“Hi, I would like to welcome you to Opera Kelowna, I’ll be your host for this evening.

I fell in love with opera when I went to see the movie Amadeus at the theatre at the end of a university term, by myself. After that, I realized that I wanted to find an opera to see in person – I chose a production of Hansel and Gretel because it was sung in English and that way I would not have to read the subtitles. I went by myself again and I was hooked!

After that, my sister and I would go to a Vancouver Opera production every year. When her youngest daughter turned 5 we would take the two girls on the grand adventure. We became the Opera Aunties. As our nieces became young women, we ventured farther afield, to Seattle and San Francisco on Opera Auntie’s trips.
I’ve been to operas with my spouse, but didn’t enjoy it much because I knew I was torturing him. But it’s nice to have someone to chat with before the performance and during intermission.

I’m an opera lover but not an opera afficionado. My sister knows the who’s who of the productions. I love the staging, theatre craft and of course the music. As a volunteer for Opera Kelowna, I’ve seen backstage and rehearsals and can tell you that magic happens here!

If you want to try out opera for the first time but can’t find anyone to go with, join us. Or, if you love opera and your spouse doesn’t, join us.

See you at the opera!

– Kathleen, Club Host