Some sumptuous melodies, dancing, romance and laughs are promised during a 20th-anniversary production for Crescendo Operatic Society in Surrey.
The June 20-22 staging of Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow celebrates two decades of the company, founded in 2005 as Young People’s Opera Society of BC (YPOSBC).
An anniversary celebration at Surrey Arts Centre will be a formal affair Friday evening, June 20, when gala guests are welcomed to a party fit for the Pontevedrian Embassy in Paris, first of four show times in the Studio Theatre over the weekend.
The operetta, sung in English with piano, is "fully and opulently staged and costumed" in the theatre, cabaret-style with tables, according to Crescendo artistic director Dolores Scott.
"If you've ever been part of The Merry Widow, you know that no two shows are the same," she says. "COS has embraced this tradition, crafting a production that blends laughter with breathtaking melodies to make it distinctly ours for our 20th anniversary.
"We've poured our hearts into shaping a show that balances humour with the gorgeous music that makes this operetta unforgettable."
The story follows the relationship between wealthy young widow Hanna and Danilo, who has an appetite for wine and women. As the tale of a woman’s quest for love unfolds, their burgeoning romance is hampered by mishap, intrigue and comedic misadventure.
Patricia Dahlquist, known for singing the ABBA-ish pop hit "Keep Our Live Alive" in 1975, says she's ecstatic about the company's anniversary show and celebration in Surrey, 20 years after she founded YPOSBC in partnership with George Austin, Paddy Tennant, Barbara Gould, Lesley Jones and others.
"The (company) has been able to bring quality music featuring our up-and-coming vocal talents to audiences in Langley, Delta, White Rock and Surrey for many years," she noted. "Several of our goals are being fulfilled in the development of the young voices, top of list. Some goals are yet to be achieved: ongoing federal funds — we are a registered charity — and establishing our very own opera house in Surrey."
Crescendo Operatic Society is "a transformative force in the world of opera, championing accessibility, inclusivity, and innovation while honouring the timeless beauty and emotional power of the art form," explains a post on crescendooperatic.org, where tickets are sold for The Merry Widow.
The company aims to build new audiences and expand the reach of opera, producing and performing “pocket operas," or "truncated, imaginative versions of well-known works, using narrators and creative staging to make opera more engaging and accessible. These productions are perfect for newcomers while preserving the emotional impact and musical brilliance that define the genre."
At Surrey Arts Centre, performers include Robin Hahn, Ming-Xuan Chung, Zachary Hebbel, Nancy Hasiuk-Lay and Bri LeFever, with musical direction by Natan Bádue, costumes by Makaila Hasan, choreography by Hasiuk-Lay and set design by Hasan and Hebbel.
