
- Emma Parkinson, Mezzo-Soprano – Carmen
Entr'acte II from Georges Bizet's Carmen, performed by Perri Lo
Les Dala and Morris Panych on the Power of 'Flight'
Today we’re thrilled to spotlight Flight, once again, Jonathan Dove’s groundbreaking opera. Leading today’s conversation is Flight’s conductor, and Vancouver Opera’s Head of Music/Associate Conductor, Les Dala. Joining him is Flight’s acclaimed Director, Morris Panych, whose vision is bringing this unique production to life. Together they dive into the themes, artistry, and creative process behind this stunning work.
Credits
Morris Panych - Director of Flight
Leslie Dala - Guest Host and Conductor of Flight
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
Illustration by @barryekko
Canadian Theatre Legends Morris Panych and Ken MacDonald take "Flight"
Today’s special video-edition of Inside Vancouver Opera features two of Canada's most celebrated creative minds, Director Morris Panych and Set Designer Ken MacDonald. Partners in both life and art, their extraordinary collaboration has shaped some of the most memorable moments in Canadian theatre and opera. Leading today's conversation is Vancouver Opera's own General Director Tom Wright.
Credits:
Ken MacDonald - Set Designer, Flight
Morris Panych - Director, Flight
Tom Wright - Guest Host and General Director of Vancouver Opera
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Editor
Composer Jonathan Dove on 'Flight'
Today we'll explore how composer Jonathan Dove turned an airport terminal into a mythic space of drama, humor, and humanity - transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. As Vancouver Opera prepares to take Flight from February 8th to 16th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, today we're thrilled to talk with the composer himself.
Credits:
Jonathan Dove - Composer of Flight
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
Jonathan Dove Illustration by @barryekko
The Stories They Didn't Tell Me
Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) on discovering his parent's untold pain and the legacy of resilience it left behind.
Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) is a Vancouver Opera board member, elected Councillor and spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (the Squamish Nation). Today we explore Wilson's journey, from his childhood influences and the legacy of his family, to his reflections on truth, reconciliation, and cultural healing in today's world.
Credits:
Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams - Spokesperson & General Councillor for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Member of Vancouver Opera’s Board of Directors
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
The Art of Letting Go: Mireille Lebel's Fearless Approach to Opera
On today's episode, we're proud to welcome the Canadian mezzo-soprano, Mireille Lebel, who's known for her captivating performances across the globe in operas such as Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Barber of Seville. And currently, she's starring as Count Orlofsky in our production of Die Fledermaus on stage October 26 to November 3rd. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mireille Lebel - Guest
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
The Plot Unmasked: Pranks and Revelry in Die Fledermaus
We are celebrating Vancouver Opera’s 65th anniversary with a truly fabulous season. The season opens with Johann Strauss II’s beloved operetta Die Fledermaus. This charming comedy relies almost entirely on a series of pranks, trickery and disguise as plot devices to illuminate the themes of revenge, love, friendship, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Die Fledermaus runs from October 26th to November 3rd, with a masquerade party performance on Halloween.
Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator Bryan Tran - Miscellaneous Voices
Pride Special: Presenting Authentically, without Fear
A candid conversation about identity, queerness, and joy with UBC voice professor and baritone J. Patrick Raftery and his former student and tenor Spencer Britten. Patrick is about to launch his all-queer reimagining of Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole as A Spanish Hour? with two performances on July 27th in the Telus Theatre at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be available soon.
Credits:
J. Patrick Raftery - Guest
Spencer Britten - Guest
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Interweaving Histories: Henry Heng Lu on Vancouver’s Cultural Landscape
In honour of Asian Heritage Month, we are in conversation with curator, writer, public art consultant and the newly appointed executive director of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Henry Heng Lu. Henry shares insight on art, heritage, and the power of cultural collaboration to confront racism.
Credits:
Henry Heng Lu - Guest
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Meet the mother and daughter who sing together in the Vancouver Opera Chorus
We always say that Vancouver Opera is a family, but today's guests actually are family. Eve-Lyn de la Haye and Clara Griesdale are real life mother and daughter, and they're both in our upcoming production of Carmen. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca.
Credits:
Clara Griesdale - Guest
Eve-Lyn de la Haye - Guest
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Georges Bizet: Life and Times (Rebroadcast)
In anticipation of our upcoming production of Carmen we are rebroadcasting our 7-part series on the composer’s life as one episode. Originally aired in October of 2022 ahead of our production of The Pearl Fishers. Vancouver Opera presents Carmen at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from April 27th to May 5th. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot and Mack McGillivray
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Voice cast:
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Narrator: Jane Potter
Additional Voices: Ashley Daniel Foot, Travis Baugh Allen, Vincent Huynh
Finding Voice, Passing the Torch
Canadian opera icon Judith Forst and Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Simran Claire share the experiences of being a mezzo-soprano and wearing the pants onstage.
Credits:
Simran Claire - Guest
Judith Forst - Guest
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Associate Producer
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Bringing the Pieces Together: Jim Wright on engaging community, making tough calls, and advocating for the audience
In a rollicking and candid conversation, Jim Wright reflects on his storied career and his 17 years leading Vancouver Opera and spills the beans on long-held desire to be a senator from Indiana.
Credits
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Jim Wright - Guest
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Singing Pictures: The Musical Lives of Jim and Sheila Johnson
Vancouver Opera honours Black History Month with a special audio documentary about BC Choral legend and music educator Jim Johnson and his wife, choral conductor and teacher Sheila Johnson.
Recorded, edited and produced by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music performed by The Concenti Singers and the Cowichan Valley Youth Choir
Gaetano Donizetti: King of the Bel Canto Age
A profile on of one of the kings of the bel canto age, Gaetano Donizetti, the composer of Don Pasquale, on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre February 10th to 18th. Get your tickets and more information at VancouverOpera.ca.
Credits:
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
Ashley Daniel Foot - Voice of Gaetano Donizetti
Richard Wolfe - Voice of Felix Mendelssohn
Tom Wright - Voice of Giuseppe Verdi
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer, Voice of Hector Berlioz
Air is Everything: Baritone Gregory Dahl on Lessons from Opera's Biggest Roles
Today, we're talking with baritone extraordinaire, Gregory Dahl. Audiences from Vancouver will remember him last season as the lead role in The Flying Dutchman. And he's back in Vancouver for as the titular role in Don Pasquale, from February 10th to 18th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets are available at VancouverOpera.ca
Gregory Dahl - Guest, Baritone
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
A 'Don Pasquale' set in Fellini's Rome with dozens of Green Cats
Operatic creative partners André Barbe and Renaud Doucet discuss the timeless appeal of Don Pasquale with guest host Luka Kawabata.
Don Pasquale runs from February 10th to 18th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets available at VancouverOpera.ca.
Credits
André Barbe - Guest, Costume & Set Designer
Renaud Doucet - Guest, Stage Director and Choreographer
Luka Kawabata - Host
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
Ignite something new: Vancouver Opera launches OperaSparks Artist Development Workshop this summer
Today, we are looking ahead to OperaSparks Artist Development Workshop. This is a new initiative from Vancouver Opera that really allows young and pre-professional artists to dig into their practice. In our latest podcast, Ashley spoke with Robyn Driedger-Klassen and Tina Chang about this exciting new opportunity. If you are interested, application information is available here.
Credits:
- Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
- Robyn Driedger-Klassen - Guest
- Tina Chang - Guest
- Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
The Echo of Silence: Finding Voice with Carole Côté
A few weeks after starting at my job at Vancouver Opera, I had the honour of meeting the amazing Carole Côté over the phone - singing her heart out. Carole graciously agreed to visit us at the VO and shared songs and stories. I think you’ll agree that she is truly one-of-a-kind.
Carole Côté will be performing on December 7th at The Kettle Choir’s Holiday Concert, with guests Highs & Lows Choir. The performance runs from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at The Kettle’s Recovery Cafe, 620 Clarke Drive, Vancouver.
Full Transcript
Credits:
- Carole Côté - Guest
- Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
- Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
Tracey Talks Tickets
Vancouver Opera's Database and Ticket Centre Manager Tracey Flattes shares her unique brand of hard-earned wisdom, humour, and stories from the trenches of the ticketing world.
We're celebrating Black Friday with our best ticket offer of the season: Save 50% Off Duet Subscriptions! You'll enjoy the rest of our blockbuster 2023-2024 season: our wild, pop-art, technicolour production of Donizetti's comedic romp, Don Pasquale and Bizet's timeless classic Carmen.
Credits:
- Tracey Flattes - Database and Ticket Centre Manager
- Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
- Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
The One About the Opera at the Planetarium
Composer Tawnie Olson and conductor Arianne Abela discuss Sanctuary & Storm and the state of women in opera.
Sanctuary & Storm, our new collaboration with re:Naissance Opera, runs from November 17th to 19th at the H.R MacMillan Space Centre. Head to VancouverOpera.ca to grab your tickets.
Credits
- Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
- Tawnie Olson - Composer, Sanctuary & Storm
- Arianne Abela - Conductor, Sanctuary & Storm
- Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
A Musician that Leads: Jacques Lacombe on Unlocking the Power of Creativity and Collaboration
Join us for a conversation with Vancouver Opera’s new Music Director, Maestro Jacques Lacombe, in which he shares his passion for conducting, right from a young age discovering the organ.
Vancouver Opera presents Don Pasquale - February 10th - 18th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Credits:
- Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
- Guest - Jacques Lacombe
- Audio Producer - Mack McGillivray
Mozart: 15 Things You Didn't Know
Mozart. The very name reminds us of soaring arias, evocative melodies, and musical mastery. In this episode we explore 15 things you may not have known about the ingenious composer.
Vancouver Opera presents The Magic Flute - October 21st to 29th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
David Bloom - Voice of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven
Ashley Daniel Foot - Voice of Antonio Salieri
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
Mozart: The Freemason Influence
Mozart. The very name reminds us of soaring arias, evocative melodies, and musical mastery. In this episode we explore Mozart's life and the Freemason influence.
Vancouver Opera presents The Magic Flute - October 21st to 29th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Credits:
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
David Bloom - Voice of Goethe, Leopold Mozart, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ashley Daniel Foot - Voice of Voltaire
Kent Wilson - Voice of George Washington
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
Making the Magic
Vancouver Opera presents The Magic Flute - October 21st to 29th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Stephen Elgar, Vancouver Opera’s Head of Properties, opens the workshop to share how he brings magic to the mundane, creating objects fit for the stage. Stephen discusses his career from restoring furniture to preparing “pony-trikes” and a “three-headed dragon” for The Magic Flute. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Credits
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Stephen Elgar
Editor - Mack McGillivray
Transporting Worlds through Costume
Vancouver Opera presents The Magic Flute - October 21st to 29th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Through costuming Roberta Doylend has built cohesive worlds for over 400 shows. Roberta discusses her remarkable career, her role as Vancouver Opera’s Head of Wardrobe, and the visual candy store awaiting audiences in The Magic Flute. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Credits
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Roberta Doylend
Editor - Mack McGillivray
Fast Forward to the Emotion: Risk and Reward in Mozart's 'Magic Flute'
Vancouver Opera presents The Magic Flute - October 21st to 29th, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Director Ashlie Corcoran returns to Vancouver Opera to direct this remount production of Mozart’s ultimate opera. Join us for an early glimpse into what awaits you on the stage.
For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca
Credits
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Ashlie Corcoran
Editor - Mack McGillivray
Harmonizing Queer Voices
In this episode we explore the intersection of identity and opera with University of Florida musicologist Leo Walker.
Opera, with its grandeur, emotion, and powerful storytelling, has been a stage for human experiences throughout history. Amidst the vast repertoire of operatic works, there are narratives that explore the diverse spectrum of queer identities. These stories, often overlooked or overshadowed, have found their place within the canon, enriching the operatic landscape.
Unveiling the queer threads in the operatic fabric allows us to appreciate the richness and diversity of human experiences. Composers like Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, and many others, have contributed to this exploration, often drawing inspiration from their own lives and relationships. By examining their music, letters, and historical context, scholars like Leo Walker have shed light on the queerness within the works of these composers, deepening our understanding and appreciation of their contributions to the art form.
These narratives illuminate the beauty and struggles of love, desire, and self-discovery. They transcend boundaries and foster belonging for audiences of all backgrounds and identities.
Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Leo Walker
Editor - Mack McGillivray
Music Credits:
“Adziu! Adziu!” from Act I of Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice. Performed by the English National Opera with John Graham Hall as Aschenbach. Conducted by Edward Gardner.
“To Know” from Laura Kaminsky’s As One. Performed by Sasha Cooke, Kelly Markgraf, and The Fry Street Quartet. Produced by American Opera Projects in association with BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music).
“Without You What Am I” from Act III of Rufus Wainright’s Hadrian. Performed by the Canadian Opera Company with Thomas Hampson as Hadrian and Isaiah Bell as Antinous.
Talking with Tom Wright
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Vancouver Opera’s General Director, Tom Wright. Tom reflects on the past opera season, the challenges the art form faces, and the future of opera in Vancouver.
Visit vancouveropera.ca to discover our 2023-2024 season: The Magic Flute, Don Pasquale, and Carmen.
Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Tom Wright
Editing - Mack McGillivray
Luka Kawabata: The Hafu ハーフ Project
A fascinating and insightful conversation with baritone, and Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist, Luka Kawabata. Luka talks passionately about his Hafu ハーフ Project and the unique intersection between family, memory, and music. We also discuss the state of modern opera and how to confront our operatic canon.
Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guest - Luka Kawabata https://www.lukakawabata.com/
Editing - Mack McGillivray
Cover Photo - Mark Yammine https://www.markyammine.com/
The Hafu ハーフ Project:
Chapter 1: Paueru-Gai パウエル街 - https://youtu.be/-0an29gw0L8
Chapter 2: Childhood 幼年 - https://youtu.be/Q1TU2yE5iHk
Chapter 3: Wish 希望 - Coming Soon
Introducing: Singing Stories
The 2022-2023 Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program toured ten elementary schools performing their show Singing Stories, a fun and exciting operatic experience that asks the question, what if the show goes wrong but in the best possible way?
Join host Ashley Daniel Foot in a discussion about Singing Stories with five members of the Young Artists Program: Sawyer Craig, Luka Kawabata, Amy Seulky Lee, Jeremy Scinocca, and Hillary Tufford.
This year's School Tour is supported by Telus Friendly Future Foundation, CIBC Wood Gundy, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Diamond Foundation.
Episode Credits:
Host - Ashley Daniel Foot
Guests from the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program - Sawyer Craig, Luka Kawabata, Amy Seulky Lee, Jeremy Scinocca, and Hillary Tufford
Audio Editing - Mack McGillivray
Music Credits:
Japanese Lullaby 竹田の子守唄 (Takeda No Komoriuta) Performed by Japonské Trio - Natsuko Bručková, Tomoko Kanda, and Yukie Ichimura
Doll Song “Les oiseaux dans la charmille” from Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d'Hoffmann, performed by Katarzyna Dondalska
Overture to Richard Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, performed by the University of Illinois Symphonic Band
Wagner: Life and Times - 15 Strange and Surprising Discoveries About Herr Wagner
Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Our top-15 list of things you didn’t know about Richard Wagner takes you behind the scenes of the life of one of Germany’s most famous exports.
Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca
Episode Credits:
Written and presented by - Jane Potter
Voice of Richard Wagner, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Friedrich Nietzsche - David Bloom
Produced by - Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio editing by - Mack McGillivray
Wagner: Life and Times - Act 2
Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Join us now for the second half of our exploration of the life and times of Richard Wagner. When we left him at the end of episode one, Wagner and his wife, Minna, had just returned to Germany following 12 years in exile.
Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca
Episode Credits:
Written and presented by - Jane Potter
Voice of Richard Wagner - David Bloom
Produced by - Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio editing by - Mack McGillivray
Wagner: Life and Times - Act 1
Richard Wagner is known today as one of the greatest, most influential composers to have lived. But his life, anything but easy and straightforward, was as tumultuous as the age he was born into. Join us for a three-episode look at the sometimes turbulent, often unrestrained, but always inspired life that shaped the man.
Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca
Episode Credits:
Written and presented by - Jane Potter
Voice of Richard Wagner and Charles Baudelaire - David Bloom
Produced by - Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio editing by - Mack McGillivray
Talking Dutchman
We were honoured to welcome an incredible panel of Wagnerian singers, artists, and fans to a robust discussion of The Flying Dutchman.
Join host Ashley Daniel Foot alongside:
- Les Dala, Conductor of The Flying Dutchman
- Marjorie Owens, Senta in The Flying Dutchman
- J. Patrick Raftery, singer, UBC professor, and expert on all things Wagner
- Stanis Smith, musician, architect, and super fan
Vancouver Opera presents The Flying Dutchman - April 29th to May 7th, 2023, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For tickets and more information visit vancouveropera.ca
Produced by Ashley Daniel Foot
Audio Editing by Mack McGillivray
Holding Space, Giving Voice, and Uplifting Black Voices with Dawn Pemberton, Morgan-Paige Melbourne, Rocky Jones, and Debi Wong
“To be loving we willingly hear the other’s truth, and most important, we affirm the value of truth telling. Lies may make people feel better, but they do not help them to know love.” ~bell hooks
Vancouver Opera honours Black History Month and shares a conversation that took place during Indie Fest 2022, co-hosted by Debi Wong of re:Naissance Opera and Ashley Daniel Foot the Senior Manager of Partnerships, Engagement, and EDI.
Featuring:
-Rocky Jones, Minnesota Opera’s Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
-Dawn Pemberton, Vancouver’s own Queen of Soul.
-Morgan-Paige Melbourne, Toronto-based queer interdisciplinary artist.
This profoundly powerful conversation, a truth-telling reflects on the state of Black Opera and performance in North America, and the way forward to end cultural and urban erasures in communities of colour.
Britten: Life and Times - Act 2
In the second episode of our two part series on Benjamin Britten, we talk to the composer himself (played by Roger Carr) in the form of a Proust questionnaire.
Written and presented by Jane Potter
Britten: Roger Carr
produced by Ashley Daniel Foot and Jane Potter
audio editing by Jack Goodison
musical clearances: Ashley Daniel Foot and Vancouver Opera
Britten: Life and Times - Act 1
In the first episode of our two part series on Benjamin Britten, we get a brief overview of Britten’s prolific musical output, his musical influences, and the huge impact that Peter Pears had on his life and work.
Written and presented by Jane Potter
Britten: Roger Carr
produced by Ashley Daniel Foot and Jane Potter
audio editing by Jack Goodison
musical clearances: Ashley Daniel Foot and Vancouver Opera
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 7
In the conclusion to our series on the life of Georges Bizet we hear of the disastrous premiere of Carmen, and learn of Bizet's sudden death.
You probably know that French composer Georges Bizet wrote Carmen, but did you know that he was also a musical prodigy who started composing at the age of nine? Or that composers such as Liszt, Rossini, and Gounod immediately recognized his musical brilliance? Dig into the life of Bizet and meet his musical family. Beautifully brought to life by actor Felix LeBlanc as the voice of Bizet, this seven part audio series reveals the hidden story behind one of opera’s greatest composers. This exciting podcast is produced in celebration of Vancouver Opera’s production of The Pearl Fishers onstage from October 22-30, 2022.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Voice cast:
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Narrator: Jane Potter
Additional Voices: Ashley Daniel Foot, Travis Baugh Allen, Vincent Huynh
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 6
All's fair in love and war -- until there's an actual war.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Narrated by Jane Potter
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 5
Bizet's prize expires -- and now he has to make a living. Not so easy.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Narrated by Jane Potter
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 4
Opera + Critics + Paris. What could go wrong? Oh so many things. Bonus special appearance by Liszt!
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 3
Leaving Paris for Rome, Bizet's career has been properly launched. But he learns all too soon that life can radically shift in the blink of an eye.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 2
Lessons and Prizes and Rome, OH MY! Bizet takes the Paris Conservatoire by storm—culminating in an all-expense trip to sunny Italy!
You probably know that French composer Georges Bizet wrote Carmen, but did you know that he was also a musical prodigy who started composing at the age of nine? Or that composers such as Liszt, Rossini, and Gounod immediately recognized his musical brilliance? Dig into the life of Bizet and meet his musical family. Beautifully brought to life by actor Felix LeBlanc as the voice of Bizet, this seven part audio series reveals the hidden story behind one of opera’s greatest composers. This exciting podcast is produced in celebration of Vancouver Opera’s production of The Pearl Fishers onstage from October 22-30, 2022.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Voice cast:
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Narrator: Jane Potter
Additional Voices: Ashley Daniel Foot, Travis Baugh Allen, Vincent Huynh
Bizet: Life and Times - Act 1
Parisian, prodigious, precocious, the composer George Bizet was born at the dawn of the Victorian Era. A, B, C—easy as Do, Re, Mi. The opera world will soon be changed forever.
You probably know that French composer Georges Bizet wrote Carmen, but did you know that he was also a musical prodigy who started composing at the age of nine? Or that composers such as Liszt, Rossini, and Gounod immediately recognized his musical brilliance? Dig into the life of Bizet and meet his musical family. Beautifully brought to life by actor Felix LeBlanc as the voice of Bizet, this seven part audio series reveals the hidden story behind one of opera’s greatest composers. This exciting podcast is produced in celebration of Vancouver Opera’s production of The Pearl Fishers onstage from October 22-30, 2022.
CREDITS
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Voice cast:
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Narrator: Jane Potter
Additional Voices:
Ashley Daniel Foot, Travis Baugh Allen, Vincent Huynh
Introducing: Vancouver Opera 101 - Life and Times: Bizet | Trailer
You probably know that French composer Georges Bizet wrote Carmen, but did you know that he was also a musical prodigy who started composing at the age of nine? Or that composers such as Liszt, Rossini, and Gounod immediately recognized his musical brilliance?
Dig into the life of Bizet and meet his musical family. Beautifully brought to life by actor Felix LeBlanc as the voice of Bizet, this seven part audio series reveals the hidden story behind one of opera’s greatest composers.
This exciting podcast is produced in celebration of Vancouver Opera’s production of The Pearl Fishers onstage from October 22-30, 2022.
Written and edited by Kris Epps
Additional editing by Ashley Daniel Foot
Music Supervisor and Clearances: Kris Epps and Ashley Daniel Foot
Sound design by Kris Epps
Associate Producer: Vincent Huynh
Bizet: Felix LeBlanc
Narrator: Jane Potter
Additional Voices: Ashley Daniel Foot, Travis Baugh Allen