The Royal Conservatory and Tapestry Opera announce the cast and creative for Gould’s Wall, presented by the Conservatory’s 21C Music Festival January 12 – 16 2022. The new opera, written by Liza Balkan and composed by Brian Current, is a tribute to Glenn Gould’s and other artists’ challenging pursuit of perfection, featuring performances suspended from The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Atrium, set to delight audiences in the new year with spectacular physical performances and beautiful orchestration.
Interdisciplinary artist Lauren Pearl (Le Nozze di Figaro: Figaro’s Wedding, Against the Grain Theatre; Poèmes pour Mí, Canadian Opera Company) stars as the Climber, a young talented musician striving for perfection in her art. Caribbean-Canadian tenor Ryan Allen (What Brought Us Here, Calgary Opera; The Book of Mormon, Broadway; Titans, HBO Max) stars alongside her in the role of Canadian icon and classical pianist Glenn Gould.
Alberta-born soprano Caitlin Wood (The Overcoat, Tapestry Opera and Canadian Stage) plays the Housewife and Saskatchewan-born Juno and Dora award winning mezzo-soprano Andrea Ludwig plays the Mother. Tenor Keith Klassen (Rocking Horse Winner, Tapestry Opera; The Overcoat, Tapestry Opera) plays Bernstein/The Man and baritone Justin Welsh plays Guerrero – Gould’s famous mentor.
Alice Malakhov plays The Girl, presented in partnership with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company.
Gould’s Wall is composed and conducted by the award-winning Brian Current, with libretto by Dora Award-winning actor, director, and writer Liza Balkan. The multiple Dora Award-winning Philip Akin (Trouble in Mind, Top Dog/Underdog, Of Marriage and Men 1837, Shaw Festival) will direct Gould’s Wall, bringing decades of theatre directing expertise to his operatic debut.
Award-winning set and costume designer Rachel Forbes (21 Black Futures, Obsidian Theatre, CBC; The Mountaintop, Manitoba Theatre Centre) joins the creative team alongside lighting designer and Siminovitch Prize finalist Michelle Ramsay (Shanawdithit, Rocking Horse Winner, Tapestry Opera). Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership Conductors Jennifer Tung and Juliane Gallant are the Assistant Conductors.
Gould’s Wall makes its world premiere January 12 – 16 2022 in The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Atrium. Tickets are on sale now.
ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA
Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company that is dedicated to creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world class singers and musicians. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera.
ABOUT THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music and arts education institutions in the world. Providing the definitive standard of excellence in music education through its curriculum, assessment, performances, and teacher education programs, The Conservatory has had a substantial impact on the lives of millions of people globally. In addition, the organization has helped to train a number of internationally celebrated artists including Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, David Foster, Sarah McLachlan, Angela Hewitt, and Diana Krall. Motivated by its powerful mission to develop human potential through leadership in music and arts education, The Royal Conservatory has emerged over the last two decades as a leader in the development of arts-based programs that address a wide range of social issues. For more information, please visit www.rcmusic.com
MANIAC STAR, producing partner (Airline Icarus, The River of Light), would like to thank the following sponsors for the writing and production of the work: Canada Council New Chapter Fund, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and Barlow Foundation at Brigham Young University.
The 21C Music Festival is made possible through the generous support of Michael and Sonja Koerner
Gould’s Wall Performance Sponsors: Kris Vikmanis & Denny Creighton
Government Supporters: Canadian Heritage, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Toronto Arts Council
Media Sponsors: MusicWorks, The WholeNote
Gould’s Wall
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 8pm; Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 6pm;
Friday, January 14, 2022 at 8pm; Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 10:30pm;
Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 6pm
$21-$85
The performances take place in the Atrium at The Royal Conservatory
TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Tickets are available online at www.rcmusic.com/21C, by calling 416.408.0208,
or in person at the Weston Family Box Office
All advertised prices include service charge and 13% HST
A limited number of $15 Rush Tickets are available starting 90 minutes before the performances
