May 4, 2:00-4:00pm
ECMA Classical Showcase
Featuring music by Fiona Ryan and Monica Pearce in honour of Monica’s nomination for Classical Composer of the Year for Essential Opera’s EP “Etiquette”
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
Charlottetown, PE
Note: Doors open at 1:30
This showcase features the following artists:
Essential Opera: Maureen Batt, Erin Bardua, Tara Scott, Brad Reid
Catherine Little
Edward Enman
Jennifer King
SHHH!! Ensemble
https://www.ecma.com/ecma-2024/2024-ecma-schedule/
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April 24, 7:30pm
Concert | Courage, Curiosity, Compassion | Music Room Chamber Players Series
The Music Room Chamber Players Series
Peggy Corkum Music Room, Halifax, NS
live-stream tickets available for concert night only
Maureen Batt, soprano
Erin Bardua, soprano
Tara Scott, piano
Hilary Brown, cello
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March 26-April 3
Dorothy Parker | Etiquette Film | Essential Opera
March 26, 8pmAT Broadcast première and live chat
March 26-April 3 Virtual on-demand broadcast
Tickets:
https://halifax.boldtypetickets.com/events/149717382/etiquette-film-premiere
IT’S NEW YEAR’S EVE, 1927.
Journalist and poet Dorothy Parker pours herself a generous drink in her Art Deco styled apartment. She’s up against a brutal deadline: write a review of socialite Emily Post’s 684-page tome on Etiquette by morning. The audience is swept up by Dorothy’s Roaring Twenties energy, as she disregards Etiquette in favour of a night of partying.
A FEW WEEKS LATER.
Emily sits down to tea in the elegant home of trailblazing politician Nancy Astor. Mrs. Astor challenges Emily to defend her idealistic views on the human condition. Despite the tension between them, the two women realize they share a history of disappointments and betrayals.
FLASHBACK TO DOROTHY’S APARTMENT.
The harsh light of day shines on a disheveled Dorothy and her typewriter. She attacks her review with a fresh burst of scathing wit and exuberant music.
Essential Opera’s film version of Etiquette, an opera by Monica Pearce, is directed by Tom Belding, stars Maureen Batt as Dorothy, Erin Bardua as Emily, and Lucy Hayes-Davis as Nancy. Music direction by Tara Scott, piano, with Brad Reid, clarinet.
Watch our behind-the-scenes trailer!
March 23, 1:00-3:00pm
JUNOs Classical Showcase
Presented by CBC Music and CMC Canada.
https://junoawards.ca/events/junofest/
St. Matthew’s United Church
1479 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS.
Doors open 12:30 PM, with performances at 1:00 PM.
Tix $10 at the door (cash), subject to availability.
Those who purchased a JUNOfest wristband can enter for free.
Featuring artists:
Essential Opera: Maureen Batt, Erin Bardua, Lucy Hayes Davis, Tara Scott, Brad Reid
Cheng Duo
Jennifer King
Matt Haimovitz
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February-May
Musical Greetings | Essential Opera
Update: We have extended our musical greeting fundraiser until May 2024. If you want to buy someone a unique gift, head to our ETSY store.
At this time of year, there are a lot of options for expressing romantic love. We wanted to offer something a little different as well.
From now until the middle of the month you can express however you feel to your dearest friends and closest enemies with a musical greeting.
This fundraiser supports the next stage of development for “In Her Hands” by Fiona Ryan.
$1 from each musical greeting purchase during February will go toward The Youth Project, making Nova Scotia healthier, happier and safer for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
Here’s a video walk-through of the fundraiser process and a chat with composer Fiona Ryan!
Here’s the EO Musical Greeting TRAILER and here’s our BLOOPER reel.
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January 19-20
Discovering the Roots and the Spine of our Sound
2-day workshop with voice students at Mount Allison University
