Burnaby singers are taking centre stage in an international opera production in November.
Opera Mariposa is presenting Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, onstage at St. Faith’s Anglican Church in Vancouver Nov. 15, 16, 22 and 23.
The production features a diverse cast of rising stars from across three continents – among them Burnaby baritones Cameron Killick and Zainen Suzuki in the roles of Betto and Marco, and Burnaby mezzo-soprano Shanté van Horlick as a soloist in the Italian opera scenes preceding the opera.
The plot of Gianni Schicchi revolves around a greedy family determined to inherit a fortune at any cost. The one-act opera is Puccini’s only comedy, and it contains some of the composer’s most familiar music.
“Gianni Schicchi has a catchy yet complex score, because it’s basically a musical family argument,” said Mariposa’s artistic director, Jacqueline Ko, in a press release. “It needs amazing voices to do it justice – especially for our production, since we’re staging excerpts from other great Italian operas alongside the main event. That’s why we’re thrilled to have talented artists like Cameron, Zainen and Shanté bringing these characters to life.”
Killick has appeared onstage with Vancouver Opera and other companies, as well as singing in oratorio, concerts and world premiere productions. He was excited to be cast as Betto di Signa.
“Gianni Schicchi is very different to the way most people perceive Italian opera,” he said in the release. “It’s far from being serious and stuffy – it’s a zany comedy which anyone can enjoy. My character Betto is sort of the family rascal – he’s often in the background making trouble for everyone, which makes him a lot of fun to play.”
Suzuki joins the cast fresh from performing with Vancouver Opera in their production of Verdi’s La Traviata. A graduate of Opera McGill, he recently returned to Burnaby after living and studying in Montreal.
Van Horlick is a regular on the Lower Mainland opera scene, having previously performed with Opera Mariposa, Burnaby Lyric Opera, Heroic Opera, Vancouver Opera, Bard on the Beach and more.
In Gianni Schicchi, these emerging Burnaby singers will join an international cast that includes award-winners from the Metropolitan Opera auditions, as well as artists and alumni from Seattle Opera, Opera on the Avalon, English Theatre Berlin, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and the Amalfi Coast Music Festival.
They’re directed by Jeanine Fynn, with music direction by John Arsenault.
St. Faith’s Anglican Church is at 7284 Cypress St. Shows are at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $28 general, $24 for students, seniors and those with disabilities, or $18 each for groups of five or more. They’re available at the door, at www.operamariposa.com or from Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.
