The Vancouver Concert Opera Society – which has won an Ovation award for its concert versions of great operas – makes its White Rock bow with a performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto Feb. 18, 8 p.m., at First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.
Based on the play Le Roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo, the tragic tale of revenge features such familiar operatic hits as La donna e mobile (Woman Is Fickle) and great ensemble pieces including Bella figlia dell’amore (Fair Daughter Of Love).
Jessie Award-winning actor Bernard Cuffling provides narration for the production, conducted by Canadian maestro Gordon Gerrard and featuring Toronto-based baritone Keith O’Brien as Rigoletto.
Also in the cast of Rigoletto are tenor Frederik Robert (the Duke of Mantua), coloratura soprano Szu-Wen Wang (Gilda), Jordan Collato (bass-baritone), Natalie Burden (contralto) and locally known actress and mezzo soprano Jacquollyne Keath; with piano accompaniment by Wenwen Du.
Advance tickets are $22 ($18 students and seniors), or $25 ($21 students and seniors) at the door.
For information and tickets, visit vancoco.ca