What: Live at the Baumann with Megan Latham
Where: Baumann Centre, 925 Balmoral Rd.
When: Nov. 4 and 6 (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. 8 (4 p.m.)
Tickets: $35 ($15 for students/those under 30) from or by phone from 250-385-0222
Note: The Nov. 6 performance by Megan Latham will be livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. through
Pacific Opera Victoria has been busy throughout the pandemic, even though its frequent home for stage productions, the Royal Theatre, has been shuttered since March.
Online archival performances, at-home concerts and podcasts have been in regular rotation for the company since April, which kept staff employed and artists active. The steady run also helped set the stage for a long-awaited return to live performance last week as part of the Live at the Baumann series 鈥� the first in-person performances by Pacific Opera in more than seven months.
鈥淲e鈥檙e used to hosting 1,500 people at the Royal Theatre 鈥� now, we鈥檙e hosting 40,鈥� said Pacific Opera CEO Ian Rye. 鈥淎nd instead of 120 artists, we have five or six. That鈥檚 the scale at which we鈥檒l operate for now.鈥�
The five hour-long performances at the Baumann Centre on Balmoral Street, featuring bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch and soprano Lara Secord-Haid, were held through Sunday last week amid a socially distanced setting made to resemble a cabaret. The concerts very well received, according to Rye, who said only small tweaks would be made in the lead-up to the second instalment in the series, which gets underway tonight with a performance by mezzo-soprano Megan Latham and pianist Kimberley-Ann Bartczak.
鈥淚t went really, really well,鈥� Rye said. 鈥淚t was a lovely setting, with everyone seated at their own cabaret tables, having a glass of wine. We had a great response. People really appreciated a safe environment.鈥�
It will take longtime patrons of the opera a period of adjustment in order to get used to the new set-up, Rye said. As per provincial health guidelines, all in-person events are limited to a 50 people. In the case of the Live at the Baumann series, that means only 40 tickets are being sold, after the artists and production staff at each performance are accounted for. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like your typical opera, where there鈥檚 60 artists on stage and a another 40 in the [orchestra] pit. There鈥檚 no room for an orchestra and a cast and a chorus, obviously. The restrictions on gatherings are 50 people, no matter who you are or where you are.鈥�
Rye said he received nothing but positive feedback from guests who attended last week鈥檚 performances. He expects the comfort level of audiences to further improve as the series moves forward. And it will move forward, based on the reception thus far, he said. 鈥淟ive at the Baumann will be happening every single month. We鈥檝e got another four [instalments] lined up, but won鈥檛 be announcing them until about two weeks before every event. It鈥檚 a great way for us to use the facilities we have.鈥�
One performance of each entry in the Live at the Baumann series will be livestreamed to audiences at home, without an associated cost (this week鈥檚 free performance by Latham, Copland, Cancionnes, & Co., will be streamed at 7:30 p.m. Friday through pacificopera.ca). The decision to give music fans who are unable to see a performance in person the opportunity to participate in the experience was an easy one to make, Rye said.
COVID-19 has been hard on everyone in the arts, audiences included, so Pacific Opera wanted to re-invest in the community. 鈥淭here is magic gathering around a shared experience,鈥� Rye said.
鈥淗istory has demonstrated that it is central to our well-being, and nourishes our soul and our minds, and builds our friendships. It鈥檚 all part of life. When that part of life has been shuttered, any replacement is absolutely necessary.鈥�
Pacific Opera has already committed to the possibility of staging small-scale chamber operas in 2021, which is another sign that arts organizations are growing more confident producing events mid-pandemic. 鈥淎s an organization, it was really about understanding, after several months of very clear health directives from the province, that we can gather in very controlled and very intentional circumstances,鈥� Rye said. 鈥淎nd yes, that we can enjoy live performance.
鈥淭he arts will always be here, in one way shape or form. What we are threatened by is if peoples鈥� temporary change in behaviour become permanent. Where you鈥檙e comfortable and where you know you can be safe, I鈥檓 encouraging people to make that choice.鈥�
