Writers
Maja Ardal
Hannah Moscovitch
Michael Pollard
Anusree Roy

Composers
Iman Habibi
Anna Höstman
Norbert Palej
Gareth Williams

Artist Pictured: Composer Gareth Williams in the 2009 International LibLab. Photo courtesy Marjorie Chan.

About the LibLab
For 15 years (!) Tapestry has been introducing writers and composers to the collaborative creation process with the annual LibLab, the beginning of the Tapestry Creative Development Programme and a launching point for operatic projects in Canada and beyond. It is also the model for the English National Opera Studio’s All In Opera, as well as Pacific Opera Victoria’s Composer-Librettist Workshop.

Here’s how it works: 4 composers and 4 writers are brought together for a 10-day period of collaborative discovery through the creation of sixteen 5-minute scenes, each of which are written, composed and performed within a 48 hour cycle that is repeated four times, enabling each writer to work with each composer. Guiding the composers and librettists throughout the process are dramaturg Michael P. Albano and musical dramaturg Wayne Strongman (Tapestry’s Managing Artistic Director). At the disposal of the creative teams for the 2010 LibLab will be some of Canada’s most respected performers, including soprano Carla Huhtanen, mezzo soprano Kimberly Barber, tenor Keith Klassen, baritone Peter McGillivray, as well collaborative pianist Christopher Foley.

Click on the image to check it out:

Dark Star Requiem

A world premiere from Tapestry & Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity featuring the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Gryphon Trio.

A devastating global pandemic. A full-scale dramatic oratorio. In this unusual marriage of content and form, poet Jill Battson and composer Andrew Staniland trace the twenty-five-year history of AIDS from its origins to the present day.

June 11 & 12, 2010 at 8pm at The Royal Conservatory,
TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall
TICKETS: $30-50
416-872-1111 / 1-866-577-4277 ticketmaster.ca
416-408-0208 Royal Conservatory of Music

Tapestry has just received its largest individual gift to date, $250,000 from an anonymous donor to fund the Leadership Legacy Programme. Over the next three years, 6 mid-career arts professionals will be given the opportunity for a 3-month residency at Tapestry as Associate Managing Artistic Director, a position which is intended to grow the company’s artistic capacity and to provide leadership succession for the future.

“My interest in human resource management is an extension of the deep and trusting relationships I have built with musicians and singers from an early age. By extension, that is how I try to manage my business relationships, beginning with the staff and board and by extension to my colleagues in other companies around the world. Further, the invention of a vocabulary to make the development of new operas practical and successful has been built over 20 years of relationships with playwrights and composers, directors, designers, and of course the performers.  It is truly a collegial world I inhabit.  We hope that through this programme we will identify a future leader who will welcome the rare opportunity to join a well-established organization where they will be enabled to realize both their artistic vision and the business practice that will make it possible.” Wayne Strongman

Read the full media release here.

Photo © Brian Mosoff, 2009

On December 30, 2009 Her Excellency The Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, appointed Wayne Strongman, Tapestry Managing Artistic Director, as a Member of the Order of Canada for his innovative contributions as the founding artistic director of Tapestry new opera works; as the long-time volunteer choral director for the Regent Park School of Music; and as a champion of Canadian composers.

“It is such an honour to be recognized by one’s country, especially in the arts. Those of us who are called to such creative activity don’t really do it for the praise! But for me it is especially warming to have the work of so many Canadian artists recognized: writers, composers, performers, designers, directors, stage directors and managers, administrators and an army of volunteers. They must all feel validated by this recognition that new Canadian operas are profoundly affecting our society, and this award is truly an affirmation of all our work.” Wayne Strongman

The new appointees include 25 Officers (O.C.), and 32 Members (C.M.). These appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. Mr. Strongman and his fellow appointees will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

Read the full press release from the Governor General’s office here.

Read Wayne’s full bio here.

There are a lot of anniversaries this year, including Tapestry’s 30th. Our friends a the Canadian Music Centre are proudly celebrating 50 years! To honour the milestone anniversary the CMC has partnered with the National Arts Centre and its orchestra for a special concert and birthday reception, November 9th at the NAC in Ottawa.

The birthday event will recognize 50 performers and conductors “who have played exceptional roles in shaping the Canadian music scene and raising the profile of Canadian music. The CMC is pleased to honour these individuals at this event”.

Tapestry Managing Artistic Director Wayne Strongman is one of them!

Click here to read more about the event.

Click here for a full list of the 50 honourees.

Click here for ticket info. on the November 9th event.

Happy Birthday to the CMC!

]]> http://www.tapestrynewopera.com/2009/10/28/wayne-strongman-to-be-recognized-at-cmc-50th-anniversary-event/feed/ 0 http://www.tapestrynewopera.com/2009/07/08/librettist-taylor-graham-on-her-tapestry-experience-dora-nomination-and-the-theatre-community/ http://www.tapestrynewopera.com/2009/07/08/librettist-taylor-graham-on-her-tapestry-experience-dora-nomination-and-the-theatre-community/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:07:15 +0000 Anna http://tapestrynewopera.com/blog/?p=249

Taylor Graham, librettist for The Virgin Charlie (part of Opera to Go 2009), has blogged about her experience working with Tapestry and the effect of her Dora Award Nomination on her life and career.

Click here to read her candid thoughts on the Tapestry creative process, the awards ceremony, and her career in the theatre/opera community.

Artists Featured: Scott Belluz & Krisztina Szabo in “The Virgin Charlie” (Opera to Go 2009)
Photo © Michael Cooper, 2009

Congratulations to librettist Marjorie Chan & composer Abigail Richardson and everyone at Tapestry, Theatre Direct and Luminato who worked on Sanctuary Song, winner of Best New Opera/Musical at the 2009 Dora Mavor Moore Awards!

Artists Featured: Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song
Photo © John Lauener, 2008

Great news yesterday: Tapestry productions have received 6 Dora Award Nominations. Winners will be named at an awards ceremony June 29, 2009 at the Wintergarden Theatre in Toronto. Congratulations to all the nominees!

In the Best New Opera/Musical Category:

Sanctuary Song
Abigail Richardson, composer / Marjorie Chan, librettist

Opera to Go: The Perfect Screw
Alexis Diamond, librettist / Abigail Richardson, composer

Opera to Go: The Virgin Charlie
Taylor Graham, librettist / William Rowson, composer

Opera to Go: My Mother’s Ring
Marcia Johnson, librettist / Stephen Andrew Taylor, composer

In the Best Direction for an Opera/Musical Category:

Wayne Strongman (for Opera to Go)

In the Best Opera Production Category:

Sanctuary Song
Presented by Tapestry & Theatre Direct in partnership with Luminato

Each opera nominated is eligible for the Dora’s Audience Choice Award. You can vote for your favourite at www.nowtoronto.com

Artists Featured: Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song
Photo © John Lauener, 2008

Tom Diamond, Resident Director at Tapestry and director of the  The Shadow took the Toronto Star’s Rita Zekas to St. Lawrence Market in Toronto during his weekly shopping ritual to chat about his career and Tapestry’s upcoming world premiere.

From the Toronto Star:

It’s 4 p.m. on Saturday, one hour before closing time at St. Lawrence Market, and Tom Diamond, director of The Shadow, is a man on a mission.

He’s here for the deep discounts.

Click here to read the full article.

The Shadow premieres May 21-30, 2009 at the Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

Tickets
$20-$49

Box Office
416.368.3110
canstage.com
totix.ca

Photo: Tom Diamond (c) Meghan Hall, 2009

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Opera to Go this year! Check out some production shots below.

 

Tickets are on sale now for our next world premiere The Shadow by Alex Poch-Goldin & Omar Daniel – May 21-30 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

ARTISTS PICTURED: Scott Belluz, Sally Dibblee, Keith Klassen, Peter McGillivray, Krisztina Szabó

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Cooper, 2009