Canadian Stage & Soundstreams Present JULIE, Now thru 11/29

Canadian Stage and Soundstreams are proud to present the North American premiere of internationally-acclaimed and multiple award-winning composer Philippe Boesmans's chamber opera Julie, a contemporary English-lyric adaptation of August Strindberg's classic 19th century drama Miss Julie. In Canadian Stage's first foray into operatic performance, Artistic and General Director Matthew Jocelyn directs a stellar all-Canadian cast (Lucia Cervoni, Clarence Frazer, Sharleen Joynt) under the musical direction of Leslie Dala. Presented with the support of the Théâtre d'Orléans (France), Julie runs for eight performances from November 17-29, 2015 at the Bluma Appel Theatre (in English with English supertitles).

"Belgium's Philippe Boesmans is widely considered to be one of the world's greatest living opera composers. Julie will be the North American première of any opera by this true master of the 21st century," says Matthew Jocelyn. "Julie is written for chamber orchestra, an ensemble of 18 soloists who both accompany and provoke the drama. Boesmans navigates the uncertain waters of this domestic tragedy with true virtuosity: 75 uninterrupted minutes of an expertly orchestrated three-person waltz, and its inevitable dead end."

"Soundstreams has a long and rich history of producing opera, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Canadian Stage on this extraordinary piece," says Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director of Soundstreams."Musically expressionist in the tradition of Alban Berg's Lulu, Boesmans strips away the thin veneer of civilization with a score that elicits the rawest of emotions through brilliant vocal and instrumental writing. We hope that this presentation opens the door long-term to the production of medium-scale Canadian and international operatic works on a scale never before seen in this country."

Depicting a flirtation that turns into an erotic danse macabre between its aristocratic title character and her father's valet, August Strindberg's Miss Julie was considered too scandalous to be produced when it was written in 1888-only to become a defining classic of modern drama. A tale of the narrowing realities of life and the human aspiration to break free of those constraints, the Swedish playwright's landmark tragedy of social and sexual transgression has since been performed around the world in a variety of adaptations and formats.

With a libretto by regular Boesmans collaborator Luc Bondy, as well as Marie-Louise Bischofberger, Julie premiered at Brussels' Théâtre de la Monnaie in 2005. Under Matthew Jocelyn's innovative direction, the production launched on a multi-city European at France's Théâtre d'Orléans, where it was hailed as "a living breathing masterpiece [...] fierce and seductive, refined and sombre all at once" by Le Soir (Paris).

Julie comes to the Bluma Appel Theatre in its premiere English-language translation sung by the all-Canadian cast of Lucia Cervoni, in her professional Canadian debut as Julie, baritone Clarence Frazer as Julie's forbidden lover Jean, and acclaimed soprano Sharleen Joynt as Jean's scorned fiancée Christine. Conducted by Vancouver-based, nationally acclaimed conductor Leslie Dala, this milestone production is Canadian Stage's first opera presentation and inaugural collaboration with Soundstreams. Specializing in contemporary music, Soundstreams' opera presentations have included R. Murray Schafer's Dora Award-winning The Children's Crusade (presented with the Luminato Festival) and Brian Current's JUNO Award-winning opera, Airline Icarus.

Leading up to and during the run of Julie, audiences will have opportunities to engage with director Matthew Jocelyn and other local opera influencers to learn more about the creative and critical process of contemporary opera. Soundstreams hosts "Salon 21: Understanding Opera," a panel of opera directors and glimpse into Julie technical rehearsal, at the Bluma Appel Theatre on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30pm. Canadian Stage invites the culturally curious to the first installment of its 15.16 INTERMISSION series on Friday, November 20th following the 8:30 pm performance: a moderated discussion with Matthew Jocelyn about his direction of this production prompting ideas of how to engage with theatre experiences from a critical perspective.

Julie will be on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre, St Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front St. E). Performances run Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Fridays and Sundays at 7 pm, with performances Tuesday, Nov 17 at 8 pm, Wednesday Nov 25 at 1 pm and Sunday, Nov 29 at 1 pm.The performance runs 75 minutes with no intermission. Tickets from $24 to $99 are available online, by phone at 416.368.3110, or in person at the Berkeley Street box office. For details visit www.canadianstage.com.

Don't Miss a Toronto News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...