It’s that time of year again. Since 2000, the Opera Canada Awards, also known as the “Rubies” named after soprano/founder of Opera Canada magazine Ruby Mercer, has taken place on one evening in October. This gala dinner event was established fifteen years ago by the magazine to recognize outstanding achievements by Canadians in opera at home and abroad, on stage and behind the scenes. I can’t claim to have anything to do with its genesis, but as an associate editor of OC, I’ve written many of the tribute articles on the recipients over the years. My first was on the late and much loved Maureen Forrester, who was the first recipient of the Rubies back in 2000. This year, I wrote the tribute on soprano/voice teacher Wendy Nielsen.
The 2015 edition of the “Rubies” fell on October 19th. By coincidence, it was also the Canadian Election Night, not to mention a Toronto Blue Jays post-season playoff game! But operatic folks are famously loyal people, so everyone postponed watching the election and showed up at the gala event on the 68th Floor of First Canadian Place, the headquarters of the Bank of Montreal, the Rubies’ corporate sponsor. This year, soprano/voice teacher Wendy Nielsen, soprano/artist manager Carrol Anne Curry, and Calgary Opera General Director/CEO Bob W.R. McPhee were the three honourees, in recognition of their contributions to opera in Canada.
The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was pianist/coach Peter Tiefenbach, a very well-known figure in the Canadian opera/vocal music scene. To kick off the festivities, Peter Hinman of BMO Capital Markets, the event sponsor offered welcoming remarks, followed by Stephen Clarke, chair of Opera Canada Publications. As in all previous galas, the entertainment started with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company (formerly Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus), a group founded by Ruby Mercer. This evening, the conductor was Teri Dunn, succeeding Ann Cooper Gay, who was head of CCOC for many years. They sang selections from Carmen and Canadian composer Dean Burry’s The Hobbit.
For opera lovers, soprano Wendy Nielsen is a familiar name. She is remembered for her beautiful voice heard at the Metropolitan Opera, European houses like Lucerne Festival, as well as across Canada. Now retired from the opera stage, Nielsen has established herself as one of the most sought after singing teachers in Canada, as Head of Voice at University of Toronto Faculty of Music and Chief Vocal Consultant for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble. Like previous years, there was a presenter for each honouree (in this occasion Liz Upchurch, Head of the COC Ensemble for Wendy). A short video was shown as a tribute. It started with a funny moment, of Wendy falling flat on her face while tobogganing down a hill! The rest was made up of warm, heartfelt tributes, including that of her first voice teacher, Mabel Doak. Singing for Wendy this evening was the soprano with the gleaming voice and a member of the COC Ensemble, Aviva Fortunata, in the daunting aria “Tu che le vanita” from Don Carlos, sung in French. Rachel Andrist was the collaborative pianist.
Carrol Anne Curry is a former soprano and head of opera division of Dean Artists Management, the largest classical voice agency in Canada. The presenter, pianist/coach Stuart Hamilton, the presenter, was his inimitable self, with plenty of funny stories. One of the singers on the Dean Artists roster, soprano Nathalie Paulin, gave a heartfelt tribute to Carrol Anne for being such a supportive and encouraging colleague all these years. Paulin singled out a sage advice from her agent when she was nervous before an audition. Curry’s advice was – “wear your best shoes and you’ll be fine!” In honour of Carrol Anne, mezzo Allyson McHardy, one of Dean’s finest singers today, offered a number from the Mary Rodgers musical, Once Upon A Mattress.
The third Rubies honouree was Bob W.R. McPhee, the General Director and CEO of Calgary Opera. He has been with CO since 1998. Under his leadership, the opera company has become a leader in the development of new Canadian works, and home to Western Canada’s most comprehensive professional training program for young artists. He was presented this evening by Canadian composer John Estacio, whose credited McPhee for having given his first and second operas, Filumena and Frobisher, successful productions at Calgary Opera. To sing for Bob McPhee, soprano Lida Szwkarek chose the “Storm Aria” from Filumena.
Rubies 2015 was a beautiful evening that brought together opera professionals and supporters alike to honour and celebrate individuals who have championed this art form in Canada. Given the contraction of arts funding under the Conservatives, the changing demographics of the traditional opera audience, and the dearth of music education in schools, it’s increasingly a challenge to keep this art form alive in Canada. But thanks to dedicated people like those present at the Rubies who believe in the art form, it’s safe to say opera is here to stay in this country of ours.
#LUDWIGVAN
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