Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Margaret Atwood and Jake Heggie's SONGS FOR MURDERED SISTERS Will Embark on World Premiere Tour

Hopkins will join Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra, which co-commissioned the work with Houston Grand Opera, for performances across Ontario.

Margaret Atwood and Jake Heggie's SONGS FOR MURDERED SISTERS Will Embark on World Premiere Tour

Released during the pandemic as both a film and a Juno-nominated album, the set of eight songs was created in response to one of the worst cases of domestic violence in Canadian history. On the morning of September 22, 2015, in Renfrew County, Ontario, one man went on a killing spree, brutally murdering three ex-partners in their separate homes. One of these women was Nathalie Warmerdam, the sister of Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins.

In his grief, Hopkins resolved to use his voice to wake people up to the global epidemic of gender-based violence - and their part in it. His call to action was answered by two exceptional creators. Jake Heggie, hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "the world's most popular 21st-century opera and art song composer," agreed to write the music, and Margaret Atwood, the Booker Prize-winning author of more than 50 books of fiction and poetry, including The Handmaid's Tale, wrote the searing words.

Songs for Murdered Sisters will finally receive its long-awaited orchestral world premiere this February. Hopkins will join Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra, which co-commissioned the work with Houston Grand Opera, for performances across Ontario. Under the baton of Alexander Shelley, performances will take place at Southam Hall in Ottawa on February 9 and 10, 2023; at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on February 11, 2023; and at the Isabel Bader Centre in Kingston on February 14, 2023.

The Kingston performance will be live-streamed for free internationally via the Isabel Digital Concert Hall. The performance will then be available to watch through February 21, 2023.

An excerpt from the Songs for Murdered Sisters film, directed by James Niebuhr "I felt so numb after Nathalie's murder," says Hopkins. "But Margaret's words and Jake's music have created meaning, transforming my grief into a more peaceful and hopeful experience. I'm so grateful to be sharing this emotional pilgrimage with these communities in Ontario, close to where I grew up. I hope audiences are moved to look into their own hearts and recognize that we all have a role to play in ending gender-based violence."

Hopkins hopes that sharing this harrowing story through song will inspire others - particularly men - to own their responsibility to end violence against women. Through a #WhiteRibbonSisters social media campaign, Hopkins aims to motivate 10,000 men to take the White Ribbon Pledge, promising "never to commit, condone, or remain silent about all forms of gender-based violence." Take the pledge at whiteribbonsisters.com.

Tour Dates

OTTAWA
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Friday, February 10, 2023
8pm Eastern

Southam Hall • 1 Elgin Street • Ottawa, Ontario
Tickets $30-$115 • nac-cna.ca


TORONTO
Saturday, February 11, 2023
8pm Eastern

Roy Thomson Hall • 60 Simcoe Street • Toronto, Ontario
Tickets $34-$148 • www.tso.ca


KINGSTON
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
7:30pm Eastern

Isabel Bader Centre • 390 King Street West • Kingston, Ontario
Tickets $10-$64 • www.queensu.ca


LIVE-STREAM
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
7:30pm Eastern

Available for 7 days post-performance
Free • www.queensu.ca



Review: Kanata Theatres Production of HAVING RELATIONS Photo
A fluffy, lighthearted rom-com that moves at a good pace and is highly entertaining. Running through April 1st at the Ron Maslin Playhouse.

Review: DISNEYS ALADDIN at Ottawas National Arts Centre Photo
Broadway Across Canada has brought the touring production of Disney's Aladdin to Ottawa for the first time as part of its 2022-2023 season. Celebrating its ninth anniversary on Broadway, it was obvious that audiences have been waiting a long time for the musical to visit and there was a sense of excitement in the air. Predictably, the audience was a mixture of all ages since the animated film that inspired the musical was released over thirty years ago, back in 1992.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER ASKED Comes to MAI in April Photo
Based on discussions between composer Roger White and his grandmother, Marianna Clark (née Goldmann), about her experiences fleeing Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a refugee, the piece combines texts mined from diaries and letters that Marianna wrote in her late teens and early 20s with the recordings of her speaking in her 90s.

Interview: Senzel Ahmady of DISNEYS ALADDIN Photo
Performing as Jasmine at Ottawa's National Arts Centre from March 21st to 26th as part of Broadway Across Canada's 2022-2023 Season


More Hot Stories For You


BECAUSE YOU NEVER ASKED Comes to MAI in AprilBECAUSE YOU NEVER ASKED Comes to MAI in April
March 22, 2023

Based on discussions between composer Roger White and his grandmother, Marianna Clark (née Goldmann), about her experiences fleeing Nazi Germany and arriving in the UK as a refugee, the piece combines texts mined from diaries and letters that Marianna wrote in her late teens and early 20s with the recordings of her speaking in her 90s.

Banff Centre Announces New Exhibition At Walter Phillips GalleryBanff Centre Announces New Exhibition At Walter Phillips Gallery
March 17, 2023

Banff Centre has announced the opening of a new exhibition at Walter Phillips Gallery entitled Piña, Why is the Sky Blue? The exhibition will be on display until July 30th, and features video, virtual reality, 3D printing, and combines elements of science fiction storytelling with documentary content.

THE SUPINE COBBLER, THE WALTZ & More Set for The Great Canadian Theatre Company's 2023-24 SeasonTHE SUPINE COBBLER, THE WALTZ & More Set for The Great Canadian Theatre Company's 2023-24 Season
March 16, 2023

The Great Canadian Theatre Company has announced a full subscription season with 5 new mainstage productions. See how to purchase tickets!

Banff Centre Announces Collaboration With The National Arts CentreBanff Centre Announces Collaboration With The National Arts Centre
March 10, 2023

Banff Centre, in collaboration with the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, is excited to announce the 2023 Opera in the 21st Century multi-disciplinary program. The partnership will see the first module of the program taking place over two weeks at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, with the second module providing three weeks of programming at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

The Canadian Live Music Association to Present Safer Spaces Training Sessions in MarchThe Canadian Live Music Association to Present Safer Spaces Training Sessions in March
March 6, 2023

The Canadian Live Music Association will offer two critically important virtual training opportunities as part of its commitment to fostering a healthier, safer live music community in response to harassment in Canada’s live music industry: Bystander Intervention Training and Civility & Respect in the Workplace.