Margaret Atwood has been commissioned by City Opera Vancouver to pen a libretto for a new opera called Pauline. The opera is about the last week in the life of Canadian actress, poet, and writer Pauline Johnson (in the photo above), who passed away in March 1913 from breast cancer. The world premiere is slated to be in Vancouver, early 2010.
Chosen from over 30 contenders, composer Christos Hatzis writes the score, also his first opera. It is also the first time the City Opera Vancouver has ever commissioned a work, and the first opera for Atwood (although her 1985 novel, The Handmaid's Tale, was already made into an opera by the Danish Opera Society). First time for everyone! It’s like junior prom night afterhours! It's a chamber work, and is written with mezzo-soprano Judith Forst to sing the title role.
Margaret Atwood said of the work, “The opera weaves Pauline's conflict with her sister in and out of her interactions with the phantom of her lover, as cancer and morphine contribute to the mix. The main arias use Pauline's own words, from her poems."
Atwood we’re not worried about at all about -- more like the composer. Czech out his website, if you dare [aaarrgh! Sound files ahoy!] The COV PR statement says of Hatzis, “His most recent music is influenced by religious and/or spiritual themes and New Age ideas, and by the culture of the Inuit.” Oh noes. His personal statement from his website is, um, uhhh...this: "I feel strongly that with my music, I am trying to force a tiny opening in the clouds that will allow His Light to shine through.” Ha ha whut? Vancouver, I think we have a problem! That statement makes us do this --> :I
oooooooo!!!! TOPICAL HUMOR!! bwah?1 The Steamroller strikes again!