Canadian Opera Firm/Opéra de Montréal; La reine-garçon. Julien Bilodeau (composer) & Michel Marc Bouchard (libretto); Kirsten MacKinnon as Christine; Philippe Sly as Karl Gustav; Wesley Harrison as Johan Oxenstierna. Angela Konrad, director, with the Canadian Opera Firm Orchestra & Johannes Debus, conductor. January 31, 2025 on the 4 Seasons Centre for the Arts, Toronto. Continues to February 15; tickets right here.
Set within the chilly atmosphere of mid-Seventeenth century Stockholm, it appears becoming that the Canadian Opera Firm presents its extremely anticipated co-commission and co-production with the Opéra de Montréal, La reine-garçon, throughout its winter schedule.
There’s a tendency on this nation to current new music throughout the winter months. (The Winnipeg New Music Pageant involves thoughts.) Why that is the case is a subject for dialogue for one more day. Nonetheless, I’m at all times excited to expertise new music, particularly new opera on a grand scale.
La reine-garçon has the story line and themes of what we’re accustomed to in grand opera. Based mostly on the fascinating historic determine Queen Christine of Sweden, the story delves into Christine’s inner conflicts and struggles. She confronts the prescribed expectations of her, however yearns for private freedom.
The Plot
These expectations are specified by the primary act. Rely Karl Gustav, her cousin and armed forces normal, proposes marriage. She rejects him, insisting that her main devotion lies in making her monarchy a mannequin of sophistication. She is courted by Rely Johan Oxenstierna, however she is secretly in love together with her lady-in-waiting, Countess Ebba Sparre.
Christine’s dowager mom, Marie-Eleonore de Brandebourg brutally and crassly declares that Christine’s responsibility is to bear heirs.
Within the second act, we see how Christine confronts these expectations. As a part of her enlightened monarchy, René Descartes performs an anatomy lesson. She rejects her Lutheran religion, and converts to Catholicism searching for private freedom. On this new discovered freedom, Christine proposes a life together with her love, Ebba, however is devastated when Ebba rejects this life. In the end, Christine abdicates as queen, and bestows the crown to Rely Gustav.
The Visuals
For probably the most half, the set is minimal. Giant background projections, usually of the wilderness similar to forest and tundra, have been very efficient with the naked set. It mirrored the emotional content material of the scene. A scrim was used to show snowfall and a stunning aurora borealis. The costumes have been principally darkish in tone, and heavy with fur. Textile designs and the sparse use of color complemented the visible affect.
Just a few parts did appear misplaced and distracting. The anatomy lesson, which visually alludes to Rembrandt’s “Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp”, appeared to be over emphasised. The dowager mom’s companion, “The Albino” appeared pointless.
The Rating
Julien Bilodeau makes use of the complete extent of the big orchestra. The opera refrain, usually offstage, is an extension of the sonic panorama that Bilodeau creates. The outstanding use of the woodwinds successfully evokes the wintery winds, and the brass sonority evokes an unlimited tundra panorama. The orchestral music borders on being over-the high and at instances seems like a melange of vignettes.
The musical component that appears to tie the entire opera collectively is the Swedish kulning — a herding name, remarkably sung by Anne-Marie Beaudette. It’s a recognizable component that comes again in moments all through the opera. Its uncooked and primal emotional energy is a metaphor for Christine’s interior battle for freedom.
The vocal music for the soloist forged, whereas sturdy in supply, might have benefited from extra emotional depth and musical growth. It appeared to me that Bilodeau focussed an excessive amount of on creating music that conjured the exterior world, relatively than music from inside the characters. Maybe, it was the textual content by librettist Michel Marc Bouchard, obligatory to inform the story, that dictated extra recitative like moments than fascinating musical strains.
The Performers and Memorable Moments
However the vocal music, this all-Canadian forged carried out remarkably with conviction and dedication. Kirsten MacKinnon as Christine introduced emotional complexity to her character, capturing each her sense of responsibility and her profound interior battle. Philippe Sly as Rely Gustav exuded a commanding presence, with a wealthy voice and dignified physicality. Owen McCausland portrayed Descartes with a nuanced sense of sophistication. Aline Kutan’s portrayal of de Brandebourg was each commanding and gripping, completely capturing the queen’s insanity, notably in her excessive tessitura passages. Queen Hezumuryango portrayed Ebba with grace and innocence.
Stepping in for Isaiah Bell on Sunday’s efficiency, understudy Wesley Harrison delivered a standout efficiency as Rely Johan. His comedic “clic-clac” recitative that pronounced his love for his legs supplied a pleasant second of levity in an in any other case emotionally intense opera. His dynamic bodily presence on stage was magnetic and vocally delivered along with his clear tenor voice.
The extraordinary performances, placing visuals, and thought-provoking themes come collectively to create a charming opera expertise. Braving the snow to see this new manufacturing might be effectively definitely worth the journey. The receptive and appreciative viewers on Sunday definitely thought so.
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Albert Wong is a author, composer and musician based mostly in Toronto. He’s lively within the choral group and sings with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Babεl. He additionally has a specific curiosity in gamelan music, and performs Balinese gendèr wayang with Seka Rat Nadi.