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HAVING EXPERIENCED the spectacle effect of mega-musicale like Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables, more and more people are flocking to the opera. And the audiences are getting

younger.

Seniors gain with financial planning information

THE NORTH Shore Caregivers’ Support Society and North Shore Volunteers for Residents in Care Facilities want to share financial planning information with seniors who are interested in smart finan- cial planning.

The locally based organizations are offering a free workshop call- ed Current Financial Trends and How to Take Advantage of Them, on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The workshop was designed for

seniors and will include an address by speaker Pia Henrikkson. Henrikkson, who is interested in helping seniors make the most of their money, will focus on the basics of financial planning. She will describe recent trends

‘in Europe that have influenced the

money markets in North America. Organizers say participants will also learn some new ways to in- vest their savings, whether large or small. The workshop will take place at

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13th

DOORS OPEW 9:30 A.M. TO 5:36 P/M.

“Note: This further discount of Ed's everydal fow price applies to all sale merchandise and regular priced merchandise in stock! Discount does not apply to Down Quilts.

the North Shore Volunteers for Residents in Care Facilites office located at 275-2Ist St., West Vancouver. Refreshments will be served during the afternoon. For more information call 983-2141 or 922-1575,

HOLE

AT A time when many Canadian arts organizations are

just barely clinging to life, one would think that big-ticket events such as the opera are facing a future as bleak as

Harlequin’s in J Pagliacci.

But that is far from the case at the Vancouver Opera.

It enjoyed record attendance Jevels in its 1991-92 season, and this year subscriptions are al- ready up 20%. And they're being snapped up by younger audiences.

‘We're getting a much younger audience,’’ said Vancouver Opera publicist Cynthia Bunbury. ‘‘It’s a spin-off of the big shows — Phantom and Les Mis. The 35-50 crowd want an overall experience.

“They don’t want static events. With opera, you get a fantastic array of effects. It’s completely engrossing.”'

Two years ago, 65% of Van- couver Opera subscribers were over the age of 60; today 65% are under 50.

Younger audiences want a balance of traditional and con- temporary works, said Bunbury, and judging by the opera’s up- coming season, director Rob Hallam is giving it to them.

The company’s first production is Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, which opens Oct. 17, followed by Mozart’s The Magic Flute, the lesser-known Dialogues of the Carmelites by Poulenc, and final- ly, Puccini’s classic love story, La Boheme.

Hallam, who is strongly com- mitted to developing Canadian talent, has ambitious plans for the company’s 1993-94 season.

For the first time ever the opera has commissioned a new work by Vancouver librettist Tom Cone and composer David Mcintyre.

The Architect (a wocking title), the first opera in the company’s New Works Program, is set in

CHTRE

AY HOURS

Sun., Oct. 11 12:00-5pm Nion., Oct. 12 12:00-5pm

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By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter

modern-day Vancouver and focuses on a female architect.

The piece will premiere next year as a full mainstage produc- tion in the company’s first-ever five-opera season.

Introducing the work to opera- lovers may be risky business, but Bunbury says it’s all part of the opera’s need to change with the times.

“I’m not sure if audiences will accept something new and local, but we recognize how important it is not to rest on our laurels.’’

Changing with the times has also meant putting even more ef- fort into its outreach school pro- gram.

The Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, which performs before 80,000 school children annually, is taking the children’s classic Hansel and Gretel into classrooms this fall, a new adaptation of the HMS Pinafore in January, and a shorter version of Carmen in the spring.

It also means putting .greater emphasis on its resident artists program, which trains young singers while allowing them to stay in Canada and develop their careers.

The students will star in Rigoletto and an afternoon per- formance of La Boheme, the comnany’s first-ever matinee.

Rigoletto runs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Oct. 17, 20, 22, 24 and 26 at & p.m.

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