January 30, 2006 -

OTTAWA -- The ninth annual Black and White Opera Soiree is entitled Love, Death and Divas, and that’s exactly what music lovers will enjoy on Saturday, February 18 at 20:00 in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre. A feast of memorable music, the Black and White Opera Soiree features arias of yearning desire, melodramatic passion, and extreme emotion of every kind. Melodies from centuries of glorious opera repertoire will be performed by some of the most gorgeous voices and best musicians in the business.

Headlining this spectacular evening will be superb soprano Adrianne Pieczonka and brilliant baritone Russell Braun. Witty and charismatic superstar Colm Feore will once again host this glamorous evening, while Richard Bradshaw, acclaimed General Director and Conductor of the Canadian Opera Company, will make his much-anticipated NAC debut conducting the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus.

The Black & White Opera Soiree is presented by Bell Canada in association with Enbridge Inc. Special thanks to the Lowe-Martin Group, Biddle McGillvray Advertising, the Ottawa Citizen, Le Droit, CBC, Radio-Canada Television, Ottawa Business Journal, Hill Times, and Embassy.

Some of the musical selections on the programme are the ecstatic aria ‘Dich teure Halle’ from Wagner’s Tannhäuser (performed by Adrianne Pieczonka), the rapturous ‘La vergine degli angeli’ from Verdi’s La Forza del Destino (Adrianne Pieczonka and gentlemen of the Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus), the achingly romantic ‘O! du mein holder Abendstern’ from Wagner’s Tannhäuser, the mockingly military ‘Non piu andrai’ from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and the hilarious ‘Largo al factotum’ from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (Russell Braun).

Ms Pieczonka and Mr. Braun will perform several duets, including the ‘Watch Duet’ from Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, the lovely ‘Lippen Schweigen’ from Lehár’sThe Merry Widow, and a selection from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. The Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus will be featured in the rousing ‘Guerra! Guerra!’ from Bellini’s Norma, the goosebump-inducing ‘Patria Oppressa’ from Verdi’s Macbeth, and the wistful ‘Va pensiero’ form Verdi’s Nabucco. The National Arts Centre Orchestra will be highlighted in performances of Strauss’s ‘Pizzicato Polka’, the ‘Prelude to Act III’ from Wagner’s Lohengrin, and the ever-popular overture to Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.

“Elisabetta, Adrianne Pieczonka [in Tannhäuser], is a lyric soprano with a superb timbre, from the impeccable high notes to the most delicate pianissimo.”

Corriere Della Serra, February 2005

“Adrianne possesses one of the most marvellous voices of our time. …she lets her voice blossom in the high middle range with an effortless silvery tone…She possesses a Strauss voice sui generis!”

Anton Sergl, Süddeutsche Zeitung, August 2002

“The audience last evening was privileged to witness a performance by an artist at the height of his vocal and interpretive powers. Russell Braun met its vocal demands with resolute beauty of tone and technical assurance. He was in excellent voice, his lyric baritone firm yet flexible, with the widest possible dynamic range at his complete disposal, encompassing the two-octave vocal writing with ease. It was a highly nuanced and heartfelt reading, without artifice.”

La Scena Musicale, September 2005

The Black and White Opera Soiree is an annual winter benefit for the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Opera Lyra Ottawa. Love, Death and Divasis accessible and entertaining, a tantalising mix of fine food, high fashion, and some of the most beautiful music ever written. Love, Death and Divas is most certainly the jewel in the crown of the Ottawa social season. Proceeds from this year’s Black and White Opera Soiree will help to further develop Canadian musical talent, a shared mission of National Arts Centre and Opera Lyra Ottawa.

The Black and White Opera Soiree takes place on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at the National Arts Centre. Concert-only ticket prices are $75, $65, and $50. Concert-plus tickets are $175 for the concert and the post-concert reception. Gala tickets are $275, which includes a cocktail reception, dinner, concert, and a post-concert party with the stars.

Concert-only tickets are available at the NAC Box Office (in person) and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at (613) 755-1111; Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Gala tickets and concert-plus tickets can be purchased through the NAC Foundation at 947-7000, ext. 322 or at Opera Lyra Ottawa by contacting 232-9200, ext. 225.

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Information:
Gerald Morris, National Arts Centre
(613) 947-7000, x249
gmorris@nac-cna.ca

Karl Balisch, Opera Lyra Ottawa
(613) 233-9200, x229
marketing@operalyra.ca