​This year all of New Opera Lyra's 2024-25 events take place at Rideau Park United Church. Conveniently located at 2203 Alta Vista Dr., Rideau Park offers a beautiful acoustic, comfortable seating, and (very importantly) unlimited parking. The building is also completely accessible.

 

This year's theme is "East" - and we have a lineup of beautiful and exciting events.

 

Firstly, one month from today, on November 16, we open with "Echoes of the Tide", an informal and easy evening of hauntingly beautiful Celtic and East-Coast Maritime music.  Its tunes are unforgettable, its words deeply expressive. We will be welcoming soprano and Celtic harpist Doreen Taylor Claxton and an ensemble of New Opera Lyra vocalists - as well as students from the Canterbury Arts Programme. 

Refreshments will be available and there are delightful items to be raffled. 

It will be a lovely way to spend a crisp Autumn night.

 

Then to Eastern Europe! Our winter production is an historic event - the Ottawa premiere of Sergei Rachmaninoff's magnificent opera "Aleko". This opera has it all - soaring poignant melodies, powerful drama, harmonies that pull the strings of your heart. Set amongst the Romani of Eastern Europe, it is a tale of passion, treachery, and tragedy.  We are joined in this production by Ottawa's Ewashko Singers, dancers, including solo dancer and choreographer Clare Bassett, and orchestra, all under the direction of guest conductor Norman E. Brown. We are also partnering in this production with the St. Cyril and Methodius Russian Orthodox School of Ottawa, and Matryshka Russian School of Ottawa. Other partnerships are in development, as well.

 

 

In Spring we travel farther east - to mark Asian Heritage Month, in partnership with the Ottawa Chinese Business and Cultural Community, New Opera Lyra is presenting an Exhibition of Chinese Calligraphy with a concert of Contemporary Chinese Opera, featuring local artists and performers.

The event is called "Thoughts in the Silent Night" -  a line from the poem of the same name by Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai.

With delicious traditional Chinese snacks, exquisite art, and beautiful music, this is an ideal cross-cultural event to mark Asian Heritage Month. 

 

We welcome you to our enchanting 2024-25 season!