Against the Grain Theatre returns with month with the second installment of Bound, an opera created in collaboration with Toronto-based composer Keven Lau. The opera places music inspired by Handel in the context of the current state of those displaced, dehumanized and mistreated, with texts and stories drawn from real-life news articles and world events.
“Bringing Handel’s music into the 21st-century is a way for us to directly grapple with the big issues of tradition versus change that face our society today,” said Lau. The development of BOUND began as a mash-up of Handel arias and ensembles used to highlight the current state of those dehumanized and mistreated across the globe. “Our opera does delve into darker themes—among them, the ethical consequences of trading individual freedoms for national security, an issue which grows more relevant every day — but ultimately our hope is to sow musical seeds of empathy, by finding truth among differences.”
Bound v.2 features a new English libretto by AtG Founder and Artistic Director Joel Ivany. The premise is stark but timely, and centres on four people detained by an oppressive government.
This is the second workshop in a multi-year production, with this years team including a quartet of singers, chamber orchestra, and digital sound design by Acote.
Have a taste here:
Grab your earphones and have the first listen to @KevinLauTO's new opera #AtGBound. We have an awesome orchestra!
It's a 3 show run, November 19, 20 & 21.
Grab your 🎟️🎟️ now: https://t.co/9Po1T0sI8F @AtGtheatre @Tophski pic.twitter.com/cMx4i6Txnk
— Joel Ivany (@joelivany) November 5, 2018
The performance begins at 8 p.m. on November 19 – 21. Details, here.