The history of opera in Muskoka

Abstract

When Cineplex started to broadcast the satellite transmissions of the Metropolitan Opera, Guild members gathered, in Orillia, for lunch and the Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts. During the summer of 2009 the Norwood Theatre arranged to bring in operas and ballets from Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, England. The Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre was also able, with the help of donations from Muskoka Opera Guild members, to bring in the Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts from New York City. We were so lucky! That summer was an opera feast, and we continue to feast. We have now been able to enjoy the Metropolitan Opera Encores at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre year round. Since the summer of 2011 we have been enjoying a wonderful summer donor series of Metropolitan Opera screenings. This year the 2016/17 Metropolitan Opera HD Encore series begins on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Rene Caisse Theatre at 12:25 p.m. with [Richard Wagner]'s Tristan & Isolde.

BRACEBRIDGE - On Oct. 24, 2006, with Tom and Eleanor Anderson and their friends, the Brocklehursts, the Heenemans, the Meeuwisses, Claudette Wheeler, the late Per Jensen, Carol Terry, Jennifer Wood, John Purdon and the late Peter Sale, Sr., the Muskoka Opera Guild was born. An ad had been placed in the Weekender newspaper to advertise our first meeting on Oct. 24, 2006. As a result, our members are still meeting regularly on the last Monday of the month, now at Knox Presbyterian Church on Taylor Road, in Bracebridge. This year we were entertained, once again, by Deanna Gontard, member of the Canadian Opera Company's Speakers Bureau, with a talk on Richard Wagner's Tristan & Isolde. Membership is $20, and $3 per guest at a meeting.

When Cineplex started to broadcast the satellite transmissions of the Metropolitan Opera, Guild members gathered, in Orillia, for lunch and the Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts. During the summer of 2009 the Norwood Theatre arranged to bring in operas and ballets from Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, England. The Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre was also able, with the help of donations from Muskoka Opera Guild members, to bring in the Metropolitan Opera Simulcasts from New York City. We were so lucky! That summer was an opera feast, and we continue to feast. We have now been able to enjoy the Metropolitan Opera Encores at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre year round. Since the summer of 2011 we have been enjoying a wonderful summer donor series of Metropolitan Opera screenings. This year the 2016/17 Metropolitan Opera HD Encore series begins on Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Rene Caisse Theatre at 12:25 p.m. with Richard Wagner's Tristan & Isolde.

Wonderful though it is, there is nothing to replace the beauty of the human voice live. The Muskoka Opera Festival Committee were truly inspired to share Canadian talents, that are featured abroad, with their hometown friends and neighbours. The result was the first presentation of the Muskoka Opera Festival in August 2010, with matching funding from Muskoka Futures. It was such a wonderful opportunity to have professional singers appear in our local theatre, where they could also inspire younger talents to achieve their dreams. Our first opening night featured singers from Richard Margison and Valerie Kuinka`s Highland Opera Studio. This year OperaMuskoka had the wonderful opportunity to sponsor a local production, by Daevyd Pepper, of Tchaikowsky's Eugene Onegin, in Russian with English surtitles, with the support of the Town of Bracebridge. Daevyd also sang the role of Lenski. Initially, Daevyd started with the Stars of Tomorrow concert, in 2010. The Stars of Tomorrow concert was started to provide young performers with an opportunity to appear, in concert, in a state-of-the-art theatre; as well as, network, and learn from professional singers and musicians. Especially through a vocal masterclass which is now an annual event. The masterclass program this year also included a violin masterclass.

The final concert of the OperaMuskoka Festival this year celebrates the Muskoka Opera Guild's 10th anniversary in Muskoka, as well as, International Opera Week. The concert takes place at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre, on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased online at thecaisse.com or by telephone at 705-645-8400. The concert features the rich voice of Sasha Djihanian, a soprano with the Canadian Opera Company. Originally from Montreal, Sasha was a finalist with the World's Competition in Cardiff, Wales.

Diane Adamson-Brdar, chair, Muskoka Opera Festival Committee