Starting May 2, Highlands Opera Studio (HOS) began releasing 13 newly-recorded concerts that will run over 13 weeks, until July 31.
In an April 27 press release, the HOS said the concerts will feature past and current professional artists, who will share music that is important to them and why.
The mini concerts of 30-40 minutes will span a range of styles and themes and will be available online until the following Saturday of each week.
The cost to purchase a link to a single concert is $10; all 13 concerts are available for $100.
The first concert in the series featured Catherine Daniel, mezzo soprano and Roger Admiral, piano, with music from opera, musical theatre, and traditional spirituals.
HOS general and co-artistic director, Valerie Kuinka said professional fees for the series are supported in part by a bequest from Madame la Juge, Anne-Marie Trahan and private donors.
“During this past year of turmoil, the performing arts have come to a standstill. While we are yet unable to clearly see the end of this pause on collaborative live performance, we want to give these talented young professional artists a chance to reflect and express through their chosen medium, as well as give our loyal audience a taste of what we have all been missing: the beauty of the human voice,” Kuinka said.
Founded in 2007, HOS is an advanced training and professional development performing arts organization which, in a non-pandemic year, presents 17-19 live public events/performances in Haliburton County during its five-to-six-week season in August.
Kuinka said that as well as being a soughtafter organization and destination for Canadian and international emerging opera professionals, HOS is also an important source of community engagement and education for the region.
They provide vocal training through the Highlands Opera Community School, with participation in performances, community outreach, social events, and cultural interaction and enrichment.
They also work with Dysart et al and community organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Haliburton and Abbey Gardens, to offer the Highlands Opera Theatre (Studio) to support and build on collaborative community engagement and foster community participation and enrichment through singing and the artform of opera.
For more information, visit highlandsoperastudio.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at HighlandsOpera.
