Opportunities To Ignite Your Mind
Horns, High Notes and Heroes
A Neophytes Guide
to the Opera
Mississippi Mills Public Library
Almonte Branch,
155 High St., Almonte
4 Mondays
Oct.20 to Nov.10
7-9pm
$65
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With all those sopranos, unbelievable stories, and unattainable notes, opera can seem daunting. Join renowned baritone, Dr. Mark Wilkinson to bring opera back down to earth from its stratospheric notes. Through interactive presentations, discussions, and real-world examples, come discover the joy and beauty of opera.
Session 1: Opera's Beginnings. Learn the genesis of the opera and its foundations in theatre, music, and literature.
Session 2: Opera's Flourishing. As prolific as the Baroque and Classical periods themselves, discover how opera soared to new heights with Handel, Mozart, and the great Italians.
Session 3: Opera's Grandeur. Dive into the period that made opera seem so high-fallutin' and unattainable as we search for meaning and universal truths in a "grand" art form.
Session 4: Opera's Modern Take and Impact on Pop Culture. Are you picturing that Bugs Bunny episode? Explore how opera is a bigger part of our lives than we realize and how it has influenced modern culture more than we think.
MARK WILKINSON
Dr. Mark Wilkinson is one of Canada's foremost baritone soloists and voice teachers who happens to call West Carleton home. Dr. Mark's beautiful voice, truthful acting, singular musicality, disarming personality, and gift for collaboration have earned the respect of colleagues and audiences worldwide. His remarkable broadcast debut came with Soundstreams Canada and Maria Guinand at the tender age of 21 followed very quickly by a creative collaboration with Margaret Atwood of the North American premiere of The Year of the Flood for the Ottawa International Writers Festival. Subsequent performances have included:
Baritone soloist with Brian Asawa and Jolaine Kerley;
European début in recital at Beethovenhaus;
His Canadian recital and symphonic débuts with The Aldeburgh Connection and the Edmonton Symphony;
A CBC/SRC turn as Jesus in Bach's Johannes-Passion with Paul Halley and the King's College Choir;
And, invited by PDQ Bach himself (Peter Schickele), he performed in Music and Beyond .
Mark's broad understanding and his enthusiastic and sometimes irreverant communication of the subject matter have made him a popular speaker on all things music far and wide.