Works in Development

Shelter

Julie Salverson, librettist / Juliet Palmer, composer

Shelter is composed by Juliet Palmer with libretto by Julie Salverson. Inspired by Peter van Wyck’s research on Canada’s role in “The Highway of the Atom”, Shelter combines dark clown with opera in the story of a nuclear family adrift in the post-atomic age: a father obsessed with protecting his family, a mother hungry for danger and a daughter who glows.

The opera is haunted by the presence of nuclear physicist Lise Meitner, an overlooked figure in the history of nuclear fission. Travelling along the Highway is the Pilot, whose obsession finally leads him to enter the story and history itself.

“This is a personal story, about love, loss, unresolved grief, haunting—a story that carries the uncontainable event in a story that perhaps shatters itself in the telling.”
…Julie Salverson, librettist

Ruth

Michael Lewis MacLennan, librettist / Jeffrey Ryan, composer

In development with the Vancouver Cantata Singers

With a cast of 5 principals, chorus and chamber orchestra, Ruth takes the basic story from the smallest book in the Old Testament and applies the “moral” to contemporary Canadian society and our immigrant experiences: “For your people shall be my people.”

Netsuke

Jill Battson, librettist / Rose Bolton, composer

This team is currently writing the full-length opera version of this intriguing short story by Jill Battson. Tapestry originally commissioned and produced a scene as part of Opera to Go 2006 which proved Netsuke as a gripping drama about those things that opera shows best – lust and murder.

“Jessica, an American gallery owner becomes obsessed with collecting the tiny perfect carved objects “Netsuke” that traditionally were used as counterweights in the Obi or sash of the kimono. Her obsession leads her to an illicit affair with a married member of the Japanese mafia, with disastrous and ghoulish results.”
…Jill Battson, librettist

The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G.

Colleen Murphy, librettist / Aaron Gervais, composer

Tapestry commissioned and produced a scene of Oskana G. at Opera to Go 2006 and audience response was a compelling reason to engage the writing team to realize the full work.

“Oksana G. is a very large canvas, spanning three countries and many years in the lives of three protagonists. It is an original story of a young Ukrainian girl, Oksana, lured into the world of sex trafficking by Konstantin, a recruiter who unexpectedly falls in love with her. Oksana escapes his grip and finds her way to an Italian safe house run by Father Alessandro, a Canadian priest. Recovering from her ordeal, she finds herself drawn to the priest. Meanwhile, Konstantin waits for his chance to pounce. This dangerous “ménage à trois” can only end in tragedy. “
…Colleen Murphy, librettist