Opera maestro Frank Klassen eagerly returns to the Brackendale Art Gallery Saturday (Oct. 22) to present his second fully-staged opera production in Squamish in six months.
Last April, Klassen thrilled audiences with the valley's first opera production, Giacomo Puccini's one-act opera Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica).
"It was very, very well-received," said Klassen. "We discovered that the audience was very knowledgeable. People had a very, very good opera background. They regularly went to Vancouver Opera and would even fly to Europe for concerts. They were very, very appreciative especially of the high quality of the singing."
Klassen will introduce his new production company to Squamish audiences with a unique performance that marries the Coffee Cantata by Bach and Pimpinone by Telemann. The Coffee Cantata, Bach's most famous secular work, tells the story of a man whose daughter is causing him to go bankrupt with her consumption of coffee - a very hot commodity in 18th century Europe. She agrees to quit if he finds her a husband. His search leads into Telemann's Pimpinone, when he finds a woman he wishes to marry.
"You'll hear the different music," said Klassen. "It will seem the same, but it's not the same."
Opera Appassionata was launched in July as a non-profit organization to provide audiences with quality performances of opera. The society also provides fundraising events for the benefit of charitable organizations and co-operates with seniors' homes and similar benevolent institutions to enhance the life of people who might otherwise be unable to attend operatic performances.
"Singing and song always awakens something within people," said Klassen. "Healthcare workers have always said that when we come in it really brings a lot of brightness into the lives of these people. It's so easy to pipe music in with CDs, and TVs are running all the time, but to have live singers bring beautiful music, which many people may know, it really rings a bell."
Opera Appassionata also seeks to serve the artists involved, who gain practical experience by working with established professionals. The program includes workshops related to learning and performing operatic repertoire for soloists and musicians.
"Anybody that knows the business a little, knows that it's very, very hard for even the best of singers to get stage experience," said Klassen. "Everybody wants someone with experience but no one's willing to provide it."
Klassen finds high quality talent through auditions. Alison Nystrom, playing the lead female role, sang at the Victoria at the Pacific Opera as a soloist. She received special permission from her union to perform with Klassen's company.
"That's because they thought that it was a worthy endeavor of a high caliber," he said. "The word gets around that professionals with a lot of experience are putting out good opera."
Howe Sound audiences can judge the quality for themselves Saturday (Oct. 22) at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and can be purchased at the gallery or at Mostly [email protected]
