NATIONAL CAPITAL OPERA SOCIETY • SOCIÉTÉ D'OPÉRA DE LA CAPITALE NATIONALE Newsletter • Bulletin Winter 2011 Hiver P.O. Box 8347, Main Terminal, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3H8 • C.P. 8347, Succursale principale, Ottawa (Ontario) K1G 3H8 A Tribute To Bobbi Cain by Murray Kitts I n 1983 after thirteen years of mag- cessful of these was Fête Opera in nificent summer opera and concerts 1985 with outstanding singers and a Festival Ottawa was cancelled be- chorus and orchestra drawn from cause of major cuts to the budget of NAC productions under the direction the National Arts Centre. Mario of Brian Law. Any time there was an Bernardi conducted over thirty op- opera production staged at the NAC eras in those years including an out- Bobbi arranged a reception for the standing Queen of Spades with Jon principals and conductor, partly as a Vickers and Maureen Forrester and fund-raiser for the society and partly a splendid production of Handel’s to celebrate this great art. Every year Rinaldo which was given to the Met- brought new attempts to keep the ropolitan Opera for its very first pre- cause of opera in the minds of sentation of that opera in New York. Bobbi Cain 1936-2010 Ottawans. Every year there was a new Opera lovers came regularly from as “gala” like the one which paid tribute far away as Montreal to enjoy these to great opera composers. This gave performances at the NAC. Bobbi an opportunity to introduce Bobbi Cain, whose connec- some young singers to the public, tion with choral singing and music in “showcase them” as it is termed. From general is well documented in a trib- there it was a logical step towards try- ute on the Choirs Ontario website, ing to help the newcomers directly in was one of Ottawa’s citizens who their quest for a career in opera. Then was outraged by the cancellation. She there were the regular excursions to helped to form the National Capital the Montreal Opera, and sometimes Opera Society and became its presi- to Toronto and New York. And there dent in 1984 in order to find a way were the opera films, videos and to return these magnificent summer DVD’s (as technology improved) at opera experiences to the National the Bytown Theatre, at the Ottawa Arts Centre. Thus began almost twenty-five years of Public Library, at Bobbi’s condo building, and continu- Bobbi’s constant dedication towards the restoration of ing even now at St. Anthony’s Soccer Club which, with opera in Ottawa. The files of the NCOS are filled with a meal, has become “Opera alla pasta”. references to petitions (one with over 1,000 signatures); One of Bobbi’s proudest moments (which I wit- letters to the editor; meetings with officials who might have nessed) was when Nicholas Goldschmidt reviving the influence; even appearances at political meetings to chal- Summer Festival at the NAC in 1997 told her: “We owe lenge the views of politicians - these are only a few of this revival to you.” Alas the festival was not to last very the activities where Bobbi was in the forefront. Parallel long, but these words meant a great deal to Bobbi for all to these activities was a constant attempt to remind her hard work. In the meantime Opera Lyra Ottawa was Ottawans of what they were missing. The most suc- developing and performing at several venues until it could (continued on page2) Winter 2011 NEWSLETTER • BULLETIN Hiver 2011 A Tribute To Bobbi Cain (continued from page 1) return opera to the NAC Southam Hall. Under Bobbi’s And, cruellest of all, one of these had to be followed leadership grants were given to Opera Lyra for per- by a second operation to correct an error in the ini- formers such as Mark Dubois, who sang the role of tial one. Bobbi’s devotion to her causes was shown Tamino in a production of The Magic Flute with Brian when, against medical advice, she proceeded to Law conducting. This relationship has continued and the struggle through the 2001 Competition and complete NCOS has been contributing to OLO’s young artists’ her task, hiding her distress. The emergency opera- programs since grants were first organized by Bobbi. tion followed. From hospital bed and from conva- The departure of Brian Law for New Zealand lescent hospital bed Bobbi carried on directing the provided Bobbi with a new challenge and opportunity affairs of the NCOS and planning the next competi- to use her remarkable organizing powers. To recognize tion. The Board met in a room in the Elizabeth the contributions Brian Law had made to music in Ot- Bruyere Centre so that Bobbi could preside. In 2003 tawa the Brian Law Opera Scholarship was established Bobbi was able to persuade her old friend, Hamilton in 1991 and first awarded in 1993. What an enormous Southam, to be honorary patron for that year’s com- task it was to establish all the rules and regulations sur- petition. By 2005, in spite of one of the stays in hos- rounding the competition: eligibility of contestants, pital detailed above, Bobbi was back to preside over method of selecting finalists, and procedures on the ac- the competition. Sadly it was to be her last. The can- tual occasion of the competition. Bobbi tackled all these cer operations didn’t stop her, the diabetes didn’t problems and more so well that the procedures she in- stop her, it was one of the cruellest diseases, stituted are still being followed virtually intact after nine dementia, which robbed her of her ability to con- competitions spanning sixteen years. Bobbi’s promi- tinue to dedicate herself to the cause of opera and of nence in the musical community in Ontario enabled her helping young singers. And what great young sing- to enlist the voluntary services of outstanding jurors such ers! To mention only a few, Shannon Mercer and as Stuart Hamilton, Diane Loeb and Nicholas Joshua Hopkins have well-established singing ca- Goldschmidt to name only a few. Fund-raising for the reers. Yannick-Muriel Noah is emerging as a major scholarship which started out as a modest $1,000 prize opera singer. See their websites to get a complete now became an important feature of NCOS activities picture of their careers. Almost every weekday we under Bobbi’s leadership. The galas and showcases con- can listen to Julie Nesrallah introduce classical music tinued with the occasional recital such as the one ar- on CBC Radio 2. ranged by Bobbi with Gerald Finley, a former Brian Law All these singers have shown their apprecia- chorister, giving a magnificent performance. For the tion to Bobbi and the NCOS by coming to give out- 2009 competition 1st prize was $5,000 with second standing mini-recitals at competitions subsequent to and third prizes at $3,000 and $1,000. The increase in their own. From now on when Brian Law Competi- prize money was greatly due to the success of the win- tion contestants are singing in recital halls or on the ners and competitors. great opera stages of the world their achievements There were many difficulties along the way in should proclaim that they have been helped in part, establishing and fostering the competition. But the great- at the very least, by Bobbi’s working to her last ounce est challenges for Bobbi lay ahead. Used to seeing her of strength on their behalf. People who worked with at her office in the Economic Council of Canada, or in Bobbi knew that however demanding she could be her home on Chesterfield Drive, now those in the NCOS of them she was willing to work ten times harder who worked with Bobbi would have to contact her in than anyone else. One day the Ottawa Summer various hospitals. First there was the fall which required Opera Festival will take place again. In the mean- a hip replacement operation. Then colon cancer was time knowledge of Bobbi’s championship of the Brian discovered and an operation had to follow. Subse- Law Competition provides a fitting memorial to this quently another colon cancer operation was necessary. remarkable person. 2 Winter 2011 NEWSLETTER • BULLETIN Hiver 2011 Bobbi was at the centre of most NCOS activities: fund- raising events, receptions, dinners, recitals, concerts and, of course, the Brian Law Competition. These pho- tos illustrate some of these activities and some of her earlier musical endeavours. Clockwise from top right: Gerald Finley, Bobbi’s grandson Wesley and Maria Knapik, Ben Heppner, Bobbi as Peep-bo in Mikado, Rob Clipperton, Joyce El-Khoury, young Bobbi. 1st Prize 3 Winter 2011 NEWSLETTER • BULLETIN Hiver 2011 Board of Directors 2010-2011 Events you Could Enjoy President Murray Kitts by David Williams Past President Bobbi Cain Opera Lyra Guild Vice President Ute Davis The Joy of Opera Luncheon and Concert will be Secretary Jean Saldanha held February 13, 2011, at the Sala San Marco Membership Vera-Lee Nelson Banquet Hall. Treasurer Gordon Metcalfe www.operalyra.ca or 613-233-9200 x221 Publicity Renate Chartrand Ute Davis University of Ottawa Events Peggy Pflug The U of O Opera Company will present Pat Adamo Mozart’s The Magic Flute on January 28-30 & Feb. Elizabeth Meller 4-6, 2011, at 2pm or 7 pm in the Alumni Auditorium. Webmaster Jim Burgess Students frequently present recitals during the Academic year. www.music.uottawa.ca for information. Website: www.ncos.ca Yoriko Tanno Yoriko’s Operatic Showcase will present "The Lady of the Night" a new opera by Jose Hernandez on March 25, 26, 27, 2011.