News

April 23, 2007                                                                                               

Calgary Opera Announces Naming Benefactor for Opera Centre

Calgary AB…  From the stage at the Opening Night performance of Carmen, in front of a capacity crowd, Calgary Opera General Director and CEO, W.R. (Bob) McPhee announced a major gift to the organization by local businessman Said Arrata.

“We are absolutely thrilled with this donation from Mr. Arrata, which is the largest single individual gift ever given to our company,” announced McPhee just prior to the start of Carmen.  “This contribution will enable us to offset the operating costs of the opera centre for this season and for the remaining eight years in our lease, thereby allowing us to redirect funds to the things that are most important to our audiences and constituencies – mainstage productions and Education and Outreach programs. The Opera Centre has truly changed our lives,” continued McPhee, “Since moving into the building our company has been able to launch a full-scale Emerging Artist Development Program, rehearse and run our wardrobe shop out of the same venue where we have our offices, and host a number of public events. We are genuinely grateful to Mr. Arrata for his most generous donation and in appreciation of his gift we have re-named the building the Arrata Opera Centre effective immediately.”

The Arrata Opera Centre is the former Wesley United Church. Constructed in 1911, this historic building has been a centrepoint in the Beltline District and touched the lives of many local residents who remember attending important events at the Church. In July 2005 it was refurbished into an Opera Centre to house a rehearsal hall / small performance space, a gallery space, box office, administration, wardrobe facility, meeting room and classroom space for Calgary Opera. The Calgary Opera box office is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Not only has the Arrata Opera Centre changed the face of our company, it provides a much-needed space that can be used by other non-profit organizations, many of them arts groups. Since moving in, Calgary Opera has accommodated bookings by 47 different organizations including Ground Zero Theatre, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Vertigo Theatre, the Calgary Fringe Festival, Quest Theatre, The Festival of Animated Objects, Alberta Youth Outreach and many more. This season alone, the Centre was in use 290 days out of 365 days available with more than 7,500 people going through the building either as audience members or participants.

Said S. Arrata, P. Eng.

Mr. Said Arrata is a steadfast supporter of music in our community, as evidenced by his major gift to Calgary Opera as the naming benefactor of the Arrata Opera Centre.

Said Arrata is recognized in Calgary as an accomplished entrepreneur and as a dedicated community leader and humanitarian.  He is well-known for his inspirational and innovative leadership throughout his forty year career with the petroleum industry, both locally and internationally.  Mr. Arrata is greatly appreciated in our community for his devotion to the arts, and his commitment to various humanitarian causes and higher education. He is a long-time champion of the Alberta Ballet, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotary Club, United Way, as well as our colleges and universities.
 
The sponsorship of the Opera Centre is the highlight of years of joyful association between the Arrata family and Calgary Opera.        

For further information, please contact: Brian O'Neill, Calgary Opera 802-3409, or boneill@calgaryopera.com.