Welcome to Opera Kelowna, where Marnie Breckenridge and Matt Haimovitz will be reprising their roles in Luna Pearl Woolf and Royce Vavrek’s Jacqueline! This will be the fifth production of Jacqueline across the US and Canada, and definitely not one to miss. Catch this fantastic work in Kelowna, BC on February 27th and 28th!
Ahead of its imminent Portland remount, Jacqueline (released via the PENTATONE Oxingale Series) has received yet another stellar review, this time in Luister Magazine. Read the review below, or in the original Dutch here.
Woolf: Singing and playing as perfect dialogue
15 July 2025
It’s been a while since a modern opera pleasantly surprised me, but Luna Pearl Woolf has succeeded with Jacqueline from 2019. The title refers to cellist Jacqueline Du Pré and the work breaks down into four resounding movements: 1. Star Birth; 2. Super Nova; 3; Meteorite; 4. Impact. In a kaleidoscope of emotional moments from an eventful life in which her early fame from the age of twenty-six was accompanied by the multiple sclerosis that ate away at her bit by bit. It is a tragedy that effortlessly rivals Callas’.
Royce Vavrek’s beautifully crafted libretto effectively switches between emotions, artistic key moments, memories and the ‘why?’ question. In the process, Woolf provides brilliant accompaniment by one fulminant cello. All this in a feverish monologue, in which voice and instrument are turned inside out. No emotion is left untouched, no element of Du Pré’s art is skipped in the cello line. Had she been able to play it herself, she would have done no better than Matt Haimovitz. Soprano Marnie Breckenridge throws herself into the music with supreme focus and a surfeit of voice and expression. But the strength of the performance lies in the balance between spot-on technique and an unerring sense of dramatic rhythm in this tombola of emotions. Never does either go overboard, always the playing and singing are in perfect dialogue. Even better, it also lasts only an hour and twenty-five minutes on two CDs. That keeps it exciting right to the gripping end. So even within conventional music, a brilliant opera could still be composed that adds something to the repertoire. Gorgeously published by Pentatone [Oxingale Series], with a brilliant booklet revealing the plot, clear explanations, the libretto and powerful photos of the performance.
Jacqueline is headed to Portland, Oregon in August!
OrpheusPDX has just announced what will be the fourth production of Luna Pearl Woolf’s Jacqueline. Opening August 23rd, soprano Marnie Breckenridge and cellist Matt Haimovitz will reprise their roles in this celebrated work. As quoted in the Portland Tribune, general and artistic director Christopher Mattaliano of OrpheusPDX notes that Jacqueline is “truly taking the opera world by storm”. He continues, “It is a hauntingly beautiful piece that stays with you long after the performance ends.”
Opening to a full house on February 20th, Tapestry Opera‘s remount of Luna Pearl Woolf’s Jacqueline has been unanimously praised by critics. Read the glowing reviews below!
“…as vibrant and shimmering as ever, probing deep into the intensity of experience and emotion that was du Pré’s life.” Opera Going Toronto: Jacqueline Rejoined
“It’s impossible to overstate the privilege to witness the performances from Breckenridge and Haimovitz. The depth of emotional energy that pours out over just under two hours is such that I can only be astounded at how the two of them can summon the fortitude for repeated performances.” Opera Canada: Tapestry Opera – Jacqueline
“One should truly see this production twice: once to solely focus on Breckenridge and the story, and another to purely watch Haimovitz and his moving cello.” A View from the Box: Tapestry Opera’s Jacqueline
We are thrilled to share some fantastic, recent live interviews with Luna Pearl Woolf where she shares the inspiration behind Jacqueline and its highly collaborative creative process. Give them a listen!
The highly anticipated recording of Luna Pearl Woolf and Royce Vavrek’s Jacqueline has been released via our friends at PENTATONE. The latest in the PENTATONE Oxingale Series, Jacqueline features Marnie Breckenridge and Matt Haimovitz, and was released to critical acclaim in October 2024.
Stream Jacqueline now, or purchase the box set with full libretto via PENTATONE, Amazon, or wherever you get your CD’s.
We’re thrilled to announce that Tapestry Opera will be remounting Luna Pearl Woolf and Royce Vavrek’s opera, Jacqueline, in February 2025. Matt Haimovitz and Marnie Breckenridge will be reprising their roles in the remount following an immensely successful run at West Edge Opera this past summer.
WEST EDGE OPERA ANNOUNCES JACQUELINE, BY LUNA PEARL WOOLF AND ROYCE VAVREK AND STARRING MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE AND MATT HAIMOWITZ, AS A PART OF THE SUMMER FESTIVAL 2024 AT THE OAKLAND SCOTTISH RITE CENTER
Jacqueline completes the 2024 season, presented alongside the world premiere of Nathaniel Stookey and Eisa Davis’ Bulrusher, and an action-packed single evening of Wagner’s Legend of The Ring
2024 West Edge Opera Summer Festival The Oakland Scottish Rite Center August 3rd – 18th
Tapestry Opera and Opera on the Avalon’s production of Shanawdithit. (Photo: Dahlia Katz)
Even with a COVID-19 lockdown, the 41st Dora Mavor Moore Awards are taking the “show must go on” maxim to heart with an all virtual presentation this year.
Announced today, the 2020 Dora Awards has released a total of 243 nominations across six divisions.
Leading the pack in the Opera Category is Tapestry Opera with a whopping 13 nods. Tapestry’s Shanawdithit (co-produced with Opera on the Avalon), accounting for eight nominations, and Jacqueline with five.
Luna Pearl Woolf 