Looking for things to do this weekend? Maybe you'd like to get an early start on the weekend? Well, there is no shortage of things to do!

Thursday night (Nov 20) is the opening night of Vigil at Prairie Theatre Exchnage. Here is PTE Artistic Director and Director of Vigil, Robert Metcalfe to tell you more.

 

 

Vigil stars Michael Spencer-Davis as the nephew and the grande dame of Winnipeg’s theatre community Doreen Brownstone. At 92-years-young, if you haven’t seen Doreen in a performance you are missing out. She will steal the show I guarantee it! Vigil opens tThursday night  at 8:00 PM and runs through until Dec 07.

For tickets click HERE or call the boxoffice at 942.5483.  Prices range from $37 to $49 dollars with special pricing for seniors and students.

 

Moving on to the weekend . . .it is a busy one. On Saturday night (Nov 22) Manitoba Opera launches its highly anticipated opera Fidelio. Beethoven’s only opera, this courageous love story was picked to commemorate the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Fidelio tells the story of Leonore who poses as a boy (Fidelio) in order to work in the prison where her husband Florestan is wrongly imprisoned for his political beliefs. When Florestan’s execution is imminent, Leonore risks everything, including her life to free her beloved and his fellow prisoners.

Showtime is 8:00 PM at the Centennial Concert Hall. There are two other performances, Tuesday November 25th at 7:00 PM and Friday November 28th at 8:00 PM. For tickets go HERE or in person in the lower level of the Concert Hall Room 1060.

If you want to make a night of it, for next Friday night’s final performance, you can enjoy an authentic buffet-style German dinner catered by the German Society of Winnipeg which includes a half hour presentation about Fidelio by actor, singer and director Donna Fletcher. The buffet includes Pork cutlet with mushroom gravy or bell pepper sauce, egg noodles, red cabbage, assorted salads, buns and for dessert, what else by decadent Black Forrest Cake. The buffet is $35 per person. Your ticket to the opera is, of course, separate. For tickets go HERE.

Watch some of the rehearsal footage from the opera along with interviews with some of the cast.

 

 

On Monday night (Nov 24), at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, MB Opera is facilitating a wonderful panel discussion exploring the theme of political prisoners and what can be done to champion their rights. Before the panel, Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, will give a keynote speech

Louise Simdandumwe, an amnesty International volunteer will be moderating the panel discussion afterwards and the panelists will include former political prisoners as well the Director of the Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba, Karen Rusby and Jeremy Maron, a researcher and curator for the Museum.

The event starts at 7:00 PM at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in the Lecture Room. Admission is absolutely free buy registration is required—which you can do by calling 204.944.8824

 

The Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society presents American virtuoso guitarist Jason Vieaux Saturday night (Nov 22) at the Planetarium. Gramophone calls him among the elite of today’s classical guitarists and he’s earned a reputation for putting his expressive gifts and virtuosity at the service of a remarkably wide range of music. His latest album PLAY features a selection of audience favourites celebrating his more than 20 years of professional touring. They include music by Segovia, Ponce and of course Tarrega plus much, much more. Tickets are $25 with special pricing for seniors and students. You can get them at the door or by calling 204.667.5250. Showtime is 8:00 PM

Watch Jason perform music by Piazolla below.

 

 

It is an absolute choral feast this weekend in Winnipeg with two vocal groups performing for your pleasure. On Saturday night (Nov 22), Camerata Nova presents their annual Christmas concert. For more than 10 years now the early music vocal group has researched holiday music and commissioned exceptional arrangements of well known Christmas carols. This year’s concert features a line-up of the group’s favourites from past years – hence the name, “Ghosts of Christmas Past”. Like Camerata Nova, the evening will be weird and wonderful and sincere and soulful and as always, audience participation is a must! There are two performances – Saturday night at 7:30 PM and then again Sunday afternoon (Nov 23) at 3:00 PM. The concerts both take place at Westminster United Church on Westminster Ave.

Admission is absolutely free, however the groups is asking that you bring a food donation to Winnipeg harvest.

 

The second choral concert happens compliments of Canzona. They are opening their 26th season this Sunday (Nov 23) with Bach’s choral masterpiece Magnificat. The Baroque Ensemble will be performing with an orchestra as well as the University of Manitoba singers. Show time is 7:30 PM Sunday night at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church at 52 Wardlaw Ave. Tickets are $30 with special pricing for seniors and students. You can get them at McNally Robinson or at the door.

 

Looking ahead to the week to come,

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra presents international super star, Sharon Bezaly. The Isralie flutist made her debut with the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta and hasn’t looked back since. Anne Manson is the music director for MCO and she will be conducting this concert.

 

 

The MCO concert takes place this coming Wednesday night Nov 26 at Westminster United Church. Tickets are $30 for adults with special pricing for seniors and students. You can pick them up at McNally Robinson Booksellers, the West End Cultural Centre, Organic Planet or by calling MCO’s Ticketline at 204.783.7377