Future opera singers are easily identified at birth due to their multioctave crying and graceful bows as they emerge from the womb. Check out how far these tiny miracles have come with today’s GrouponLive deal: for $18, you get two tickets to any single performance by Opera Pro Cantanti during the 2011 and 2012 seasons (up to a $36 value; tickets for students and seniors are $12 each). Concerts take place at the Vancouver Welsh Society's Cambrian Hall on Sundays at 7 p.m., with 2 p.m. shows October 29 and October 30. Doors open at 30 minutes prior to the show, and the box office distributes tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
Opera Pro Cantanti, Canada's inaugural repertory opera company, stages original productions of classics by renowned composers such as Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. This season, guests may choose from three performances of Verdi's La Traviata (September 11, October 10, and October 17), a musical tragedy about a courtesan who trades her happiness for love and a star quarterback for her fantasy-football team. The company will also present Verdi's Rigoletto, the tale of a cursed court jester, on September 25 before regifting it during the holiday season. On October 2, 9, 16, 30, and 31, the opera will tackle I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Bellini's retelling of Romeo and Juliet, with powerful arias and brawny libretti. Cambrian Hall's small, intimate theatre helps visitors connect with the singers on an emotional level without having to velcro themselves to the stage. Audiences can check the online schedule for additional productions later in the season.
Founded by acclaimed singer and director Richard Williams, Opera Pro Cantanti wows audiences with its gorgeous vocals and handmade costumes. In addition to performing in Paris and London, Williams has spent more than 20 years conducting choirs, operas, and model trains that whistle "I've Been Working on the Railroad" from their smokestacks.