Faced with shifting demographics, its traditional audience diminishing and shrinking finances, Vancouver Opera and its Board of Directors announced this morning that the company will ditch its current format of presenting four productions per season and transition to an annual festival model in spring 2017.
"During Vancouver Opera's 55-year history, our city has grown increasingly vibrant and diverse, and is internationally renowned for its festivals and celebrations,” said James Wright, General Director of Vancouver Opera, in a press release after Tuesday’s press conference. “By transforming our core programming into a festival format, we are evolving with our city and continuing to build our reputation for artistic excellence and innovation."
Instead of staging four productions between September and May, Vancouver Opera will present three major core productions over a three-week period. The inaugural Vancouver Opera Festival will commence April 2017 with more than 20 performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre and its adjoining plaza spaces.
Although complete programming details have yet to be solidified, Wright said that 2017's festival will launch with a production of Verdi's OteIIo, an opera the company has not produced in more than 30 years.
According to Pascal Spothelfer, Chair of Vancouver Opera's board of directors, the decision to shift formats came down to “staying ahead of the curve” and saving the company money.
"By devoting resources to a concentrated, intensified cultural experience for our communities, we will bring increased awareness of opera to Vancouverites in an accessible and spirited festival atmosphere, while reducing annual operating expenses by 10 per cent," he said in the press release.
