2008-2009 Season and events:

The Barber of Seville by Gioacchino Rossini
Amahl and the Night Visitors by Giancarlo Menotti
The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Master Class with Gary Burgess
The Barber of Seville by Gioacchino Rossini (in a special co-production with Nickle City Opera)

The Barber of Seville Gioacchino Rossini

The libretto of this comic masterpiece is founded on Beaumarchais' comedy of the same name. OPO will present a ninety minute abridged version of the opera, with all of the most well-known airs included.

The ardent Count Almaviva has fallen in love with Rosina, the pretty ward of Doctor Bartolo, who wants to marry her himself. So far, Almaviva is known to her only under the assumed identity of a student named Lindoro. After a serenade and an exchange of letters, he disguises himself as a tipsy military officer, and manages to get into Bartolo's house by aid of the barber, man's man, and general factotum Figaro. But his stratagem is foiled, and he is forced to withdraw to try again. In the second Act he appears as deputy for Basilio, the singing-master, who is said to be sick. Happily, Almaviva is able to clandestinely speak with Rosina, convinces her of his constancy, and induces her to elope before Bartolo discovers their deceit. When Bartolo overhears their scheming, the Count is again forced to withdraw. He returns at midnight for the elopement, and after one more close call, the lovers end up united!

The talented cast, including exceptional young local soprano Nadia Petrella as Rosina, François Doucet as Figaro, and brilliant character actor Christopher Mallory as Dr. Bartolo, promises to offer a delightful evening of laughter and music!

Amahl and the Night Visitors by Giancarlo Menotti

Ottawa Pocket Opera combined forces with the Canadian Centennial Choir, under the musical direction of James Caswell, to present Gian-Carlo Menotti's beloved and heart-warming seasonal family opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, fully staged. The first half of the program will feature seasonal choral music performed by the Canadian Centennial Choir.

Amahl and the Night Visitors presents the heart-warming story of a crippled young shepherd boy named Amahl and his mother, and their encounter with the Three Kings (Magi).

Outside a bare cottage in the hills above the road to Bethlehem, Amahl plays his pipe and star-gazes. His mother calls him, and he comes inside with news of a great star overhead, as she worries about their poverty. Amahl soothes her with his dreams of the joys of a footloose beggar's life. They are settling in to sleep when, there is a knock at the door, and three successive trips to answer reveal three kings have arrived at their humble cottage, seeking shelter for the night! The mother is entranced by the gifts the kings bear, which they explain are for a child-king they are seeking. Neighboring shepherds arrive bearing gifts of food, then dance for the royal guests. All bid good night, and the shepherds leave the kings to sleep. Only the mother remains awake, staring at the gold and meditating "Oh, what I could do for my child with that gold!" Desperate, she reaches furtively for a single piece of gold when the page awakes shouting "Thief!" Amahl limps to his mother's aid, then collapses in tears. Moved by the child’s bravery and love for his mother, King Melchior offers to let them keep the gold: "The Child we seek doesn't need our gold. On love alone He will build his kingdom." Even Amahl is won over by the hope of a child-saviour and offers a gift of his own: his crutch. As he reaches out with the crutch, he steps forward, miraculously cured. Awe, jubilation and praise follow, and Amahl begs to go with the kings to offer his gift in person. He and the mother part, and as Amahl rides into the night with his new friends, he once again takes up his pipe and plays.

The talented cast, including Ben Shipley as Amahl, exceptional young local soprano Nadia Petrella as the mother, Michael Carty as King Kaspar, François Doucet as King Melchior, and character actor Greg Delmage as the Page, will also feature a special guest artist as King Balthazar, and promises to offer a delightful entertainment that is guaranteed to touch your heart!

The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(Abridged two-hour version, in english) Friday May 29 & Saturday May 30, 8pm St. Matthias Anglican Church 555 Parkdale Avenue $20 adults, $15 students & seniors Tickets available at the Leading Note and at the door

Featuring Kathleen Radke, Christopher Mallory, Kimberly Bentham, Ellison Owen Culp, Gregory Sheppard, Nadia Petrella, Zoë Langlois, Renée Longtin, Michael Carty & Nicholas Rodgerson, piano. Directed by David MacAdam.

Filled with symbolism, Mozart's final masterpiece is a playful but profound look at man's search for love and his struggle to attain wisdom and virtue. From the virtuosic arias of the Queen of the Night to the folksong-like melodies of the bird catcher Papageno, the full range of Mozart's miraculous talent is on display in this magical fairy-tale opera. The Magic Flute is a story about the trials of life: growing up, finding the love of your life, learning to be wise. It's adventure, fairy tale, comedy and drama. This ever-popular work has enchanted young and old alike for over two centuries.

Master Class with Gary Burgess

Ottawa Pocket Opera, Carleton University and Maria Knapik present a Master Class for Singers with Dr. Gary Burgess, tenor.

Distinguished performing career with San Francisco Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, among many other companies. Internationally renowned vocal pedagogue and stage director; former Artistic Director, Greater Buffalo Opera Company; Professor Emeritus, State University of New York at Buffalo (Click here to complete biography)

The Barber of Seville Gioacchino Rossini

The Barber of Seville by Rossini Nickel City Opera will be presenting 'The Barber of Seville' at the Riviera theatre in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 26th at 8pm and Sunday June 28th at 2:30pm. This is a co-production with the Ottawa Pocket Opera directed by David Macadam and The Eastern Festival Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Zach Kampler. Starring John Packard, Valerian Ruminski, Nadia Petrella, Christopher Mallory, Rosemarie Serrano, and more.