All Yesterday, by Tobin Stokes & Margaret Atwood

In 2014, as City Opera was preparing the world premiere of Margaret Atwood’s first opera, PAULINE, we were in public workshop at the DTES Carnegie Centre. Neighbour Steve Lytton observed, “You’ve given us reasons to pity Pauline Johnson. You haven’t given us a reason to love her.” Within 48 hours, Margaret and composer Tobin Stokes had created All Yesterday. It now ranks among the most beautiful arias in all Canadian opera. Here, it is given by tenor Adam Fisher, and pianist David Boothroyd. It stopped the show, every night.