Four librettists and four composers have been chosen to participate in Tapestry Opera’s 2025 Composer-Librettist Laboratory. It’s the 30th anniversary for the program, which has become a wellspring for the creation of new Canadian operas.
The intensive program takes place from July 15 to 25 at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre. The four libretttists, Rachel Gray, Sarah Henstra, Pierre-André Doucet, and Christene Adina Browne, will work with composers Rebecca Gray, Saman Shahi, Roydon Tse, and Prokhor Protasoff.
Composer James Rolfe and director Michael Hidetoshi Mori will be guiding the process, supported by performers that include soprano Reilly Nelson, mezzo-soprano Adanya Dunn, tenor Keith Klassen, baritone Jorell Williams, and collaborative pianists Jennifer Tung and Hyejin Kwon.
Since 1995, LIBLAB has been at the heart of Tapestry Opera’s commitment to creating and producing new works.
In the world of classical music, larger works come together through partnerships and collaborations. But — where and how do emerging artists find those crucial collaborators? That’s where the program steps into the breach.
Tapestry’s LIBLAB brings both established and up and coming artists together for two weeks with a view to forming lasting relationships as they work on refining the necessary skills. LIBLAB takes on a practical, hands-on format designed to produce successful productions.
Together, the artists will create 16 5-minute scenes,
Audiences will be able to sample the best pieces to emerge from 2025 LIBLAB at the Tapestry Briefs showcase in October 2025.
“For 30 years, LIBLAB has been an unparalleled incubator for operatic talent, fostering the collaborations that lead to groundbreaking new works,” says Michael Hidetoshi Mori, Tapestry’s Artistic Director. “We’re thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of artists to our new home at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre, and we look forward to seeing the innovative projects that emerge from this milestone year.”
A total of 134 artists have taken part in LIBLAB over the years, and more than 50 creative teams have emerged from the process. They’ve created new works for Tapestry Opera as well as other companies across Canada and beyond.
Notable operas that have emerged from the collaborations at LIBLAB include:
You can find more information about Tapestry Opera [HERE], and for more more details on LIBLAB, see [HERE].
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