Menotti’s one act opera Amahl and the Night Visitors is oncemore a special feature of the week before Christmas inHRM. Last year a whole new generation of young people(and adults, too!), discovered the joy brought by attendingan ONS performance of this wonderful way for the entirefamily to feel the Spirit of Giving. And the entire cast isreturning to Faith Tabernacle ChurchWednesday and Thursday, Dec. 19 and20, 7:30 p.m., to bring audiences itstuneful message.

Brenna Conrad (Amahl)Jane Godley (the Mother)Paul Creaser ( King Kaspar)Jason Parkhill ( King Melchior)Ryan Veltmeyer ( King Balthazar)Andrew Meade (the Page)Lise Cormier, AlexandraMacLean (dancers)

Director is Ian McDermid; ProducerStan Salsman; Pianist Frances Royle.

Tickets are priced to encourage asmany as possible to attend. Generaladmission is $15.00, children 16 andunder $5.00. Tickets are on sale atWoozles Children’s Bookstore,Birmingham Street; Faith TabernacleChurch; the ONS Office (425-8586),

DECEMBER 2007 ISSUE NO. 20

For All

and at the door on the evening of the performances.What an excellent way of introducing a child to the world

of opera you yourself love so much, as Opera Nova Scotiaimplements its mandate to enliven and inform ourcommunity’s operatic experience!

Share the Pre-Christmas Joy of

Amahl and the Night VisitorsWednesday December 19

Thursday December 207:30 p.m.

Faith Tabernacle Church, 6225 Summit Street, Halifax

Entertaining the Three Kings from Amahl, 2001 ONS. (Photo by Stan Salsman)

Join in a Great ONS Tradition:New Year’s Eve in Romantic ViennaTwo years ago an enthusiastic guestexclaimed: “With a party like this, OperaNova Scotia owns New Year’s Eve!!” Sowe invite you back to Old Vienna for whathas become a “must-attend” galacelebration. Ascend the Grand Staircase tothe festively decorated Imperial Ballroom,and take your personally reserved places atthe table spread with smoked salmon,fruits, cheese and Austrian wines. The air isfilled with the recorded sounds of Vienna’sfinest orchestras playing Johann Straussfavourites. There’s a Fanfare, and theEmperor and Empress of the Ball areannounced – will it be you?

Meet our New Dance MistressONS welcomes Colleen Putt to ourcelebration, as she eases us into the gracefulViennese Waltz and playful Polka. A retiredschoolteacher, Colleen currently teachesScottish Country Dancing at St. George’sChurch Hall. An award-winning countrydance teacher, her dance background also includes step-dancing, country line dancing, and, of course, ballroom. Herphilosophy: “everyone can learn to dance, so long as theybring along a blithe spirit, an open mind and a sense of

humour, such that they can laugh good-naturedly atthemselves.” She is looking forward to sharing the authenticViennese dance patterns with you, and hopes everyone willfind “joy in the dance.” How could it be otherwise? Colleen is

from Cape Breton!!

The Evening’s Entertainment BeginsNow we are ready to join in the dancing interspersedthroughout Elivira Gonnella’s musical playlet Adam’s[New Year’s] Eve. An ageing Austrian couple (AndreaJeffrey and Robert Milne) dream of the frivolity andfickleness of a bygone New Year’s Ball, complete with ahaughty, but inebriated, Grande Dame (Jane Howlett)and an ubiquitous character who turns up in severalguises (Paul Huber). You will enjoy the lyrical and livelymelodies of Johann Strauss, Mozart’s Così fan tutte,Offenbach’s La Perichole, and Kalman’s Countess Maritza,as your dancing energy is replenished by the snappysoup servers.

Another Year Dawns: “Prosit Neu Jahr !”The countdown to Midnight begins, and it’s time toraise our glasses for the champagne toast, “Prosit NeuJahr!” Coffee, tea, authentic Sacher Torte and cookiesfrom The Gingerbread Haus are served. JeanetteIreland’s Raffle Prizes are drawn, and Alan Manchester

Vienna Dances: “Prosit Neu Jahr”

ONS Invites You to New Year’s Eve 2007 in Imperial ViennaThe Lilian Piercey Concert Hall, Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts

Gathering Time 9:00 p.m.; for 9:30 p.m. Fanfare

Crowning the Emperor and Empress, New Year’s Eve 2006.(Photo by Valda Kemp)

“Pigeons of San Marco,” Claire Coolen and Alison Angelo inA Night in Venice, New Year’s Eve 2006. (Photo by Valda Kemp)

modulates his soundboard into more modern dance styles toconclude the party. We go out into 2008 with the good-luckblessing of St. Sylvester, warmed by the merry cheer ofanother New Year’s Eve with Opera Nova Scotia.

Hurry to Make Your ReservationsMake your reservations by telephoning Sheila Andrecyk at445-5768, making sure to tell Sheila any special requestsregarding seating arrangements and table partners. Normallytables are set for six places each. There are only 16 tables, soplease do not delay in booking. Deadline is Friday,December 21. Individual tickets are $95.00, including food,wines and a $40.00 tax receipt. No tickets will be mailed, to

avoid postal delay. All reservations and receipts will be readyfor you on arrival at the event.

Meet the Artists: for Adam’s [New Year’s] Eve

Andrea Jeffrey (Eve) holds degrees in vocal performancefrom Dalhousie University and The University of Toronto.She has performed professionally in Ontario and NovaScotia, and recorded for NAXOS label a CD with the AradiaEnsemble. For ONS she has delighted us as Bastienne in“Mozart at the Opera” and at Opera Valentine. She has justpresented a program of Broadway favourites with tenorDerrick Paul Miller, “Some Enchanted Evening.” The duo

will return to star at the 2008 Royal Nova ScotiaInternational Tattoo after their audience-pleasingperformance in the 2006 show.Jane Howlett (the Countess) has beenassociated with ONS since its inauguralproduction of Mozart’s The Impresario,subsequently playing in our first Viennese NewYear’s Eve and in the Winter 07 Informoperals’program of Korngold and Kienzl. Hernumerous solo appearances with The DalhousieChorale and Walter Kemp Singers includedprincipal roles in concert versions of The Piratesof Penzance for Symphony Nova Scotia andEugene Onegin (Tatiana).Robert Milne (Adam) is no stranger to ONSaudiences, as he has been a frequent guest artistat New Year’s Eve and Opera Valentine, lastNYE playing Pappacoda, the pastry-cook in ourplaylet on Strauss’s A Night in Venice. Sincetaking up residence in Nova Scotia he hasbrought his active North American operaexperience not only to ONS but to The SouthShore Opera.Paul Huber (the Doctor, and others) is anactive participant in community choral life andwith The NS Gilbert and Sullivan Society,playing Pooh Bah in The Mikado. He is a strongsupporter of Opera Nova Scotia and a memberof the ONS Community Advisory Board.

Empire Theatres Park Lane Met Tickets a Hot Sale

Photos: top left—Andrea Jeffrey; top right—Robert Milne; bottom left—Jane Howlett;bottom right—Paul Huber.

Tickets for the Metropolitan Opera screenings at Park LaneTheatre have been setting sales records hotter than Hanseland Gretel’s Witch in the oven, Don Giovanni's fatefultrapdoor descent into Hell, Carmen's Temper or Otello'sjealousy! But, much more positive in spirit!!!. Do not delay in

getting to the Box Office for individual or Season tickets tothe eight operas (two dates each), starting Dec.15 withGounod's Romeo et Juliette. ONS will be there too, with ourPre-Screening informal sessions.

Opera For All!Newsletter of Opera Nova Scotia

6199 Chebucto Road, Halifax NS B3L 1K7Tel. (902) 425-8586

www.nsopera.org e-mail: info@nsopera.org

Opera Nova Scotia

Members at Large

Artistic Director – Dr. Walter H. KempAdministrative Officer – Vanessa Buhr-Rountree

Chairperson – Ifan WilliamsVice Chairperson – Peter Fillmore

Treasurer – Brian SalsmanSecretary – Mary-Jane O’Halloran

Committee ChairsMembership – Gisela O’BrienHospitality – Ann ConradEducation – Angus Johnston

Director of Volunteers – Roma AngusPublications Director – David KeenanArchivist – Jeanette Ireland

Sheila Andrecyk Diane AshworthSandra Chappell Stephanie CoolenAnne Ellen Fillmore Kim KieransNancy MacCready-Williams Neil RobertsonStan Salsman

Mid Winter Opera BreakAt the Met

Wednesday February 20 to Monday February 25

Wednesday: Manon Lescaut, with Karita Mattila;Thursday: Barber of Seville, with Elina Garanca;

Friday: Otello, with Johan Botha;Saturday (matinee): Carmen, with Olga Borodina;

Saturday (evening): Manon Lescaut.

Price includes: Return direct flight Halifax-New YorkLaGuardia Airport with Air Canada, chartered airport/hotel transfers, five nights of hotel accommodation at thePark Central Hotel, baggage handling at hotel, welcomereception and dinner, tickets to three opera performancesdress circle or orchestra balance, applicable taxes, servicefees and security charges, pre-trip lecture and reception inHalifax plus $75.00 tax-deductible donation to Opera NovaScotia. Escorted from Halifax. $2275.00 per person twin.Single $2775.00

Daily performances also available at Carnegie Hall –Harp, Julliard Orchestra, chamber music and more. Pleaseinquire.

Space is limited! To register: $500.00 by cheque orcredit card to Anne Poulos Small Group Tours,1167 Dalhousie Street, Halifax, B3H 3W5 by December 9together with preferred opera choices. Operas are subjectto availability at time of request. Tel. 902 425-5050.www.annepoulos.ca annepoulos@ns.sympatico.caReservations form with terms, conditions and paymentschedule will follow upon receipt of deposit

Opera QuizB y J a s o n P a r k h i l l

Amahl and the Night Trivia

On December 19 and 20 Opera NovaScotia mounts its Fourth Production ofAmahl and the Night Visitors. Accordingly…

1. Name the three kings that visit Amahland his mother? What are their voice types?2. What instrument is Amahl playing at the beginningand the end of the opera?3. Giancarlo Menotti wrote the music for Amahl and theNight Visitors, but who wrote the libretto?4. Where did Amahl and the Night Visitors premiere?5. The ONS production last year, and again this year, isdirected by Ian MacDermid – what role did Ian play inthe first two productions? Who are the three people whohave played the part of Amahl in the four ONSproductions of Amahl. Who is the only cast member tobe in all four productions?

Answers

1.Melchior–baritone,Balthazar–bass,andKaspar–tenor.2.A“Shepherd’sPipe”orFlute.3.Okay,trickquestion:Menottialsowrotethelibretto.4.Onnetworktelevision(NBClivebroadcastfromNewYorkCity)in1951.5.IanplayedthePage.IanParsons,ClaireCoolenandBrennaConradhaveallbeenAmahl.JasonParkhillhasbeeninallfourproductions.

Tell Us Your Mailing Preference

Your ONS Board asks you to let us know whether Membershaving e-mail addresses would like to receive Opera For Allvia electronic mail or in the printed form as currently posted.Obviously the e-mailing saves the Office postage costs, butit is understood that some people prefer the hard copy intheir hands. The printed form will continue to be available,as there are a number of Members who do not have e-mail,and we use printed copies for profile and fundraisingpurposes. Please e-mail the Office with your preference:info@nsopera.org.