Opera Speaks: Creating Lillian

Creating Lillian: Inside the Creative Process of Lillian Alling

Thursday, September 30, 2010 7-9pm
Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level
Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street
Admission is free. Seating is limited.

Discover how a large-scale opera is created from scratch. Composer John Estacio, librettist John Murrell, director Kelly Robinson and members of the production team for Vancouver Opera's new commissioned opera Lillian Alling will share their three-year process of writing and producing this dramatic opera that depicts a young Russian woman's epic journey, on foot, across North America in the 1920s. Cast members will perform excerpts from the opera.

Based on a real historical character, Lillian Alling takes us on a journey from Brooklyn, New York to a Norwegian farming community in North Dakota, across the Canadian prairie and into the wilds of northwestern British Columbia. Along the way, Lillian spends time in Vancouver, is jailed in Oakalla Prison Farm, in Burnaby, and walks the famous "Telegraph Trail" to the banks of the Skeena River. Her story is sweeping, personal, romantic, and heart-wrenching. This will be a rare opportunity to get inside the creative process with an extraordinary team of opera artists.

Opera Speaks is an ongoing series of free public events that engage the community in exploring the themes and issues arising from Vancouver Opera's productions. For more information about Opera Speaks, visit www.vancouveropera.ca