2013 Opera Tour of Angela and Her Sisters, with Andrea Lett (above) and Anne-Marie MacIntosh (right).
Opera school tour
2013 Opera Tour of Angela and Her Sisters, with Andrea Lett (at desk) and Amanda Poole (above).
The University of Manitoba Opera Theatre Ensemble performed a public preview of their new opera in Winnipeg on May 2 before starting its tour to 20 schools in Southern Manitoba. The ensemble is part of the opera studies program at the Marcel A. Desaultels Faculty of Music.
The opera, Angela and Her Sisters, was written especially for children, based on an Italian folk tale. It was a U of M commission with music by Canadian composer Dean Burry and libretto by Katherine Twaddle, opera coordinator at the U of M. The story involves a girl called Angela, her mean older sisters; her mother, who is an Italian chef; the Moon, who adopts Angela, and a gardening princess.
The annual opera tour serves to introduce young people to opera and the performing arts and to give U of M students performing opportunities. This year the tour runs from May 6 to 17.
This article first appeared in the May 23, 2013 edition of The Bulletin.