LOUIS RIEL TOSCA PROGRAM SPRING 2017 CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM GENERAL DIRECTOR 4 WHAT’S PLAYING: ALEXANDER NEEF LOUIS RIEL 12 HONOURING INDIGENEITY NEW EXPERIENCES, IN LOUIS RIEL NEW INITIATIVES 14 COMPOSER HARRY SOMERS This spring we celebrate the return ADOPTS A MODERN TONE IN of an iconic Canadian opera, Harry LOUIS RIEL Somers’ Louis Riel. 15 THE NISGA’A HISTORY OF THE “KUYAS” ARIA The fact that 50 years ago Somers and Moore made the bold decision 16 A CANADIANIZED RIEL: to focus their work on the struggles MAKING SPACE FOR MÉTIS of Riel and the Métis Nation against TO SPEAK Canada’s colonial government serves as a challenge for present and future WHAT’S PLAYING: TOSCA Great opera 18 understandings of our country. In Canada’s sesquicentennial year, these 24 A PASSION FOR PUCCINI: CONDUCTOR KERI-LYNN challenges remain at the forefront of WILSON our country’s conversations, particularly as part of the ongoing Truth and lives here. 28 GET TO KNOW ADRIANNE Reconciliation process. PIECZONKA With this new production of Louis 32 BACKSTAGE AND BEYOND Riel, we have taken the opportunity to expand our base of creative knowledge with not-for-profit arts groups, 34 BIOGRAPHIES: LOUIS RIEL and perspectives to include musical community partners, and social and performance practices that service organizations in Ontario BIOGRAPHIES: TOSCA 42 wouldn’t have been a part of the artistic to offer more than 1,000 people conversation in 1967. the opportunity to experience our EVERY NOTE COUNTS 45 mainstage programming free of 46 MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Building broader awareness of the charge. JEFFREY REMEDIOS art form and creating a welcoming atmosphere for all Canadians is critical Initiatives like these, and the 56 MANY THANKS TO OUR to encouraging more diverse voices, transformative effect that Louis SUPPORTERS experiences, and backgrounds to Riel is having on our company, participate in opera. are only part of a larger 62 PATRON INFORMATION commitment to opening up the AND POLICIES We have been exploring a variety of art form in order to ensure that grassroots initiatives that are creating we are producing opera not as an new points of access to the art form and unchangeable artifact, but from enabling those without the financial a dynamic perspective that is in means to attend opera regularly. This conversation with 21st-century season alone the COC teamed up Canada. GO SCENT FREE In consideration of patrons with allergies, please avoid WE WILL BRING THE TRANSFORMATIVE using perfumed beauty COC EXPERIENCE OF OPERA TO OUR LOCAL, NATIONAL products and fragrances. 365 AND GLOBAL AUDIENCE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. Proud sponsor of the Front Cover and left: A wall Program edited by Claudine Domingue, COC Program is published three times a Canadian Opera Company’s detail from the COC’s busy Director of Public Relations; Kristin year by the Canadian Opera Company. All Scene Shop, located in McKinnon, Publicist and Publications rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in Toronto, where sets are Co-ordinator; and, Gianna Wichelow, part without written consent is prohibited. 2016/2017 Season. built for our productions Senior Manager, Creative and Contents copyright Canadian Opera and co-producers all Publications. Layout by Gianna Wichelow. Company. Direct all advertising inquiries to around the world. All information is correct at time of [email protected]. printing. Photo credits are on page 61. CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2016/2017 3 16-2463 Canadian Opera Company Program Ad_Ev1.indd 1 2016-10-18 11:54 AM BY HARRY SOMERS Opera in three acts w Libretto by Mavor Moore with the collaboration of Jacques Languirand Louis Riel was commissioned by the Floyd S. Chalmers Foundation and first produced by the Canadian Opera Company in 1967. Louis Riel is produced by arrangement with The Talent House, 204A St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 2N5, [email protected]. First performance: O’Keefe Centre, Toronto, October 23, 1967 LOUIS RIEL Last performed by the COC in 1975 w April 20, 23, 26, 29, May 2, 5, 13, 2017 Sung in English, French, Michif and Cree with English, French, Michif and Cree SURTITLES™ NEW COC CO-PRODUCTION WITH THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM The Activist Louis Riel Colonel Garnet Wolseley Director Cole AlvisD Russell Braun Peter Barrett^ Peter HintonD Folksinger/Elzéar Dr. Schultz Marguerite Riel, Assistant Director Lagimodière/Clerk of the Andrew LoveD Louis Riel’s wife Estelle ShookD Court/Prison guard Simone Osborne^ Jani LauzonD Charles Mair Set Designer Thomas GlennD Gabriel Dumont Michael Gianfrancesco William McDougall/Judge Andrew Haji^ Doug MacNaughton^ O’Donaghue, a Fenian/ Costume Designer B.B. Osler, a prosecutor James Isbister Gillian GallowD British soldier/ Neil Craighead^ Clarence Frazer^ Hudson’s Bay scout/ Lighting Designer Father Moulin Bishop Taché Poundmaker Bonnie Beecher Keith KlassenD Alain Coulombe^ Billy MerastyD Choreographer Ambroise Lépine Sir John A. Macdonald Louis Schmidt/ Santee SmithD Charles Sy† James Westman^ Dr. François Roy Bruno Roy† Chorus Master Thomas Scott Donald Smith/Gen. Sir Sandra Horst^ Michael Colvin^ Frederick Middleton Wandering Spirit, Aaron Sheppard† War Chief of the Crees Stage Manager Joseph Delorme Everett MorrisonD Stephanie Marrs Bruno Cormier Sir George-Étienne Cartier/Father André F.X. Lemieux, Riel’s lawyer Michif Translator & Janvier Ritchot Jean-Philippe Dion MazerolleD Language Coach Jan Vaculik Fortier-Lazure^ Norman FleuryD Buffalo Dancer Elzéar Goulet Julie Riel, Justin Many FingersD Cree Translator & Michael Downie Louis Riel’s mother (Mii-sum-ma-nis-kim) Language Coach Allyson McHardy^ Billy MerastyD André Nault Vanya Abrahams Sara Riel, Louis Riel’s sister Conductor SURTITLES™ Producer Joanna BurtD Johannes Debus Gunta Dreifelds Baptiste Lépine Taras Chmil Original sound tapes remastered by Charles Gray Johannes Debus is generously underwritten by George & Kathy Dembroski Peter Hinton is generously sponsored by the Howard & Sarah D. Solomon Foundation in honour of Gerard Mortier Russell Braun’s performance is generously sponsored by Earlaine Collins Allyson McHardy’s performance is generously sponsored by J. Hans Kluge Andrew Haji’s performance is generously sponsored by Marjorie and Roy Linden Charles Sy’s performance is generously sponsored by Peter and Hélène Hunt Aaron Sheppard’s performance is generously sponsored by Margaret Harriett Cameron and the late Gary Smith Bruno Roy’s performance is generously sponsored by Catherine Fauquier Sandra Horst and the COC Chorus are generously underwritten by Tim and Frances Price D COC Debut † Current member of the COC Ensemble Studio ^ Graduate of COC Ensemble Studio Program information is correct at time of printing. All casting is subject to change. ACT I: 45 minutes INTERMISSION 25 minutes ACT II: 40 minutes INTERMISSION 25 minutes ACT III: 45 minutes Performance time is approximately three hours, including two intermissions. CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY 2016/2017 5 SYNOPSIS and Riel resigns as promised. Taché goes to assure Riel all The COC has joined with Canada’s National is well. ACT I Arts Centre to proudly present this new Scene i: At the U.S.-Canadian border, south of Fort Garry Scene vi: The courtyard, Fort Garry (now Winnipeg), 1869 Riel’s followers are mollified by the promised amnesty. McDougall and his retinue are stopped by a band of Smith reads a proclamation from Wolseley stating his 50th-anniversary production of Louis Riel. Métis. Thomas Scott, a violently fanatic Orangeman scout, mission is peaceful, but scouts report he plans to arrest attacks the Métis and is arrested. and hang Riel. Riel accuses Taché of betraying him to Ottawa, then, on Smith’s advice, decides to flee. Wolseley THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS UNDERWRITERS: Scene ii: Fort Garry, Red River Headquarters of the takes over the town. Hudson’s Bay Company The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation The Fort has been taken over by Riel’s provisional INTERMISSION Philip Deck & Kimberley Bozak government. Riel prays for divine guidance and frees Scott, Asper Foundation against the advice of Lépine and the other Métis. ACT III The Max Clarkson Family Foundation Scene i: Riel’s house in Sun River, Montana, 1880 Scene iii: The Prime Minister’s Office, Ottawa Riel, in exile, is a schoolteacher with a Métis wife and Macdonald, Cartier and Donald Smith receive Bishop infant son. When a deputation arrives from Saskatchewan, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM Taché. Macdonald assures Taché of an amnesty for his Riel agrees to return to Canada, an avowed revolutionist. Mark & Gail Appel Peter Levitt & Mai Why Philip Somerville people but also sends Smith west with promises to the Métis. Scene ii: The Prime Minister’s Office, Ottawa Margaret Harriett Cameron John D. McKellar Dr. John Stanley & The aging Macdonald again calls up Taché who agrees Catherine Fauquier Trina McQueen Dr. Helmut Reichenbächer to instruct his French Catholics in the west that “whoever Sally Holton Roger D. Moore The Stratton Trust Scene iv: The House of Julie Riel Michiel Horn & Cornelia Schuh Sue Mortimer Françoise Sutton Riel is completing the Manitoba constitution for Taché takes up arms will be refused the sacrament.” Macdonald Michael & Linda Hutcheon Dr. Shirley C. Neuman John Wright & Chung-Wai Chow to take back to Ottawa. Later, alone, Riel recalls the psalm assures Taché the police will be restricted to peacekeeping The Michael and Sonja Koerner Tim & Frances Price Joyce Young of David and envisions himself as David’s reincarnation, action. But he instructs General Middleton to mobilize the Charitable Foundation Dr. Joseph So called by God to lead his people. army to march on 24 hours’ notice. Scene iii: Church in Frog Lake, Saskatchewan, 1885 LOUIS RIEL HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS DONORS TO THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE FOUNDATION INTERMISSION Father André’s mass is interrupted by Wandering Spirit WHO BELIEVE IN INVESTING IN CANADIAN CREATORS, INCLUDING: ACT II who says his people are on the warpath.