Quotable Quotes

Media Quotes

“Opera companies in Toronto, Calgary and New York positioned themselves for the future: the COC with architecture, Calgary Opera with a stream of new repertoire and New York’s Metropolitan with a $2-million (U.S.) premiere (Tan Dun’s The First Emperor) and a coming series of live HD broadcasts in movie theatres across North America.”
- Robert Everett Green, Globe & Mail

“Calgary Opera obviously isn't the tradition-bound institution it once was. Under general director W.R. (Bob) McPhee, it has embraced projects such as Filumena and Frobisher to develop its public's appetite. …In Calgary, experience suggests that the old has a way of becoming new again.”
- William Littler, Toronto Star

“…while it has traditionally been easy to dismiss the Stampede City as a cultural backwater, this Saturday's opening of Frobisher, the second new Canadian opera to premiere in the city in four years, means it's growing harder to make a case that Calgary's idea of entertainment involves nothing more highbrow than a mechanical bull.”
- Sean Carrie, National Post

"In the past few seasons, Calgary Opera has leaped to national prominence with its well-publicized productions of new operas." 

- Kenneth DeLong, Opera Canada Magazine

“The premiere of a new Canadian opera is a major event, and this was no exception. Mayor Dave Bronconnier came. MP Jim Prentice, came. The Governor General came. It was a major event in Alberta's - and Canada's - cultural scene.”
- Stephen Hunt, Calgary Herald

Calgary Opera Quotes

All quotes except where indicated are from W.R. (Bob) McPhee, Calgary Opera General Director & CEO.

On Carmen:

“We have had an unbelievable season so far with a new built-in-Calgary production of Cinderella and the world premiere of Frobisher. To end the mainstage season with one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire is the icing on the cake. We are excited to have enough demand for tickets to hold over the production of Carmen. The extra performance will give newcomers to opera a chance to get excellent seats and it will also give our core audience an opportunity to bring family or friends to the opera.”

On Frobisher:

“Frobisher is an epic tale that spans 400 years, from the Elizabethan courts of England to modern day Alberta and the far north. We are so proud to be able to present Estacio & Murrell’s second new opera to the world. It demonstrates Calgary Opera’s commitment to make the presentation of new works part of its core mandate.”

“The journey over the past four years to bring Frobisher to the stage of the Jubilee Auditorium has been deeply rewarding as we watched the opera grow from a concept, to a work-in-progress, to a truly remarkable grand opera that we are proud to share with Calgary and the world.”

On The Hannaraptor:

“The Hannaraptor is this company’s fourth commission and second one-act opera. The challenges we face with these commissions and the diversity of the pieces breathe creative life into our company and to opera as a vibrant and relevant art form.”

On the Emerging Artist Development Program:

“These are some of Canada’s most talented up-and-coming opera singers, and this program will help them develop into the future stars of the Canadian opera stage.