Saskatoon Opera will be returning to the Battlefords this Saturday as special guests at a benefit fundraiser for the continuing restoration of the historic Battleford Opera House.
They will be presenting Mozart's Odyssey at the Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford.
The program will follow Mozart on his voyage of discovery, as he experiences the colourful characters and amusing situations that inspire some of the greatest music ever written.?
In September of 2008, representatives from Saskatoon Opera toured Battleford Town Hall at the invitation of Battleford Mayor Chris Odishaw and the opera house restoration committee. The star attraction was the opera house on the second floor, and during the tour, an operatic test made it clear the rumours of amazing acoustics were true. Artistic director Barb Montalbetti was impressed with the ambiance of the venue that accommodated school plays, graduations, dances, live theatre, musical talent nights, Christmas concerts and more, from 1912 to 1965, when it was damaged by fire.
She talked of some form of partnership down the road as part of Saskatoon Opera's vision to take on a more regional presence.
Montalbetti holds a BA and BEd and is a graduate of the music department at the University of Vienna, Austria, and is experienced as a voice teacher, stage director, singer/actress, adjudicator and opera theatre clinician. Saskatoon Opera is a non-profit cultural organization that undertakes, encourages, and promotes the production and presentation of professional opera in Saskatchewan and offers programs and events designed to increase knowledge and appreciation of the world of opera, including its Opera in the Schools program.
Mozart's Odyssey will take place Saturday, May 14, with the doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the curtain going up at 8 p.m. It is a formal dress affair and tickets are available by contacting the Battleford town office. Wine and appetizers will be served.
The Battleford Opera House will celebrate its centennial in 2012 and it is hoped the restoration will be complete by then. The roof has so far been replaced, as have the windows, and work is ongoing inside.
