Creativity

COR

Operas

Content warning: sexual violence, incarceration, religious abuse, homophobia, conversion therapy

Through several vignettes, Forbidden examines the idea of rules and taboos. Do they protect people, or do they control them? Are they of any value, or do they simply exploit the powerless?

A young girl, punished with repetition of religious tex...

Composer: Afarin Mansouri

Librettist: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

Gould’s Wall

A young, extraordinarily talented musician is striving for perfection in her art. Her path to greatness? A magnificent wall.

Bursting with the compulsion to reach the top, she invokes Canadian icon, classical pianist Glenn Gould to guide her towards dizzying heights – but the path isn’t easy. Each brick represents her art, her rigour, and her...

Composer: Brian Current

Librettist: Liza Balkan

(What Rhymes With) Azimuth

A summer evening. A writer is experiencing a bit of writer’s block as she is sitting in an outdoor cafe in an historic area of town. She looks around for inspiration and happens to see a man looking at the stars with binoculars. Clouds block his view, and when he looks around he catches her glance and smiles. Is he really there? Or is he just in...

Composer: Ivan Barbotin

Librettist: Liza Balkan

COR

Excerpts

Gould’s Wall – Scene 1

Louise, a young talented artist, arrives and prepares for her first climb. She is seeking excellence, precision, and beauty. It is a quest toward attaining perfection in her art. Louise connects with her inspiration, support and icon: Glenn Gould. Their journey together begins.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 11

Louise is ready. She chooses a climb, exploring and unleashing her own full voice as she travels upward.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 10

The Girl calls out to Glenn. She asks him for help with a piece of music.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 9

Glenn is lost in a painful memory of The Mother in hospital.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 8

Louise and Glenn talk about their daily rituals. Re-energized, Louise wants to get back to climbing again. She starts muscling her way upward, urged on by thoughts of fame. Glenn's focus turns to his various medications and need for isolation. Glenn feels a sharp pain and struggles to support Louise. Both start to lose their grip, and Louis...

Gould’s Wall – Scene 7

Both Louise and Glenn are tired. They share stories about their nightmares.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 6

Glenn tells Louise that applause should be banned. The Housewife shares the profound impact of witnessing Glenn's performance.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 5

The Celebrity is hosting a party. He calls out to Glenn and persuades him to play the piano with him for his guests. The guests gossip about the past performances and bad reviews while simultaneously applauding the artist.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 4

The Mother appears at the window. She shares memories, loving praise and admonishments. The development of her child's talent and success has been her life's focus.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 3

With a sense of freedom, Louise discovers daring, new musical terrain with Glenn's encouragement.

Gould’s Wall – Scene 2

Louise encounters The Teacher at the window. The Teacher instructs on the development of rigorous, meticulous technique. Discussion of artistic philosophy is included in the training. Glenn recalls his own teacher.

TAP:EX Tables Turned – The Graduate – voice, percussion, and track

A short scene, sampling the wedding scene where Elaine screams for Ben.

TAP:EX Tables Turned – Schoolhouse Etude – voice, percussion, and track

A celebration of iconic Hitchcock film moments, sampling from The Birds.

TAP:EX Tables Turned – La Callas Fantasie – voice, percussion, and track

Using quintessential recordings of Maria Callas arias, an aspiring soprano engages with the full and intense presence of her idol. What begins as suffocation and frustration ends as confidence as the soprano gains a deeper understanding of her idol: she’s human. They both are.

TAP:EX Tables Turned – Hitchcock Etudes – voice, percussion, and track

A celebration of iconic Hitchcock film moments, sampling from The Man Who Knew Too Much, Psycho, and The Birds.

TAP:EX Tables Turned – Beyond the Sound – voice, percussion, and track

A deconstruction of moments in The Sound of Music.

TAP:EX Forbidden – Act 2, Scene 7: “Enlightenment”

The Child creates her own book from pages of other books. She hands out her new rules to the audience.

TAP:EX Forbidden – Act 2, Scene 6: “With His Serenity (Falun Dufa)”

A watcher looks over a group of faithful. His irritation turns to hatred as he accuses them of subversion. He claims to have proof hidden in some papers, but the Child has destroyed them. The Child proclaims “I know what to do,” and the tension between authority and people escalates. The Child begins taking pages and notes from all the surroundi...

(What Rhymes With) Azimuth – (What Rhymes with) Azimuth

A man and woman meet for the first time on a summer's evening.