By Carol Martin
SooToday.com
Sunday, October 17, 2004

The Starbucks coffee and Italian desserts Sunday at Algoma's Water Tower Inn were almost as sweet as the songs as Algoma Fall Festival concluded the first weekend of its 2004 season with another sold-out performance by Tapestry New Opera Company.

The Festitalia Opera Cabaret was the fourth major event at this year's festival and so far three of four shows have sold out.

On Saturday the opera company performed at Boniferro Mill Works.

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The Tapestry performers (shown) said they enjoyed the venues and appreciated the response from Sault audiences.

"You wonder if new opera is something that is organic to the 21st century, but the more you keep it in the contemporary the more it becomes something people are interested in,"
baritone Ian Funk said.

Funk told SooToday.com he is especially enthusiastic about the adventure of playing such a range of venues.

Great Big Sea

Algoma Fall Festival 2004 continues with the sold-out performance of Great Big Sea with Jimmy Rankin at the Kiwanis Community Theatre on Wednesday, October 20.

Friday will feature two events.

Ballet Jörgen Canada will perform The Velveteen Rabbit, a ballet for children at the Kiwanis Community Theatre starting at 7 p.m.

Evergreen Club Gamelan Ensemble with harpist Erica Goodman will be performing at Central United Church at 8:30 p.m.

Ashley MaIsaac takes the stage at Kiwanis Community Theatre on Saturday at 8 p.m.

On Sunday at 3 p.m. the Chamber Singers of Algoma perform at St. Luke's Cathedral.

Meanwhile, the Nobuo Kubota exhibit continues at Art Gallery of Algoma until Sunday. For coverage of that story, click here.