Blogger Night at La Traviata!

Here's the roundup of Traviata posts from our crack team of bloggers!

From Natasha Belonio
Live Blogging Part 1
Live Blogging Part 2
Live Blogging Part 3
It's almost been a week...

From Gwendolyn Floyd
La Traviata
Getting Ready and Getting There
A Review

From Stacey Robinsmith
Opening Night
Backstage Party

From Frances Sprout
La Traviata - Before the Show
Backstage Tour
Intermission
The Morning After

A huge thanks to all four of them for coming to the show, agreeing to be put on display and for the thoughtful commentary!

Lucia di Lammermoor: Bloggers Final Thoughts

From left: Miranda Lievers, Frances Sprout, Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belanio

A big thank you to our bloggers who joined us for Blogger Night at the Opera. As suspected, all of our bloggers were really enjoyed Lucia di Lammermoor.

Here are their thoughts on Lucia, Eglise Gutierrez, Michael Fabiano and the excitement of opening night:

The Vancouver audience roared their approval when the final curtain fell. When the lead performers returned to the stage, the Vancouver audience leapt to their feet in the most spontaneous standing ovation I have ever see. The Vancouver audience needed this performance and unequivocally showed their love for the performance. Well done. Very well done.

The bottom line; if you are going to see one Vancouver Opera performance this season, make sure it is Lucia di Lammermoor. This is the opera of the season. - Stacey Robinsmith

To read more from Stacey, click here.


This opera is astonishingly beautiful, stunning music, really. and Lucia's first aria -- the end of a duet with Alisa (mezzo-soprano Dionne Sellinger) had the crowd applauding and even, from a gentleman in the row ahead of us, several heartfelt hoots. Gutiérrez's soprano is breathtaking -- how can something so powerful appear to float so effortlessly, note piling on note in a sumptuous wreath of sound... - Frances Sprout

To read more from Frances, click here and here.


Wow! Eglise Gutierrez is like none other! A stunning performance. Her range is extraordinary. I'm speechless. - Nik Belanio

To read more from Nik, click here and here.


I was told ahead of time I was in for a treat with Eglise Gutiérrez playing the part of Lucia, but I was not prepared to be so completely blown away by her performance. I don’t want to lessen the work of the rest of the cast as it really is beautiful – particularly that of Gregory Dahl who plays Lucia’s brother Enrico and of course Michael Fabiano’s performance as Edgardo, especially in the final scene where the power of his voice really shines.

That said – Eglise has my heart. I think I could listen to her for hours, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any more incredible Act 3 started and…well… if you’ve been on the fence about heading out to the opera, this is absolutely the show to see. She will blow you away. - Miranda Lievers

Thank you Bloggers for being a part of such an amazing night! We look forward to welcoming you back for La Clemenza di Tito!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Blogging Lucia di Lammermoor

The drama! The heartache! The madness!

Bloggers Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout will take on the dramma tragico, Lucia di Lammermoor, this Saturday.

The quartet will also be sharing their thoughts on the entire experience: from hobnobbing with other opera patrons, reporting from the backstage tour and listening to the exquisite bel canto singing.

Follow along the sidebar to the right for their weblinks as they blog pre-show and during the intermission.


Clockwise from top left: Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout

Don't be shy! Stop by and say hello to our friendly bloggers on opening night in the main lobby of the QET. They can't wait to meet you!

Sponsored by:


~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Lillian Alling: Final Thoughts

From left: Miranda Lievers, Frances Sprout, Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio

A big thank you to our Bloggers who joined us for the Lillian Alling Blogger Night at the Opera. We were delighted to have you at our world premiere. Thank you for helping us to kick-start the 2010-2011 season in a big way.

So did our bloggers have a good time at Lillian Alling?

This opera, more than any other opera, perhaps because it is the world premiere, but this opera, had me literally on the edge of my seat right until the curtain dropped for the final time. - Stacey Robinsmith

To read more on Stacey's thoughts, click here and here.

All the singers were great. They sung to the top of their game. The highest highs and the lowest lows. Judith Forst is an older woman with a voice as strong as a young woman's. Her character, Irene's, story is achingly told through her eyes. And Frederique Vezina is a young woman from Montreal. She gave me chills with her high on pitch voice. Aaron St. Clair Nicholson did a wonderful job as Scotty. He was believable and touching. And Irene's son, Jimmy, played by Roger Honeywell, was a good counterpart to irene. A loud and barreling voice. - Nik Belonio

To read more on Nik's thoughts, click here.

Lillian Alling is a true Canadian production – commissioned by the Vancouver Opera and produced in conjunction with the Banff Centre, Lillian Alling is a show that takes place across North America. Not to be shy with their world premiere, the Vancouver Opera has pulled all stops to produce a contemporary opera that is both artistically and technically breathtaking. - Miranda Lievers

Wow! That was so stirring, not only the opera with its powerful music or the encompassing scenery, the huge visuals, the love stories and the mysteries revealed, but simply the notion that an opera can be made with the place names I know so well. I love imagining this opera being performed in other cities worldwide -- and Stanley Park and Telegraph Creek, the Skeena River and the Vancouver lights sung into that larger panorama. - Frances Sprout

To read more on Frances' thoughts, click here and here.

What a great start to the brand new season! We look forward to welcoming back our bloggers for the upcoming Lucia di Lammermoor. Stay tuned!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

A World Premiere Blogger Night

A new season, a world premiere and Blogger Night at the Opera!

We are beyond thrilled that Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout will be joining us on Saturday, October 16 for all the excitement.

The quartet will be sharing their thoughts on the entire experience: from hobnobbing with other opera patrons, seeing the set with its wonderful visual projections and hearing the exquisite music and singing for the very first time.

Follow along the sidebar to the right for their weblinks as they blog pre-show and during the intermission. They may even report from the afterparty too.


Clockwise from top left: Stacey Robinsmith, Nik Belonio, Miranda Lievers and Frances Sprout

Don't be shy! Stop by and say hello to our friendly bloggers on opening night in the main lobby of the QET. They can't wait to meet you!

Sponsored by:


~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Madama Butterfly: Final Thoughts

From left: Gus Fosarolli, John Biehler, Stacey Robinsmith, Kelsey Dundon

A HUGE thank you to all our bloggers who have joined us this past year in celebrating our Golden Anniversary season! What a way to go out! Madama Butterfly made an impact on everybody at opening night, including our bloggers. It may well be the first Blogger Night at the Opera where our opera left our bloggers all misty-eyed.

But don't take our word for it...

What a way to end the season. Vancouver Opera’s take on Puccini’s classic Madama Butterfly is beautiful and brilliant, not to mention, brightly coloured. - Kelsey Dundon

Mihoko Kinoshita’s portrayal of Madama Butterfly was amazing. Singing some of the classics that I’ve heard before were sung with passion and the chemistry between her and James were amazing. You can see the love she has for the naval officer and though the first Act is filled with flirting between the two, you wonder what would happen if their relationship did work out in the end. - Gus Fosarolli

One final thing that still surprises me that happens during the final bows at the end of both Opera’s I’ve attended is the extended ovation that gradually builds as the performers come out. For Butterfly, it went on for a long time and it was cool to see the passion the audience had for these performers. It’s not often you see an older gentleman hoot and holler while wearing a tux. - John Biehler

I have seen Madama Butterfly before but this time…the tears were streaming down my face. The ending of this opera was made all the more poignant due to the fact that at home are our two precious little angels. I cannot imagine being forced to relinquish my sweet little ones…the agony I felt as I sat there watching a woman’s child being stolen away…unbelievable. If you have not yet bought your ticket to this opera, do so as soon as you can. So exquisite. - Stacey Robinsmith

Thank you bloggers for helping to make Blogger Night at the Opera such a success. We look forward to seeing you all at the opera next season!

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager

Blogging The Butterfly

Love. Honour. Betrayal.

Just another day at Blogger Night at the Opera!

Come say hi on opening night (Saturday, May 29) as our Madama Butterfly bloggers take on the ever-so-tragic tale of Butterfly and her Pinkerton. With a breath-taking set, heart-breakingly beautiful music and emotional arias, our bet is that our bloggers will get a little wet in the eyes.


Clockwise from top left: Kelsey Dundon, Gus Fosarolli, Stacey Robinsmith, John Biehler

Follow along on the right sidebar as our bloggers report from the front lines, as well as, behind the scenes of Madama Butterfly. Hankies not included.

~ Ling Chan, Social Media Manager