Travel to Seville with MANITOBA OPERA

Welcome to our 2009/10 season – an operatic excursion to the south of Spain and the sultry, sandy city of Seville. To take us there, we have assembled some of North America’s best artists in two of the best operas in the world.

First stop is Rossini’s ticklish comedy The Barber of Seville featuring the delightful Nikki Einfeld as Rosina. Joining her is one of Canada’s finest baritones, James Westman, as the scheming barber, Figaro, and rising young American tenor, Victor Ryan Robertson as Count Almaviva.

Veteran performer, Peter Strummer, returns to us as Bartolo, Rosina’s guardian and would-be pursuer. One of North America’s busiest directors, David Gately, makes his MO debut staging this comic romp, while Tad Biernacki conducts.

Next on the tour is Bizet's fiery fatal attraction, Carmen. Kirsten Chávez, considered one of the most riveting artists performing today, will sing the title role. The gifted Canadian tenor, David Pomeroy, will sing the role of Don José, the soldier who throws it all away for her. The lovely Frédérique Vézina returns to MO to sing Micäela, Don José’s fiancée. Mexican-born baritone, Luis Ledesma, makes his Manitoba Opera debut as the charismatic matador, Escamillo. The production will be directed by Rob Herriot, who directed MO’s hit La Bohème in 2005, and conducted by the company’s Music Advisor and Principal Conductor, Tyrone Paterson.

We also have planned a number of events to give you more insight into the operas and artists you’ll see this year. I hope you’ll take them in, as they’re sure to be entertaining and informative. Also, you can order your tickets now for our Opening Night Pre-Show Dinner prior to The Barber of Seville. Dinner, a laugh, and parking all in one easy package.

So, I hope you’ll have a look at the brochure, your guide to our trip to Seville. The Barber of Seville and Carmen: funny and sexy. Now, that’s worth the trip.

Larry Desrochers
General Director & CEO