Community
Wednesday October 23, 7pm – 8pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Night Before the Opera is a program offered by Vancouver Opera to low income residents of the Downtown Eastside. The night before the dress rehearsal of each opera they produce, the company presents related music and video in an educational and entertaining hour at the Carnegie Community Centre. Tonight they will share insight into Puccini’s Tosca and then offer one hundred free tickets to attending community members for the dress rehearsal at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. This event has been offered in the community for many years and the late Jim Green was instrumental in bringing an interest in opera to the Downtown Eastside. Vancouver Opera will rename this ongoing evening as the Jim Green Night Before the Opera in recognition of Jim’s connection to the community and his love of opera.
Free
Click for photos and video coverage of this event.
Join friends from the neighbourhood, dignitaries, Gena Thompson (President, Carnegie Community Centre Association) and special guests for the grand opening of our tenth annual festival! Today we also draw strength from our roots and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of In the Heart of a City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play. Sam George (Tse-at-sul-tuxch) of the Squamish Nation will open with a Welcome Song; Mike Dangeli of the Git Hayetsk Dancers will share celebratory songs; Leith Harris and Stephen Lytton will read poems written to commemorate their experiences in the community play; and the Downtown Eastside’s own blues queen Dalannah Gail Bowen will sing one of the songs from the community play. There is more! The community’s favourite jazz band The Carnegie Jazz Band, led by trombonist Brad Muirhead, will play a short selection of new songs written by members of the community, including a new arrangement of Sandstone Lady, Patrick Foley’s moving tribute to the Carnegie. Also promised: a surprise guest will be raised from its lair! Please join us for refreshments! Everyone welcome. Free