Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 4:40 p.m.

Organizers of the event say the Opera in the Vines concert has regrettably been cancelled.

ORIGINAL: 6 a.m.

Opera in the Vines returns to Mission Hill Family Estate Winery next month.

The Opera Kelowna presentation takes place Aug. 2 under the stars at the winery's outdoor amphitheatre.

Artistic director Alexandra Babbel says beloved arias will transport listeners "to a whole new level of musical bliss."

A pre-concert reception offers delectable food and wine pairings at chef stations throughout the winery.

Then, audience members will bask in an evening of rapturous operatic performances by some of Canadian opera’s most heralded singers, including soprano Marie-Josée Lord, heldentenor Steeve Michaud, baritone Aaron Durand, and mezzo soprano Stephanie Tritchew – all accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra led by esteemed conductor Bernard McDonald.

Lord, recipient of the Concours International de Chant de Verviers, has sung some of the repertoire’s most demanding roles, including Mimi in Puccini’s La bohème for Opéra de Montréal, and Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff for Opéra de Québec.

Okanagan audiences will be familiar with heldentenor Michaud from his performance as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen for Opera Kelowna. Michaud recently won the Prix de Chanson, a prestigious singing competition held in France.

Audiences will also be delighted to see the return of baritone Durand who performed on the Opera Kelowna stage as the lead role of Papageno in Zauberflöte and Dancaïre in Carmen. Durand was also Person #3 in Vancouver Opera’s acclaimed production of Stickboy. 

Mezzo-soprano Tritchew has graced the stages of Edmonton Opera, Tapestry Opera, and Vancouver Opera. Some of her highlight roles include Butterfly’s Aunt in Madama Butterfly, Olga in Vancouver Opera’s Eugene Onegin, and The Friend in Vancouver Opera Festival’s Requiem for a Lost Girl.

The audience will be treated to beloved arias, duets, trios, and ensembles from La traviata, La bohème, Madama Butterfly, The Pearl Fishers, Carmen, and Romeo and Juliet. 

Tickets are available at operakelowna.com.