World Premiere Of New Two-Act Opera CANOE Opens September 12 At Trinity St Paul's Centre

Unsettled Scores production, in collaboration with Native Earth Performing Arts, The Toronto Consort and Theatre Passe Muraille, will present Canoe, an all-new two-act opera that defies conventions and embraces invention from September 12-16, 2023 at Trinity St Paul's Centre in Toronto. This intercultural production showcases the rich talents of four Indigenous singers and an ensemble of five historical instruments including the violin, cello, recorder, lute, and harpsichord.

Composed by Unsettled Scores co-founders Spy Dénommé-Welch and Catherine Magowan, and set to a story/libretto by Spy Dénommé-Welch, Canoe is a captivating tale of two sisters from Northern Ontario, their ancestral tree, and an old, but familiar, visitor from the past. Through a minimalist aesthetic, this poignant work breaks free from Eurocentric operatic structures, creating an accessible and safe space for diverse audiences to experience the transformative power of Indigenous storytelling and opera.

“It is an acknowledgment of the resilience of the human spirit with the intention of serving as a type of healing work,” said Spy Dénommé-Welch. “Many years have been spent composing the score, adding layers of meaning through music, and design, with community and artist feedback throughout the process. It has allowed us to be nimble and responsive to all elements of creation.”

In the summer of 2018 Native Earth Performing Arts granted Unsettled Scores the opportunity to experiment through the month-long Mskomini Giizis Residency. The creative team explored ways of incorporating new and old technologies to support the story's overall arc. Canoe delivers an important message about human-to-human relationships, our relationships with the environment, ancestors and the spirit world. 

Unsettled Scores creates and produces musical and theatrical works that explore and reflect difficult Canadian and global histories, while being relevant to contemporary issues and subject matter. Unsettled Scores was co-founded in 2006 by Dr. Spy Dénommé-Welch (Indigenous Algonquin-Anishnaabe) and Catherine Magowan (Hungarian-Jewish), and together they have created and produced solo, chamber, orchestral and opera pieces,  as well as theatrical and multimedia work. www.unsettledscores.com

Native Earth Performing Arts is Canada's oldest professional Indigenous theatre company. Currently in its 37th year, Native Earth is dedicated to creating, developing and producing professional artistic expressions of the Indigenous experience in Canada. Through stage productions (theatre, dance and multi-disciplinary art), script development, apprenticeships and internships, Native Earth seeks to fulfill a community of artistic visions. www.nativeearth.ca

The Toronto Consort is Canada's leading ensemble specializing in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Early Baroque. Founded in 1972, The Toronto Consort was one of Canada's first professional period-music ensembles and currently features nine of Canada's leading early music specialists, including singers and instrumentalists. www.torontoconsort.org

Founded in 1968, Theatre Passe Muraille is Canada's original alternative theatre company, currently developing and producing new Canadian plays. TPM is striving to articulate a distinctly Canadian voice that reflects the complexity of our intercultural society. TPM believes there should be a more diverse representation of artists, audience members, and stories in our theatre. TPM aspires to be a leader locally, nationally and internationally in establishing, promoting and embracing collaborative and inclusive theatre practices. We do this so that we can support and ignite the voices of unique artists, communities and audiences. www.passemuraille.ca

 

 

Canoe

 

September 12-16, 2023 

September 12 and 13 at 8pm (Previews)
September 15 at 8pm (Opening Night)
September 16 at 2pm (Audio Description & Post show Q&A)
September 16 at 8pm

Trinity St. Paul's Centre
427 Bloor Street West in Toronto
Tickets: https://www.torontoconsort.org/canoe/

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