Audiences are likely most familiar with Madame Butterfly as one of the world’s most popular operas but this week the story will be told through dance as Alberta Ballet presents the company première of the tragic story as its 2013-14 season opener. This renowned adaption by choreographer Stanton Welch of the Houston Ballet who visited Alberta Ballet in July to train dancers for the producution has been performed for some of the largest ballet companies in the world. The performance will also feature live accompaniment from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra playing John Lanchbery’s arrangement of Puccini’s score. Madame Butterfly runs at the Jubilee Auditorium from September 26 to 28 ( albertaballet.com ).
Those who are disappointed that there won’t be a repeat of 2012’s downtown art extravaganza Nuit Blanche this year will be heartened to hear that there’s a new art extravaganza running from September 27 to 29. The Intersite Visual Arts Festival ( intersiteyyc.wordpress.com ) involves several artists and venues working in collaboration. You can read about it in this issue. And don’t worry the Nuit Blanche Calgary Facebook page says it will return in 2014 so maybe the city will have two art extravaganzas next year.
One of the galleries participating in the festival is also celebrating its grand opening. After 17 years in the Grain Exchange Building Truck Gallery ( truck.ca ) has moved to a new location in Sunalta (2009 10 Ave. S.W.). To celebrate the move and to kick off a year of 30th anniversary events Truck has a new exhibition in the Main Space and in the relaunched Parkade Project Space and is presenting a special one-night-only offsite installation at the Sunalta LRT Station. Truck has also generously provided temporary space for Stride Gallery which was left homeless by June’s flood.
If you missed 12 Tones creator Gary James Joynes talking about frequency painting at Speakerhead don’t miss the opportunity to see his work (pictured) at the Epcor Centre’s Arts Learning Centre where it is on display until Sunday September 29. The artist creates visual representations of sound waves by finding resonant frequencies and using them to move sand — each of his 12 works have their own tone and they change as people move through the space creating a unique interactive audio and visual installation that never repeats. If that’s hard to imagine you’ll just have to go experience it for yourself — the show is one of many in the Intersite lineup.
As if this weekend wasn’t busy enough special events are being held across the province for Alberta Culture Days ( ( albertaculturedays.ca ) a celebration of arts heritage and cultural diversity. In Calgary it all starts Friday September 27 at Olympic Plaza at 4 p.m. with live music as well as large illuminated balloon sculptures art installations food trucks and children’s activities. The event coincides with Doors Open YYC which provides behind-the-scenes experiences at venues like MOCA the Epcor Centre and the Esker Foundation. Albertans can also visit some provincial museums and heritage sites free of charge such as the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Royal Tyrrell Museum Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Lougheed House.
