Vancouver and Lower Mainland, BC - Articles - Zimbio

Grand Opera Gets 'Graphic' at Vancouver Opera

Sat, 16 Nov 2008 03:15:34 GMT

posted by unclepaulie
Everyone knows that I am a huge proponent of bringing the arts to new audiences. That’s why I love the marketing tactics that Vancouver Opera is utilizing to introduce young people—those who might be more apt to go to a rock concert or sit in front of their plasma screen playing the latest Wii game—to opera. Television soaps have been replacing stale storylines with ones that incorporate teen and twenty-something drama for the last two decades, so it’s fitting that the opera world should follow suit to bring this audience through its doors and into the lush and melodramatic world that is the opera—the ultimate Soap! We all can appreciate the Soaps, can’t we? So why not le opera?

Lucky for me, my grandmother was a Live from the Met fanatic (and an As the World Turns connoisseur, I might add). At age fifteen, it was thrilling to me when she took me to see a concert to benefit the Mexican Earthquake Relief Fund with Placido Domingo (I got to go back stage to his dressing room and speak with him in Spanish!). I was also part of the ‘Hunt’ (Brothers) for Excellence program, while in high school in the Dallas area, having the chance to see the late Tatiana Troyanos live in concert. In college, as a vocal performance major at SMU, we were afforded the opportunity to receive free tickets to the Dallas Opera and were treated to the best the opera world had to offer from Grace Bumbry as “Carmen” to Flicka (Frederica Von Stade) in the world premiere of Dominick Argento’s The Aspern Papers to a De Falla festival featuring Flamenco master Maria Benitez, as well as master classes with Jerome Hines and more. I wish I had appreciated it all then as much as I do now. It took being a substitute chorus member in the Portland Opera productions of Turandot, Der Rosenkavalier and the West Coast premiere of the Dallas Opera’s production of Janacek’s Jenufa, directed by Johnathon Pape (starring Vancouver Opera favourite Judith Forst), for me to realize the power of opera as an art form and how relevant it can actually be to contemporary society.

That’s why it’s cool that Vancouver Opera has chosen to be so “cool.” In browsing the company’s web site, I discovered that opera fans, and those who are curious to learn what opera is all about in the least intimidating way possible, can experience opera plots and characters through manga representations, by Vancouver illustrator Roy Husada, of the stories (think graphic novels) that have delighted audiences for more than a century. Vancouver Opera may just be the only opera company in the world to utilize this contemporary and colorful art form to reach a whole new generation of opera-goers. Visit http://www.operalive.ca/ to check it out for yourself.

Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup Hot Ticket Again

Sun, 18 Dec 2006 19:59:17 GMT

posted by pacificIT

[Xposted: Reading Vancouver]

Last night I was at the October installment of the Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup and - wow, was I impressed! I have been both a participant and an organizer for Meetup in the city since 2004 and the organization has seen both ups and downs.

It all started as a simple idea and interface on the Internet. Choose a topic, choose a LOCAL venue then choose a date and time to meet. The cool thing about it was how you were GUARANTEED to meet new and interesting people. My enjoyment always was at the very beginning of the meeting. Two people, say at Blenz or Starbucks, cautiously approach each other at one of the tables. “Are you here for the Meetup?” one would say quietly. “Yes, I am. You too?”, “Yes”. Then quietly the conversation began as each person sniffed the other out. After a few minutes when the volume began to increase, another would come in and say, “Is this where the Meetup is?” and the two sitting, as if long time friends, pipe out, “Yes it is! Come on in!” and so forth. By the end of the evening you have a large table of newly found friends talking about not only the initial topic, but everything else that might be of interest. Always entertaining.

The fun started to dry out after Meetup made a “major” announcement in early 2005. The organizers were required to collect a fee to maintain each group on the website. MANY groups immediately folded as the backlash echoed in each city, including Vancouver. As organizers bowed out, so did the participants who didn’t want to have their own financial burden (be it as it was, it initially was only $9/mo). Some organizers just foot the bill themselves, others asked for meeting “donations” to recoup the cost. Everyone seemed very unhappy as people looked for the “value” in the meetings.

With the success of last night’s Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup, this seems to have finally turned around. Minna Van of TheNetworkHub office space took the initiative to reconnect with the entrepreneurs of the city. While most previous meetings have been in cafes and restaurants, Minna put forward her own space as a relaxing, inviting environment. Of course the rounds of free wine and cheese to the guests certainly was a classy and well received alternative to the usual coffee and pop!

Hats off to TheNetworkHub and the NEW Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup. Check out their website and see you at their next event!

Tags: Meetup, TheNetworkHub, business, Vancouver Meetup, Vancouver Entrepreneur Meetup, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs, schmooze, Robert Sanzalone, Vancouver, pacificIT, Pacific IT

New Mexico One-Ups British Columbia

Tue, 18 Apr 2007 07:30:06 GMT

posted by gizmo6667

For some time now, the province of British Columbia, Canada, has marketed itself as "The Best Place on Earth." It's position atop the land of superlatively-branded destinations may now be usurped by New Mexico, whose tourism marketing team has decided to engage in a little one-upmanship.

The new tagline? New Mexico: The Best Place in the Universe.

Where to go from here, really? "The Best Place Even If You Could Travel To Another Dimension?"

Normally, I'd be whinging on about copycat branding, but in this case the two brands have obvious differences. BC plays off its natural splendour and laid-back lifestyle, while New Mexico plays off, well, its reputation for attracting loony UFO-spotters. What I really like about the New Mexico ads (once I get past the rather clumsy-looking art direction) is that it has a personality and it leverages what people already believe to be true about New Mexico. One can only hope that the residents of New Mexico have enough inherent lunacy to embrace the brand, if not the campaign.

And as for BC? I think they're still safe in their claim and differentiated as a brand.

Late breaking news:
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Intergalactic (the space tourism arm of Sir Richard's British Empire) recently announced plans to build Spaceport America in New Mexico. Best of all, the proposed spaceport is located near the town of "Truth or Consequences" - I kid you not. The plan is a long-shot, as it is dependent on state funding and the implementation of a .25% sales tax to pay for it all. A referendum will be held shortly to see whether the program moves ahead, but it has the potential spin-off benefit of adding yet another strong proof point to New Mexico's 'Best place in the universe" claim.

Late late breaking news:
The referendum has passed and design work is underway on the $225 million Spaceport project.

Onegin’s Off Again and Running at Vancouver Opera

Fri, 18 Oct 2008 13:59:10 GMT

posted by unclepaulie
For a night of soul-searing romance, a deadly dual, glittering ballroom opulence and gorgeous music married to beautiful poetry, be sure not to miss Vancouver Opera’s new production of the Tchaikovsky classic Eugene Onegin. After all, it’s been 23 years since it last hit the boards (for the very first time!) at the 49 year-old opera company.

Based on Russian literary great Aleksandr Pushkin’s famed serial work, published in its entirety in 1833, Eugene Onegin (pronounced ‘oh-NYAY-ghin’) tells the painful, yet beautiful story of the 19th Century version of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” involving a rich, bored charismatic Russian man who rejects the love of a young woman (If I had nickel for every time that happened to me…!).

The cast list is a who’s who of Canadian and international singers, including baritone Brett Polegato in the title role, soprano Rhoslyn Jones as “Tatyana,” and tenor John Tessier as “Lensky.” Also in the cast are tenor James McLennan as “Monsieur Triquet,” and bass Chad Louwerse as “Zaretski” and “Captain Petrovich.” Vancouver Opera Music Director, Jonathan Darlington will conduct the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.

Eugene Onegin opens on Saturday, November 22, 2008 and continues with subsequent performances Tuesday, November 25, Thursday, November 27, and Saturday November 29, 2008. All performances take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Georgia and Hamilton Streets, Vancouver B.C. and curtain is promptly at 7:30 p.m.

So, head out to Vancouver Opera to get some culture. Tickets (which can be had by visiting the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre at www.vancouveropera.ca or by calling 604-683-0222) start at only an ecomomic downturn-busting $29 bucks!

Be sure to bring your spyglasses and specs--Eugene Onegin is presented in Russian with English translations projected above the stage. Otherwise, you’ll be squintin’ with the oldies!

Rant!Vancouver - Vote For Video

Sun, 18 Dec 2006 19:59:14 GMT

posted by pacificIT

This is certainly turning out to be an interesting little experiment. A short while ago I placed a little video on the new Rant!Vancouver site to help promote its launch. Scott has had some difficulty soliciting other entries but finally had another sneak in from Dustin in the last evening of the deadline.

So…… Scott has decided to place the decision for the best video up to you - American Idol style. Simply surf to the website and cast your vote.

It’s kinda fun to see how this turns out. Come on Dustin - let’s get ready to rumble!

Update: The votes are in and I won! Thank you Scott! Thank you Internet! Thank YOU for YOUR support! Don’t forget there’s one more chance to enter with your video and win an iPod. Good luck!

Enjoy.
Robert Sanzalone
Technology Evangelist