Last night’s Bard on the Beach Opera & Arias performance was a chance to see the combined talents of the UBC Opera Ensemble and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. Together on the Bard on the Beach Mainstage, they showcased highlights of several Verdi operas, this year’s chosen theme. For the 10th year in a row, this popular summer tradition returns with two more performances on September 2, at 1 and 7 pm.
Several opera stars young and old sang from Il Trovatore, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Nabuco, Un Ballo in Maschera and Falstaff in a two-hour performance hosted by Bard director Christopher Gaze. This is a wonderful opportunity to sample many operas in one evening. With Gaze hosting, we were in for a treat as each opera was briefly introduced beforehand, giving background and meaning to what we were about to hear.
UBC’s Nancy Hermiston directs the in-concert staging as conductor Leslie Dala leads the musicians.
Standout performances included Rhosyln Jones as Lenora in Il Trovatore’s Tacea la note placid, Taylor Pardell as Gilda in Rigoletto’s Caro none, and Tony Caruso performing as the Duke in well-known and loved Rigoletto’s La donne e mobile. The evening culminated with the final scene from Falstaff, with key performers and a full chorus decked out in an array of masks, enveloping Dala and musicians. It was a beautiful site to behold, rounding out Viva Verdi!
Whether you’re an opera buff or just opera-curious, this is a great way to enjoy an evening with a beautiful backdrop of the waterfront at Kits Point.
Visit the Bard on the Beach website for tickets to both remaining performances, priced at $43 (evening) and $30 (afternoon). Youth (ages 6 to 25) tickets are $25.
