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Oh, Heathcliff! We’re are all a-flutter at the idea of this dark, heartwrenching romance brought to life on the stage of the Ordway–in opera format, no less!

A tale of love, obsession and revenge, young Heathcliff falls in love, only to have it ripped away by circumstance and a young man of a higher social class. Heathcliff leaves, becomes mysteriously wealthy, and eventually returns to his homestead to punish those who sought to separate him from his now-deceased love, Catherine. His plot to destroy multiple generations of his adoptive family and extended family drives Heathcliff to madness and delusion.

The Minnesota Opera’s production of  Wuthering Heights is based off the Emily Brontë classic as reimagined by contemporary composer Bernard Herrmann. A Hollywood legend, Herrmann famously composed the scores to numerous films, including Hitchcock’s Psycho, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, and Scorsese’s  Taxi Driver.  Wuthering Heights was his only opera, and coincidentally, was penned in Minneapolis in 1951.

This is the first major production of Herrmann’s Wuthering Heights; it will be staged by the Minnesota Opera April 16th-23rd at the Ordway. Sung in English with English captions projected above the stage. Estimated run time, including intermission is 3 hours and 35 minutes. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.mnopera.org.

This week, St. Paul shops gear up for Valentine’s Day with new sales, shopping events, and other stylish happenings. Take it all in, or pick and choose – there’s something here for everyone.

[Tees by Tilton]

Saturday & Sunday: Dream of Spring Event at Bonne Chance
Local artisans coalesce at St. Paul gift boutique Bonne Chance. Find hand-crafted jewelry, scarves and accessories. That includes Carole Hallman’s up-cycled slip dresses, hand dyed in bright colors, and trench coats; hand-bound journals by Robyn Priestley; and knit tees by Katherine Tilton. Sadly, with this event comes the announcement that Bonne Chance will be closing for now, with hopes to reopen at another location eventually. (Noon-5 p.m. Bonne Chance, 713 E. Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul. 651-771-1791.)

Friday: Artist Mercantile’s Art of Romance Soiree
Artisan co-op Artist Mercantile starts the romance early at their annual Valentine’s themed “Art of Romance Soiree.” Listen to live poetry by the St. Paul Poetry Slam team and live music from Sam Hall, enjoy chocolates and wine, and shop for handmade goods from the Mercantile’s 65 artists. Valentine’s gift ideas include locally-made candles and bath products, stained and fused glassware, jewelry, and painted chairs. You can also try your hand at poetry and bring in a love-related quote on a postcard-sized card stock and you might get it displayed in the storefront window. (6-9 p.m. Artist Mercantile, 24 7th Pl., St. Paul. 651-222-0053.)

Saturday & Sunday: Grand Hand Local Jewelry Trunk Show
Minnesota jewelry artists Laura Stamper and Mitra Vahhaji’s latest creations will be in display at this jewelry trunk show, just in time for Valentine’s Day. New to the gallery is Laura Stamper, whose collection is composed of mixed materials, while Mitra Vahhaji’s designs are composed of silver, pearls and stones. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Noon-5 p.m. Sun. The Grand Hand Gallery, 619 Grand Ave., St. Paul. 651-312-1122.)

Thursday: Details Salon Spa Color Offer
Details Salon Spa is letting you reap the benefits of cancellations in their books. This Thursday only, receive 50 percent off any new color service that you book and receive. Call or go on-line to book at 651-251-8700 or www.detailsmn.com. (Details Salon, 346 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651-251-8700.)

Monday-Wednesday: Hot Mama Denim Sale
Stylish moms-to-be, head to Hot Mama’s Annual Denim Sale. Get 25 percent off all premium jeans, including new arrivals. (Hot Mama, Rosedale Center, 612-633-9400; 867 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-209-0222.)

Tuesday: Minnesota Opera’s Girl’s Night Out
Get your culture fix at the Minnesota Opera’s Girl’s Night Out event, centered around the Opera’s current production of Roberto Devereux. Enjoy free appetizers and drink specials at the St. Paul Grill, where 107.1’s Lori and Julia will broadcast their show live. Then head over to the Ordway, hear FM107.1’s Ian Punnett and MN Opera’s Artistic Director Dale Johnson talk about Roberto Devereux, and enjoy the show. (3 p.m. $30 including price of show. St. Paul Grill, 345 Market St., St. Paul. 612-333-6699. Click here to purchase tickets.)

Friday: “How Secretaries Changed the 20th Century Office: Design, Image and Culture”
Find out how woman’s secretarial role in the office over the years has transformed the style of the workplace as we know it in this new exhibition at Goldstein Museum of Design. Enjoy refreshments at the opening reception, and bring gently-used women’s business wear for Woemn Achieving New Directions during the exhibit’s run. (Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Fri. Ongoing through May 23. Goldstein Museum of Design, 241 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul. 612-624-7434.)

Ongoing:

[A look from Details Style Lab]

Details Sweater Sale
Fellas need gifts for Valentine’s Day, too. Buy one sweater from lines like Skunkfunk, Bertigo, and Ben Sherman and receive 20 percent off; buy two and take 30 percent off; and buy three to receive 40 percent off. (Ongoing through Feb. 14. Details Style Lab, 346 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651-251-8700.)

[Sale items at Picky Girl]

Picky Girl Winter Sale
St. Paul boutique Picky Girl is kicking off its winter sale with 25 to 60 percent off all regular-priced clothing, shoes and accessories, with offerings from national lines like Kenzie Girl and Covet, and local darlings Calpurnia Peach. (Ongoing while supplies last. Picky Girl, 949 Grand Ave., St. Paul. 651-698-4107.)

Winter Sale at Stephanie’s
Highland Park boutique Stephanie’s is taking 50 to 70 percent off all its fall and winter merchandise, including lines like Nicole Miller, Tracy Reese, and LuLuLame. (Ongoing while supplies last. Highland Park: 758 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul. 651-690-3802.)

[F-Troupe at BlackBlue]

BlackBlue Shoe Sale
UK brand F-Troupe, represented out of the Opening Ceremony showroom in NYC, is now on sale at St. Paul boutique BlackBlue. Take 25 percent off any pair of F-Troupes in both men’s and women’s styles, while supplies last, as well as men’s Generic Surplus footwear. (While you’re there, check out new men’s denim line, A.P.C. from France.) (Ongoing while supplies last. BlackBlue, 614 Selby Ave., St. Paul.)

Sing Renaissance Music with the Rose Ensemble and Voces8!

Warm up your vocal chords and head on over to the Landmark Center this Tuesday to join in on a special performance/workshop with the Rose Ensemble and Voces8! Attendees are invited to sing along with the musical luminaries, who will be performing classic, old-timey tunes. Don’t worry, experience is NOT necessary, but we would recommend downloading and printing the scheduled tunes HERE before hand.  Fun for the whole fam, or for those who want to experiment with new sounds alongside some of the best musicians in town.

Tuesday, Feb 2nd, 7-9pm, Landmark Center, 75 W. 7th Street, St. Paul, Free

History of Hip: Yesterday’s Tomorrow

The MN Historical Society futurizes 2010 with its cool and educational series, “History of Hip,” at the Turf Club’s Clown Lounge. Focused on the oddball predictions of days gone by, this event will have you laughing along with Historian Brian Horrigan and blogger Matt Novak, who will highlight trends in science fiction and share their thoughts on the subject. Personally, we were hoping there would be flying cars by now!

Tuesday, February 2nd, 7:30-9pm, Turf Club (Clown Lounge), 1601 University Ave, St. Paul, $6

Minnesota Opera presents Roberto Devereux

The first installment in the Minnesota Opera’s Tudor Trilogy, this Bel Canto tradgedy retells the treacherous tale of Queen Elizabeth and the object of her affection, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. While his heart belongs to another, Elizabeth stops at nothing to keep him for herself, going so far as to force his lover to marry another. Dramatic shenanigans ensue, and the rest…well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself at the Ordway! A free prologue beginning one hour prior to each opera performance offers an entertaining and informative half-hour with Artistic Director Dale Johnson or other artistic staffers in Ordway Center’s mezzanine lobby.

Feb 2, 4, 6, and 7, 7:30pm (2pm Sun), Ordway, 345 Washington Street, St.Paul, Tickets from $20. For more info or to purchase tickets visit www.mnopera.org.

Juried Student Exhibition

Head to the College of Visual Arts this Thursday to take in the work of the art school’s best and brightest! In a blind review process, the best works have been selected by an outside panel of jurors and exhibited in the CVA Gallery. While the official opening reception was last week, this week you’ll be privy to a panel discussion about the work with the students themselves. A great opportunity to seek out fresh, up and coming artists. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new favorite!

Thursday February 4th, 6-8pm, CVA Gallery, 173 Western Avenue North, St. Paul, Free

The Schubert Club Courtroom Concert

This week, the Landmark Center offers a lunchtime respite with the next event in their Courtroom Concert Series. Hosted by the Schubert Club and locally-based composer, Randall Davidson, you’ll experience sweet sounds of the classical variety from top local performing artists. Guests are encouraged to bring lunch, or to purchase a sandwich at Anita’s Cafe located on the ground level of the Landmark. Quite a spectacular way to break up the day, if you as us!

Thursday, Feb 4th, Noon, Landmark Center, Courtroom 317, St. Paul, Free

Attention opera fans! The Minnesota Opera kicks off its 2009-2010 performance season at the Ordway this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited. On Saturday, the much buzzed-about production of The Pearl Fishers will open to a packed house. Will you be there?

This past weekend I attended the annual “Opera Tasting” event at the MN Opera Center in Minneapolis, a stylish soiree put on by the Minnesota Opera’s Tempo group — a club for young opera enthusiasts ages 21-39. The evening began with a pre-show party in the candle-lit reception area of the center, where snazzily dressed attendees mingled and sipped champagne. Once inside the decadently decorated underground event center, we were seated at a table with Ben Crickenberger, one of the Opera’s handsome young baritones, who acted as our personal host for the evening.

Laden with bottle after bottle of fine wines courtesy of Meilleurs Vins de Provence Wines and fed heartily from a Thai food buffet from Sen Yai Sen Lek, we were serenaded by various members of the Opera’s upcoming productions — a fabulous “taste” of what lies ahead this season.

Among the delicious helpings of fabulous musical fare, one of my favorite arias of all time, “O fond du temple saint” from The Pearl Fishers was gorgeously duetted by Brad Benoit and Michael Nyby. Personally, I cannot wait to hear/see this performed at the Ordway this month with the singers in full costume, the lights shining, the orchestra swelling, and the audience communally enchanted by the whole thing. There’s nothing quite like soaking up the beauty of the opera in the Ordway’s main hall — something about the large scale of it all makes the performances seem so grand and dazzling.

Whether you’re a life-long opera appreciator, or a newbie, the MNOp does a wonderful job at making this classic art form accessible to everyone. The opera is definitely not just for old people anymore, so consider checking out a Minnesota Opera production this season — after all, how fun will it be to tell your friends, “No, heathens, I cannot make it to poker night, I am going to ze OPERA!”

Visit the Minnesota Opera’s website to find out all about this season’s upcoming productions, including The Pearl Fishers, and also check out their events page to discover hip opera-related events put on by Tempo and much more!