The author Rosemary Cunningham discusses her new book Bravo! The History of Opera in British Columbia (Harbour Publishing, 2009), with Joseph Planta; discussed is how opera has been received in BC, the great artists who’ve sung here, and the people who helped promote the arts in the province.

Bravo! The History of Opera in British Columbia by Rosemary Cunningham. (Harbour Publishing, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Bravo!

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Appropriately timed for the 50th anniversary of the Vancouver Opera and the 30th anniversary next year of the Pacific Opera Victoria, comes a new book from Harbour Publishing: Bravo! The History of Opera in British Columbia. It’s a lavishly laid out book, with exquisite photographs, and a history of the opera that’s not academic and dry, rather accessible and fascinating. If you’re like me and have never been to the opera, this is a great entry point into this form of artistic endeavour that’s around for well over a century. You have behind-the-scenes accounts of the production companies and the shows they’ve mounted and the stars they’ve brought to town. The author of Bravo! Rosemary Cunningham joins me now. She’s a long time season ticket holder of the Vancouver Opera, which just last Friday opened its season with a 50th anniversary gala concert. Following her retirement as a librarian, Rosemary Cunningham began a second career as a writer, and Bravo! is her first book. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Rosemary Cunningham; Good morning, Ms. Cunningham.

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