A Night at the Opera

For the past several years, I’ve been proud to contribute photography for Manitoba Opera. Apart from just loving beauty and beautiful things, I’ve really come to appreciate how opera is basically storytelling — just like photography, just like books or Hollywood movies or even Instagram reels. Having relatively free reign gives me access to the people who work so hard to bring the show together, as well as the (pretty amazing) singers who make these stories come alive.
Like most arts groups, the Opera has had to grapple with the Covid-19 situation but happily the first major effort in a long time came together last night with the Gala Concert.
You could feel how happy people were to be able to have a night out again, and see these performers again on the Centennial Concert Hall stage. And the Symphony clearly didn’t get out of practice, either, with beautiful music carrying the audience throughout the whole event.

I’d urge anyone to check out the Opera and take in their next show. It’s a total treat to dress up, be seated in the hall, have the lights dim and the music flow out into that huge space all around you. You’d be surprised how easy it is to ‘get’ the stories behind each opera, once you learn about the production (which the Opera makes very easy both online and in the programs at each show).

Lizzy Hoyt sings with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and conductor Tyrone Paterson, behind her during the Manitoba Opera Gala Concert, Saturday evening April 2, 2022 at the Centennial Concert Hall.

Mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel beams at the audience for Manitoba Opera’s Gala Concert.

The Centennial Concert hall, home of Manitoba Opera and its Gala Concert. The evening began with the Ukrainian and Canadian national anthems.

All five singers, backed by principal conductor Tyrone Paterson, are applauded by the audience near the end of Manitoba Opera’s Gala Concert.

Soprano Lara Ciekiewicz (left) and mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel are applauded after a duet in the Manitoba Opera Gala Concert.

Until the autumn….

Casual Fridays

Winnipeg has always been known for a thriving music and arts scene, but it’s only very recently that we’ve been able to start returning to that again. The pandemic, and most people and businesses adhering to lockdowns and other measures to prevent the spread of it, had put a night out on ice for well over a year.

Happily, high vaccination rates and businesses having a credible process to screen at the door have created a bit of a springtime in late autumn for live music.

It was this that allowed me to photograph a live performance this weekend by the newest jazz group in the city, the Jazz Casuals. It was a terrific way to end off a very long week, and the fine offerings by the venue, Little Brown Jug, was also very welcome.

Walking into the venue, I was greeted by a terrific space but a terrific space in near-total darkness. Certainly great for ambience, but not so great for photography! It was then that I was reminded of the difference between photographers who know lighting and those that don’t. One gets useable pictures, the other walks away with excuses.

I spent a lot of years in newspapers, and had the mantra of ‘available light’ drummed into me for literally decades.
However, if you believe photography is about telling stories, I’m afraid you can’t tell very many when you’re literally in the dark.

We live in a pretty amazing time for technology in making photographs, and one of my favourite is the advantages in lighting now. I’ve been a very satisfied user of Godox flashes for a few years now, both for reliability and how quick and easy it is to use their lights. Having something quick, easy and reliable makes it so much easier to just focus on creativity and that’s certainly been the case for me, whether in a dark jazz club or a bright outdoor location.

Setting up 2 small lights unobtrusively allowed me to create a mood and a feeling that fit the story, and not interfere with the musicians working or the audience enjoying the show. And, I didn’t have to make excuses — win/win/win!

Follow the Jazz Casuals on Instagram for news of upcoming shows.