GHOST TANGO
Opening
this Wednesday, Halifax’s Vocalypse
and Montreal’s Bradyworks present the world premiere
of Ghost Tango, a riveting new chamber opera that tells the poignant story
of a Canadian woman trapped in Argentina’s Dirty War. Recently we spoke with
Canadian Super-Diva Janice Jackson about what audiences
What inspired you to put
together this production?
I
was inspired to put together this production of Ghost Tango, through my work
with Tim Brady, a virtuoso guitar play and composer from Montreal. I had
worked with Tim on two pieces for soprano and large ensemble and because the
work was so successful we decided that we wanted to produce and present an
opera together. Tim then asked a librettist, Douglas Burnet Smith, whom he had
worked with on previous productions, to write a libretto with a small cast of
characters. Douglas has been interested in Argentinian history and culture for
many years and decided to write a libretto, entitled Ghost Tango, about a woman
who is kidnapped and tortured during the dirty war in Argentina and what would
happen if she unexpectedly met him 20 years later. Ghost Tango, as happens
with many projects which I am involved in, came into being in a natural,
organic way.
What are the challenges
involved?
Like
all operas, the challenges are to put all the pieces together in such a way,
that the process of taking the work from page to stage is as painless as
possible. The role of the woman, which I sing / act, is a challenge
because the opera takes place both back in the torture chamber and 20 years
later from the perspective of a woman who lost everything. There are many
emotional layers to mine.
What are the
rewards?
For
me, the rewards are: working with a fabulous team of artists who are really
making Ghost Tango magic and also giving voice to the many victims of torture. It
is great responsibility which I do not take lightly.
What can audiences
expect to experience?
Audiences
can expect to see a riveting 1 hour opera with 2 singers and electric guitar
which is powerful, poignant, and moving. They will hear great singing and
a palate of intriguing sounds coming from the electric guitar. Tim really
makes the guitar sound like an orchestra! I expect that there will be many
questions at the end of the work. How does a person process victimization
or torture in the years following? What becomes of a life?
What's next on your
musical agenda?
We
take Ghost Tango to Ontario in October, and then I sing in several events in
Halifax, including a tribute to Canadian new music hosted by the CMC. I
also premiere a new large scale work for soprano and ensemble by composer
Jerome Blais entitled Le Tombeau de Barbeau in Upstream’s Open Waters Festival
on January 10th, 2015. After that I direct a musical, believe
it or not!
Ghost Tango
September
16-19, 2015, at 8:00pm
Matinee
September 19 at 2:00pm
Sir
James Dunn Theatre, Dalhousie Arts Centre, Halifax
Photo Credit:
Andrew David Terris
