Pacific Opera victorious - 20th anniversary of the Pacific Opera Victoria

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Summer, 1998 by Karen Bell

PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA AT 20

It's been 20 years since Victoria native Timothy Vernon founded Pacific Opera Victoria, and the company he describes as "small and feisty" is celebrating this important anniversary by expanding its season from three to four fully-staged productions.

Pacific Opera Victoria actually emerged from two earlier groups: Opera in Action was formed in 1972 by a small group of community members and advanced students of the Victoria Conservatory of Music to present four operas-in-concert. From 1975 to 1978, the Vancouver Island Opera Society expanded Opera in Action's work.

That an opera company exists at all in a city as small as Victoria must be attributed to the energy and talent of its personnel and the culture of its audience. POV does more than exist, it is a dynamic force in the community, kicking off the 20th anniversary festivities in grand style by inviting alumnus Richard Margison back to sing in a lavish production of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. Although Margison now is booked until the year 2002 at top venues such as the Met, he still accepted the hometown role. That was in August, and Toronto Operetta Theatre's Henry Ingram called it "a fabulous show".

As to how POV has managed to make a go of it for two decades, "Everyone said it couldn't be done," says artistic director and principal conductor Vernon with a smile. "It is unusual to have an opera company in a town this size, but Victoria boasts a very high education level. Opera buffs from Victoria and Seattle come here."

The company offers innovative stagings and some unusual productions such as Britten's Turn of the Screw, which may bring in patrons who yearn for the new.

Star power can't be discounted either. Names like Margison and that other Victoria native, Benjamin Butterfield, will naturally attract a crowd. The stars are available because POV is a favourite place for established singers to try out new roles in a small house. In fact Butterfield is scheduled next April to sing the role of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni.

POV also gives rising young singers and directors an opportunity to perfect their art. Director Robert Carsen's first Canadian opera was II Trovatore for POV. Un ballo in maschera featured Barbara Livingston, an unknown soprano from Campbell River who must have been amazed to find herself singing opposite Richard Margison. "She was absolutely marvelous," says Ingram, adding that Vernon is known for finding amazing new talent.

Other POV productions have been directed by Irving Guttman, Glynis Leyshon's opera debut was here, directing Richard Margison in The Barber of Seville. Christopher Newton's opera debut was here also, directing Carmen. The company has attracted international attention with a broadcast on PBS (Seattle) of Fidelio which served as Michael Schade's professional debut.

Here's to the next twenty years for Pacific Opera Victoria, the little opera company that could.