The Phantom is returning.
After a successful summer tour last year, Welsh tenor Peter Karrie is coming back to the Okanagan to perform the most beloved songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and other musical theatre treasures.
Joining him once again is Vernon coloratura soprano Melina Moore, who teamed up with Karrie last year to play Christine to the tenor’s Phantom. Together they sang to sold-out audiences and standing ovations.
This spring tour, which starts in Kelowna Friday and travels to Vernon’s Sparkling Hill Resort Saturday before coming to the South Okanagan, promises new repertoire and some surprise twists.
“Peter and I have been sharing the stage for several years now, and I never tire of singing with him,” said Moore. “This tour will focus on much of the music of Phantom and Les Mis, and I feel I’m always elevated to higher levels as a singer when I perform with Peter. His energy on stage is remarkable, his commitment to his characters and the sheer power and beauty of his world-renowned voice all humble me and exhilarate me.”
Karrie, who has starred on Broadway and in London’s West End, calls his return to B.C. a “homecoming.” He was made an honorary Canadian citizen upon completing his Phantom role in Vancouver for close to a decade.
Besides Phantom, Karrie’s other acclaimed and award-winning roles have included the original Che in Evita for the first national tour of Britain, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables for more than a decade at London’s Palace Theatre, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theatre, John Blackthorn in James Clavell’s Shogun on Broadway, Fagin in the acclaimed Cameron Macintosh production of Oliver!, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Joby “Peg Leg” Churchill in the box office smash The Contender.
Also an original cast member of Chess, Karrie played the role of Freddy Trumper, and was host of his own BBC television chat show, Peter Karrie.... Unmasked.
Moore has taken on as many operatic roles with her upbringing in New York City and education at Juilliard. Her professional career has grown since she moved to the Okanagan more than a decade ago, with solo tours in Canada and the U.S. and appearances with symphonies around B.C.
She also performs regularly at Vernon’s Sparkling Hill Resort and with The Dharma Dolls, a trio featuring fellow divas Judy Rose and Tanya Lipscomb.
Dates for The Phantom of the Opera Returns tour in the South Okanagan include May 11 at the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre in Osoyoos and May 15 at the Bench 1775 Winery in Naramata.
Tickets for most of the performances are available at www.virtualvernon.com.