They may be duelling divas, but Robin Eder-Warren and Jacqueline Ko have managed to find enough common ground to launch their own opera company.
The 20-year-olds recently formed as a platform for young artists seeking singing experience. The companys first concert will feature the voices of the co-founders as they put on their best diva act in Witches, Waifs and Wives: The Great Women of Opera.
Its a showcase of some of the greatest and best loved characters for soprano in the operatic repertoire, says Eder-Warren. Were really looking forward to (playing) the characters mentioned in the title... as well as some of the very sassiest characters that opera has to offer.
Eder-Warren serves as managing director of the fledgling company. She began developing her soprano voice a decade ago.
My singing teacher was phenomenal and happened to be an opera singer, she said. Between the time I started and by the time I was six years in, at some point I had become interested in singing opera for the rest of my life.
After high school, she studied opera at University of Manitoba and later began pond hopping, honing her craft in Europe and performing and teaching here.
Eder-Warren has her sights set on an opera career, but said its unbelievably hard to do in North America.
In Austria, Germany and Switzerland in particular, there are really a plethora of houses with a lot more opportunity than there is in Canada, unfortunately.
Within Canada, if one would want to make a name for themselves, they would ultimately have to move to Toronto and hope to get into the (Canadian Opera Company), but really to pursue the full career, young artists have to inevitably move elsewhere.
Enter Opera Mariposa, whose mission is to create performance opportunities for emerging artists in need of experience.
In the Lower Mainland thats not the easiest thing to do, so were very very glad that were able to create a couple more [opportunities] through Opera Mariposa, said Eder-Warren, who plans to further her career by relocating to Europe within five years.
Opera Mariposas first show, March 31, will feature lavish costumes to accompany the grand music. Another show is planned in the fall a double bill of two short operas.
Witches, Waifs and Wives: The Great Women of Opera is March 31 at 7pm at Marpole United Church, 1296 W. 67th. Tickets are $13 to $15 and are available at the door, or 778-918-9498.
Matthew Hoekstra, Black Press
