Spy Dénommé-Welch (Photo by Lady Luck Photography)
Spy Dénommé-Welch (Photo by Lady Luck Photography) - An accomplished storyteller and composer, Spy Dénommé-Welch’s true talent may be listening – listening to the land around him for inspiration, grounding and guidance. Western’s Canada Research Chair in Indigenous arts, knowledge systems and education launches his latest foray into music and opera on Sept. 12 with the premiere of Canoe , an opera that revolves around the lives of twin sisters Constance and Gladys and “the flood that consumes their world. Dénommé-Welch (Algonquin-Anishnaabe) wrote the libretto, the text in an opera, and story for Canoe and co-composed the music with frequent collaborator Catherine Magowan. Canoe blends Indigenous storytelling and music to create a unique operatic experience, says Dénommé-Welch. An experience quite unlike anything you may have heard before from opera icons like Luciano Pavarotti. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it a clash, but Canoe is an intersection of opera, musical theatre, storytelling and Indigenous viewpoints,” said Dénommé-Welch.
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