Edmonton Opera Residency in Dawson City, Yukon

In February Edmonton Opera continued its collaborative partnership with the Yukan Arts Centre to sponsor a week-long residency/workshop in the Yukon. The February 16th-23rd residency, hosted by the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, supported singers Elizabeth Polese, Rachael McAuley, and Connor Hoppenbrouwers, along with pianist Spencer Kryzanowski and me in a series of rehearsals, community outreach and performances in the beautiful and historic gold rush town of Dawson City.

Performance activities included an “Opera Pub” at the Westminster Hotel and Tavern. AKA The Pit to an appreciative audience of opera lovers and soon-to-be opera lovers. The pub performance concluded with my Yukon piano debut, with Elizabeth Polese in A Song I Wish I’d Written.

A concert performance at the KIAC Ballroom at Dënäkär Zhoin included several pieces: a new aria, You and I from an in-progress opera project (The Book of Tales), the premiere of a new song on Amy Lowell’s poem Carrefour, and Your Letter Pleased Me Greatly –all performed by Polese and pianist Spencer Kryzanowsi. Mezzo-soprano Rachael McAuley performed with Kryzanowski Two Songs on texts of Reg Huston.

Also presented in Dawson City were two of my comic 3-voice catches: Kraft Kanon on the ingredients in Kraft Dinner™ (for Americans: Mac & Cheese!); and the world premiere of Changing of the Guard written especially for the occasion:

By all accounts it’s true: you can’t buy happiness with dough. But buy me a drink just in case!

• When combined: Justin Trudeau: Bye bye!