All the technicality and beauty of an opera show in a cool and casual setting—what could be better? Operatic Revelry is back at the Rainbow Bistro, with their newest performance, Bards & Bohemians on June 26.
“We’re trying to take opera music, operatic singing, and bring it into a more accessible and more fun environment,” says creator of Operatic Revelry, Philip Klaassen.
A working tenor in the city, Klaassen says that he was inspired by a similar event called Opera Pub, which he saw while in Toronto organized by Against the Grain Theatre.
“The energy was just so high, the performances were so good, and I just felt like I needed to create something like that for myself.”
Carmen Harris performing at Operatic Revelry at the Rainbow Bistro. Photo by Curtis Perry.
Klaassen says that the stereotypical idea of opera music as stuffy or boring is exactly what he wants to combat. He hopes to take the idea of seeing opera in concert halls and big fancy venues and turn it into something accessible and fun—for both the performers and the audience.
“These stories we’re bringing in, it’s accessible to modern audiences because it’s just human stories as far as I’m concerned,” says Klaassen. “When you combine it with beautiful melodies, I think anybody can relate to it.”
Operative Revelry is usually hosted at the Rainbow Bistro and Bards & Bohemians is no different.
The Rainbow Bistro is known as a Blues bar in Ottawa, and Klaassen not only feels a certain nostalgia having grown up going to Blues bars, but also a cabaret feel that’s strikingly intimate.
Corey Arnold performing at Operatic Revelry at the Rainbow Bistro. Photo by John Finnigan-Lin.
“We don’t need to use microphones at all, which is great—it’s the real experience of getting an operatic voice up in your face,” he says. “Also, I just like the laid-back vibe.”
This performance is also largely a place for local talent, so Bards & Bohemians will feature the opera community in Ottawa in a new light.
Bards & Bohemians is a performance featuring folk song influences, traditional influences and characters that explore stories about freedom, love and living the artistic life.
Poster for Bards & Bohemians. Photo provided.
Klaassen is excited for audiences to experience opera differently and appreciate the dichotomous nature of opera as strong, yet beautiful.
“The human voice is a unique instrument that is so personal,” he says. “I hope that people realize that opera really is for anybody, whether you’ve heard it before or not.”
Operatic Revelry will eprform Bards & Bohemians at the Rainbow Bistro on June 24. For more information, you can check out their Instagram. For tickets, click here.
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