Archive for "May, 2010"

Derrick and Heather Parker at SPCS

Opera Stars May 25, 2010 No Comments

Baritone Derrick Parker and Soprano Heather Parker, great friends of Spokane Opera, perform “Pa, Pa, Pa” from Mozart’s The Magic Flute at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Spokane, Wa. See them both perform in our upcoming Dinner Theatre!
You can see more photos from Spokane Opera at our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spokaneopera

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10th Annual Diamonds & Divas: Passport to Barcelona

Davenport Hotel, Diamonds and Divas, Events May 25, 2010 No Comments

Photo Credit: Jopsens

On December 31, 2010, Spokane Opera is hosting it’s 10th Diamonds & Divas black tie gala and fundraiser.

This year’s theme is Passport to Barcelona. We’ll treat your senses to the sounds and flavors of Spain. A program of live music, a specially-crafted, themed menu at the luxurious Davenport Hotel in Spokane, ballroom dancing, a midnight champagne toast, and an auction of the regions finest wines will be part of the night’s events.

Diamonds & Divas is not just Spokane’s most elegant New Year’s Eve event. It is also a fundraiser that benefits fine arts in the Northwest throughout the year. Last year, Diamonds & Divas raised over $25,000. These funds support the artists, craftsmen, and production crew who bring live opera and fine music to the region. We are grateful to generous patrons and donors who give their wholehearted support to fostering a culture of arts appreciation.

We’ll have more info on Diamonds & Divas in the coming months. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you have the latest information about upcoming events. You can read more about last year’s Diamonds & Divas here.
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Dinner Theatre: The Maid Mistress

Dinner Theatre, Events May 25, 2010 1 Comment

Italian food, Italian wine, and Italian opera: What could be a better combination? This June, you’ll have the opportunity to experience it for yourself, when Spokane Opera presents The Maid Mistress (La serva padrona) in Dinner Theatre at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. The Maid Mistress stars husband and wife Derrick and Heather Parker, as Dr. Pandolfo and his cheeky maid Zerbina, and musical accompaniment by Greg Presley.

Dinner Theatre is a fantastic way to experience opera for the first time. The Maid Mistress is performed in English (using the Kalmus translation), and has a short running time — only 45 minutes. The ticket includes a meal at Luigi’s, which is a great value, and a perfect time to bring company with you. If you have a friend who has never experienced the pleasures of opera, Dinner Theatre is a good introduction.

The Maid Mistress is about an elderly, grouchy bachelor, Dr. Pandolfo, and his maid, Zerbina. As the opera opens, Dr. Pandolfo is angry because Zerbina hasn’t brought him his chocolates. As the day goes on, she forbids him from leaving the house. Dr. Pandolfo orders his butler Scapin to find him another maid, but Zerbina and Scapin have already concocted a plan to trick Dr. Pandolfo into marrying her, making her the true mistress of the house…

The Maid Mistress is a well-known example of opera buffa (comic opera, from which we get the word “Buffoon”). Like verismo opera, which you may have seen in our production of Pagliacci, opera buffa is about common folk in everyday settings. But unlike verismo, which is preoccupied with the dark and sordid, opera buffa is hilarious!

Like many early opera buffa works, The Maid Mistress was created for the intermezzo, or time between acts of larger-scale operas. Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (Jan. 4 1710-Mar. 16 1736) premiered The Maid Mistress during the premier of his own opera The Proud Prisoner, which did not achieve any measure of success. The Maid Mistress, however, took Europe by storm and is considered a seminal piece that brought the era of Baroque music to a close, and ushered in the age of true Classical music.

Spokane Opera Dinner Theatre takes place June 15, 16, 17, and 22, 23, and 24 at Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. Tickets (which include a meal) are available by calling Spokane Opera at 509-533-1150, or visiting our website.

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