Being, original production by René-Daniel Dubois and Blair Thomson (rehearsal with the resident artists of the Atelier lyrique)
A Fountain of Youth: The Vision behind the Creation of New Works Since 2016, the Opéra de Montréal has been making room for original productions in its programming. Where does this fresh approach come from? What does it add to the company, to audiences, to artists? Patrick Corrigan, General Director of the Opéra de Montréal, and Artistic Director Michel Beaulac, share their thoughts on this exciting development, which promises the company long-term appeal among contemporary audiences.
Developing New Works for the Opera of Tomorrow Over the past 10–15 years, the opera world has undergone profound change. In Europe and North America alike, large companies are starting to create brand-new works — and the Opéra de Montréal is no exception. Why? “To begin with, it’s a matter of necessity,” says Patrick Corrigan. “The operatic form had become somewhat The coming of digital, which gives everyone access calcified, always involving gigantic specto whatever is happening around the world, shed light tacles with a big orchestra, on a large stage, on financial disparities between opera companies, with massive sets.” and made it essential for companies to diversify in order to set themselves apart. Then there were the audiences, looking for new repertoire to which they could relate. 5
