Un opéra sur le racisme et la guitare électrique en septembre à Montréal
Article in French.
- Composed by Tim Brady
- Libretto by Audrey Dwyer
In 1939, Black jazz electric guitarist Charlie Christian joined Benny Goodman’s band for a landmark concert at Carnegie Hall that was a radical artistic and social statement for both men. Backstage at Carnegie Hall, a new chamber opera from composer Tim Brady and librettist Audrey Dwyer, uses this historic event to examine the impact of generations of racial and class-based trauma, and the role of music in evolving discussions about racism.
Jumping back and forth through time, Charlie engages with a variety of historical figures, including Rufus Rockhead, Montreal’s legendary Black club owner, guitar innovator Orville Gibson, and American opera singer Marian Anderson. These interactions underscore the ongoing struggle of being a Black person – even a famous one – in a white society.
Company
Bradyworks was originally created in 1989 to perform the music of Tim Brady, whose work as a composer combines elements of contemporary chamber music, jazz, rock and electroacoustic music. The group's instrumentation - combining electric guitar and saxophone with traditional chamber music forces and live electronics - creates a unique sound world with a vast array of timbres and performance traditions. The group also has a strong interest in contemporary vocal chamber repertoire. Since 1997 the group has expanded its repertoire to include works by other composers which partake of a similar artistic vision, often with a focus on electroacoustic elements such as tape and live electronics.
Creative team
- Composed by Tim Brady
- Libretto by Audrey Dwyer
- Artistic Director Tim Brady
- Directed by Cherissa Richards
- Music director and conductor Véronique Lussier
- Set and costume designer Nalo Soyini Bruce
- Lighting designer David Perreaults Ninacs
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $150,000 supported an extended development period, including an additional workshop, extensive testing of the video and production design, and new artistic collaborations.
Credits
Produced by Bradyworks.
Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal, the SOCAN Foundation and Placement Culture.
Developed in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, with support from the NAC’s National Creation Fund.
Performance dates
Past performances
| Presented by Bradyworks | Sep 23 - Sep 24, 2022 | Centaur Theatre (Montreal) |
Articles & reviews
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Groundbreaking opera about racism makes world première in Montreal.
Backstage at Carnegie Hall, set in 1939, revolves around iconic jazz guitarist Charlie Christian.
