Chaakapesh: From Kuujjuaq to Montreal

Théâtre Maisonneuve

The chamber opera Chaakapesh, the Trickster’s Quest was premiered in 2018. It flows from a close collaboration between Inuit and First Nations artists, Canadian composer Matthew Ricketts, Cree playwright Tomson Highway, and the OSM. This tragicomic work was premiered at the Maison symphonique, at the Orchestra’s 85th season opening concerts and subsequently presented live to three Indigenous nations in Nunavik and North of Quebec during the OSM’s 2018 fall tour. The opera – which was also the subject of a documentary film – is inspired by an Indigenous legend, a harbinger of hope that establishes authentic dialogue between different peoples, mixing languages, cultures and music.

Presented for the first time in Montreal in its chamber music version, this is a concert punctuated by unique exchanges you don’t want to miss!

ARTISTS AND PROGRAMME

ARTISTS AND PROGRAMME

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

Kent Nagano, conductor
Ernest Webb, narration in Cree language
Geoffroy Salvas, baritone (Mantoo and the Whale)
15 OSM musicians

Matthew Ricketts/Tomson Highway: Chaakapesh, the Trickster’s Quest

TICKET PRICES

7:30 P.M.

BUY YOUR TICKETS

MORE INFORMATION

Kent Nagano

Kent Nagano has established an international reputation as one of the most insightful and visionary interpreters of both the operatic and symphonic repertoire. He is Music Director of the OSM since 2006. Maestro Nagano was General Music Director of the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich from 2006 to 2013. He became Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Since 2015, he has been General Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Hamburg State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra. Born in California, Kent Nagano spent his early professional years in Boston, working in the opera house and as Assistant Conductor to Seiji Ozawa at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was Music Director of the Opéra national de Lyon (1988-1998), Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra (1991-2000), Associate Principal Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (1990-1998) and Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (2000-2006) and remains their Honorary Conductor. Kent Nagano was also the first Music Director of the Los Angeles Opera (2003-2006).As a highly sought-after guest conductor, Staatskapelle Dresden and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Among other awards, he has won two Grammys for his recordings of Kaija Saariaho’s L’amour de loin with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and for Busoni’s Doktor Faust, recorded with the Opéra national de Lyon. Maestro Nagano was named Commander of the Ordre de Montréal, Grand Officer of the Ordre national du Québec, Companion of the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as being decorated with the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal.