“Want to experience something a little different from the typical operatic fare? Native Earth and An Indie(n)Rights Reserve are co-presenting Giiwedin, a First Nations opera…First Nations mezzo Marion Newman plays Noodin-Kwe, a 150 year old native woman fighting for her land…While the music …is baroque in style, the opera contains a myriad of musical genres from classical to jazz. It promises to be a very interesting evening.”
“GIIWEDIN by Spy Dénommé-Welch and Catherine Magowan(Native Earth Performing Arts/An Inde(n) Rights Reserve). This opera blends baroque and indigenous music and languages to look at Canadian history and cultural identity. “
“My first choice this week is the premiere ofGiiwedin, a First Nations opera by Spy Dénommé-Welch and Catherine Magowan. It tells the story of Noodin-Kwe, a 150 year old native woman fighting for her land.”
“But one smaller show that has especially caught our eye – and is featured on the front cover of the magazine this month – is Giiwedin (“North Wind”) by composer/librettist Spy Dénommé-Welch and composer Catherine Magowan…It looks like a unique operatic experience.”
“A world premiere from an exciting young company. Indie(n) Rights Reserve presents Giiwedin (“The North Wind”), in co-production with the Native Earth Performing Arts Centre. The opera, written in the Anishnaabemowin, French and English languages, tells the story of Noodin-Kwe and her struggle to protect her ancestral land in Northeastern Ontario.”
“Giiwedin is a First Nations story set in northern Ontario that features traditional First Nations, baroque and modern music. The production is written in the Anishnawbe Mowin, French and English languages, and tells the story of a 150-year old Aboriginal woman fighting for her land.”
“The next issue of The Music Scene hits news stands on March 26, 2010 and will have as feature story the making of a new opera, Giiwedin, a co-production of the Native Earth Performing Arts and An Indie(n) Rights Reserve, with a libretto by Algonquin playwright Spy Dénommé-Welch, who also co-composed it with Catherine Magowan. Giiwedin tells the story of Noodin-Kwe, a 150-year old Aboriginal woman, fighting for her land. This opera is unique in that it is the first time Canadian First Nations artists have chosen opera as a medium for their story-telling.”
“April begins with another world premiere, Giiwedin, by Catherine Magowan and Algonquin poet Spy Dénommé-Welch. This, the most ambitious project in the history of Native Earth Performing Arts, is written in Anishnawbe Mowin, French and English and tells the story of a 150-year old Aboriginal woman fighting for her land.”
“Toronto has become the kind of city where chamber opera can spring up in unexpected places. A glance ahead at this year’s new-opera performances provides ample proof… Native Earth Performing Arts’ 2009-10 playbill includes the opera Giiwedin written by Spy Dénommé-Welch (and composed with Catherine Magowan) in French, English and Anishnawbe.”
