Opera in Review: Giiwedin
Opera Canada, review by Paula Citron:
Category: Opera
Dora Theatre Award Nominees Named in Toronto
CBC News:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/dora-theatre-award-nominees-named-in-toronto-1.950756
“2010 Dora Award Nominees for New musical or opera: The Children’s Crusade; The Princess & the Handmaiden; RobinHood, The Environmental Family Musical; Giiwedin; Mimi.”
Toronto Music Calendar (April 22-May 2)
toronto.com, article by Norm Nelson:
https://www.toronto.com/community-story/50701-toronto-music-calendar-april-22-may-2-/
“Giiwedin is a new opera written in Anishnawbe Mowin, French and English. Penned by Algonquin playwright Spy Dénommé-Welch, it tells the story of a 150-year old Aboriginal woman fighting for her land. This tour-de-force combination of powerful lyrics and world-class composition is a testament to the promise of Aboriginal theatre.”
Giiwedin An opera written by PhD student Spy Dénommé-Welch and co-composer Catherine Magowan
York University Faculty of Education website:
http://edu.yorku.ca/2012/05/giiwedin/
http://edu.yorku.ca/2012/05/giiwedin/
Giiwedin, a First Nations opera
Christopher Moore’s History, article by Christopher Moore:
http://christophermoorehistory.blogspot.com/2010/04/giiwedin-first-nations-opera.html
“A terrific piece of theatre: Native Earth Theatre’s production of the opera Giiwedin, by Spy Dénommé-Welch and Catherine Magowan. A full scale opera about the struggle for aboriginal land…Fine operatic singing and presentation, brilliant music too.”
The Weekender: Ian McEwan comes to Toronto, Ballet Creole’s 20th anniversary and six other weekend events
Toronto Life, article by Stacy Lee Kong:
“One of only a few native-penned operas, this world premiere by composers Catherine Magowan and Spy Dénommé-Welch combines baroque music with traditional indigenous music to explore 150 years of native history in northern Ontario.”
Giiwedin: Not quite settled but native tale hits some strong notes
NOW Toronto, article by Jon Kaplan:
https://nowtoronto.com/stage/opera/giiwedin/
“It’s the style of the ambitious piece that’s especially striking. Composed by Catherine Magowan and Spy Dénommé-Welch, with a three-language libretto by the latter, Giiwedin (meaning North Wind) blends First Nations and baroque European music in an epic, sometimes surreal look at the choices facing both native residents and European settlers in northern Ontario.”
A new opera gets a bit lost in the woods
The Globe and Mail, article by Colin Eatock:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/a-new-opera-gets-a-bit-lost-in-the-woods/article4314275/
“They wrote the music for their opera together, jointly creating a score that was a mixture of many styles, from baroque to tango, with a few native touches, but conspicuously avoiding a dissonant “modern classical” sound. In a further departure from modernist convention, there’s a historical sensibility built into the opera’s structure, with a formal prelude and overture, and scenes neatly subdivided into arias and ensemble numbers. The result is an impressively sophisticated pastiche.”
Today in Toronto. Owen Pallett, Tokyo Quartet and more
Toronto Life, notable events listing for April 8, 2010:
https://torontolife.com/food/today-in-toronto-owen-pallett-tokyo-quartet-and-more/
“Giiwedin: Native Earth Performing Arts and Indie(n) Rights Reserve present the world premiere of the first native-penned opera to combine baroque music with traditional indigenous music, relating 150 years of Ontario history from a First Nations perspective.”
Giiwedin: Baroque and First Nations music bring Giiwedin’s tale to life
NOW Toronto, article by Jon Kaplan:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/stage/story.cfm?content=174428
“Dénommé-Welch and Magowan’s score blends First Nations music and baroque opera, a unique combo.”