Vancouver Opera

The great German composer Johannes Brahms, who for almost 20 years was too intimidated to publish his first symphony, believing that after Beethoven no one could write a symphony, was asked to give his opinion about the Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss ll. His answer: “it is as good as a Beethoven symphony!” In music, as in many other art forms, artists and creators who achieve popular success during their lifetime are often considered in certain “circles” to be producing art of a lower value; art for the masses rather than the “happy few.” Johann Strauss ll, “the king of the waltz,” has long suffered this sort of judgment. He is a composer who managed throughout his career to produce works that garnered immediate popular success, yet he continued to develop his own personal style while bringing traditional dances such as the waltz, the polka and the gallop to a very high level of sophistication. Surprisingly enough, the music of Johann Strauss ll is rarely part of the curriculum of any music program. To be honest, I didn’t know much about it, nor did I pay serious attention to it until I went to study conducting in Vienna in the mid-80s. It was there that I came to understand Brahms’ comment and realized that, as simple as it may seem at first glance, Johann Strauss’ music was complex and tricky if you try to perform it with the right style. This is the approach that my colleagues and myself have been taking in preparation for this production of Die Fledermaus, with the hope that our performance will bring you as close as possible to the heart of Vienna!

Welcome to our vibrant and playful rendition of Die Fledermaus, where we transport Johann Strauss II’s classic operetta into the lively world of the 1960s. This era, known for its exuberance and style, provides a perfect backdrop for the operetta’s themes of disguise, deception, and playful revenge. Popular references from this period are infused throughout – especially in Act II, where the unknowing players in Falke’s game find themselves at a themed costume party and the stage becomes a lively tableau of 1960s cinema and television characters. At this party there are layers upon layers of disguise and intrigue – heightening the comedic and dramatic elements of the operetta. I am thrilled to collaborate with our amazing musical leader, conductor Jacques Lacombe and his humour, spirit, and precision, as well as our extraordinary cast of singers, whose remarkable talents bring depth and charm to this production. Mark Crawford’s fresh and specific adaptation of the scenes to the 1960s allows for the humour of Die Fledermaus to resonate with a contemporary audience while staying true to its original charm. Choreographer Shelley Stewart Hunt joins us to infuse her trademark wit into the physicality of the world. Together, we aim to create a production that celebrates the essence of Strauss’ operetta and also the energy, distinctive fashion, and iconic pop culture of the 1960s. We hope you enjoy this journey through a playful world of disguise, laughter, and revelry. Thank you so much for joining us!

At Rosalinde and Gabriel von Eisenstein’s home, the maid Adele asks to leave work under the pretext of caring for her ailing aunt, though she actually wants to join her sister at Prince Orlofsky’s masquerade ball. Rosalinde refuses. Rosalinde’s old flame Alfred arrives and declares his love to Rosalinde, who resists until he begins to sing. Hearing someone approach, she sends Alfred away, but not before he’s convinced her to let him return later. Gabriel and his lawyer, Blind, arrive from court: Eisenstein has been sentenced to eight days in jail for assaulting a police officer and he must begin serving the next morning. Furious, he dismisses Blind. Gabriel’s friend Dr. Falke convinces him to join him that night at Prince Orlofsky’s costume party. Eisenstein agrees, accepting Falke’s suggestion that he bring his famous pocket watch to charm the ladies. While Eistenstein gets ready, Rosalinde receives a party invitation she thinks is from Prince Orlofsky, but is actually from Falke. As her husband departs, she dismisses Adele for the night and receives the ardent Alfred. Their rendezvous is interrupted by the prison warden Frank, who has come to arrest Eisenstein. To preserve her good name, Rosalinde persuades Alfred to pose as her husband, and believing him to be Eisenstein, Frank takes Alfred to jail.

The party is in full swing. Adele’s sister Ida is worried that Adele isn’t classy enough, so she decides to present her as “Olga,” a Russian actress. Eisenstein enters, posing as a Frenchman. He immediately recognizes Adele, but she denies it. Frank is also pretending to be French, and he and Eisenstein become fast friends. Rosalinde, disguised as a Hungarian countess, sees her husband flirting with Ida and sings an impassioned ode to her betrayed homeland. When a smitten Eisenstein starts flirting with her, she steals his pocket watch. Ivania teases Falke about how he earned the nickname “Dr. Bat.” Champagne flows, and the revellers dance and sing through the night. At dawn, Eisenstein rushes off to jail, as does Frank.

Frank arrives at the prison, still buzzing from his evening spent at the party. Frosch, the jailer, is annoyed by her boss’ late arrival, and by the nonstop singing of Alfred in the cell. Ida and Adele arrive, and Adele hopes Frank can further her stage aspirations. Frank sends them off and receives Eisenstein, who’s surprised to learn his cell is already occupied by a man claiming to be him, and who was found in his home with Rosalinde. The lawyer Blind arrives, saying he was summoned to handle a false arrest case. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Eisenstein disguises himself as the lawyer to confront the impostor. Rosalinde rushes in. She tries to secure Alfred’s release, asks “Blind” to press divorce charges against her wayward husband, and is upset when the “lawyer” seems to take Eisenstein’s side. Removing his disguise, Eisenstein accuses his wife of promiscuity. Rosalinde produces his watch, revealing that she was the “countess” he tried to seduce. Falke arrives with partygoers and triumphantly explains that the whole evening was payback for Eisenstein’s previous practical joke. Eisenstein begs Rosalinde to forgive his attempted infidelity, blaming his misbehavior on the party’s plentiful champagne. She refuses at first and threatens divorce, before forgiving him. After a night of merry mischief, all sing a final ode to the joys of champagne.

Martha Lou Henley, C.M.* Yoshiko Karasawa Michael And Inna O’Brian Alan & Gwendoline Pyatt Dr. Ian & Mrs. Jane Strang

Patricia Charles Signe Jurcic Dr. George Luciuk & Dr. Lidia Schuster

Jill Bodkin Ms. Regina Boxer Mohammed A. Faris & Family Mike & Kathy Gallagher Brigitte & Henning Freybe Diana and Tom Herbst Horatio Kemeny & Cadence Jensen Mrs. Ellen Mahon Mrs. Irene McEwen Mrs. Lorna Mochinski Richard & Elise Rees Dr. Linda Siegel Gillian Smith, in memory of Russell Smith Pascal & Isabelle Spothelfer

Anonymous (2) Mr. Hans Alwart Sarah Armstrong Ms. Winnie Avery Ms. Wendy G. Baker Shirley Barnett Val & Dick Bradshaw John & Ruth Brock Jamie & Cindy Bruce Mr. Michael & Mrs. Eunice Chan Ms. Gillian E. Chetty Mr. Edward & Mrs. Dorothy Chiasson Dr. Heather F. Clarke Ms. Joan Cosar Lorna Court & John Mancini William and Emmanuelle Davis Ms. Elisabeth Dawson Susan Drury & Dennis Perry Mr. Harry Edinger Ms. Vivian Eliopoulos Mark Emanuel, P. Eng. Mr. & Mrs. Allen Fowlis Mrs. Pamela Friedrich Ms. Judy Garner Arlene Gladstone & Hamish Cameron Mrs. Elaine Godwin Ms. Isabel Gordon Roland and Catherine Haebler Penelope B.M. Hedges Jens & Linda Lee Henriksen Ms. Nancy Hermiston Dr. Lionel & Mrs. Beryl Herscovitch John Horning and Lorraine Larkin Dr. Martin Hosking Mr. Joshua Hutchinson Ms. Krista Johanson Mr. Jeffrey G. Jung Ms. Lynn Kagan Mr. Sharman King Mike & Jean Kovich Jacques Lacombe Pierre & Betty Lebel Ken Lee Mr. & Mrs. R. Michael LePage Bill & Risa Levine Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Lindsay* Mr. & Mrs. Harold & Jenny Locke Mr. Harvey Loen & Mrs. Lois Binder Doris Luking in memory of, Hans Luking Huiyuan Ma Jane Macdonald Marlene Mackenzie Jana and Bill Maclagan Genny MacLean Ms. Elaine Mah Mr. Kevin Mah Miriam Maisonville and David Sauder Marilyn & Hart Mauritz Mr. & Mrs. David McDonald Mr. Stuart & Mrs. Della McLaughlin Paul McEwen and Gwynneth Jones Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Mary McIlwaine Ms. Ann McKinnon Mr. Ian Michaud Mr. Robert Milne Dr. Paul Mitchell-Banks Catherine Morgan and Michael Jonker Dr. Peter & Mrs. Eve Munns Mr. & Mrs. D. Murray Dr. & Mrs. David R. Neima Bryan and Susan Nethery Micki & Michael Partridge* Ms. Lorraine Portier Mollie Massie & Hein Poulus Robert E. Radke David Radler Chloe Sauder Dr. Wes Schreiber Bob Sewell and Susan Van der Flier Dr. Cecil Sigal Peter Singer and Heather Gilley Mathew and Masumi Smith Mr. Stanis Smith Mr. Ross & Ms. Ursula Southam Dr. Paul & Mrs. Dorothy Stanwood Andrew & Yasmeen Strang Mary Tait & Bill Sirett Ms. Anona Thorne and Mr. Takao Tanabe Gina Thorstenson & Bob Bartholomew Dr. Carol Tsuyuki & Mr. Craig Tomlinson Dr. Sandra Vestvik Ms. Alexandra Volkoff Mrs. Carolyn Webster James & Veronica Weinkam Mr. Paul Westwick Andrea Wood & Peter Cavanagh Mr. Daniel R. Worsley Tom and Denise Wright Ms. Nancy Wu Dr. Edwin & Mrs. Patricia Yen

Mr. Thomas Adair Ms. V. Barrett Lois Belluk Mrs. Marianne Brockmann Dr. John Challis Mr. Allan Cloke Leslie Dala Mark DuMont Brian Duncan and Rebecca Kennedy Ms. Edith E. Hewitt Elisabeth Grant Hoole Dr. Linda Kaser & Dr. Judy Halbert Wes Knapp & Kathleen MacKinnon Diana Lam E.J. Makortoff Robert Bruce McKimm Ms. Allison Miller Jennifer Moore Ms. M. Poggemiller Mrs. Margot & Mr. Klaus Richter Mr. Raymond Schachter Miss June Witty James W. Wright Mr. Jeff Zweig

Anonymous Ms. Karly Black Drs. Mairi & Peter Blair Mr. Joost Blom Ms. Alessanrda Bordon Mr. Ralph Markham Ms. Catherine Brown Sandra M. Campbell Ms. Johanne Vincent & Dr. David Chercover Ms. Sheri Conner George B. Cross Mr. John R. Culter Ms. Pat Dairon Brendan Derby Mr. Ron Gibbs Mr. & Mrs. Leon Glassman Dr. P Graf Laura Groos & Gerry Prins Mr. Vitalius and Mrs. Elizabeth Gudaitis Mrs. Shirley Hammond In Memory of Nik Radosevic John Hooge Selina Huang Ms. Karen James Monica Jean Mr. Hua Jiang & Ms. Alina Liu Mr. Al Kilburn Dr. Jack Kooy Mr. Donald Kydd Dr. Alan & Mrs. Helen Maberley Ms. Lorna Court & Mr. John Mancini Miss R. Manthorpe Dr. Barbara Moon Mr. Bernard Olfman Mr. Dhruva Pathak Mrs. Meg Penner Mrs. Janet and Mr. Clifton Prowse Mr. William Robertson Jan Sampson Sonja Sanguinetti Manrico and Liz Scremin Dr. Sam & Mrs. Jo Ann Sheps Dr. Kathryn Skau Ms. Doris Smit Michael Stevenson and Jan Whitford Dr. Beverley Tamboline Sarah Temple Peter and Johanna Walcott Mr. Denis Walker Klaus Wensauer Mrs. Gwyneth Westwick Mr. Vincent Wheeler and Mr. Peter Cheng Ms. Norma Wieland

Anonymous (9) Angela Accettura Mr. William Adehlph Mr. &. Mrs. Ian and Catherine Aikenhead Suzanne Anton KC Mr. Barry Auger Suzanne & Brad Bailuk Mrs. Kathleen Jane Baker Mr. Trevor Barnes Gillian L. Beattie Ms. Anne Beaulieu Ms. Patricia Bell Jay Biskupski Ms. Carol Brauner Gordon Briggs Mrs. Karen Brumelle Ms. Elaine Calder Sylvia and Bob Cannon Ms. Susan Charlton Ms. Elaine Chernoff Mrs. Hilary Clark Mrs. Shelley Colton Ms. Ruth Comisarow Drs. Kenneth & Sidney Craig Mr. & Mrs. Andrew N. Creighton Lee Cross Ms. Mary C Curran Ms. Patricia Currie Robert J Currier Walter Rilkoff Ms. Audrey Dewan Stuart Donn Mrs. Elizabeth Dropko In memory of Barb Brown Nan Legate and Eric Fiss Mr. & Mrs. David Fitzgerald Michael Freeman Natalie Garth Diana Gingell Rick Griffiths Mr. Jason Andrew Grijzen Dr. Evelyn J. Harden in memory of Marcia Jasiulko & Dr. Edgar F.Harden Ms. Jessica Hiebert Mr. Gordon Hinkson Lore Hoffmann Mrs. Maureen Hollins Mr. Donald J Hudson Harry Hufty Mr. Christopher Jacques Mr. Devin Jain Doug Johnson Richard Johnston Valerie Jones John Kearns and Daphne Hampson Ms. Kathleen Keating Mr. Jayson Kennedy Lillian Ketola Ms. Martina Klingner John & Ann Kowalchuk Mr. Edmond Tit Lam Mr. & Mrs. Trevor Lautens in Memory of J.S. Back Ms. Shannon Lavender Lynn Ledgerwood Mr. W Bill Leung Ms. Erica Levy Mr. Ron Liddle Ms. Joanne Livingston Susan Ma Dr. & Mrs. John K MacFarlane Ms. Shyla Magbuo Ms. Margot Magee Dr. Jeff Roberts Mr. Ian A C McCallum Ian McCallum Mrs. John C. McDermid Mr. Peter Meredith John Merzetti Mr. Gerald Millet Mrs. Doreen M'Lot Ksenia Mutagirova Ms. Rachelle Nadeau Tsuneo Nakano Ms. Elize Nel Carol Newson Ms. Zlata Nikic Nina Nixon Mrs. Pamela Ottridge Jeanette Panagapka Dr. and Mrs. D Paterson Ms. Sheila M. Paton John Pel Jaime A. Peschiera Ms. Marion Quinlan David Raderecht Mr. Don G. Reader Doug Reddy Ms. Wendy Robertson Ms. Elsbeth Rogers Mr. Anthony Roper Ann M Rose Dinesh Samarasekera Howard Saunders L.S. Sawatsky Ms. Margaret Schabas Ms. Rosemarie Schipizky Dolph Schluter Gail Schwarz Munie Singh Glen Skidmore Mr. Rick A Smith Ms. Mary Sparacio William H. Squibb Mrs. Moya Stokes Mr. Richard & Mrs. Margaret Swadden Marlene Trussell Ms. Catherine Van Alstine Rosi and Michael Van Meel Petra Vanderley Mr. Martin Vydra Allison Webb Martin Weirich Ms. Cheryl Williams Janice Williams Dr. David Wilson Mr. Gordon Yusko

Anonymous (11) Ms. Parviz Abdi Barbara Adamo Alan Ahlgren Hafeez Alibhai Mr. David J. Allen Mr. W. Graham Allen L Mark Anderson Katie Angermeyer Mrs. Rita Araki Ms. Kym Aughtry Jill Bain and Bill Napier-Hemy Ms. Polly Bak Mr. Eric Ball Ms. Aline Banno Mr. G. T. Barford Mr. James Barlow John & Sandra Barth Roberta L. Beiser Mr. Jeremy Berkman Ms. Laurie Bertram Mr. Harold Birston Mark Biznek Mr. Sam Black Berna A Blair Ms. Ruth Blair Mr. Jason Bolam Heather Bolton Prof. Marilyn Bowman Donna Brendon Ms. Jean Brown Julia and W Brown Mr. James Buck Valerie Budnyak Mr. Glenn Bullard Mr. Geoffrey Gomery Ronald Cameron Mari Cantrell Lia Carter Ms. Christine Chandler Selena Change Liz Chaston Jan Chavarie Marie Cheong Alex Chow Ms. Katherine Ciechanowski Ms. Judith Clark Ms. Catherine Conings Ms. Deborah Cooper Tami J. Copland Ken and Lisa Cormier Alain Coulombe Nicola Crema Ms. Clare Crosthwait Ann Naymie Ms. Margery F Davey Michael and Sandra Davies Dr. Karen Davison Keith and Elizabeth Dawson Mr. John C A De Wit Fiona Ross Mr. Charles Demers Winton Derby Craig Desharnais Ms. Glee Devereaux Ms. Anne Dewar Dr. Harry P. Diaz Margo Dobbin Mr. Anthony Dodd Julie & Gerald Donegan Janice Mary Douglas Mr. David Dreyer John & Helen Duffy Richard Duncan Mrs. Jannette Dunlop Richard Dunn Edward Dunnett Ms. Laureen Dwulit Mr. Ross Early Drs. Allen and Connie Eaves Mr. Ross Egan Mr. Guido Elvet Ms. Susan Engelbert Angela Falbo Mr. Harold Fansler In Memory of Irwin Davis. Robert and Tina Fawcett Ms. Brenda Fedoruk Mr. Martin Ferera David Ferguson & Kenia Palacios Michael J. Ferguson Bryan Fitzpatrick Ms. Nancy Flexman Maria Fonseca Duane Fontaine Mr. James Ford Mr. Christopher Friedrichs Mr. Michael Galbraith Nancy Garrett Dr.Tanya Gee Mr. Graham George Ms. Patsy George Irene Goldstone Bruni and Anthony Goodson Gordon Harding Ms. Jessica Susan Gossen Mr. Ian Richard Green Mr. Michael Roy Gregory Mr. Paul Greisman Ms. Irene Griffiths Pam and Dave Gurd Mr. John Hagan Silvia Hagen Doug Hager Mrs. Mary Hamm Gail Hammond Vera Hanvelt Judit Haranghy Ms. Betty Harris Ms. Evelyn Harrison Mr. Rob Hart Ms. Carolyn Hateley Ms. Sandra Havard In Memory of Ronald Hawkes William Hay Mr. Ford Hill Mr. Anthony Robin Hill Mr. Aaron Hillier John N. Hilton Mrs. Sarah Hinnell Ms. Brenda Hochachka Ms. Shelley Hockett Mr. & Mrs. Allan Hoegg Dr. Bennett Horner Mr. Robert Howell Mr. & Mrs. Salvador Huerta Heather Ireland Ms. and Mr. Joyce Jackson Fred James Ms. Norma E Janzen Linda M Johnston Dr. Susan Jung-Kemeny Josefina Jurock Ms. Angela Kaija Sherri Kajiwara Anna Kang Zainul Karim-Nathoo Ms. Heather Kennedy Mr. David Thomas Killin Norene Kimberley Ms. Joan E. Kirkwood Jeff and Linda Klaver Gabriele Klein Margaret Knox Jacob Kojfman and Kelly Samuels Mrs. Thais Kornder Dr. Andrei Krassioukov Steve Krieger Ron Kruschen and Louise Akuzawa Mr. & Mrs. Hans Krutzen Gisela Kuhn Ms. Marianne Kurlak Ms. Dorothy Kuva Dan G Lahaie Mr. A. M. Laird Rock Lamont Julie Lapinsky Ms. Josephine Lau George Laverock Margaret and Peter Lawrence Ms. Evelyn Lee Mrs. Jenny Lee Dr. & Mrs. Richard and Susan Lee Ms. Wendy Lee Ms. Margaret E. Lees Ms. Ilse Leis Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Li Wolfgang and Anne Lippert Ms. Joanna L Lipsey James and Holly Littleford Dr. Laurie A Logan Israel Juarez Jennifer Lord Walter Low Alan Macdonald Dr. J W MacDonald Donna MacKenzie Ms. Wanda Madokoro Mrs. Ketty Magil Ramona Mar Mr. William Maranda Raylene Marchand Emil Marek Ms. Donna Marlatte Meghan Martin Robyn Martin Maria Mascher Mr. Edward Mason Mr. Barry McBride Ms. Annette McCunn Pauline McDonald Carol McGuinness John and Diane McKellar Ms. Stefanie Falz Mclellan Dr. & Mrs. T. Warner Mr. & Mrs. David F. Measday Trina Medeiros Livia Meret Ms. Louise Merler Mrs. Eliska Milacek David Godfrey Mordant Vera Morgan Gilbert Moses Mrs. Marie Mrowietz Stephanie I. Muendel Mr. Carl Mulder Mr. Thomas Patrick Mullan Dr. Badrinath Narayan Ms. Paula Naylor Ms. Henrietta Nemeckova Rosemary and Peter Nemetz Bryan Newson Mr. Murray Nichol Jennifer Nicholls Ms. Marcia Nodwell Ms. Anni Norgaard Mrs. Jean & Mr. William Norquist Mr. Wade Nott Ms. Gretchen O'Brien Ms. Elizabeth Odynsky Sue M. Okuda Ms. Emilia Olson Marti Oppenheimer Valerie Overgaard Gerry & Maureen Oyen Mr. David Parkes Judith L. Parkes Victoria Parr Shirley-Anne Parsons Michael Partridge Catherine Paterson Matthew Patzer Ms. Audrey Pearce Howard Pendleton Mr. David Perrin David Phillips Stephanie Pietralla Mary Pilatzke Ms. Helen Pinsky Evelyn Playle Ms. Silva Plut Colin Pronger Mr. John Puddifoot Ms. Eleanor Reemeyer Aubrey Reeves Blaize & Allan Reich Roseta Rennka Constance Ricci Mrs. Oksana and Dr. William Richards Wayne Richmond Mr. Berndt Rindt Donald & Heather Risk Ursula & Tom Robertson Ms. Ann Robson Vi Roden Alice Roemer Marie Rogers Horst Rosenke In Memory of my Father, Enzo Rossetti Ms. Florence Roy Alexander Rozov Ms. Shirley Rudolph Lucy Ruthven Mr. Carl Sager Mr. Ron Schubank Peter Scoates Ms. Darlene Scribilo Melanie Shek Steveston's Arts Connection Ltd Thomas G. Shorthouse Ms. Althea I Sibbald Julia and Keith Siddall Ms. Emily Simcox Ms. Gail Simpson Mr. David Sims Mr. David A. Sloan Margaret L Smith Mr. Peter Smith Mrs. Tia Smith Eleanor and John Smyth Annikka Snow Pierre Soucy Tim Speakman Dr. John Spinks Ms. Mary Sproul Ms. Frances Sprout Ms. Jane Srivastava Ms. Kristina Stevens Mrs. Elvina Stewart Mr. Lindsay Stewart Dr. John Stockton Mr. Charles Stratford Mrs. Kumi Sutcliffe Robert Swansborough and Alex Shirazian Ms. Lois Swanson Marg Swift Tatsiana Tarasevich Ms. Ruth Lea Taylor Ms. Diana Tchakalian Angela Thermann Ms. Lesley Thomas Ms. Maureen Thomson Mr. Garth Thurber Mr. Tom Tielens Kim and Mario Tomsich Haizley Trevor-Smith Ms. Judith M. Troesch Nora Tseng Dr. Carol Tsuyuki & Mr. Craig Tomlinson Ms. Sheila Veuger Kay Vinall and Timothy C. Holmes Miss Jean Vogrig Ms. Olga Volkoff Ms. Eleanor von Richthofen Mrs. Joan Wagner Richard Wasylynchuk Norma Wells Mr. Stephan Westbroek Mr. Geoffrey Whitehead Mr. Ron Whittaker Ms. Donna Wiess Edward Hector Williams In Memory of Joe Williams Joan Williams Ms. Lois Williams Michael Williams Robert Laing & Edward Wilson Don G. Wilson Ms. Tessa Wilson Sohyeun Won Mr. William Peter Woodfine Lois and Peter Woolley Michael A. Woolnough Guilan Yang Ms. Elizabeth Yip Mr. Charles Zaragoza Heidi Zetzsche

FLUTE Brenda Fedoruk, Principal Anne-Elise Keefer PICCOLO Anne-Elise Keefer OBOE Emma Ringrose, Principal Erin Marks CLARINET Christopher Lee, Acting Principal Yen-Han Chen BASSOON Ingrid Chiang, Principal Allan Thorpe HORN Laurel Spencer, Principal Nick Anderson Heather Walker Lyne Santamaria TRUMPET Katherine Evans, Principal Nikolaj Hansen TROMBONE Jeremy Berkman, Principal Jim Tranquilla BASS TROMBONE Graham Middleton HARP Janelle Nadeau, Principal TIMPANI Phillip Crewe, Principal PERCUSSION Julia Chien, Principal Lauri Lyster Len Pearson VIOLIN I Mark Ferris, Concertmaster Angela Cavadas, Associate Concertmaster Lawrie Hill Rick Dorfer Heilwig von Koenigsloew Ken Lin Ellen Farrugia Evelyn Creaser-Rumley Sarah Westwick Hyunjung Julia Lim VIOLIN II Rebecca Ruthven, Principal 2nd Andrea Siradze, Assistant Principal Domagoj Ivanovic Ji In Kim Petro Krysa Adrianne Stride Toni Stanick Sandra Fiddes VIOLA Tawnya Popoff, Principal Isabelle Roland, Assistant Principal Marie-Claude Brunet Reginald Quiring Mila Tymoshenko Roxi Dykstra CELLO Rebecca Wenham, Principal Heather Hay, Assistant Principal Susan Round Ashton Lim Harold Birston BASS Maggie Hasspacher, Principal Michael Vaughan, Assistant Principal Meaghan Williams Remi Yueming Xia Orchestra Manager Nick Anderson Orchestra Stage Manager Jim Tranquilla Orchestra Librarian Meaghan Williams

SOPRANO D’Arcy Blunston Rebecca Collett Eve-Lyn de la Haye Allyson Hop Aviva Lacterman Heather Pawsey Szu-Wen Wang Karen Ydenberg MEZZO-SOPRANO Francesca Corrado Brenda Glass Martina Govednik Lisa-Dawn Markle Heather Molloy Megan Morrison Elena Razlog Dionne Sellinger TENOR Callum Alden DJ Calhoun William Grossman Adam Kozak Brent MacKenzie Wade Nott Mark Pepe Don Wright BASS/BARITONE Angus Bell Henry Chen Jason Cook Glenn deVerteuil Dean Giustini Willy Miles-Grenzberg Zainen Suzuki Philip Wing VO celebrates our talented colleague, tenor John Arsenault, who passed away unexpectedly October 4, 2024. John was a beloved member of the VO chorus for 13 seasons and performed supporting roles in numerous productions with us, including Aida, Norma, Salome, and Tosca. In recent years, John took up the baton as conductor and musical director for several local opera and musical theatre companies. In all that he did, John was known for his sharp wit and kind, generous spirit. We will fondly remember his deep impact on our musical community

Justin Daniels Gabriel Eum Danica Kobayashi Nicole Laurent Monica Munn Sarah Shepherd

Director of Artistic & Production Nicole Lamb Company Manager Kewen Huang Technical Director Jon Mottram Head of Properties Stephen Field Elgar Assistant Properties Jesse Orr Head Scenic Carpenter Vince Folgizan Welder Philip A. Piper Head Scenic Painter Omanie Elias Production Assistant Jimena Pacheco Production Make-Up Michael Croteau Production Hair & Wigs / Wig Designer Donnie Tejani Head of Wardrobe Roberta Doylend Wardrobe Assistant Lily Yuen Stitchers/Cutters Jayme Cline Sarah Marchant Victoria Klippenstein Stephanie Kong Audrey Nishi Production Carpenter Dale Baratelli Production Electrician Anna-Lena Steiner Show Crew Andie Mei Fong Ho Bob Bancroft Carlos Avila Carolyn Reemeyer David Raun Edward Lazenby Joel Johnson Kate Rittenhouse Mark Ransom Martin Argus Mike Phelan Oriana Camporese Phil Schulze Saghar Bazargan Sarah Marchant Tony Brackstone Vancouver Opera recognizes and thanks Big Wave Dave for 20 years of working together. You are an important part of VO’s crew history! THANK YOUS IATSE 118 Vancouver Civic Theatres

Chair Krista Johanson Vice Chair Stanis Smith Treasurer Roger Flowerdew Secretary Andrea Wood Susan Van der Flier Human Alghabi Jennifer Choi Shaun Dolman Gagan Grewal Joshua Hutchinson Kevin Kelly Kirk LaPointe Pierre Lebel Ivor Luk Emily MacKinnon Jennifer Muench Richard Rees Chloe Sauder Isabelle Spothelfer Carol Tsuyuki Wilson Williams Andrea Wood President, Vancouver Opera Guild Jennifer Coté

Chair Richard Rees Treasurer and Secretary Jim MacCallum Past Chair Paul McEwen Jill Bodkin Jake Boxer Neil Carnell Geoff Dodds Roger Flowerdew Yuri Fulmer Emily MacKinnon Kevin Mah Nevada Mohammed Jennifer Muench Susan Van der Flier

General Director Tom Wright Music Director Jacques Lacombe Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington Director of Marketing Jonathan Harrison Director of Development Kayleigh Harrison (On Leave) Director of Artistic & Production Nicole Lamb Director of Finance and Administration William Murgatroyd Director of Engagement and Civic Practice Ashley Daniel Foot ARTISTIC PLANNING Company Manager Kewen Huang Head of Music Leslie Dala Coach/Répétiteur Tina Chang Preparatory Librarian Connie Goetz PRODUCTION Technical Director Jon Mottram Production Assistant Jimena Pacheco Head of Properties Stephen Field Elgar Head of Wardrobe Roberta Doylend DEVELOPMENT Interim Director of Development Bella Best Senior Manager, Grants & Sponsorships Kseniia Gorlevaia Senior Manager, Individual Giving Rebecca Paterson Administration Assistant Rilee German-Martinez FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Accounting and Payroll Manager Sonny Sohn Office Services Manager Jennifer Pipe Facilities Manager Mack McGillivray MARKETING Creative Director Annie Mack Senior Marketing Manager Keltie Laidlaw Database and Ticket Centre Manager Tracey Flattes Ticket Centre Associate Charlene Hibbard Social Media Specialist Lucas Bertoli Senior Communications Advisor Stephen Lyons Publicist Cynnamon Schreinert Program Ad Sales Jennifer Lee Graphic Designer Yvonne Olivotto ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC PRACTICE Senior Teaching Artist Eve-Lyn de la Haye Teaching Artists Tabitha Brasso Ernst Nicholas Burns Holly Collis Handford Kris Epps Researcher and Writer Jane Potter Audio Producer Mack McGillivray Coordination Vincent Huynh YULANDA M. FARIS YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM Program Director Leslie Dala Coach Tina Chang Heidi Duncan, Soprano Simran Claire, Mezzo-Soprano Lyndon Ladeur, Tenor Danlie Rae Acebuque, Baritone Derek Stanyer, Pianist Tayte Mitchell, Stage Director