March 27, 2014 For Immediate Release! !

Calgary Opera Summer Festival 2014 Bigger and Bolder!

Canadas only outdoor summer opera festival a feast for all senses!
Calgary, AB! Calgary Operas second annual summer festival Opera in the Village will take place in Calgarys East Village August 14-23, 2014. Together with Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), Calgary Opera will build on last years successful launch of Canadas only outdoor summer opera festival. Last years festival played close to full capacity, with the majority of attendees new to Calgary Opera, says Calgary Opera General Director & CEO W.R. (Bob) McPhee, C.M. We were delighted by the positive response for this outdoor opera experience and we promise to raise the bar once again for the 2014 event. This summers festival will be bigger in that it will take place over two weekends instead of one and it will be bolder because we are mounting two productions in the big top tent and adding a boisterous circus atmosphere on the Plaza. Its taken four years to make the dream of an outdoor opera festival a reality in East Village, and we were thrilled by the overwhelming support from Calgarians last summer, adds Susan Veres, VP Marketing & Communications, Calgary Municipal Land Corp. This year the festival is growing to two weeks, and new programs are being introduced based on Calgarians response and feedback. A big congratulations to the team at Calgary Opera, we look forward to many years of growing with the festival in East Village. ! Imperial returns as presenting sponsor of Opera in the Village. Appreciation and education of arts and culture are cornerstones to building community understanding and pride across generations, says Tom Huffaker, President of the Imperial Oil Foundation. Opera in the Village is a unique concept that attracts broader audience engagement beyond traditional opera enthusiasts. We look forward to working in partnership with Calgary Opera and CMLC to deliver this one-of-a-kind Canadian festival. The centrepiece of Opera in the Village 2014 is the comic masterpiece Candide in our 900-seat big top tent. With a score by the legendary Leonard Bernstein, book by Hugh Wheeler and lyrical contributions by Richard Wilbur, Stephen Sondheimand John Latouche, Candide is a timeless masterpiece. This rollicking carnival production will be a led by the same creative team who brought us The Pirates of Penzance last summer: Gordon Gerrard (conductor), Rob Herriot (stage director),Terry Gunvordahl (set & props designer), and Harry Frehner (lighting designer). Joining the team is Calgary costume designer Rhonda Borneman. Candide features a sensational score, sparkling lyrics and an all-star Canadian cast with Gordon Gietz as Candide, Tracy Dahl as Cunegonde, Norine Burgess as Paquette, Alexander Dobson as Maximilian, Lynne McMurtry as the Old Lady, and David LeReaney as Dr. Pangloss, accompanied by a live orchestra.! In addition to Candide Calgary Opera will be presenting family matinees of an hour-long adaptation of Hansel & Gretel. This lively and colourful production delighted more than 11,000 children this spring as part of Calgary Operas school and community tour. Designed by Scott Reid with costumes by Laura Anderson, and directed by Aaron Coates, Hansel & Gretel features alumni from our Emerging Artist Development Program accompanied by piano in the big top tent. The festival site will be infused with a carnival atmosphere and filled with outdoor activities including roving performers provided by our circus partner The Green Fools. The Green Fools are very excited to be collaborating with Calgary Opera on their second edition of Opera in the Village, says Dean Bareham, Co-Artistic Director of The Green Fools. We look forward to bringing a host of outstanding circus and magic performers to animate RiverWalk Plaza. Over the two weeks expect a colourful array of stilt walkers, jugglers, magicians, fire performers and more.!

Opera in the Village will also include outdoor recitals, singing contests, movie nights, the Big Rock Big Top Beer Garden, some of Calgarys best food trucks, and much more. Our two-week summer opera camp for young people ages 10-15 is almost sold-out and will culminate in free public performances of the youngsters production of Gilbert & Sullivans The Mikado in the big top tent. Calgary Opera thanks presenting sponsor Imperial, The Government of Alberta, The Remarkable Experience Accelerator Program through Calgary Hotel Association and Calgary Arts Development Authority, The City of Calgary, Tourism Calgary, event sponsors FRAM + Slokker, embassy BOSA and Big Rock Brewery, and media sponsors The Calgary Herald, Global TV, and Pattison Outdoor for their generous support.

Tickets go on sale Monday, May 5, 2014 and will be available by calling 403-262-7286 or visiting calgaryopera.com/bigtop.