“Ivany and Mokrzewski have created something exceptional, uniquely gripping, generously inclusive. A transformative production. Limitless. Heartening. Utterly extraordinary.” Opera Going Toronto

Montréalais composer Claude Vivier (1948–1983) lived a hard and fast life. Before he was found murdered in his hotel room in Paris at the age of 35, he had spent a career rejecting many traditional ideas of life, music and opera, which culminated in writing his only opera Kopernikus. Subtitled “a ritual opera for the dead”, this opera has gone on to become one of Canada’s most performed operas… outside of Canada.

The (prophetic) premise? A woman has died and she arrives to the afterlife scared, lost and looking for meaning.

Creative Team: Joel Ivany, Topher Mokrzewski, Jason Hand Lighting, Matjash Mrozewski, Leela Gilday, Oz Weaver, Lesley Abarquez Bradley, & Tina Fushell

Cast: Danielle MacMillan ~ Mezzo Soprano, Krisztina Szabó, Mezzo-Soprano, Jonelle Sills, Nathalie Paulin, Bruno Roy, Dion Mazerolle Baritone, Alain Coulombe, & Anisa Tejpar

Orchestra: Brenna Hardy-Kavanagh, Brad Cherwin, Marc J. Blouin, Peter Stoll, Michael Fedyshyn, Paul Tarussov, & Carly Gordon