Pictured is Stephanie Unverricht playing bassoon. Photo credit: Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

Stephanie Unverricht is the principal bassoonist in the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra who will be on stage this Saturday participating in a performance of Tosca, the first time an opera has been presented in Saskatoon with a full orchestra.

She says even for someone not versed in opera, the story of Floria Tosca which is passionate and involves political corruption and murder, is extraordinary. She says the music is gorgeous and there are amazing singers.

Unverricht says there is a different twist for the orchestra with this performance.

“So, it’s really exciting that for this production of Tosca we are all on stage and the singers are kind of in front of the orchestra.”

She says it’s quite the feat marrying the live orchestra with the opera performance. Unverricht explains that the conductor, Judith Yan, is listening to the singers who are most of the time right behind her on the stage.

“And then we’re following her baton to get the beat. And at some point, there is a chorus of singers, and they need to watch a video of Judith, behind the audience, to line up everything altogether.

The cross Canada partnership that led to the performance of Tosca includes the National Arts Centre, Edmonton Opera, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and Saskatoon Opera.

Unverricht says she became interested in the bassoon in Grade 6 band at Lawson Heights School and wanted to pick an instrument that was a little bit different. The Saskatoon performance is this Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at TCU Place.

Rehearsal audio courtesy of National Arts Centre: