A Calgary opera group will bring the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers to life at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre in Okotoks next week.
The Calgary Concert Opera Company will perform the opera I Capuleti Ed I Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues), by Vincenzo Bellini at the arts centre on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m.
It is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and was first performed in 1830.
Company co-founder Barbara King said the opera focuses more on the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues and the famous love story emerges as the opera progresses.
“Towards the end there’s still the romance and the love story of Romeo and Juliet getting together and we still die in the end,” she said.
King, a mezzo-soprano, will play Romeo and Toronto singer Erin Armstrong will play Guilietta. The director of Toronto’s Opera By Request will join the performance as piano accompanist.
The company uses minimalist sets for its performances, compared to the grand settings seen in some operas. As a concert opera King said their focus is to give the singers a chance to let the voices take the spotlight.
“It’s not about the sets, it’s not about costuming, it’s for the singers to learn the parts and learn the roles,” she said.
She said the Rotary Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) will be an ideal venue for the company to perform.
“Because it is a smaller venue, people can really get the sound from us and actually get the emotion and see our faces and how we portray the characters,” she said.
She and her partner Chris Geick founded the company to give up and coming singers an opportunity to get experience in Calgary.
“The singers learn the roles and they get to perform in front of an audience and put it on their resume,” she said. “It’s like a stepping stone.”
The company splits proceeds from its shows with its performers to give them an income to help them with their singing career.
She said opera singers need to leave Canada to be able to sing and get experience and knows how tough it can be to get a big break in opera. She has been singing for 10 years and she was part of Calgary Opera’s emerging artist’s program and has travelled to Europe and the U.S. to perform.
“I’ve had to go to Italy and Germany and Toronto and the States to get the experience,” she said.
The company will hold a second performance of the opera in Calgary at the South Calgary Community Church on Feb. 24.
Tickets are available by calling 403-719-4525 or by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information visit www.calgaryconcertopera.com.
