Edmontonians are being invited to ditch the dress code and get up-close-and-personal with a classical artform. The Edmonton Opera’s new season of Opera Pub nights will bring some big voices to the Druid Irish Pub downtown starting Wednesday. Whether it’s a singer winding their way through the crowd during a rendition of Habanera from Carmen, or an interruption of applause after a glass-shattering high note mid-song, visitors can expect a more immersive performance than they might get at the theatre. “There is something magical about being close to an opera singer and literally feeling the musical vibrations that come from them,” Joel Ivany, Edmonton Opera artistic director, said in an interview Tuesday. “That is what a lot of opera fans and just regular people don’t usually get to experience.” Opera Pub nights will run on the third Wednesday of each month until May. Each night features three sets of performances from power-house singers across the vocal range. Opera Pub is not new and was held for multiple years at the Blue Chair before it closed. Ivany said those events were often packed, so a reservation is recommended. There is no cover charge, he added, but guests are asked to make a donation to help keep the events going. For anyone not familiar with opera, Ivany said stopping by is a low-stakes way to learn more about what he calls the “greatest combination” of storytelling and music. “Once you kind of find it and figure out what it is, it’s a pretty incredible art form,” he added. “There’s no real risk … just showing up with a friend, and worst case, you have a drink.” More information can be found on the Edmonton Opera website. Reservations can be made on the Druid Irish Pub’s website.
