We're delighted to announce that this fall, former student of Cassa's Derek Stoll, Tayte Mitchell, will be launching a new modern summer opera repertory company. The company will be based in Calgary and known as Ammolite Opera. Joining Tayte as co-founder and Music Director is conductor, collaborative pianist, and composer, Maria Fuller, from Regina.
You can learn more about Tayte and Maria on their websites.
Due to the lack of opportunities that are available to musicians in Western Canada, many talented opera singers, conductors, and instrumentalists must look elsewhere to establish a sustainable career. As a result, there's limited incentive for artists born in Western Canada to contribute their artistic talents back home. This project will help reveal and expose the careers of aspiring Canadian singers, designers, conductors, and instrumentalists to Calgarian audiences.
Check out performances at these links.
Ammolite Opera https://youtu.be/04PeQMI-Y5Q
Maria Fuller conducting reel https://youtu.be/LAFy5PA5of0
Tayte Mitchell singing “Che gelida manina” from La bohème by Puccini https://youtu.be/OVMHHOdNS0s
Their dream is to see Ammolite Opera become a cultural landmark of Calgary and a place where Canadian operatic artists give their Best in the West. Tayte and Maria firmly believe that Ammolite Opera will provide hope, purpose, and energy to the operatic art form in Calgary and beyond, with Ammolite Opera becoming established as the best summer opera company in Canada.
Please support the online crowdfund campaign.
https://www.indiegogo.com/.../ammolite-opera/x/34490985...
Their inaugural season will be in the summer of 2024, with two chamber opera productions in July/August. Their hope is to eventually expand and build a summer repertory company that runs from May to September every year, with five or more productions over the season.
In the meantime, there will be a very special Prelude Gala event this October. Tayte and Maria will be curating a fully designed and staged production of Rene Orth’s opera, Empty The House, at the cSpace Studio Theatre in Calgary on October 6th, 8th, 11th, and 13th, 2023.
Visit the event webpage for more information.
