United Active Living

United Active Living Communities for independent living

Senior Independent Living Community in Calgary

Tag: Calgary Opera

Calgary Opera Comes to United’s Fish Creek Community

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Residents at United’s Fish Creek community played host this week to performers from Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists program.  Residents from United’s Garrison Green visited the Fish Creek theatre to take in the performance. Four performers – Daevyd Pepper, Jillian Bonner, Geoffrey Schellenberg and Morgan Traynor –  accompanied on the piano by their director Mel Kirby, thrilled the more than 50 residents with popular numbers, and songs from the upcoming Calgary Opera performance of Eugene Onegin.

Emerging artist Daevyd Pepper, a tenor, says he loves performing for an older audience. “Older adults have usually heard some of the songs before or are planning to attend an upcoming performance,” he said. “Older listeners are also quite interactive. They like to see the performers up close and often engage in conversation with us afterwards. That adds a lot of meaning to me to know that I’m reaching my listeners.”

Here is a portion of Daevyd’s performance for residents.

Calgary Opera is one of several arts, culture and higher learning organizations that United Active Living is partnering with. Each partnership provides opportunities for residents to experience small, intimate concerts within their communities, and to attend outside performances.

Jillian Bonner, a mezzo-soprano said it’s important to give concerts within the community. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to step away from our regular schedule and sing for the community. Being here allows us to perform in a more intimate setting.”

“Having a group like Calgary Opera come into one of our communities provides a unique opportunity for residents to hear the music they love, particularly if they aren’t able to get out as often as they would like,” said United’s music director Jill LaForty. “You can feel the power in their voices that you may not experience fully in a theatre setting. It’s really a special experience.”

Both Daevyd and Jillian agreed that performing in the community is a great way to bring opera to the residents.

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

Contact us here!

United Sponsors Calgary Opera Resident Conductor Kimberley-Ann Bartczak

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Calgary Opera's latest resident conductor, Kimberley-Ann Bartzcak.
Calgary Opera’s resident conductor, Kimberley-Ann Bartczak. Photo by Alain Dupere

Kimberley-Ann Bartczak has been named by Calgary Opera as its latest resident conductor and repetiteur, or coach for the Opera’s singers.

She brings plenty of experience to her new role. Originally from Montreal, she is also on staff at Opera on the Avalon in St. John’s,  Newfoundland. She has also worked in other Canadian cities, in Italy and Germany. In Calgary, while preparing the mainstage productions during rehearsals, coaching the principal actors and assisting the conductors, Kimberly-Ann will conduct Calgary Opera’s Christmas at the Opera, a Choral Extravaganza running Dec. 1-3, which features artists from the emerging artist development program.

Currently, she is assisting former resident conductor Christopher Topher Mokrzewski, who will be conducting the Barber of Seville, which starts Nov. 18.

“I have two roles as resident conductor,” explains Kimberley-Ann. “I am head pianist for all of the rehearsals, and I play with the orchestra during the shows when necessary. As well, I assist the conductor, which is a great learning opportunity as I transition into the role of conductor.”

Kimberley-Ann is well aware that female conductors are still rare in Canada. “I see myself as a conductor, not as a female conductor. It really comes down to how you interpret the music and how you communicate your ideas around the music. The whole idea that conducting is a male profession is changing.”

She became interested in opera in her late twenties. Now 34, she has embraced the art form. “I was mostly into the choral community, but when I saw my first opera I was taken by the singing, acting, dancing, the orchestra and the whole spectacle of it. An opera is such a huge show, a real collaborative effort involving a lot of people.”

She is a big fan of introducing opera to a young audience. “To really appreciate opera, young people need access to the various elements of the production. I’m a big advocate of bringing opera to them in the classroom. Opera connects with an audience on so many levels. We just need to do more of it.”

As well, she appreciates the intimacy of performing for a small audience. She will be speaking and performing for United’s Garrison Green residents January 29.

“Calgary Opera is an important partner of ours, and we are particularly pleased to be sponsoring Kimberley-Ann as resident conductor,” said United music director Jill LaForty. “With her visits to our communities our residents will have a special opportunity to build a relationship with her over the duration of her appointment. And United’s philosophy is all about remaining active and creative in your later years. We appreciate that Calgary Opera both brings opera directly to our residents in-house and gives them an opportunity to attend their productions at the Jubilee. We have some real opera buffs who not only love the Calgary Opera performances but who also take advantage of excursions to the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD which are shown regularly on the big screen at Chinook Theatre.”

Kimberly-Ann looks forward to achieving her goal of becoming a conductor. “My transition to conductor is already happening. I’m learning so much by assisting the conductors and in my role as repetiteur. The role of conductor is all encompassing. They need to know each instrument in the orchestra and how that sound fits into the bigger picture. There is so much involved, and I’m looking forward to learning everything I can about the role over the next few years here at Calgary Opera.”

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

Contact us here!

Calgary Opera Lends its Voices to Garrison Green

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“Opera is complex for those who perform it, but also for those who listen to it. It takes more time, more patience and more spirit of sacrifice. All this is well worth it because opera offers such deep sensations that they will remain in a heart for a lifetime.” – Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli

calgary-opera-and-residents-opResidents at Garrison Green were treated to an afternoon of opera thanks to seven singers from Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists program. The seven, accompanied on the piano by their director Mel Kirby, thrilled the more than 50 residents in attendance with several arias and a group finale that brought tears to many.

“We do what we can because we love it,” explained Emerging Artist Johnathon Kirby. “If the residents can’t come to us, we come to them. We often get our best reactions from older adults because many of them have supported Calgary Opera for years. It’s important for us to be here.”

Calgary Opera is one of several arts, culture and higher learning organizations that United Active Living is partnering with. Each partnership provides opportunities for residents to experience small, intimate concerts within their communities, and to attend outside performances.

lauren-woods-calgary-opera-small-op
Soprano Lauren Woods performs an aria for residents

“Having a group like Calgary Opera come into one of our communities provides a unique opportunity for residents to hear the music they love, particularly if they aren’t able to get out as often as they would like,” said United’s music director Jill LaForty. “You can feel the power in their voices that you may not experience fully in a theatre setting. It’s really a special experience.”

Singer Anne-Marie MacIntosh said it’s important to give concerts within the community. “It’s a special moment for us and for them. It’s a good opportunity to connect with the audience in an intimate setting to see what works and to test out new repertoire.”

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Emerging Artist Johnathon Kirby

To resident Mary Fenwick, the experience was emotional. “They transported me to another place. They reached right into the audience and played to us. It was just wonderful. They are so talented.”

Resident Jim Dolph said “It was an opportunity to experience something we wouldn’t normally do. They are so talented. It was a real privilege to have them here.”

Read more about United’s partnerships here.

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A Renewed Partnership with Calgary Opera

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“Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings.” – Robert Burns, poet

For many, this quote, attributed to poet Robert Burns, expresses in a humorous way the extent of our knowledge about opera. That and perhaps Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. But opera has long historic roots, and United Active Living’s renewed partnership with Calgary Opera continues to educate residents on the finer points of the genre and further the benefits that all forms of art have on a person’s well-being. Opera is complex and challenges the listener to interpret more than just the music.

“A dynamic art form, opera engages participants through multiple artistic disciplines including vocal music, instrumental music, theatre, dance and visual art/design,” said Suzanne Boyd, director of fund development, Calgary Opera. “Opera also offers cognitive challenges and intellectual stimulation (including exposure to foreign languages), to create a rich and dimensional experience.”

Opera also provides exposure to diverse and complicated subject matter, including various time periods/historical eras, settings that are frequently in a different culture, and plots and themes that allow for meaningful discussion such as current events, relationships, social/personal values, life choices and political/religious beliefs.

Calgary Opera's resident conductor Kimberley Bartczak
Calgary Opera’s resident conductor Kimberley Bartczak

United’s partnership with Calgary Opera includes sponsorship of the resident conductor. This year that person is Kimberley Bartczak, who has quickly established herself in the opera world as a collaborative pianist and opera coach at both the university and professional levels.

“Research supports the role of music and the arts to engage the mind and influence a person’s well-being,” said Jill LaForty, United’s music director. “In opera, we see a range of art forms from music, to drama, to dance, that engage a person’s emotions and imagination in a way that no other art form does. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Calgary Opera.”

Jill notes that living in a United community expands the residents’ worlds. “Our residents aren’t living bounded by four walls. Our community extends into the greater world where they are exposed to a wide variety of music and other creative arts. These partnerships really give residents something you can’t find anywhere else.”

Calgary Opera's Lauren Woods and others performed at Garrison Green last year
Calgary Opera’s Lauren Woods and others performed at Garrison Green last year

This year, Calgary Opera will bring opera to the residents of United’s Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities with three performances by members of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Development Program as well as a personal one-on-one with resident conductor Kimberley Bartczak.

Topher Makrzewski at Garrison Green
Topher Makrzewski at Garrison Green

What do those visits look like? Last year, then resident conductor Christopher “Topher” Mokrzewski sat down with residents at Garrison Green and spoke of his career as a pianist and conductor, his role as resident conductor, the anatomy of an opera production, his favourite composers, thoughts on new works, his other professional exploits, and the pedigree of his current opera family, Calgary Opera.

“Topher played a bit, laughed a bit, and talked about his life in the arts,” said Suzanne. “His appreciative audience was visibly moved by his story, his personality and the passion with which he lives. It was clear from the response by both the presenter and the residents that this was only the beginning of a special relationship.”

“The partnership with United helps us fulfil our mandate to bring opera to the people,” said Susanne. “This is particularly helpful for residents who might have difficulty getting out to our performances. We bring those performances to them.”

In August, Calgary Opera’s Opera in the Village takes to the stage for its fifth year with performances of South Pacific and Cinderella at Enmax Park on the Stampede grounds. Check out Calgary Opera’s website for more information.

“Our partnership with Calgary Opera helps us serve the wide ranging tastes of our residents,” said Jill. “Some of our residents are lifelong opera buffs and are gaining a better understanding directly from the artists themselves thanks to this partnership, while others are getting a chance to experience the thrill of it for the first time. It’s a wonderful relationship!”

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

Contact us here!