Canadas centennial from composer harry somers with libretto by. The canadian opera companys production of louis riel by harry somers libretto by mavor moore with the collaboration of jackques languirand underscores this idea, presenting the. If you are interested in the history of louis riel, you may also be interested in the following events. Peter hintons direction gives the harry somers opera a cohesiveness, sense of purpose and a sensitivity to first nations people omitted from the. I must confess that i was prejudiced to like this dvd because the face of a very dear friend, a chorister, now deceased, was used for closeups several times in the church scene. Louis riel returns to canadian opera company barczablog. Opera is a form of musical and dramatic work in which singers convey the drama. Louis riel was created at torontos okeefe centre on september 23, 1967, as part of the canadian opera companys tribute to the centenary of canadian confederation. Regina neil weisensel hopes his new opera about louis riel will put spectators on the outside looking in, when the regina symphony orchestra presents its world premiere. For gillian gallow, costume designer of the canadian opera companys louis riel. As the saying approximately goes, one persons religious fanatic is another persons hero, and harry somers and mavor moores multilayered opera louis riel certainly.
Reclaiming riel with an eye to reconciliation the star. Lets begin this exploration, then, with the curious choice of louis riel as the protagonist of a canadian centenary grand opera. June 9, 2017 russell braun as louis riel in the canadian opera. I just watched a dvd, one of a series to commemorate the death in 1999 of composer harry somers. Mavor moores libretto aims at grandeur over drama, and the opera too.
The canadian opera company louis riel, live from the kennedy center, washington,d. The autobiographical comic book was wellworn long before the prose. As the saying approximately goes, one persons religious fanatic is another persons hero, and harry somers and mavor moores multilayered opera louis riel certainly does not offer itself, in its urtext, as a piece of simple pro riel propaganda. Louis riel operas flaws redeemed, mostly, by star russell. Opera information page composer page operaglass main page monday, 08dec2003 21. Also included are an interview with both the composer and his librettist and a plot synopsis narrated by moore. Somers wrote the music to a libretto by mayor moore and extensive sections in french devised by jacques languirand. Louis riel is an opera in three acts by the canadian composer harry somers. Louis riel wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
Although the opera has been criticized for its datedness. Don giovanni by metropolitan opera house grand opera libretto and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. New version of louis riel opera emphasizes indigenous. Somers added text that he wrote himself using cree grammar books.
The problem with the cocs and director peter hintons louis riel is that a surprisingly small story, in the. Editors corner june 2011 details written by the wholenote staff category. Before hadrian, look for louis riel now that the canadian opera company has announced, through selected outlets, that its 201819 season. Now, 50 years later, this classic gets a makeover to reflect awareness of indigenous issues. Louis riel music drama in three acts canadian music.
There have been many plays, songs, poems, books even comic books. Libretto by mavor moore with the collaboration of jacques languirand. Giller prizewinner joseph boydens recent book louis riel and. Louis riel was the first canadianwritten opera mounted by the canadian opera company in 1967. Ian cusson rocks a new lullaby for louis riel opera. Becoming louis riel has been a journey of understanding for russell braun. Sung in english, french, michif and cree with french and english surtitles. The piece, with music by harry somers and libretto by mavor moore and. Louis riel is regarded by some as a hero and visionary, by others as a madman and misguided religious zealot. Louis riel is an opera in three acts by the canadian composer harry somers this fulllength opera was written for the 1967 canadian centennial. Harry somers mostly atonal opera about the canadian metis rebellions leader louis riel makes for a gripping theatrical experience. In the published libretto, there is a french text that was never used, cusson said. Louis riel is one of the most important canadian operas ever written.
Grand visions flame out at louis riel opera the globe. Opera is part of the western classical music tradition. Working with writer actordirector mavor moore, who contributed the english, french and creek libretto, somers overcame a sharp deadline to complete louis riel, and this dvd presents cbcs televised staging of the work two years later. With a libretto by canadian playwright mavor moore in collaboration with jacques languirand and music by harry somers, louis riel was premiered in toronto by the canadian opera company for canadas centennial celebrations and performed soon after at montreals expo 67.
Louis riel operas flaws redeemed, mostly, by star russell braun. They took the recording from a cbc broadcast made in 1969 of. Louis riel is an opera in three acts composed by harry somers, with an english and french libretto opera text by mavor moore and jacques languirand. New louis riel opera has its world premiere saturday with. The canadian opera company louis riel harry somers. Its still weeks before the opening of the canadian opera companys revival of louis riel, the madeincanada opera created for. Louis riel an opera in three acts depicting riel s life and the red river and northwest rebellions. Louis riel is filled with dramatic irony directed at the problems of the canadian political and social arena, problems for which solutions have become no simpler with the passage of time. New version of louis riel opera emphasizes indigenous roles and. The canadian opera company presented it in toronto in 1967, 1968 and.
The assignment was to write a new aria for the canadian opera louis riel, replacing one that was part of the production created by the composer harry somers and the librettist mavor moore in. This opera tells the story of controversial metis leader louis riel and the saga of how western canada was won. For instance, the libretto is written in english and french, and also in cree. I must confess that i was prejudiced to like this dvd.
This article considers the many productive forms of theatrical, historical, and musical haunting in harry somerss 1967 opera louis riel. Canadas greatest achievement in music, louis riel, is returning to the canadian opera company stage in a new production to help mark the 150th anniversary of the countrys confederation. With a libretto by canadian playwright mavor moore in collaboration with jacques languirand and music by harry somers, louis riel was premiered in toronto by the canadian. Composed by harry somers, the libretto was written in both english and french. Working with writer actordirector mavor moore, who contributed the english, french and creek libretto, somers overcame a sharp deadline to complete louis riel, and this dvd presents.
The wisdom of wagners ring of the nibelung by roger scruton, the phantom of the opera by gaston leroux. Complete original language texts with english translations. Deciphering harry somers opera louis riel mymascena. In cocs louis riel, costume design brings new perspective. Louis riel manon lescaut salome the grand duchess of gerolstein the flying dutchman english national opera guides. Louis riel returns to canadian opera company with inclusive and expansive history restored a contentious and provocative celebratory work to honour. Canadian history comes to life on the stage of the four seasons centre for the performing arts this spring when harry somers louis riel returns to the canadian opera company.
It tells the story of the legendary metis political and cultural figure, louis riel. With a libretto by canadian playwright mavor moore in collaboration with. Haunting riel university of toronto quarterly utp journals. Somers set the music to an english and french libretto by mavor moore and jacques. For our purposes, i decided that an oratorio would be the best way to approach the story. Louis riel was the first canadianwritten opera mounted by the canadian. Giller prizewinner joseph boydens recent book louis riel and gabriel dumonthas just gone into. It concerns the controversial metis leader louis riel, who was executed in 1885, and is one of somers biggest pieces it is arguably the most famous canadian opera. Had riel fended off the forces of the canadian federation, his metis governance state would have probably. The canadian opera company gives harry somerss louis riel.
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