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Francais (French)
Montreal, December 4, 2023 – Bradyworks, in co-production with Chants libres, announces the world premiere of a bold new, bilingual chamber opera: Information. Set in Montreal in October 1970, the opera deals with powerful issues such as the F.L.Q October Crisis, abortion rights, and the role of journalism in society. The music is by Bradyworks artistic director Tim Brady, with a dramatic libretto from Governor General award-winning playwright Mishka Lavigne. The performances will take place on April 27 and 28 at the Espace Orange in the Édifice Wilder.
The production features outstanding 5 Canadian vocal soloists: mezzo-soprano Marie-Annick Béliveau, baritone Pierre Rancourt, tenor David Menzies, soprano Jacqueline Woodley and baritone Clayton Kennedy. Stage direction is Anne-Marie Donovan and the conductor is Pascal Germain-Berardi.
This new opera is the 2nd opera of Brady’s ambitious “Hope (and the Dark Matter of History)” opera cycle. The first opera in the cycle, “Backstage at Carnegie Hall” was premiered at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal in September 2022 and was well received.
Bradyworks artistic director Tim Brady states of the project: “With these new works, I wanted to confront critical social problems such as racism, the control of information, the right to abortion, the colonisation of space, climate change and artificial intelligence”.
This new opera focuses on the relationship between two journalists: a young anglophone named Mary Vance, and the older, seasoned francophone reporter Sylvain Leclerc. The two reporters end up collaborating closely on coverage of the kidnapping of James Cross by the F.L.Q. in October 1970 in Montreal. Parallel to the events of the October Crisis, Mary is living her own personal crisis, as she is seeking to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, which was illegal in 1970.
The opera also brings back the character of the Time Traveller from “Backstage” (she is the central link in the “Hope” Cycle), this time in the form of a Russian ballerina who hopes to defect from the USSR after her performances in Montréal. The dancer predicts many of the events of the October Crisis to Mary, who is then torn about what to do: should she use her work as a journalist and this Time Travel knowledge to change the course of history?
Information
World premiere on April 27-28 2024 at the Agora de la danse – Wilder building – 1435, Bleury – Montreal
In French and English
Libretto : Mishka Lavigne
Music : Tim Brady
A Bradyworks-Chants libres co-production, in co-presentation with Le Vivier
Cast and crew
Marie-Annick Béliveau, mezzo-soprano, Mary Vance
Pierre Rancourt, baritone, Sylain Leclerc
David Menzies, tenor, Jim – editor
Jacqueline Woodley, soprano, Time Traveller
Clayton Kennedy, baritone, the doctor, ballet master, journalist
Anne-Marie Donovan – director
Pascal Germain-Berardi – conductor
Anne-Marie Saint-Louis – asisstant director
Tim Brady – electric guitar
Pamela Reimer – keyboard
Jean-Marc Bouchard – saxophone
Chloé Domingue – cello
Nalo Soyini Bruce – set design and costumes
Mateo Barerra – lighting
Geneviève Jacob – stage management
Morris Apelbaum, Nick Ryan – sound
Tickets :
25 $ – students, 65 years old + / 32$ – presale / 40 $ – regular
plus service fees and taxes, on sale now
https://levivier.ca/en/concert/2023-24-season/information
This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en:
Francais (French)
