Canada's Operatic Landscape
Canada's Operatic Landscape
Vancouver Opera celebrates Canada Day with a look at some influential Canadian operas.
Through the powerful medium of opera, we are able to explore, honour, and reflect on these narratives. Today, we are proud to guide you through a few Canadian operas. These works not only represent our vast and intricate operatic tradition, but also serve as a testament to the resilience and diversity of the people that call Canada home.
From stories echoing the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous communities to tales reflecting our multicultural society, these operas hold up a mirror to our shared heritage and ongoing journey towards reconciliation and unity.
Louis Riel by Harry Somers
This important work was premiered by the Canadian Opera Company in 1967 and provides a nuanced exploration into the life of Métis leader Louis Riel, combining elements of modern opera, traditional indigenous music, and historical narrative. In 2019, following “a consultation process to redress the misuse of a Nisga’a song in Louis Riel” new music by Ian Cusson, of Métis and French-Canadian descent was added to the work. Find our more here
Filumena by John Estacio and John Murrell
First presented by Calgary Opera in 2003, "Filumena" tells the tragic tale of Filumena Lassandro, the last woman to be hanged in Alberta. The opera's stirring narrative and deeply emotional score ensure its place in Canadian opera history.
Beatrice Chancy by James Rolfe and George Elliott Clarke
Brought to life by The Queen of Puddings Music Theatre Company in 1998, "Beatrice Chancy" is a poignant confrontation of the legacy of slavery in Canada, set in late 18th-century Nova Scotia.
Missing by Brian Current and Marie Clements
Co-commissioned and co-produced by Pacific Opera Victoria and City Opera Vancouver, the opera, developed over two and a half years, had its world première in Vancouver and Victoria in November 2017. Set in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and along the Highway of Tears, Missing is a poetic expression of loss and hope.
Lillian Alling by John Estacio and John Murrell
Commissioned by Vancouver Opera in 2010, Lillian Alling captures a spirit of determination as follows the epic journey of Lillian Alling, a Russian immigrant who set out by foot to cross North America in the 1920s.
The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring by James Rolfe and Morris Panych
This inventive work was premiered by Vancouver Opera in 2018, adapting Nikolai Gogol’s short story "The Overcoat" into a unique theatre/opera hybrid.
Shanawdithit by Dean Burry and Yvette Nolan
Commissioned by Opera on the Avalon in partnership with Tapestry Opera, starring Marion Newman in the title role. Opening in May 2019 in Toronto before its St. John’s premiere, the work is centred on the life of Shanawdithit (1801-1829), the last recorded surviving member of the Beothuk Nation in Newfoundland.
Iron Road by Chan Ka Nin and Mark Brownell
First performed by Toronto's Tapestry Opera in 2001, "Iron Road" offers a narrative about Chinese workers building the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800s, enhanced by a unique East-meets-West score.
These operas mirror the spirit of Canada, embodying a harmonious fusion of cultures, resilience, and diversity. As we continue to champion Canadian operas, we do so in recognition and respect of all voices that contribute to the unfolding narrative of our nation's unique cultural history.