At that time, she performed La Triviata with the help of other members of the operatic troupe of which she is Director. Et Vive l’Opéra is a small-scale professional opera company based in the Eastern Townships. On Friday, September 5, this company of talented vocalists will perform their 22nd production – a concert covering highly famous opera arias from Carmen, the Magic Flute, Thais, and Norma to La Traviata. A trademark of this particular company is to make the opera accessible to most people by providing an explanation preceding each aria — very lively and often very funny explanations in creating such a full understanding.
Cadoux, with her amazing soprano coloratura, will be joined on stage by tenor Eric Prud’Homme who she says will melt your resistance with his warm and powerful voice, and Manuel Blais who has a truly exceptional baritone voice. Louise Diamond, a reputed pianist from Montreal will accompany the three vocalists throughout the evening.
When asked what special qualities an opera has in comparison to other music, Cadoux began to tell a little about her first experiences in music.  She began playing the violin when she was 7 years old, going on to play with different orchestras until the age of 21. She actually began singing when she was 17.
“For me, the most beautiful aspect of Opera is that it’s the most complete art, involving music, voice, theatre, moves. I found I could really express every feeling in opera, something that frustrated me in violin: I felt like something was lacking in the possibility of emotional transfer to the public. Plus, playing any instrument, you can’t move around! The leading model for me was and is still Maria Callas, who had a perfect technique plus a wonderful sense of theatre, although her tone of voice was really not beautiful. What an actress, and what a technique!” explained Cadoux.
Cadoux is flattered when people say that her performance style resembles that of Callas. Last year when she performed Violetta in Traviata, there was a long, huge silence at the end of the opera, where the character dies. Performers were wondering “what’s going on? Was it bad?” No, the fact of the matter was that the public was so taken by the story that they were all crying and couldn’t applaud. It took almost one minute for them to explode into cheering and applause!
The company consists of 3 singers and a pianist, at this time. Cadoux explains that playing with a pianist is in a financial way much easier than playing with an orchestra, but in a musical way much more challenging: there is no conductor to tell you when to start! You must have a very good osmosis with your pianist! With 3 singers, a high soprano, a tenor and a baritone, we can do several operas.
“We began, 11 years ago, with the Marriage of Figaro from Mozart, with just Manuel and I: He played the count as well as Figaro, and I played the countess, Suzanna and the little page Cherubin. I also wrote a spoken character, who was guiding the audience throughout the opera, telling them the story and what was to happen in the next piece, because in this particular opera you will find scenes of love as well as scenes of domestic quarrel. How could you know, if you don’t know the opera by heart, which one it is? With a narrator, things are really delightful for the audience, because they know exactly what happens on stage, without the need of reading subtitles that makes you lose track of the movement on stage.  Otherwise, you would have to choose: look at the subtitle or at the actors? In our case, you just have to relax and enjoy the voices and the play!” added Cadoux with a sense of pride in what they have accomplished.
Et Vive l’Opéra has produced/performed different productions, ranging from a whole opera told and sung with only two or three singers ( The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Manon, the Merry Widow, Traviata), to Christmas tales and opera arias concerts. The performance on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Haskell Opera House is specifically designed for lyrical voices.
This group has played in several Eastern Townships venues: Eastman (where she lives), Centre d’Arts Orford, Theatre Granada in Sherbrooke, Trois Rivières, Montreal, Iles de la Madeleine, Haskell Opera House, Festival du Lac Massawipi, Festival du Lac du Cerf near Mont Laurier, Festival de Mont Tremblant....
For those of you who wish to check out the amazing history of the Haskell Opera House, you may do so at www.haskell.org. Tickets for this Friday’s show are now available by calling 819-876-2020 or 802-873-3022 Adult tickets cost $20; children 12 & under admitted free.

By Nancy Nourse
Record correspondent