A Coquitlam school teacher will be transferring his talents to the stage this month to perform in the opera Don Pasquale.
Riley McMitchell, a teacher at Lord Baden-Powell elementary, will appear as Dr. Malatesta in the Gaetano Donizetti show by Opera Mariposa.
Don Pasquale tells the tale of an old miser who is determined to separate two young lovers; however, Dr. Malatesta comes up with a plan to reunite the star-crossed pair.
"Don Pasquale is one of the most popular comic operas in the world and its fabulous music and hilarious storyline make it a great show for opera aficionados and newcomers alike," McMitchell said in a news release this week. "Malatesta is a wily and roguish character and I can't wait to bring him to life - particularly in this fantastic production, where I'll be performing alongside so many other great singers."
Last year, the baritone was at Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre as part of The Old Maid and the Thief by DragonDiva Operatic Theatre.
For Don Pasquale, McMitchell is double-cast with Vancouver baritone Jason Cook.
A Terry Fox secondary grad, McMitchell has bachelor's degrees from UBC in opera performance and from SFU in education. He is also a past director of the Coastal Sound Music Academy boys' choir.
McMitchell has taken part in two seasons of Opera Nuova and travelled to Germany for the Lyric Opera Studio. His past operatic roles include: Germont (La Traviata); Marcello (La Bohème); Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi); Papageno (The Magic Flute); and The Count (Le Nozze di Figaro).
Don Pasquale runs from Oct. 18 to 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Marpole United Church (1296 West 67th Ave., Vancouver). Tickets at $22/$18 are available by phone at 1-800-838-3006 or at operamariposa.com.
