News

May 2 , 2008                                                                                                                08-13

Calgary Opera’s Newest Commissionto be Showcased at
Prestigious OPERA America Conference

Calgary, AB… Calgary Opera has been invited to present its most recent new work Hannaraptor by Allan Gilliland and Val Brandt at the largest annual gathering of North American Opera companies – the OPERA America’s National Performing Arts Convention – taking place in Denver from June 11 to 14. The conference welcomes delegates from across the USA, Canada, Mexico, and beyond to convene over opera-related topics. Calgary Opera will partake in a showcase of North American new works.

“We are thrilled to be invited to present Hannaraptor at this prestigious event,” says Calgary Opera General Director & CEO, W.R. (Bob) McPhee. “This reinforces the leadership role Calgary Opera plays in the development of new works. New operas allow our regional stories to be told, contribute to the development of Canadian talent, and showcase the gifted composers and librettists living in this country today. We are very excited and proud to showcase this wonderful new work to our opera colleagues in Denver this June.”

The last time Calgary Opera received an invitation to showcase its new work at the OPERA America conference was in 2003, with the premiere of the highly acclaimed opera, Filumena, by John Estacio and John Murrell.

Hannaraptor is the fourth new work by Calgary Opera since 2001: The first work, Turtle Wakes by Alan Bell and Rick McNair, was presented in 2001; the critically acclaimed and award winning Filumena by John Estacio and John Murrell premiered in 2003; and Frobisher by Estacio/Murrell in 2007. On the horizon, Calgary Opera is set to premiere its fifth new work, The Inventor by Bramwell Tovey and John Murrell, in 2011. Calgary Opera was also invited by a group of American opera companies to be the only Canadian partner in the commissioning and production of the world premiere of a new opera work based on the story of Moby-Dick by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, set for its world premiere in 2010 in Dallas.

Hannaraptor is an opera for young audiences, which was premiered in Airdrie on April 5, and then toured Southern Alberta for the month of April. The opera tells the story of a young girl who finds dinosaur bones with her father on their farm in the Alberta badlands. When her father dies shortly after, the story unravels into a tale that will touch hearts of all ages.

The public can view Hannaraptor this weekend as part of the Y Stage Series at Vertigo Theatre. Show times are: May 2 at 7pm; May 3 at 2pm and 7pm; and May 4 at 12:30pm and 3:30pm. Tickets are $10 for youth/seniors, and $15 for adults, and are available by phoning 221-3708 or visiting www.vertigotheatre.com.

Calgary Opera gratefully acknowledges its sponsors – Production sponsor: Industrial Alliance Pacific; School Tour supported by TELUS Calgary Community Board and Alberta Lotteries; Calgary Opera Community Outreach sponsored by EnCana; and Emerging Artists sponsored by Enbridge. Hannaraptor was commissioned by the SA Opera Development Foundation.

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