The Banff Centre: Communications

Calgary Herald – Calgary Opera’s Frobisher

Globe and Mail: Review of the premiere performance by Robert Everett-Green: “But Frobisher is a natural, predictable reaction to the vacuum that exists where our contemporary opera ought to be. The work’s real message, as sung by the film-festival chorus in Act I, is that ‘too much art is not very smart.’”

Globe and Mail: “In the meantime, he said the Banff Centre, an arts and culture school founded in 1933, is interested in the property, although it would need the help of individual and corporate donors. The owner and realtor have pledged to give a portion of the purchase price and commission to charitable causes if the home ends up with such an organization.”

Calgary Herald:Bob Clark’s review of the premier: “Judging from the performance on Saturday, Frobisher looks almost as good as it sounds — and it sounds great. But as drama, the opera is a little less than we expected.”

Calgary Herald: “Another Saturday night, another world premiere opera. At least that was how a lucky, sold-out house of elegantly dressed opera patrons, including Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, Mayor Dave Bronconnier, federal Indian Affairs minister Jim Prentice… , got to spend their night at the Jubilee Auditorium, where the Calgary Opera-Banff Centre co-production of Frobisher had its world premiere.”

Calgary Herald: “John Fanning has the title role in Frobisher, an original opera being staged byCalgary Opera.”

Calgary Herald: “Imagine you’re one of four young Calgary singers who have minor roles in the Canadian grand opera premiering under a national spotlight on Saturday at the Jubilee, and must also be prepared at a moment’s notice to perform four of its major roles.”

National Post: “After the success of 2003’s Filumena in Calgary, the Johns are bringing the story of Martin Frobisher to a city keen to hear it.”

Calgary Herald: “Like Filumena, Frobisher was written by librettist John Murrell and composer John Estacio. The opera uses Martin Frobisher’s expeditions to Canada’s far north as an historical backdrop to its central love story.”

North Jersey Media Group: “The Daedalus Quartet has a reputation for diving into challenges and excelling. Founded in 2000 for the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition in Canada, the quartet took top honors the next year, beating out much more experienced ensembles…. The Banff triumph launched the Daedalus Quartet into the upper echelons of the classical world, and it is now in its second season as the Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two quartet.”