Media Releases

For Immediate Release September 25, 2012
Media Contact Jelena Bojic, Director of Community Relations
jelena.bojic@edmontonopera.com
780.392.7837

Matinée programming adds flexibility to opera schedule

Opera is even more accessible during the 2012/13 season, as the Edmonton Opera has made changes to its production schedule to allow for matinée performances.

In addition to three nighttime performances, there will be a 2 p.m. performance on the Sunday during the production run. This earlier performance allows for out-of-town opera enthusiasts to enjoy the performance without making an overnight trip, or for families to expose their children to the art form and still make it home at a family-friendly hour.

“We want to be able to introduce Albertans of all ages to this unique art form, and offering matinée scheduling is one way to do so,” said Sandra Gajic, Edmonton Opera CEO. “Our mandate is to produce opera that moves and inspires, and with flexible programming, we are able to share that more than ever with Edmonton and northern Alberta.”

The first matinée of the season will be Aida, on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. Known as one of the grandest love stories, the opera was commissioned by Isma’il the Magnificent, who was a great admirer of Verdi’s work. Aida premiered at the Cairo Opera House on Dec. 24, 1871, followed by a premiere at La Scala in February 1872. Verdi conducted the second premiere, and received 32 curtain calls and a golden sceptre at its conclusion.

The splendor of Aida continues today, as all of its principals cast for the Edmonton stage have made or will soon make their Metropolitan Opera debut, and the stage is filled with nearly 100 chorus members, supernumeraries and dancers telling the ancient Egyptian story of forbidden love, conflicting loyalties and a complicated love triangle.

The Edmonton Opera is committed to enriching the arts and culture scene in the city of Edmonton and northern Alberta. Through matinée scheduling, as well as education events such as Opera Talks and Opera 101, we are able to not only provide great opera for current opera enthusiasts, but encourage a love of the art form in the next generation.

The Sunday matinée for Les Contes d’Hoffmann will be Feb. 3, and the matinée for Eugene Onegin is April 21. Matinées are also scheduled for Shelter (Nov. 17 and 18, 2 p.m.) and Svadba – Wedding (Jan. 13 2 p.m. and Jan. 16 11 a.m.). Please check edmontonopera.com for a full list of performance dates and times.