EUGENE ONEGIN

We’ve asked some of our most involved members of VAA to do some guest blogging on this site.  There’s simply so much artistic activity happening on the Island that we actually need a few field reporters to keep you informed of the latest and greatest.  Vashon is a modern day renaissance, isn’t it!  Please welcome the observations of my first guest, Jo Anne Bardeen.

Cast of Eugene Onegin – Photo by Shawn Sipe

Count them, 95 Vashon Islanders with names listed in the credits for the just completed production of Vashon Opera’s Eugene Onegin! And, that number came before the program pages listing the founders and many monetary donors to the now three years’ old opera company.

Singing and dancing “Russian peasants” in the chorus, props gatherers, set construction crew guys, teenage dancers, scenery painters, orchestra members, publicists, the artistic director diva and her husband…….these people are your Vashon neighbors. And, one and all, they are helping to bring world class opera singers and amazing productions to the Vashon Island stage.

Upwards of 800 people saw Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin performed at Bethel church and marveled at the talent, the costumes, the set and the just plain magic of hearing and seeing opera in such an intimate setting. Opera- lovers who have seen performances in famous theaters all over the world gush about having the singers so up close and personal as they are in Vashon Opera’s productions. Up close and personal is both good and bad though. Audiences at the performances were urged to move closer to their neighbors in order for all ticket-holders to be seated. This request included the phrase “cozy up until we get the real performing acts theater built”!

Next season’s operas include Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte on Sept. 14 & 16 and Puccini’s two one act operas Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicci on May 17 & 19, 2013. www.vashonopera.org