Pacific Opera Victoria is bringing music to the city’s most famous public parks and open spaces with Open Air: A Summer Festival of Music from Aug. 1-5.
Co-presented by Victoria Symphony Society, the five-day event allows Victoria locals to experience scheduled concerts with orchestral arrangements and outdoor family-friendly activities, in addition to Pop Up Opera events.
On Thursday, Aug.1, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra will take the stage at The Butchart Gardens at 8 p.m., for a show included with the price of admission. This performance is led by Pacific Opera’s principal conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia, and will be accompanied by violinist Elana Lin.
On vocals are the pairings of Pacific Opera’s own soprano Lucia Cesaroni and baritone Justin Welsh, both of whom have garnered critical acclaim for their performances in the 2023 productions of Così fan tutte (Cesaroni) and The Birds (Welsh).
VSO and its collaborators will return for a free secondary show at Beacon Hill Park's Cameron Bandshell venue on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. Event coordinators have organized activities for all ages on the park's lawns from 3-6 p.m. Parents can take their children to the face painting booth, Pacific Opera Shop Touch table, or let them relax and get a firsthand experience of playing multiple musical instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo.
Families will also enjoy: Drag Storytime with Persi Flagge from Stashes and Lashes, a performance by soprano Jennifer Turner, with Robert Holliston on piano, a family sing-a-long with Pacific Opera Pop Up artists, and a “Learn to be a Conductor” for kids session with Maestro Joey.
Throughout the five days, Pacific Opera singers will also surprise audiences by giving free Pop Up Opera concerts in public parks and open spaces throughout the Capital Regional District.
Pop Up Opera events include; Aug. 1 and 5, at 4 p.m. at Bastion Square, August 2 and 4, at 4 p.m. at GVPL Esquimalt Branch and August 7 at 2 p.m. at GVPL Juan de Fuca Branch. There will also be surprise pop-ups throughout Greater Victoria.
More information and tickets can be found at pacificopera.ca.
