Missing / 2017
Missing has now closed its premiere run of six nights in Vancouver, and another six nights at Pacific Opera Victoria. It was an extraordinary success.
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| Download the program |
Missing tells a story everybody knows, about a woman no one remembers.
Set in Vancouver and along the Highway of Tears, this music drama is being created to give voice to the story of Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls, and to show that each and every one of these missing people is honored.
Our libretto is by the distinguished First Nations playwright Marie Clements. Our composer is Juno-award winner Brian Current. Missing is co-produced by City Opera Vancouver and Pacific Opera Victoria.
Missing premiered on 1 November 2017 during the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival, before an invited audience of families, friends and the DTES community of the missing.
This event was guided by an advisory group of four DTES-involved aboriginal women and elders. It was presented at the Russian Hall, and in the context of ceremony led by elders. Grief counselors were in attendance. Cedar brushing and smudging was available, and a medicine bag was presented to every family at opera's end.
Families Only Invitational Performance
1 November 2017 – 7:30pm, The Russian Hall, Vancouver
Co-produced by Vancouver Moving Theatre / The Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival
Public Performances
3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 November 2017 – The York Theatre, Vancouver
17, 19, 21, 23, and 25 November 2017 – The Baumann Centre for Opera, Victoria
A BC tour is being planned in 2018 along The Highway of Tears, from Prince Rupert to Prince George. A subsequent national tour is being examined.
Missing
Librettist: Marie Clements
Composer: Brian Current
Gitsxan Translations: Vincent Gogag
Gitxsan IPA Version: Michael David Schwan
IN VANCOUVER
| Creative team:
Producers: Janet Lea & Nora Kelly City Opera General Manager: |
Cast
Native Girl: Melody Courage |
IN VICTORIA
www.pov.bc.ca
Missing is made possible by an extraordinary creation grant of $127,000 from The Vancouver Foundation. We are profoundly grateful for their confidence, faith, and vision.
We are similarly grateful to the BC Arts Council for generous interim funding, to The Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation for a major investment in this new chamber opera, to Vancity Credit Union for another major award, to the City of Vancouver for special support toward the DTES Families-Only performance, to Accent Inns for ongoing provision of accommodation for out of town artists, to our friends at the Paul and Edwina Heller Memorial Fund for a major contribution to orchestra costs, to all of our personal, business, and institutional donors -- and to the Canada Council / New Chapter programme for a significant award in its co-production.