THE LIST: Shining a light on Edmonton's biggest entertainment highlights on 2024

If you’re under 21 and haven’t yet grabbed a free opera ticket being gifted for the 2023/24 season as Edmonton Opera celebrates its 60th year, there are a few productions left, including Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold (The Ring). The production shocked the world when first performed in 1869, and despite the parallels of Gods, giants, dwarves and a magic golden ring, J. R. R. Tolkien insists any comparison with his work beyond the ring is mere conjecture. 

Edmonton Opera announces Holly Kroeker as Head of Artistic Operations

After undertaking a multi-stage selection process including candidate evaluation via the Work Personality Index, our search committee is excited to announce Holly Kroeker will be joining Edmonton Opera as Head of Artistic Operations.  

 Raised in Grande Prairie and a proud Albertan, Holly is excited to be returning to her roots to join Edmonton Opera as Head of Artistic Operations.  

 

Holly brings strong experience in arts administration coupled with a deep knowledge of the opera industry.  Most recently, she served for three seasons as the Artistic and Administrative Associate for the Atelier Lyrique at Opera de Montréal where she worked with the emerging professional artists as a member of the leadership team, helping to coordinate, facilitate, and develop one of Canada’s most dynamic young artist training programs.  

 

Holly has an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance (University of Alberta) and a master's degree in collaborative piano (University of Toronto). She is a graduate of the Yulanda M. Faris Program (Vancouver Opera), the Atelier Lyrique (Opera de Montreal) and the Opera in the 21st Century program (Banff Centre) - where she is currently a resident faculty member.  

 

In addition to artistic administration, Holly is an accomplished opera coach and repetiteur. She has worked on the music staffs of several opera companies across Canada including Vancouver Opera, Opera de Montreal, Against the Grain Theatre, Opera Kelowna, and our very own Edmonton Opera! 

 

 We are thrilled to welcome Holly to the team! 

Staged concert opera trims costs and underscores the music, but it's tricky to market

“In opera, staging exists on a spectrum. At one end, there is “grand” opera, that barely mov­able feast, with its complex sets and glamorous costumes. At the other end is “concert” opera, where singers typically dress in for­mal attire and stand in front of an orchestra, distilling the art form to only its musical elements.” - David Patrick Stearns, Opera America

Congratulations to our board member, Francis Price!

Francis Price

We are absolutely thrilled to share the news that our beloved board member, Francis Price, has been honoured with the prestigious National Opera Trustee Recognition Award!

This award, bestowed by the Opera America and Association for Opera in Canada, acknowledges exemplary leadership and service, and we couldn’t be prouder that Francis has been recognized among the visionary leaders of the opera world. This award is a testament not only to Francis’ tireless efforts within our organization, but also to the broader influence and impact of opera nationally.

Francis has been an Edmonton Opera board member for over 20 years, and has made significant contributions to our success, notably leading an annual endowment campaign that raised millions of dollars over the past decade. He supports us as a donor, hosts visiting artists, and provides valuable insight to the Board and management team. Francis has been instrumental in supporting young artists and promoting diverse storytelling through partnerships with other arts organizations such as Fringe Festival and Pop Goes the Opera.

This recognition is truly well deserved! Please join us in congratulating Francis on this extraordinary moment for him and for our entire Edmonton Opera family. Bravo!

Edmonton Opera announces Sue Fitzsimmons as new Executive Director

Sue Fitzsimmons

For immediate release: June 20, 2022

EDMONTON OPERA ANNOUNCES SUE FITZSIMMONS AS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sue Fitzsimmons comes to the Edmonton Opera after serving as a Vice President at both the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Medicine Hat College. She is a long-time Edmontonian who believes in the power of creativity and the arts to build and sustain community. Sue has a track record with over 15 years of senior leadership experience helping professional, leadership, and executive teams accomplish outcomes critical to their missions. For Edmonton Opera, that mission is to bring the community together through meaningful artistic experiences that celebrate our shared humanity–a mission that resonates deeply with Sue, given the challenges the world is facing.

Sue will work closely with the Opera’s Artistic Director, Joel Ivany, who welcomes her arrival saying: “We are lucky to have Sue join the team at such an important time. We will all benefit from her leadership, generosity and experience. She is going to be a difference maker.”

Sue’s early career began as a music educator. She taught music methods within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and University of Winnipeg. She is an experienced choral singer, and plays piano well and guitar “rather poorly.” Sue holds a PhD from the University of Alberta.

In the summer, you’ll find Sue wandering through off-leash parks with her big black dog, paddleboarding on the North Saskatchewan River with her husband and daughter, or exploring Edmonton’s food scene by bicycle. In the winter, you’ll find her playing defense on a women’s ice hockey team, cross-country skiing in the mountains with her family, or making music with friends.

Sue is thrilled to join the team at Edmonton Opera!

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Media Availability

Interviews with Edmonton Opera’s Executive Director Sue Fitzsimmons are available. For inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact Madison Kerr, Director of Marketing & Patron Services at (780) 940-6803 or madison.kerr@edmontonopera.com.

JOEL IVANY ANNOUNCES EDMONTON OPERA SEASON “IT’S GOING TO BE ELECTRIC AND EXCITING”

For immediate release: May 30, 2022

JOEL IVANY ANNOUNCES EDMONTON OPERA SEASON
“IT’S GOING TO BE ELECTRIC AND EXCITING”  

Edmonton Opera is proud to announce Joel Ivany’s first season as Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera.  “In Toronto, they have called Joel’s work ‘electric and exciting’ and that is exactly how we feel the new season will be for Edmonton”, said board chair, Tom Bradley. “We believe our company is shaping up to be a dynamic, new force in this city.”

Ivany himself said “the season will be the start of an adventure, with new experiences for many and, for others, some new ways of experiencing opera.”

“But this will also be the season where we bring grand opera back to Edmonton. We open with Puccini’s Tosca, one of the grandest of all operas, in a production from Seattle Opera. Our Tosca will be celebrated American soprano, Karen Slack.” 

“Our second production on the main stage of the Jubilee Auditorium will be Gluck’s Orphée+, which goes back to the very beginning of opera. But this presentation will be a modern feast for the eyes and ears and a new opera experience for Edmonton audiences. I am truly excited about that.”

Ivany also announced that “because of the extraordinary generosity of Grace and Arnold Rumbold, this season Edmonton Opera will host the first annual Rumbold Vocal Prize, a new and prestigious event for emerging Canadian singers. The public will be invited to a masterclass for Rumbold competitors, held by internationally acclaimed Adrianne Pieczonka in the foyer of the Jubilee Auditorium. And before the final prizes are awarded, finalists for the Rumbold Vocal Prize will perform before the judges. That too will be open to the public and a first opportunity for Edmontonians to see some of Canada’s most promising vocal artists.”

In the 22/23 season, Edmonton Opera will also present a uniquely staged and choreographed performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, a Home for the Holidays concert in December following the Opera’s first holiday concert last year, and a new partnership with the Citadel Theatre of My First Hundred Years, a cabaret featuring Edmonton’s own, extraordinarily talented Andrew MacDonald-Smith.

Ivany said “we are thrilled to be back with a full season.” 

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Notes to media:

·       Season details are provided in this notice to subscribers: http://edmontonopera.com/season/

·       Visual assets attached

Media Availability

Interviews with Edmonton Opera’s Artistic Director Joel Ivany are available. For inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact Madison Kerr, Director of Marketing & Patron Services at (780) 940-6803 or madison.kerr@edmontonopera.com.

TENOR STEPS INTO LEAD ROLE ONLY FOUR DAYS BEFORE OPENING NIGHT OF PUCCINI’S LA BOHÈME AT THE JUBE

On Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, Edmonton Opera will return to the Jubilee stage for the first time with a lavish production of Puccini’s timeless love story, La Bohème. Rehearsals are currently underway, and the cast and creative team are currently hard at work bringing 19th Century Paris to life. Opening night will mark the first time the company has presented a full-scale production to a live audience since February 2020.

Led by Conductor Simon Rivard in his company debut and Director François Racine, La Bohème tells the story of a poor seamstress and her group of artist friends as they search for love and meaning in the City of Lights. 126 years after its premiere, this opera continues to move audiences and influence pop culture, inspiring several adaptations ranging from the popular film Moulin Rouge to the Broadway musical Rent.

The story of La Bohème is especially prescient during a global pandemic, as Mimì suffers and ultimately succumbs to a respiratory illness. Its themes of poverty, friendship, love, and loss are as relevant today as when the opera was written 126 years ago.

Tenor Andrew Haji was set to make his company debut in the iconic role of Rodolfo, one made famous by star singers like Luciano Pavarotti. Less than a week before opening night, Haji tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently isolating and feeling well. With only four days before opening, tenor Adam Luther boarded a plane from Stratford, Ontario and is currently hard at work learning a month’s worth of staging, coaching with the conductor, plus last-minute wardrobe fittings. Haji is expected to resume performances for the remaining performances on Feb. 8 and 11.

On opening night, Luther will be joined by his co-star, soprano Miriam Khalil, and an all-star Canadian cast of singers. Khalil has sung the role of Mimì across North America (The Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Minnesota Opera), earning rave reviews for her sensitive portrayal of Rodolfo’s true love. Khalil last appeared in Edmonton Opera’s 2010 production of Bohème but in the role of Musetta. 

The safety of artists and audiences is a priority for Edmonton Opera, and the company has enhanced its safety protocols due to the increased transmissibility of the Omicron varient. Proof of double vaccination is required for all artists and guests at the Jubilee Auditorium (proof of negative Covid-19 tests are not permitted), audience capacity is limited to 50%, and KN95 masks will be available to all ticket buyers upon arrival. For detailed safety protocols, please visit edmontonopera.com/covid. 

Media Availability & Preview

Interviews with members of the cast or Joel Ivany, Edmonton Opera’s Artistic Director, are available with advanced notice. B-roll footage with audio of the performance (limited to 5 minutes in duration) may also be recorded at the media preview on Feb. 3 at 7:00pm.

 

To schedule an interview or rsvp your outlet’s attendance, please contact Cameron MacRae, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 780.984.3634 orcameron.macrae@edmontonopera.com.

EDMONTON OPERA ANNOUNCES JOEL IVANY AS ITS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

After a three-month international search, Edmonton Opera’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the appointment of the company’s new Artistic Director, Joel Ivany. “Over the past 58 seasons, Edmonton Opera has built a proud foundation, and we’re in an opportune position to expand the ways in which we serve our community,” says Thomas Bradley, Board Chair. “The entire team is excited for a new era of opera in Edmonton, and we feel that Joel is the perfect person to lead the company into the future as we emerge from the pandemic.”

 “Edmonton is very familiar to me and my family, and I’m incredibly excited and grateful to work at Edmonton Opera right here on Treaty 6 territory,” says Ivany, having moved from Toronto earlier this summer when his wife, Lebanese-Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil, was appointed to the voice program’s faculty at the UofA. “It has many wonderful memories such as my first full opera that I ever directed as well as the various productions that both my wife and I have lucky to have been apart of.” Ivany directed his first ever production at Opera Nuova in 2007 and later made his debut at Edmonton Opera directing a new production of The Tales of Hoffmann in 2013. “Edmonton has great energy and is such a wonderful place to raise a family. It has been such a great start living here and making Edmonton our home.”

Ivany is known for pushing the boundaries of opera, and has been called “Canadian opera’s enfant not-so-terrible.” In 2010, Ivany founded Against the Grain Theatre in Toronto where he will continue to devote time. He has adapted and translated over ten operas presented in unexpected venues, and was named an Arts Hero by The Globe and Mail in 2020 for his work directing the critically-acclaimed digital Messiah/Complex. He has also directed over 50 productions for opera companies across North America and Europe including The Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, and Minnesota Opera. Ivany currently leads Banff Centre’s “Opera in the 21st Century” Program where he mentors the next generation of singers and opera creatives.

When asked what Edmonton audiences can expect from future programming, Ivany says “The last year and a half has shown us how opera is evolving and morphing into many other outlets. I’m hoping to embrace that change at Edmonton Opera while paying respect to where this art form came from.  I think we’re going to embrace all that opera can be in the future.”

The board and staff of Edmonton Opera look forward to collaborating with Ivany as the company prepares to reopen with Puccini’s La Bohème at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium on Feb. 5, 2022.

Media Availability

Interviews with Joel Ivany, Edmonton Opera’s new Artistic Director, are available upon request.For inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact Cameron MacRae, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 780.984.3634 orcameron.macrae@edmontonopera.com.