The Music Shop comes to Vancouver Opera Digital Season

The Vancouver Opera digital 2020–2021 season continues with the online premiere of the rarely performed The Music Shop, on Saturday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. Making its Canadian debut, the comedy, composed by Richard Wargo and featuring this year’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program participants, is sure to delight audiences.

Set in 19^th century Russia, Ivan comes to the music shop on an urgent mission–to purchase music for a song that his wife has been requested to sing at the wedding of the prince. Unfortunately, he cannot remember the title or the tune. What ensues are hilarious hallucinations of the rage of his wife and his own unhappy fate when he returns empty-handed and a mad scramble through the largest collection of music in all of Russia.

“Vancouver Opera is thrilled to present the Canadian premiere of The Music Shop,” says Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera General Director. “The Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists have worked very hard alongside our creative and production teams to create a work that is distinctly theirs within very unique circumstances. The Music Shop is a delightful operatic work with its whimsical story, fun antics, wonderful music and a cast of talented young artists.”

Dana Fradkin directs fellow Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program participants including pianist Amy Seulky Lee with Ian Cleary as Ivan, Luka Kawabata as Dmitri, Jonelle Sills as Masha and Amanda Weatherall as the Wife.

Hear Dana Fradkin’s insights on the production and what audiences can expect from The Music Shop, in this backstage video from Vancouver Opera.

Additional members of The Music Shop creative team are scenic and costume designer Omanie Elias and lighting designer Jody Burkholder, Assistant Production Manager, Andrea Joy Rideout. Crew members include stage manager Michelle Harrison and COVID Safety Officer Leah Giselle Field.

For more information about the 2020–2021 Digital Season and to subscribe, visit digital.vancouveropera.ca.