Evening Program - La Traviata

VERDI

Opera in 3 acts

Premiere: 1853, Italy

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi

Language: in Italian with English and French surtitles

Duration: 2:48 (including 2 intermissions)

Violetta Valéry TALISE TREVIGNE

Alfredo Germont ANTOINE BÉLANGER

Giorgio Germont JAMES WESTMAN

Flora Bervoix ILANNA STARR

Marquis d’Obigny GEOFFREY SCHELLENBERG

Gastone ANGELO MORETTI

Baron Douphol MIKELIS ROGERS

Doctor Grenvil JEAN-PHILIPPE MC CLISH

Annina CHELSEA KOLIĆ

Giuseppe JAIME SANDOVAL

Commissionario EMANUEL LEBEL

Conductor JORDAN DE SOUZA

Stage Director ALAIN GAUTHIER

Assistant conductor CHRISTOPHER GAUDREAULT *

*(Conductor on May 14th)

Scenery & Costumes Designer CHRISTINA PODDUBIUK

Lighting Designer KEVIN LAMOTTE

Choreographer NOËLLE-ÉMILIE DESBIENS

Chorus Master CLAUDE WEBSTER

Pianist Coach CAROL-ANNE FRASER

Rehearsal Pianists JEROME DE LOS SANTOS & REBECCA KLASSEN-WIEBE

This production of La Traviata is a co-production of Manitoba Opera, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera and Opéra de Montréal.

May 4, 7, 9 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and May 12 at 2 p.m. SALLE WILFRID-PELLETIER, PLACE DES ARTS

Opéra de Montréal warmly thanks Dr. François Loubert for his generous sponsorship of this production.

Public partners

Orchestre Métropolitain

Opéra de Montréal Chorus

Experience the magic of the Opera

BMO is excited to present magical moments of the Montreal Opera. Prepare to be enchanted by captivating stories and incredible vocal performances.

Thank you for our time together!

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This upcoming season, we showcase Rossini's comedic gem, The Barber of Seville, offering a satirical take on power dynamics and innocence; Thomas's reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet, exploring the consequences of family dysfunction; Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilèges including Le Phare by Laurence Jobidon and Maria Reva, echoing themes of friendship, empathy, and dignity; and Puccini's La Bohème, a heartfelt exploration of life's fragility when dreams are shattered.

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Enjoy your evening at the opera!

Patrick Corrigan

F

ROM COAST TO COAST

The story of La Dame aux camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), so often celebrated in literature, opera, and film, has through the centuries inspired artistic offerings that attest to the timelessness of its subject matter: the role of diversity in a society that teeters between fascination and contempt for what may seem marginal.

In this new production of Verdi’s work, Violetta is a celebrated cabaret artist whose charm and unattainability have captivated Parisian high society. She surrenders to love after meeting Alfredo Germont, one of her many admirers, renouncing for him a life of indulgence and luxury. Bourgeois social mores end up prohibiting their relationship, and it is only in her death throes that we truly recognize Violetta’s self-sacrifice.

The production’s staging by Alain Gauthier transposes the plot to the “roaring twenties,” to interwar Paris, a lively artistic hub frequented by Cocteau, Hemingway and Picasso, a time when, on the Rive-Gauche, one could encounter the likes of Sydney Bechet and Joséphine Baker, and a slew of artists of the “lost generation,” all of them at odds with bourgeois conformity.

Just like Alfredo, let us be beguiled by this voluptuary artist who has so fluently coursed through the ages, and by this rendition by Alain Gauthier, whose staging in connection with this Canada-wide co-production is applauded from coast to coast.

Enjoy the show!

Michel Beaulac

SYNOPSIS

Act I

In Paris, guests are celebrating with their hostess, Violetta Valéry, who has recently recovered from illness. That evening, she is introduced to Alfredo Germont, who has been enamoured with her for over a year. The guests ask Alfredo to raise a toast: he assents, and salutes genuine love, to which Violetta responds by praising free love. Suddenly taking ill, Violetta asks to be left alone. The guests begin to exit, but Alfredo stays behind and declares his love to her. Violetta answers that she has no place in her life for such affections. Nevertheless, she gives him a camellia, inviting him to return once it has wilted. Understanding that he will see her again the very next day, Alfredo departs, elated. Now alone, Violetta realizes she is torn between her thirst for freedom and her yearning to be the object of heartfelt love. Intermission (20 min.)

Act II, scene 1

Violetta and Alfredo have opted for a life in the countryside, removed from high Parisian society. The two lovers enjoy very happy times together, until all at once Alfredo discovers that Violetta is selling her belongings to finance their standard of living. He resolves to leave for Paris to settle his mistress’ debts. In the meantime, Violetta receives an unexpected visit from Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, who accuses her of leading his son astray and bringing disgrace to his family. He appeals to her compassion and tries to persuade her that her love for Alfredo has no future. Violetta’s resistance is worn down, and she agrees in the end to leave Alfredo. Devastated, she writes him a heartwrenching breakup letter. On his return from Paris, Alfredo reads Violetta’s letter in disbelief. His father tries to console him, extolling the merits of a more settled life. Alfredo will have none of it and departs the scene to go find Violetta in Paris.

SYNOPSIS

Act II, scene 2

At a ball hosted by Flora, the news of Violetta and Alfredo’s separation has spread. The party is in full swing when Alfredo arrives, looking for Violetta. She appears suddenly, on the arm of the Baron Douphol. Furious, Alfredo challenges the Baron at the gambling table and wins, proclaiming that one can be happy at betting whilst being unhappy in love. Alfredo then confronts Violetta, aggressively tossing his winnings at her, declaring that he owes her nothing further. Giorgio Germont, who has witnessed the scene, reproaches his son for such deplorable behaviour, while the Baron challenges his rival to a duel.

Intermission (15 min.)

Act III

Violetta lives alone and in poor health. Despite Dr. Grenvil’s wellmeaning lies, she knows her end is near. Distraught, she rereads a letter from Giorgio Germont confiding that he has disclosed her sacrifice to Alfredo. Compelled to flee after injuring the Baron Douphol in the duel, he is now on his way to meet her. Violetta fears he will arrive too late. Joyful carnival singing is heard from outside. Alfredo arrives, promising Violetta a better life that will restore her to health. A repentant Giorgio Germont then arrives and embraces Violetta as his own daughter. This reunion fills Violetta with an ultimate sense of exhilaration. All sorrow and suffering seem to have left her—it is but one final illusion, before death comes to claim her.

Complice de l’Opéra de Montréal

Giuseppe Verdi

(October 10, 1813 - January 27, 1901)

Born into a family of modest means—though perhaps not as modest as he liked to claim—Verdi began his musical education with the village organist, went on to study with the nearby town of Busseto’s maestro di musica, and from there completed his studies in Milan—the Italian cultural hub of his time—with Lavigna, La Scala’s répétiteur. Lavigna taught him counterpoint and composition, encouraging him to attend performances of opera. The contacts he had developed in Milan enabled the performance, a few years later, of his first opera Oberto (1839). Its success was such that he was offered a contract to write three more operas, among them Nabucco (1842), whose La Scala performance was triumphantly received. The work’s patriotic inspiration—Italy was then in the midst of a resurgence movement to define the Italian nationality (Risorgimento)—greatly contributed to his popularity and his enshrinement as champion of the Italian Renaissance. Following this were what Verdi himself called the “galley years,” during which he composed operas at the rate of one every nine months on average, a period that culminated in his “popular trilogy,” comprised of his great masterpieces Rigoletto (1851), Il Trovatore (1853), and La Traviata (1853). Establishing him as the foremost opera composer in all of Italy, these works demonstrate a stylistic maturity; they very often feature virtuous and daring heroines, destined to misfortune by the social power structure. A few years after settling in Paris, he tried his hand at grand opera, a fashionable genre in the French capital, writing Les Vêpres siciliennes (1855). He went on to write six more operas, including Aida, which premiered in 1871. After a six-year hiatus, in 1887 he returned to opera with his late masterpieces Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893). During his lifetime and posthumously, Verdi’s notoriety in the sphere of opera was and remains unparalleled.

VIOLETTA VALÉRY

Talise Trevigne

Recent highlights for American soprano Talise Trevigne include the role of Violetta La Traviata in highly acclaimed performances at Calgary Opera; she sang Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under the baton of Leonard Slatkin with Rhode Island Philharmonic and joined Cincinnati Opera for Mimi La Boheme and the role of Patience in their world premiere, Castor and Patience, voted by the New York Times Best Opera of 2022. With Nathalie Stutzmann in her inaugural performances as Music Director at Atlanta Symphony Orchestra she sang Ah! Perfido and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Current season engagements include a European tour with Munich Philharmonic in repertoire featuring Mahler’s Second Symphony with Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, and her debut as Countess Le Nozze di Figaro in her return to Calgary Opera. Last OdM appearance: JFK (2018)

Talise Trevigne’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Infilise Foundation, in memory of Anne-Marie Fortin.

ALFREDO GERMONT

Antoine Bélanger

Antoine Bélanger is one of Canada’s most prominent tenors. He has performed an impressive number of roles across Canada with the Opéra de Montréal, Opéra de Québec, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera and with companies in Europe and the United States. His diverse operatic repertoire includes Faust, Werther, Don Jose (Carmen), Alfredo (La Traviata), Rodolfo (La Bohème), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) and Romeo (Romeo and Juliet). Recently he performed the role of Znorko in the world premiere of Enigma with the Opera de Metz in 2022 and with the Opéra de Montréal in april 2024. Antoine appears regularly as a guest soloist in concert and oratorio performances with ensembles and orchestras which include the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Orchestre symphonies de Montréal, Orchestre symphonies de Trois-Rivières, Festival Classica, Orchestre classique de Montréal and La Grande Écurie et La Chambre du Roy in Tourcoing, France. His repertoire includes Verdi’s Requiem, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Dubois’ Sept Paroles du Christ, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem, Gilles Vigneault’s La Grande Messe, and Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives. Last OdM appearance: Enigma (2024)

Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

Antoine Bélanger’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Mr. Hugo Valencia.

GIORGIO GERMONT

James Westman

Whether performing song, concert, or opera throughout the world, baritone James Westman’s passion and musicianship bring an extra dimension to his performances. Recent engagements include Marcello in La Bohème for Utah Opera, Germont in La Traviata for Edmonton Opera and Pacific Opera Victoria, Britten’s War Requiem for the Colorado Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Elijah for the Calgary Philharmonic, Carmina Burana for Chicago’s Grant Park Festival, the title role in Nabucco for Opéra de Québec, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for the Vancouver Symphony, and Tippett’s Child of our Time for Chorus Niagara. His 2022-23 season included Carmina Burana for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and Elijah with the Grand Philharmonic Choir. In 2021-22, James joined Opera San Antonio for the title role in Rigoletto, Manitoba Opera for a concert of operatic favourites, and the Victoria Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Last OdM appearance: Rigoletto (2018) James Westman's participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of la Fondation Stéfane Foumy.

Ilanna Starr

MEZZO-SOPRANO UNITED-STATES/CANADA

Praised for her “lovely mezzo voice” (Berkshire Fine Arts) and “dramatically incisive” stage presence (Parterre Box), Canadian-American Ilanna Starr is currently an artist-in-residence with the Atelier lyrique at l’Opéra de Montréal and makes her mainstage debut with the company in this production. Highlights from her 2023-2024 season include Nerone in L’incoronazione di Poppea with the Orchestre de l’Agora, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, as well as her upcoming portrayal of Mercédès in Carmen with l’Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières. Ilanna was a 2023 Wirth Vocal Prize finalist, the 2023 winner of the top prize of Talent Lyrique Québécois through Théâtre Lyrichorégra, and in 2024 became a two-time award winner at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Last OdM appearance: The Coronation of Poppea (2023) Member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

Ilanna Starr’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Elizabeth Wirth.

FLORA BERVOIX

MARQUIS D’OBIGNY

Geoffrey Schellenberg

BARITONE

CANADA/UNITED STATES

Canadian-American baritone Geoffrey Schellenberg has recently been featured in a number of North American opera productions, including those with Vancouver Opera, Portland Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, as well as Opéra de Montréal in last season’s performances of Ainadamar and Madama Butterfly. He has been recognized for his performances of Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), and Papageno (Die Zauberflöte). Geoffrey has sung as a soloist with several orchestras, most recently performing Carmen with Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes and Des Knaben Wunderhorn with both l’Orchestre de l’Agora in Montréal and the Mississippi Valley Orchestra in Saint Paul. He has also performed as a soloist in several oratorios, including A Sea Symphony and Faure’s Requiem with the Vancouver Bach Choir, Duruflé’s Requiem with the Saint Philips Choir, and Handel’s Messiah with the Toledo Symphony. He is a graduate of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier lyrique program. Last OdM appearance: Madama Butterfly (2023) Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

GASTONE

Angelo Moretti

TENOR CANADA/ITALY

Canadian-Italian tenor Angelo Moretti made his professional debut in 2022 with the Opéra de Montréal as Ruiz in Verdi’s Il Trovatore and as the Teapot in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the Atelier lyrique in collaboration with Orchestre de l’Agora. Other notable performances by Moretti include the role of Count Almaviva in the University of Toronto Opera’s first ever production of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, as well as that of Martin in their production of Aaron Copland’s The Tenderland. He also joined the cast of Dean Burry’s The Bells of Baddeck and sang as Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia during the summer of 2022. In 2023-24, Moretti joins the mainstage casts of the Opéra de Montreal’s Le Nozze di Figaro as Don Basilio and Don Curzio, and La Traviata as Gastone, and will sing Nemorino for the Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville and Remendado in Carmen with the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières. Last OdM appearance: The Coronation of Poppea (2023)

Member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

Angelo Moretti’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Joan Vogelesang and Fred Heese† .

BARON DOUPHOL

Mikelis Rogers

Latvian-Canadian baritone Mikelis Rogers is an artist-in-residence with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. Role debuts in the 2023-24 season include Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore with the Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, Baron Douphol in La Traviata with Opéra de Montreal, the Console in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, and Dancaïro in Carmen with the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières. Winner of the Stingray Rising Star Award at the 2021 Gala Talent, Rogers completed his undergraduate studies in Voice Performance under Jean MacPhail at the University of Toronto. Last OdM appearance: The Coronation of Poppea (2023)

Member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

Mikelis Rogers’ participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of MarieHélène Fox.

DOCTOR GRENVIL

Jean-Philippe Mc Clish

BASS-BARITONE CANADA

A native of Quebec City, bass Jean-Philippe McClish is acclaimed for his “beautiful, warm, round, deep, powerful, and impressive voice” (LudwigVan). It has led him to perform with various renowned companies, including the Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn, the Winterthur Opera, the Opéra de Montréal, the Edmonton Opera, the Regensburg Opera, the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Summer Music Festival, the Verbier Festival, and others. During the 2022–2023 season, he was heard singing the roles of Frère Laurent (Roméo et Juliette), Orbazzano (Tancredi), and Die Mutter (The Seven Deadly Sins). This season has seen Jean-Philippe perform in the roles of Zuniga (Carmen), Nourabad (Les pêcheurs de perles) and Dottore Grenvil (La Traviata), in addition to several recitals. Jean-Philippe’s forthcoming engagements include a concert series performed in Dijon and in Lyon, as well as a concert tour with the Hungarian National Orchestra. He will be back in Montreal in 2024–2025 to sing the role of Colline in Puccini’s La Bohème. Last OdM appearance: The Magic Flute (2022)

Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

ANNINA Chelsea KoliĆ

Hailed for her “silver-voice”, Croatian-Canadian soprano Chelsea Kolić is establishing herself as one of the most exciting young artists of her generation. Previously based in Germany, Kolić has appeared in a range of solo roles with Theater Krefeld und Mönchengladbach, including Frasquita (Carmen), First Lady (The Magic Flute) First Wood Sprite (Rusalka), and as a soloist in The Plague. She made her UK debut in 2022 with the Hampstead Garden Opera, in the title role of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. In 2022, Kolić was an academy artist in Sweden’s Confidencen Opera & Music Festival and soprano soloist in Handel’s Brockes Passion with the Crescendo Chor Krefeld. An avid performer of lieder and contemporary works, Kolić is a graduate of Salzburg’s Mozarteum University (Master of Music in Opera, Lied, and Oratorio), and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Last OdM appearance: The Coronation of Poppea (2023)

Member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

Chelsea Kolić’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Sue and Soren Wehner.

GIUSEPPE

Jaime Sandoval

TENOR

MEXICO/ CANADA

The operatic repertoire of Mexican Canadian tenor Jaime Sandoval includes more than 25 principal roles. With Opéra de Montréal, Mr. Sandoval has collaborated in the roles of Monostatos (cover) in The Magic Flute, Göring and Lohse (creation workshops for La Beauté du Monde), a Messenger in Il Trovatore, Prisoner 1 in Fidelio, Johan Oxenstierna (creation workshop of La Reine Garçon), and the Bullfighter in Ainadamar. Mr. Sandoval will next appear as Cavaradossi this summer with Mexico City Metropolitan Orchestra. In parallel to his lyric trajectory, Mr. Sandoval holds a Ph.D. in Photonics Physics from Mexico's National Optical Research Center. Last OdM appearance: Ainadamar (2023)

COMMISSIONARIO

Emanuel Lebel

BARITONE PERU/CANADA

Peru-born baritone Emanuel Lebel is a versatile singer and performer in many professional ensembles, such as Les Violons du Roy, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Opéra de Montréal, Ensemble Art Choral, Les Rugissants. As an opera soloist, Emanuel played many characters, such as Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Geusselin in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night with Opéra de Montréal, Der Vater in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, among others. Emanuel also sang in the Quebec City Opera festival in Le Jeu de Robin et Marion a Middle Age opera with Anonymus Ensemble. Emanuel was part of Jeunesses Musicales Canada opera tour in october and november 2023, singing the role of Sulpice in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. Emanuel was a singer in the Opera Lyra Ottawa's Opera Studio. The baritone was also in the Opera as Theatre program of the Banff Centre, he played the parts of Karl and Sam in Canadian John Estacio's opera Lillian Alling. Last OdM appearance: Silent Night (2015)

CONDUCTOR

Jordan de Souza

Toronto born Jordan de Souza studied conducting at McGill University, Montreal, joined the faculty on graduation, and was also Conductor in Residence of Tapestry Opera in Toronto, conducting three world premieres. Moving to the Komische Oper Berlin for four years, he collaborated with renowned director Barrie Kosky on four critically acclaimed new productions: Pelléas et Mélisande, La Bohème, Weinberger’s Frühlingsstürme and Candide. Other past highlights include Tristan und Isolde for Seattle Opera; Wagner Der fliegende Holländer at Nationaltheater Mannheim and Der Rosenkavalier at Garsington Opera. This season he returns to Canadian Opera for La Bohème, debuts with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera, conducting the world premiere of The Righteous by Gregory Spears. Further ahead, he returns to Chicago Lyric Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin and the 2026 Glyndebourne Festival. Jordan de Souza has been appointed General Music Director of Theater Dortmund and Chief Conductor of Dortmund Philharmoniker from August 2025. Last OdM appearance: Don Giovanni (2016) Jordan de Souza’s participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Marc-André Nantais.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Alain Gauthier

Montreal-born Alain Gauthier trained with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and has since collaborated with various North American opera houses. With the Opéra de Montréal, he has created inspired stagings for several major works of the repertoire, including La Bohème, The Barber of Seville, Faust, Dead Man Walking, Samson and Delilah, and Elektra. Other Canadian companies Alain Gauthier has worked with include the Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver operas, Pacific Opera Victoria, and the Opéra de Québec. His projects in the United States have included productions with the Cincinnati, Austin, and New York City operas. Alain Gauthier’s recent engagements included a Cincinnati Opera production of La Bohème and La Traviata with the Calgary Opera, where he has been invited back next season to stage Bluebeard’s Castle and Gianni Schicchi. He is currently working on a new Opéra de Montréal production of Hamlet, to be presented next season. Last OdM appearance: Written on Skin (2020)

Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR / CONDUCTOR ON MAY 14TH

Christopher Gaudreault

Canadian conductor and pianist Christopher Gaudreault is a captivating and uniquely versatile artist, equally at home in the operatic and orchestral repertoire. His 2024 conducting season includes a concert for voice and string orchestra with Ensemble Obiora, the world premieres of two new operas with Musique 3 Femmes, Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de perles with Opéra du Royaume, and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville at NUOVA Vocal Arts. This past September, he was a finalist for the second time at the Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, France, following a previous invitation in 2021. Also an active collaborative pianist, Christopher is looking forward to working as music staff at Brott Opera this summer and returning to Opéra de Montréal as répétiteur for The Barber of Seville in the fall. Christopher is thrilled to be making his OdM mainstage conducting debut for the final performance of Verdi’s La Traviata. Last OdM appearance: The Coronation of Poppea (2023)

Member of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal

Christopher Gaudreault's participation is made possible thanks to the generous support of Normand Cardella.

CHORUS MASTER

Claude Webster

For the past 30 years, Claude Webster has«collaborated with the Opéra de Montréal as well as with many performance institutions throughout the world. He has held the position of Chorus Master with the Opéra de Montréal since 2007, and prior to that, served as the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal’s Head Vocal Coach. He is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and holds a certificate in psychology from the Université du Québec à Montréal. For the past fifteen years, he has contributed his knowledge and expertise to the service of musicians. He regularly gives training workshops and lectures on stress management and mental preparation for performances, both locally and abroad. Claude Webster’s book based on his training workshops, published by Les Éditions de l’Homme, is titled Atteindre sa zone d’excellence (Reaching Your Inner Zone of Excellence). His latest book, The Performance Handbook for Musicians, Singers and Performers, is now widely available. Last OdM appearance: Enigma (2023)

Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

SCENERY & COSTUMES DESIGNER

Christina Poddubiuk

Christina Poddubiuk is a Montrealer currently living in Stratford, Ontario, and designing this season’s opening production of Twelfth Night for the Stratford Festival. La Traviata originated at Manitoba Opera as part of a five-company co-production with Pacific Opera Victoria, where she has also designed Don Giovanni, Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca and Capriccio. For the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto she has designed Don Quichotte and Béatrice et Bénédict. She has designed many productions at the Stratford Festival including Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, John Gabriel Borkman and Phèdre. Her extensive credits at the Shaw Festival include On the Razzle, The Importance of Being Earnest (costumes), Pygmalion (costumes), Faith Healer and Come Back Little Sheba. Elsewhere: The Audience (RMTC/Mirvish); The Light in the Piazza (Theatre Calgary); Romeo and Juliet (Denver Center Theater); Romeo and Juliet (NAC); many productions for Soulpepper including the inaugural season's Don Carlos; and Love's Labour's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing and Othello (Chicago Shakespeare). Training: McGill University and National Theatre School. OdM debut.

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Kevin Lamotte

Kevin has created lighting designs for theatre, dance, opera and music companies across Canada and internationally for more than 30 years. Recent productions include Mahabharata (Barbican London, UK) Clue (Manitoba Theatre Centre), The Secret Garden, The House That Will Not Stand, Blithe Spirit, Playboy of the Western World, The Clearing, Gem of the Ocean, Everybody, Desire Under the Elms, White Christmas, Brigadoon (Shaw Festival), A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary), Fidelio (Pacific Opera Victoria). He has won several awards for outstanding lighting design including the Pauline McGibbon Award (Ontario) and the Dora Mavor Moore Award (Toronto). Kevin is the Director of Lighting Design at the Shaw Festival and a member of the Associated Designers of Canada -IATSE Local 659. OdM debut.

PIANIST COACH

Carol-Anne Fraser

Alberta-born pianist Carol-Anne Fraser holds a doctorate from the Université de Montréal in solo piano and an Artist Diploma from McGill University in collaborative piano. She has worked with Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, Opera Saratoga, Musique 3 Femmes, Calgary Opera, Tapestry Opera, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and Opéra de Montréal. An enthusiastic teacher, Carol-Anne has adjudicated at music festivals and taught across Canada. Her thesis project for her doctorate entitled “Affekt in Musical Performance” studied the effect of music on human emotions, and how emotional communication occurs between the performer and audience. Carol-Anne’s passion for music education and outreach has led her to create an online "Emotions in Music" workshop for students, in collaboration with Opéra de Montréal's educational outreach program. In addition to her work as a musician, Carol-Anne also works as the Project Coordinator in the arts department at YES Employment and Entrepreneurship in Montreal. Last OdM appearance: Lucia di Lammermoor (2019) Former member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal.

CHOREOGRAPHER

Noëlle-Émilie

Desbiens

Noëlle-Émilie began her dance training with classical ballet at the age of five, and then broadened her horizons in various dance styles over the years. After completing a three-year training in musical theater, where she explored singing, dancing, and acting, she embarked on a diverse artistic career. She participated in several productions, including performances at the Cairo Opera in Egypt, various television shows, and numerous stage performances throughout Quebec. Her professional journey led her to take on various roles, from choreographer to assistant director, consultant, and rehearsal director. She brought her expertise and passion to a variety of productions at the Opéra de Montéal, as well as to some shows at the l’Atelier d’opéra de L’Université de Montréal and the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. Last OdM appearance: The Mariaage of Figaro (2023)

La Fondation Azrieli est fière de soutenir l’Opéra de Montréal dans la découverte, l’élévation et l’amplification de nouvelles voix à travers l’Atelier lyrique.

The Azrieli Foundation is proud to support Opéra de Montréal in discovering, elevating and amplifying new voices through the Atelier lyrique.

Photo: Tam Photography

Grâce à l’appui généreux et durable des Initiatives Vanda Treiser, les artistes de l’Atelier lyrique bénéficient des meilleures ressources pour réaliser leur potentiel artistique.

Thanks to the generous and lasting support of the Vanda Treiser Initiatives, the artists of the Atelier lyrique benefit from the best resources to realize their artistic potential.

POUR SON SOUTIEN À LA PROCHAINE GÉNÉRATION D’ÉTOILES À L’OPÉRA, MERCI AUX INITIATIVES VANDA TREISER! FOR ITS SUPPORT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA STARS, MANY THANKS TO THE VANDA TREISER INITIATIVES!

Vanda Treiser et Jennifer Szeto, directrice de l’Atelier lyrique. Vanda Treiser and Jennifer Szeto, Director of the Atelier lyrique.

FIRST VIOLINS

Oleg Larshin, concertmaster

Johanne Morin, associate concertmaster

Ryan Truby, assistant principal

Monica Duschênes

Carolyn Klause

Florence Mallette

Christian Prévost

Ariane Bresse

Julien Oberson

Chloé Chabanole

Marcelle Mallette

Alexander Lozowski

SECONDS VIOLONS

Nancy Ricard, principal

Dominic Guilbault, associate principal

Lucie Ménard, assistant principal

Lizann Gervais

Claudio Ricignuolo

Céline Arcand

Sylvie Harvey

Helga Dathe

Daniel Godin

Flavie Gagnon

VIOLAS

Elvira Misbakhova, principal

Thierry Lavoie-Ladouceur, associate principal

Pierre Tourville, assistant principal

Gérald Daigle

Julie Dupras

Jean René

Suzanne Careau

Élisa Boudreau

CELLOS

Christopher Best, principal

Agnès Langlois, associate principal

Thérèse Ryan, assistant principal

Vincent Bergeron

Carla Antoun

Christine Giguère

DOUBLE BASSES

Marc Denis, principal

Gilbert Fleury, associate principal

Réal Montminy, assistant principal

Catherine Lefebvre

FLUTES

Jocelyne Roy, principal

Caroline Séguin, 2nd flute and piccolo

OBOES

Mélanie Harel, principal

Kirsten Zander

CLARINETS

Simon Aldrich, principal

François Martel, principal bass clarinet

BASSOONS

Michel Bettez, principal

Gabrièle Dostie-Poirier

HORNS

Corine Chartré-Lefebvre, principal

Simon Bourget

Jocelyn Veilleux

Étienne Coulombe

TRUMPETS

Antoine Mailloux, principal

Lise Bouchard

TROMBONE

Patrice Richer, principal

Madeleine Doyon-Robitaille

Matthieu Bourget, principal bass trombone

TUBA

Trevor Dix, cimbasso principal

TIMPANI

Julien Bélanger, principal

PERCUSSIONS

Alexandre Lavoie, principal

Vincent Séguin

Corinne René

HARP

Antoine Malette-Chénier, principal

Opera de Montreal Chorus

SOPRANOS

Pascale Brigitte Boilard

Susan Elizabeth Brown

Isabelle D. Leclerc

Meghan Fleet

Nadine Guertin

Danielle Lalonde

Karine Michon

Eugénie Préfontaine

Léa Weilbrenner

MEZZOS

Chantal Denis

Elizabeth Ekholm

Julie Goupil

Marie-Chantal Lemieux

Marie-Claude l’Heureux

Andréanne Moreau

Gilda Salomone

Michelle Sutton

Danielle Vaillancourt

TENORS

Pascal Blanchet

Éric Gauvin

Nathan LeLièvre

Michael Lockley

Mike Melino

Jaime Sandoval

Jean-Louis Sanscartier

David Trower

René Voyer

BARITONES

Claudel Callender

Jocelyn Drolet

Emanuel Lebel

Clermont Tremblay

BASS

Jonathan Bédard

Jordan Delage

Claude Grenier

Philippe Morin

Luc Saucier

Supernumeraries

Pauline Ben Guigui

Pauline Tessadri

At Postmedia we leverage the strength of our more than 130 brands to support important causes and local businesses in the communities we serve.

Chez Postmedia, nous tirons parti de la force de nos plus de 130 images de marque pour soutenir des causes importantes et des entreprises locales dans les communautés que nous servons. Learn more at postmedia.com/supports Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site postmedia.com/supports.

Talent Gala

Every year, hundreds of young artists from across the country audition for the Atelier lyrique, our training program and professional development stepping stone. Come enjoy the final audition rounds on the stage of the Salle WilfridPelletier, complete with a festive and stylish gala.

Savour operatic arias and culinary delights while contributing to our mission of training and supporting the next generation of opera performers.

your place now:

LAURÉAT PRIX JUNO 2024

ORCHESTRE CLASSIQUE DE MONTRÉAL

Jacques Lacombe Directeur artistique

SAISON 84e NOUVEAU DÉPART

HOMMAGE À JOSEPH ROULEAU

Airs et ensembles de Bizet, Delibes, Mozart, Offenbach, Verdi, Wagner et Leclerc.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBRE 20, 2024

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Aline Kutan Soprano

Mireille Lebel Mezzo-soprano

Éric Laporte Ténor

Philippe Sly Baryton-basse

Jacques Lacombe Chef

Alain Gauthier: La Traviata transported to the heart of the 1920s

There was the onset of the pandemic, in spring 2020. Then, performance venues had to close again, in winter 2022. But the third time’s a charm: after two cancellations, Verdi’s La Traviata is poised once again to take the stage of Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier by storm, and this time, it appears the planets have aligned to make it the right time. Opera lovers’ patience will at last be rewarded with a production that promises to be unforgettable!

A major, Canada-wide co-production

There are those classics that just never wane, one being the romantic and tragic story of Violetta and Alfredo. Its version set in 1920s Paris, conceived by director Alain Gauthier and his topshelf design team, a production awash in elegance and sophisticated finesse, certainly delivers, and is sure to capture spectators’ hearts.

This monumental production now concluding its tour in Montreal saw five Canadian opera companies join forces: the Edmonton Opera, the Manitoba Opera, the Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, and the Opéra

de Montréal. Such artistic bounty begat a work that matches its high ambitions, in which every detail is meticulously executed, and in which several extraordinarily accomplished designers from all over the country had hands-on involvement.

“We wanted the fact of it being a Canadawide coproduction to be reflected in the team as a whole,” explained the director. “Each opera house put forward collaborators whom it enjoyed working with, which introduced me to many talented individuals unknown to me before. I am absolutely delighted; I was surrounded by a dream team!”

This brilliant bunch included Christina Poddubiuk, a versatile and profoundly researched artist, tasked all at once with designing sets, costumes, and props. “She was very conscientious of the era, but also highly imaginative. Immediately, she understood where we were going with it. The set is elaborate, there are lots of costumes and a lot of sparkle. It’s like a party for the eyes.”

La Traviata in the world of cabaret

The idea of setting the story in the 1920s first arose out of a parallel drawn between Violetta Valéry, La Traviata’s heroine, and Joséphine Baker, a dancer, singer, Parisian music hall celebrity, and above all, a liberated and strong woman.

“Violetta is not Joséphine Baker, but we drew some inspiration. She is a woman with a lot of friends, a lot of admirers, and a lot of money. A businesswoman who manages her affairs. This strikes especially in Act 2, when she appears in confrontation,” reflected Alain. “It’s a version that stays very true to the original story and to the heroine’s personal saga. All we did was to shift the era, to bring it a bit closer to home. It remains, all in all, a fairly orthodox production, with a little touch of the 1920s that lends something more modern to the character.”

Key roles for choristers: a finely woven tapestry of characters

Known for his love of acting—he graduated in theatre from UQÀM— the director took acute pleasure in digging, dissecting, researching, and developing comprehensive descriptions of all characters who appear on stage, including those played by chorus members.

“I have a roughly fifteen-page document with forty biographies. I assigned a role to each and every chorister. For this production, I was inspired by people who gravitated to Paris at the time, who might have attended a Joséphine Baker premiere. I imagined romantic affairs and quarrels. All the choristers have their own little story.”

Such meticulous preparation provided points of reference for each performer relative to the other characters, facilitating their interactions and improvisation. “For example, there’s a medical scientist who invented a test

for detecting tuberculosis, a friend of Doctor Grenvil, and a businesswoman involved in a financial scandal, Martha Hanau. There’s also Babette, an American acrobat and impersonator, whom I imagined as wanting to break into the business and talk to producers, portrayed by other choristers. Basically, I gave the chorus members some guidelines and circumstances took on lives of their own!”

Home, sweet home

After touring the country since 2018 with his Traviata, Alain Gauthier is elated to finally be presenting it to family and friends here in Montreal. “I’ve come full circle, in a way. The Opéra de Montréal is my alma mater. I met Michel Beaulac 30 years ago, when I was a young directing trainee with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, then we became colleagues when I became a full-time stage director. The Opéra de Montréal shaped and guided me.”

Alain in fact initially explored the technical side of production before diving headlong into his dream. “I decided to leave my stable job and devote myself to directing when I started to become known in the United States. It scared me, but it hasn’t stopped since; I continuously kept working. I’ve had wonderful successes, I’ve been offered some wonderful platforms, I’ve travelled, and taken on challenges. I feel very privileged!”

It’s a privilege that now brings him back home to his artistic family, to present a truly grand and exquisite Romantic opera.

We wish to warmly thank all our donors, who generously and passionately contribute to the Opéra de Montréal. Your support is essential to the fulfilment of our mission and to the vitality of opera in Montreal.

Pledges made from January 1 st , 2023 to April 15 th , 2024.

*Multi-year pledges

($10,000 AND MORE)

$1,000,000 AND MORE

Vanda Treiser Initiatives*

$250,000 AND MORE

Me René Branchaud*

Elizabeth Wirth

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$100,000 AND MORE Hydro-Québec

Dr François Loubert

Mrs. Vanda Treiser and in loving memory of Mr. Benjamin Treiser*

$50,000 AND MORE

Succession Lise Beauchamp

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Claude Leblanc*

Pascal Lépine

Thérèse & Peter Primiani*

Carolyn & Richard J. Renaud

Succession Anne-Marie Trahan

Colleen & Mirko Wicha

Vickie Zhao & Alex Ionescu

$25,000 AND MORE

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Antoine Chagnon*

Isabelle Murray & Dominic Chalifoux*

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Lady Mireille & Sir Dennis B. Gillings

Monique Roy & Claude Chevalier

Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites

Marie-Christine Tremblay & Jacques Marchand

Hugo Valencia, in memory of Guy Joron

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Patrick Corrigan & Marc Poliquin*

André Ferraro

Laurent Ferreira & Leslie Silver

Cynthia Fish

Stella Gignac & Patrick Ouellet

Normand & Diane Hébert

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Monique Lebuis Lachapelle

Marie-Claude Poupart & Francis Malka

René & Marie Malo

Marcia McKenzie

Marc-André Nantais

Pierre Pomerleau

Joe Racanelli

Nadia & David Sela

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$5,000 AND MORE

Anonymous (2)

Antje Bettin

Dre Andrée Boucher & Dr Louis-George Ste-Marie

Isabelle Westwick & François Carrier

Jean Duclos

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Belvédère

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Guillaume Marion

Sylvie Marois

Eunice Mayers

Patrick Menda

Robert Nadeau

Dr. W. Mark Roberts & Roula Drossis

Valeria Rosenbloom

Louise Roy O.C., O.Q.

Jane M. Skoryna

Daniel Turp

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Christopher Winn

$3,000 AND MORE

Anonymous (2)

Louis Arseneault

Jill Bodkin

R. Boisvert & A. Imamedjian

Micheline & Pierre L. Comtois*

Fondation familiale Irving Ludmer

Jean-Pierre Le Clerc & Mario Ménard

In memory of Monique Lussier

Dre. Jacqueline McClaran & Dr. Jonathan Meakins

Ronald Ouellette

Vincent Picard-Dufresne

Christine Paulino & Jean-Pierre Primiani

Marie-Josée Verreault

Martin Watier

$1,200 AND MORE

Anonymous (5)

Louise Ahdoot

Munirah Amra

Nicholas Androsoff

Micheline & Raymond Bachand

Daniel A. Beaulieu

Lorraine Bell

Bunny Berke & Larry Lusko

Carole & Myer Bick

Hyman Bloom

Danielle Blouin

Pierre-Yves Boivin

Louis Bouchard

Me Luc Bourbonnais

Michelle & Guy Bouthillier

Pierre R. Brosseau

Susan C. Brown

Jean Charbonneau Toxicologue Inc.

Jacques L. Charuest

Dr J.P. Chiasson, MD F.A.S.A.M.

Dr Richard Cloutier

Pierrette Couture & Henriot M. Sabourin

Drs. James C. &

Caroline W. Dawson

Richard de Blois

Isabelle Demers

Alain Desmeules & Brook DeSantis

Mme Jill de Villafranca & Dr. David Kostiuk

James Dorff & Laurent Thibault

Michel Drapeau

Jean-Sébastien Dupont

David Essiambre

Claire Fournelle

Pascale Garneau

Antoine Gervais

Mouna & Elias Ghannoum

Émile Ghattas & Mona Latif-Ghattas†

Frédéric Godbout

Mona Golfman

Julius H. Grey

Marina Gusti

Adele Hébert

Carmen Hernandez & Stéphane L'Espérance

Shuki Ho

Michel Hogue & Richard Raymond

Peter Hunt

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Judith Kavanagh

Nathalie Labrecque

Denise Lambert

Bill & Nan Lassner

Raymonde Lavoie

Christiane LeBlanc

Hubert Lemelin

Thomas G. G. Leslie, MMM, CD

Dr. André Levasseur

Éric Martel & Josiane Lamy

Tina Liu

Fondation Martineau Drapeau

Caroline Montminy

Maria Morse MBA, CPA & Martin Roberge

Amin Noorani

Louise Paré

Margot Provencher

Famille Pierre Provencher

Ginette Quintal

Louis Racine

Drs. Alexandra & Mark Reich

Évangéline Richard

Lesley & Mark Robinson

John Di Gironimo & Catherine Rowe

Madeleine Roy

Bernard St-Pierre Marcotte &

Francine Ouellette

Howard Stotland

Karim Talaat

Robert Thibaudeau

Famille Vossos

Diana C. Wall

Dre Marie Youssef

Your friendship and your warm-hearted commitment contribute directly to promoting our mission. With every performance, it is always a great pleasure to be able to share our love of opera with you!

made from January 1 st , 2023 to April 15 th , 2024.

$600 AND MORE

Anonymous (3)

Philippe Alcouffe

Jody Banister

Howard Bergman

Elise Brochu

Claude A. Eddo

Patrick Egger

Lucy Fellowes

Léopold Ferron

Philippe Girard

Leo & Shirley Goldfarb Foundation

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Phyllis B. Lambert, QC, CQ, OAL, FRAIC

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$120 AND MORE

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Paul & Marielle Barré

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André Beauchamp

Diane Lampron & Marc Beaudoin

Robert Belanger

In memory of Jean-Guy Benoit

Paul Benoit

Colette Pilon & Howard Bergman

Michel Bertrand

Francesco Biondi Morra Di Belforte

Pledges

In memory of Normand Blais

Marie Blouin

Eileen & Herb Borsuk

Mathieu Bouchard

Danielle Bourget

Nicole Brodeur

Susan Brown

Nicole Campeau

André Canakis

G. Castanheira

Moy Fong Chen

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Elena Chirokova

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Michael Davis

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Louise Gagnon

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Suzanne Dubé & Laurence Green

Eren Halil

Lynne Halpern

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Mauricio Idarraga

Christine Imbleau

Irena Iwanyckij

Claudine Jacques

Andrée Leduc & Lloyd Johansson

Louise Julien

Thomas Kelly

Berthe Kossak

Nastassia Kodeh & Eric Kougioumoutzakis

Jean-Marie Lacoste

Louise Lafontaine

Pierre Lajoie

Dixi Lambert

Gilles Lanctôt

Claude Laneuville

Denis Lapierre

Suzanne Laplante

Andrée Laroche

Julie Laurence

Marie-Claude Le Clair

Marcel D. Legault

Fern G. Lerner

Mary Litwin

Michel Loffredo

Leslie Lubin

Lucie Malenfant

Serge Marceau

René Marineau

Allan Marr

Maryse Martin

Suzanne Masson

Andrée F. Mattii

Jean-François Mélançon

Catherine Metzger-Silver

MJ Fiscalité inc.

Mary C. Moffat

Jocelyne Morin

Andrée Noël

Lourdes Olguin Zuniga

Alain Orvoine

Georges Ouellet

Jean Ouellette

Antonella Pagano

P.K. Pal

Jennifer Paquet

Desiree Park

Zephya & Gianluca Passarella

Valerya Perelshtein

Vladimir Perez

Marie-Soleil Pichette

Lise Pierre Pierre

Denise Pilote

Real Plourde

Serge Poisson-de-Haro

John Bossange & Lynne Poteau

Catherine Potvin

In honour of Jean-Pierre

Primiani

Kate Puxley

Zeina Rababy

Jean-Pierre Racette

Carmen Reid

Marc-André Roberge

Jean-Charles Le Brun & Normand-G. Robert

Michel Rochon

Richard Rodgers

Renée & Joseph Rouleau

Helene Rousseau

Yolanda Sabetta

Bahjat Salem, à la nourriture de l'âme

Marianne Schlegel

Mahalia Verna & David Schulze

Richard Shedleur

Heidy Simonin

V. Sirois

Carol & Ronald Slater

Suzanne Spinelli

Simon et Mathilde Tinawi

In memory of

Henri St-Georges

Raymonde St-Pierre

François Tessier

In memory of

Anne-Marie Trahan

Suzanne Vadboncoeur

Louise Veilleux

Voyage Régence

Abraham Wexler

Patrick Winser

Gerald Zion

Québec Creation Partner

Atelier Lyrique Partners

Major Partners

Presenting Partners

National Audition Partner

MRS. VANDA TREISER and

Media Partners

Service Partners

DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal

LaCité Le Mille Neuf

Malinki

Marie-Claude Paquette, graphic designer

Place des Arts

Permanent Team

Patrick Corrigan, General Director

Michel Beaulac, Artistic Director

Catherine Levac, Artistic Administrator

Louis Bouchard, Strategic Operations Director

PRODUCTION

Pierre Massoud, Production Director / Marie Hélène Larivière, Production Coordinator / Patrick Belzile, Technical Director / Drew Lyall, Technical Director Assistant / Laurence Pronier, Head of Stage Management Department / Thomas Lussier, Stage Management Project Manager / Dominique Guindon, Sonya Bayer, Heads of Wardrobe Department / Sandra Chirico, Wardrobe Supervisor

ATELIER LYRIQUE DE L’OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL

Jennifer Szeto, Director of the Atelier Lyrique / Marie Maous, Program Manager / Geneviève Lessard, Production Manager

Administration

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Stephanie Laichi, Director, Marketing and Communications / Marie-Pier Perron, Marketing Manager (on maternity leave) / Daniella Johnson, Communications Manager / Darnyse Memnon, Client Services Manager / Alexandre Therrien, Marketing and Communications Coordinator / Estelle Mouden, Client Services and Marketing coordinator / Filémon Brault-Archambeault, Coordinator, Client Services / Maïka Bélanger, Assistant-coordinator / Florie Duchesneau, Antoine Hatem, Client Services Agents

DEVELOPMENT

Jean-Pierre Primiani, Director of Development / Antoine Gervais, Manager, Donor Relations and Partnerships / Amy Grainger, Coordinator, Annual Campaign / Marion Malon, Coordinator, Philanthropic Events / Géraldine Leong Sang, Intern, Annual Campaign

CIVIL IMPACT AND EDUCATION

Pierre Vachon, Director, Civic Impact and Education / Charlotte Gagnon, Manager, Social Impact and Education / Béatrice Beaudin-Caille, Coordinator

FINANCES

Maria Morse, Finances Director / Marie-Claude Lagacé, Accounting Agent

Current Production Team

PRODUCTION

Pierre Massoud, Production Director / Marie Hélène Larivière, Production Coordinator / Patrick Belzile, Technical Director  / Drew Lyall, Technical Director Assistant  / Olivier Ouellet-Hébert, Video Technical Director

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Laurence Pronier, Head of Stage Management Department / Thomas Lussier, Principal Stage Manager / Emlyn vanBruinswaardt, Franco Calvano, Assistant Stage Managers

SURTITLES

Myriam Provost-Riel, Surtitles Stage Manager / Christine Archambault, Mélanie Caillierez, Shelley Gaffe, Danny Kay, Surtitles Correctors / Production of Surtitles: Opéra de Montréal

COSTUMES

Dominique Guindon, Sonya Bayer, Heads of Wardrobe / Sandra Chirico, Wardrobe Supervisor / Cassandre Josépovic, Wardrobe Technician / Richard Provost, Hat Maker and Sewer / Fauve Du Tilly-Lefebvre, Pattern Maker and Seamstress / Daniel Beaudet, Christine Tremblay, Mireille Tremblay, Seamstress-Sewer / Geneviève Fortin, Head Dresser (ODM) Joël Boudreault, Head Dresser (PDA Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier)

PROPS

Madeleine St-Jacques, Philippe Pointard, Head Props

HAIR

Pierre Lafontaine, Head of Hair Department / Manon Alexandre, Karine Deest, Marie- Ève Ménard, Kimberley Murphy, Denis Parent, Nathalie Perreault, Guylaine Sant, Hair Stylist

MAKE-UP

Julie Casault, Head of Makeup Department / Jacques Besner, Marianne Bobet, Johanne Doyon, Lesnix Fernandez, Alexe-Rose Francoeur, Stéphanie Villemaire, Makeup Artists

RUNNER

David Couture

Technical Staff

Daniel Masse, Head Carpenter / Julie Latulippe, Martin Jannard, Assistant Head Carpenters / Pierre Veniot, Head of Sound / André Corbeil, Assistant Head of Sound / David Leblanc, Prop Master / Martin Turgeon, Assistant Prop Master / Charles Denis, Head Fly Man / Eric Piché, Assistant Head Fly Man / Saturnin Goyer, Head of Lighting / Martin Dussault, Assistant Head of Lighting

Stage technical services are provided by: IATSE section locale 56

THANK YOU TO OUR COLLABORATORS:

Omnison : Sound and Lighting

Trans Québec : Audiovisual

Les Entreprises Truck'N Roll

Designers

Christina Poddubiuk, Scenery & Costumes Designer / Kevin Lamotte, Lighting Designer / Noëlle-Émilie Desbiens, Choreographer Board of directors

CHAIRMAN

Me René Branchaud

Lavery

FORMER CHAIRMAN

M. Bernard Stotland CA, CPA, FCA, FCPA Richter S.E.N.C.R.L./LLP

VICE-PRESIDENT

Ms. Elizabeth Wirth

Wirth-Brand Inc ., Wirth Rail

Mr Pascal Lépine, MBA, Adm. A. Atypic

TREASURER

Ms. Sylvie Marois

Banque Nationale, Gestion Privée

SECRETARY

Ms. Alysia Yip Hoi

Founding President Maison Alysia

MEMBERS

Mr Louis Arseneault

Université McGill

Mr François Carrier Valeurs mobilières Desjardins

Me. Bruno-Étienne Duguay NOVACAP

Mr Frédéric Godbout, CFA Mouvement Desjardins

Me. Joanie Lapalme Fasken

Dr François Loubert Clinique médicale Angus

Mr Guillaume Marion

Diagram Ventures

Mme. Louise Roy, O.C., O.Q. CIRANO

Ms. Emmelle Segal

Corporate Director

Ms. Vanda Treiser

Corporate Director

Daniel Turp

Professor Emeritus, Université de Montréal

Joan Vogelesang President, Joan Vogelesang (JV) Consultants

Vickie Zhao

Philanthropist

9 NOVEMBRE 2023

MAY 18, 2024 AT 7:30 P.M.

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Salle J.-Antonio-Thompson, Trois-Rivières

Bizet's Carmen

CONCERT

WITH THE ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE TROIS-RIVIÈRES

To close the season, Alain Trudel will serve up a pairing of passion and deception with Georges Bizet’s Carmen, the most celebrated opera of all time. The maestro will conduct this landmark work, bringing together a scintillating cast of performers, inviting you to discover or rediscover this passionate and timeless story. An exclusive production.

9 NOVEMBRE 2023

MAY 23, 2024 AT 6:30 P.M.

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Rialto Theatre

CONCERT

Atelier Lyrique “Gran Finale” Concert

Donor appreciation event reserved for members of our philanthropic community!

9 NOVEMBRE 2023

SEPT. 28 AND OCT. 1, 3 & 6, 2024

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

OPERA

The Barber of Seville

ROSSINI

The youthful Count Almaviva is smitten with the beautiful Rosina, a resourceful young lady jealously shielded by her guardian, Don Bartolo, who secretly plans to marry her. Rosina is charmed by the Count Almaviva’s serenading. The roguish barber Figaro comes to the two young lovers’ aid. A proliferation of schemes and mistaken identities ensues, all of which are as hilarious as they are effective.

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Talent Gala

BENEFIT EVENT

Every year, hundreds of young artists from across the country audition for the Atelier lyrique, our training program and professional development stepping stone. Come enjoy the final audition rounds on the stage of the Salle WilfridPelletier, complete with a festive and stylish gala. Savour operatic arias and culinary delights while contributing to our mission of training and supporting the next generation of opera performers.