Triptyque – Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes – October 10, 2021

The Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) and Musique 3 Femmes (M3F) present

Triptyque — Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes

A spotlight on women creators in opera!

Three Canadian composers and three librettists, winners of the Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes in 2020 will present their creations for the first time. “Musique 3 Femmes seeks to bring stories written by women to the operatic stage,” says M3F artistic director Jennifer Szeto. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with the SMCQ to bring three unique and powerful creations to life.”

Contemporary opera through a feminist lens

Rachel Krehm, Jennifer Szeto, Kristin Hoff
Photo: Kevin Calixte

These three operas feature themes which are highly relevant to today, with female characters created by women – a departure from the tropes prescribed for women in the traditional operatic repertoire.

In Justine et les machines, by composer Sonia Paço-Rocchia and librettist Marie-Ève Bouchard (aka MEB), a writer struggles with her writer’s block and invokes her favourite 19th century composer Augusta Holmes via an old typewriter. A pocket opera brought to life with the rhythm of hashtags and live electronics.

In this premiere of Vanishing Point by Parisa Sabet (libretto by Nika Khanjani), Iranian melodies interweave this universal story of a mother and daughter, whose relationship is transformed by the radical love that emerges as the mother begins to lose her grasp of the present.

The dark comedy Plaything by Anna Pidgorna (libretto by Maria Reva), is a societal fable based on the Julian Assange affair. Trapped in an embassy, a beleaguered hacker receives a surprising animal visitor, who begins to take the internet by storm. A humorous and dark power struggle ensues…

A feminine touch for this creation process

“These operas were developed during the pandemic, and each story in one way or another speaks to this extraordinary and challenging moment in time,” explains Kristin Hoff, mezzo-soprano of Musique 3 Femmes. This vocal evening features three richly creative stories, and there will be something new and delightful to discover for anyone!

Performers
SMCQ Ensemble
Kristin Hoff, mezzo-soprano
Frédéricka Petit-Homme, soprano
J Marchand Knight, vocalist
Rachel Krehm, soprano
Ellen Wieser, soprano
Jennifer Szeto, conductor

Program
Justine et les machines by Sonia Paço-Rocchia and MEB (2021, excerpt)
Vanishing Point by Parisa Sabet and Nika Khanjani  (2021, full premiere)
Plaything by Anna Pidgorna and Maria Reva (2021, excerpt)

French and English subtitles

Live Concert – Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 7:30 pm at Bourgie Hall
and
Free webcast – Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 7:30 pm

For tickets to either the live concert at Bourgie Hall or the free webcast, visit: www.mbam.qc.ca