Festival History

2011

Opera on the Avalon held its’ third major festival from May 30 until June 26th, 2011. The festival was a month long event, which featured two fully staged productions of the operas Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, and Le Nozze di Figaro, by W. A. Mozart.

Dido and Aeneas ran from June 16-19th at the LSPU Hall, and was directed by Tim Albery, and conducted by  Kevin Mallon who was joined by the early music ensemble Aradia. This was the first time the early music orchestra has been heard in operatic performances in Newfoundland and Labrador. Le Nozze di Figaro was performed at the Holy Heart of Mary Theatre from June 22-24th, and moved to Bonavista’s Garrick Theatre for one performances on June 25th. Figaro was directed by Robert Herriot, with Maestro Judith Yan conducting an orchestra consisting of all Newfoundland instrumentalists.

Faculty and Guest Artists for 2011 included:

Directors: Tim Albery (Covent Garden, The Canadian Opera Company, Metropolitan Opera) Rob Herriot (Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera), Michael Waller (Banff School, Wilfred Grenfell)

Coaches: Mark Morash (San Francisco Opera), Vlad Iftinca (Metropolitan Opera), Jonathan Kelly (Metropolitan Opera), Paul Transue (Opera Lyra), Steven Philcox (Canadian Opera Company), Kathryn LaBouff (The Juilliard School) , Kristina Szutor (Memorial School of Music), Timothy Steeves (Memorial School of Music).

Voice Faculty: W. Steven Smith, Cynthia Hoffmann, (The Juilliard School), Joan Patenaude Yarnell, Patricia Misslin (The Curtis Institute, Manhattan School), Sanford Sylan (McGill University), Ben Butterfield (University of Victoria), John Fanning (Canadian Opera Company, Metropolitan Opera), Elizabeth Turnbull (University of Alberta).

Artistic Design: Renate Pohl (Lighting, sets, and Costumes), Jason Hand (Lighting), Camellia Koo (Lighitng and Sets), Hope Terry (Movement), Susan Jennings (Stage Management), Elyse Summers (Stage Management), Carol Nelson (Costumes).

Orchestra: The Aradia Ensemble (Toronto) The Opera on the Avalon Chamber Orchestra (St. John’s)

Internships will be awarded to young artists in assistant directing, assisting conducting, and stage management.

2010

In· 2010, Opera on the Avalon held its’ second annual festival from June 28 until July 18th. The festival was a three week event which culminated in the productions of two fully staged and costumed operas, Albert Herring, and The Rape of Lucretia, by the British composer Benjamin Britten. Over 74 singers from around the world participated in the festival in 2010. Recitals and masterclasses were also held at DF Cook Hall, and the Petro Canada Hall in St. John’s. Benefit Concerts were held in Brigus and Ferryland to benefit local charities.

Faculty for 2010 included Carrie-Ann Matheson (Metropolitan Opera), Judith Forst (Order of Canada), John Fanning (Order of Canada), Steven Philcox (Canadian Opera Company), Robert Herriot (Calgary Opera), Elizabeth Turnbull (Dallas Opera), Benjamin Butterfield (The Metropolitan Opera), Peter Strummer (NYCO Opera), Kathryn Labouff (The Juilliard School), Cynthia Hoffmann (The Juilliard School), Cheryl Hickman (Canadian Opera Company), Judith Yan (San Francisco Opera), Tyrone Paterson (Opera Lyra), Paul Transue (Seattle Opera) and James Marvel (The Juilliard School).· Local artists included coaches Leslee Heys and Brian Way, vocal instructor Cheryl Hickman, and orchestra members Alison Black, Rob Power, Valerie Holden, Sean Rice, Michelle Gott, Frank Fusari, Douglas Vaughn, Grace Dunsmore, Jennifer Johnson, Scott Chancey, Theo Webber, and Neil Bishop.

Internships to local artists were awarded in assistant directing, assisting conducting, and stage management.

Opera on the Avalon held a gala to support and fund the festival on June 30, 2010 at the Geo Center in St. John’s. With performances by festival guest artists and participants, this charity event helped to raise over $75,000 to offset the enormous cost of holding the festival, and producing two full operatic productions.

In December 2010 Opera on the Avalon also hosted a co-benefit Christmas raffle with The Autism Society in St. John’s. This raffle raised over $25,000, which helped to benefit both charities.

2009

In 2009, Opera on the Avalon held its’ first annual festival from July 16-26th. The festival was a ten day event that culminated in four nights of staged operatic scenes with subtitles at DF Cook Recital Hall. Recitals and masterclasses were also held at Petro-Canada Hall. Opera on the Avalon also performed a charity concert in Brigus for the benefit of St. Andrews Church in Brigus. Over twenty five singers from around the world participated in the festival in 2009.

Faculty for 2009 included Jennifer Matthews, Robert Herriot, Elizabeth Turnbull, Jennifer Johnson, Elena Hammel, Leslee Heys, Steven Leigh, Andrea Lane Gardner.

Internships in stage management and directing were also given out to local students during the festival.

Memorial University entered into a full sponsorship of the festival in 2009, which is a continuing sponsorship at present.