Manitoba Opera

Feb 27, 2023

First Inductees to Chorus Hall of Fame

Congratulations to our first 10 inductees to the Manitoba Opera Chorus Hall of Fame! 

These passionate and dedicated choristers have each performed in 50 or more operas.  

Inductees were acknowledged at the concert on Saturday and received a framed photograph of their 50th production at the post-concert reception.   

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Feb 27, 2023

Honour Roll Recipients Celebrated at Concert

This season Manitoba Opera is recognizing people and organizations whose involvement with the company over the past five decades has been instrumental in our success.  

This includes contributions in the areas of service, artistic, advocacy and ambassadorship, and financial support.  

Honour Roll members were feted at a pre-show reception at the 50th Season Anniversary Concert on Saturday. They were presented with a Certificate of Achievement and had their photograph take with Judith Chambers, Chair, Board of Trustees and Larry Desrochers, General Director & CEO. 

Bravo to all the Honour Roll inductees!  Your support has enabled Manitoba Opera to serve our community for 50 seasons. Thank You.   

 

Manitoba Opera Honour Roll 

(◊ Deceased)

 

Joann Alexander Smith ◊ 

Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D. 

Tadeusz A. Biernacki 

Michael Blais 

BMO 

Carolyn Boyes 

Canada Life 

Michael D. Cavanagh 

Tracy Dahl, C.M. 

Cary Denby 

Rosalind Dick 

Jeanie M. Dubberley 

Phil and Ilse Ens 

Phillip Ens 

Hedie L. Epp 

Judith D. Forst, O.C., O.B.C. 

Peter George 

Dr. Irving Guttman, C.M., O.B.C. ◊ 

Elba Haid 

Leona Herzog 

Lori Houston 

Audrey Hubbard 

I.A.T.S.E. Local 63 

IG Wealth Management 

Sheldon Johnson 

Koren Kaminski 

Tusia Kozub 

Bruce Lang ◊ 

Bill and Shirley ◊ Loewen  

Manitoba Arts Council 

Manitoba Opera Chorus 

Craig McIntosh and Lorraine Beck 

Leo ◊ and Margareth Mol ◊ 

Michael Nesbitt 

Tyrone Paterson 

Donna Plant 

Drs. William Pope and Elizabeth Tippett Pope 

Andre Prevost 

Richardson Foundation 

Hartley, LVO, O.C., O.M., LL.D. and Heather Richardson 

Tannis M. Richardson, C.M., LL.D. 

Alex Robinson 

Darlene Ronald 

Family Members of Darlene Ronald  

Stewart, Derrick, and Ryan Heaton, Beverly Laurin 

Karl Schaible 

Eleanor Siddall ◊ 

Al Simmons 

Dr. Lawrence Soloway ◊ 

Stano Spina ◊ 

John Standing ◊ 

Bill Stewart 

Jane Stewart 

Stewart Thomson ◊ 

Dr. Robert H. ◊ Thorlakson, Q.C. and Deborah Thorlakson 

The Honourable A. Kerr Twaddle ◊ 

Robert Vineberg 

Ruth Waters ◊ 

David Watson 

Lois Watson-Lyons 

Alice Wiebe 

Bill Williams 

Winnipeg Arts Council 

The Winnipeg Foundation 

Winnipeg Free Press 

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra 

Karin Woods 

Lori Yorke 

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Feb 14, 2023

MANITOBA OPERA CELEBRATES 50th SEASON ANNIVERSARY WITH CONCERT & A TRIBUTE TO COMPANY’S FIRST PERFORMANCE

Manitoba Opera is celebrating its 50th Season anniversary with a special concert Saturday, February 25, beginning at 7:30 pm at the Centennial Concert Hall. The concert will pay tribute to the company’s first performance in 1972, a concert performance of Verdi’s Il trovatore, with excerpts from this powerful melodrama. It will also feature a selection of other well-known opera favourites including works from Turandot, Madama Butterfly, and Roméo et Juliette.

The talented roster of internationally acclaimed artists who will be joining the Manitoba Opera Chorus and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tyrone Paterson, includes sopranos Andriana Chuchman, Lara Ciekiewicz, and Hiromi Omura; mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva; tenor David Pomeroy; and baritone Gregory Dahl.

Tickets, starting at just $24 ($14 for youth 17 and under), are on sale now at mbopera.ca or by calling 204-944-8824.

The evening will also include the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary Honour Roll. This initiative recognizes dozens of people and organizations whose involvement over the past five decades has been instrumental to the company’s success. The Manitoba Opera Chorus Hall of Fame will also be launched at the concert and will recognize the first inductees: 10 choristers who have performed in 50 or more productions. Chorus master Tadeusz Biernacki will also be acknowledged as he celebrates his 40th season with the company.

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Feb 3, 2023

MANITOBA OPERA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF BEER CELEBRATING COMPANY’S 50th SEASON

Manitoba Opera is pleased to announce that local craft brewery Sookram’s Brewing Company has developed a beer to celebrate the company’s 50th season anniversary. The limited release “Aria” is an Italian Pilsner.

Aria launches Friday, February 3. It is available at Sookram’s (479 Warsaw Avenue) and will be rolling out in select Manitoba Liquor Marts and vendors next week. It will also be available at the Centennial Concert Hall this season for Manitoba Opera performances.

Aria Italian Pilsner is pale and crisp with a smooth bitterness from generous use of traditional Hallertau Mittelfruh and Spalter Select hops which feature an enhanced floral aroma from a dry hop addition.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the team at Sookram’s in the creation of a beer in honour of our 50th anniversary,” commented Larry Desrochers, General Director & CEO. “Beer and opera have both been enjoyed for hundreds of years and having an ‘opera beer’ is a wonderful way to salute our anniversary.”

 

WHAT IS AN ITALIAN PILSNER?

This style was created by brewers in Italy, which is a take on a classic German pilsner with a dry hop addition from classic Noble hops. The dry hop addition is not normally done with a traditional pilsner and this additional step adds another layer of complexity to the flavours and aromatics in the beer.

 

ARIA IS AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: (While quantities last)

  • Sookram’s Brewery: On tap and by the can
  • Manitoba Liquor Marts: Grant Park, St. Vital, Kenaston, Eastwinds, Portage & Burnell, River & Osborne, Southdale, and many more. For stores, check online at https://www.liquormarts.ca/
  • Vendors: Quality Inn Beer Store, Econo Lodge Beer Store, Beer Boutique, Charleswood Beer Market, Oui Got Beer, Riverside Beer Store
  • Centennial Concert Hall: 50th Season Anniversary Concert, February 25, and all performances of Così fan tutte (April 22, 23, 25)

 

BEER TASTING AT SOOKRAM’S: SUNDAY, MARCH 19  1 PM – 3 PM

Learn about craft beer making and sample a variety of ales.

Includes:

  • Guided tour of the brewery
  • Beer flight (4 samples)
  • A can of Aria to take home
  • Personal snack packs
  • Entertainment

Tickets: $28 plus GST (Advance purchase only)

Call 204-944-8824    Online   www.mbopera.ca

 

ABOUT SOOKRAM’S BREWERY

Sookram’s serves Winnipeggers modern craft beer at a family-friendly taproom and brewery located at 479 Warsaw Avenue (two blocks south of Confusion Corner).

Founder Andrew Sookram decided to pursue his passion and open his own brewery after years of homebrewing – and winning multiple awards – fulfilling a dream of creating a socially conscious, family- owned business, and most importantly: brewing beer everyone will love. 

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