Last Saturday, our Martha Lou Henley Rehearsal Hall was filled with magical and ethereal melodies. As a sneak peek to our production A Midsummer Night’s Dream that will open on February 11, 2023, members of our Opera Round Table were brought into the worlds of Shakespeare and Britten as they met with our Conductor, Jacques Lacombe and Director, Aria Umezawa in our signature Meet the Artists event for A Midsummer Night’s Dream — A Midsummer Soirée.

The evening unfolded with a welcoming speech from our General Director Tom Wright and our new Director of Development Kayleigh Harrison, who were beyond excited and grateful to welcome our fellow opera lovers to the evening. Following Tom and Kayleigh’s speeches, our guests reconnected with artists, friends and Vancouver Opera staff over wine from Mission Hill Family Estate and savory appetizers provided by Emelle’s.
The highlights of the night included a special Q&A panel with our guests, Conductor Jacques Lacombe and Director Aria Umezawa who offered a glimpse into the secrets behind the magic of our upcoming production. Our guests were also treated with a special performance by our Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists, tenor Jeremy Scinocca and soprano McKenzie Warriner, joined by pianist Amy Seulky Lee. Jeremy performed “Di rigori armato” from Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, McKenzie performed Tytania’s aria from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Be Kind and Courteous”, closing the evening with the duet “Lallarala la la la la” from L’Elisir d’Amore, filling our night with romance, excitement, and laughter!
Don’t want to miss out on our next Meet the Artists Event for The Flying Dutchman and enjoy exclusive Round Table membership benefits such as a private three-course dinner on Opening Night of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Flying Dutchman? Contact Lauren Watson, Manager, Major Gifts at lwatson@vancouveropera.ca or 604-331-4832 to find out more!