Pimooteewin: The Journey on Tour
When: Tuesday May 5, 2009 to Friday May 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Where: Various - see below for details
Tags: Choral, Opera
Bud Roach and Xin Wang - Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
A Dazzling Opera By Tomson Highway and Melissa Hui
Soundstreams is bringing "Pimooteewin: The Journey" to communities across Northern Ontario with with their first touring production, including a full compliment of education and community outreach activities related to the performances. From April 27th to May 15th, this Soundstreams production will visit Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Moosonee, and Moose Factory.
In February of 2008 Soundstreams Canada in co-operation with the Elmer Iseler Singers broke new creative ground with the World Premiere of the first opera written in the Cree language.
"Pimooteewin: The Journey" features a libretto by internationally celebrated author Tomson Highway, and music by award-winning Chinese-Canadian composer Melissa Hui. Renowned Cree actor and dancer Michael Greyeyes will return to choreograph and direct, and the cast of over 20 performers includes The Elmer Iseler Singers, original soloists Xin Wang (soprano), and Bud Roach (tenor), and a virtuoso ensemble of talented Canadian musicians, actors, and dancers.
Listen to the Dance of the dead souls!
Download The Journey's Study Guide which includes interviews with Tomson Highway, Melissa Hui, Michael Greyeyes and Lawrence Cherney
Visit CBC.ca for an indepth interview with Michael Greyeyes about the Northern Ontario Tour
Watch the APTN news report from Friday April 24th (Pimooteewin is near the end!)
Visit Macleans.ca to read their beautiful piece about Pimooteewin
Visit the Toronto Star for more exciting coverage
Download education materials for the classroom:
Tour Dates
April 27-May 5th
Education and Outreach Activites
Public Performances - Tickets $10-$20
To purchase tickets online click here.
May 5th - Moosonee
Northern College, 7 pm
For info please contact the Moosonee Friendship Centre at 705-336-2808
May 6th - Moose Factory
Delores D. Echum Composite School, 7pm
For info please contact Cree Village Ecolodge at 705-658-6400
May 8th - Cochrane
Ecole Secondaire Cochrane High School, 7pm
For info please contact the Ininew Friendship Centre at 705-272-4497
May 11th - Kapuskasing
Kapuskasing Education Centre, 7pm
For info please contact the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre at 705-337-1935
May 12th and 13th - Timmins
Timmins High & Vocational School, 7pm
For info please contact the Timmins Native Friendship Centre at 705-268-6262
May 14th - Iroquois Falls
Iroquois Falls High School, 7pm
For info please contact Iroquois Falls Sports Complex - Pool Desk at 705-258-3526
Bud Roach and Xin Wang - Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
The Story of Pimooteewin: The Journey
Inspired by quintessential North American native mythology, the story features the traditional characters the Trickster (in Cree, Weesageechak) and the Eagle (Migisoo) as they journey across the river to a magic island where the Spirits of the Dead dance every night by the light of the moon. The Trickster and his companion try to capture the spirits in a basket but on their way back, one by one they begin to escape. "Pimooteewin: The Journey" tackles the sensitive subjects of life and death with the profound wisdom and humour typical to Tomson Highway's writing style.
Highway says of the Trickster, "The Trickster is a clown, the world's most hysterical, most ridiculous, given to the people by the Great Spirit, to teach us the pivotal lesson that the reason for existence on the planet is not to suffer, not to wallow in guilt but to enjoy life, to take pleasure in the simple act of living."
"Trickster serves a tremendous role through our Aboriginal culture because through his mischief, joy and machinations he teaches us humanity about ourselves." Michael Greyeyes
Highway chose to tell the story of the Trickster and the Eagle's journey to the land of the dead because he was dealing with personal loss in his own immediate family. He explains that "Pimooteewin: The Journey" explores the idea of death in the context of aboriginal belief where passing is not considered an end, but a continuation of life in a different form.
"What I loved was the universality of the myth and characters." Says composer Melissa Hui "This story about death and longing for our loved ones transcends culture and time."
"Pimooteewin: The Journey" is a story told simply and concisely. Sets are minimal, and costumes streamlined and bold. Director Michael Greyeyes cleverly incorporates conventions from traditional Japanese theatre, a cross-cultural nod to the universal similarities in the story-telling tradition. Kurokos are essential members of the cast in Kabuki theatre. Dressed entirely in black, their role is to move pieces of the set, often animating these pieces to represent weather, seasons, landscapes, animals, ethereal creatures, and elemental entities. In Pimooteewin the role of Kuroko is brilliantly played by dancers who incorporate movement and puppetry into the weaving of the tale.
Click here to read a CBC interview with Tomson Highway
Click here to read and subscribe to our Behind the Scenes Tour Blog
Praise for Pimooteewin: The Journey
"Soundstreams wisely chose a composer who would not curry favour through ingratiatingly popular idioms, or resort to cliché. Hui's finely-wrought score for seven instrumentalists, choir (the Elmer Iseler Singers), tenor and soprano started off with a thrilling section that evokes ancient chant without being culturally specific (though I was pleasantly reminded of medieval European polyphony)."
The Globe and Mail, Tamara Bernstein
"The vocal talents are first-rate. A must-hear is lyric tenor Bud Roach, who is only beginning to introduce himself to Toronto. He is the trickster, Weesageechak. The eagle, Misigoo, is vocalized by soprano Xin Wang. The chorus is sung by the Elmer Iseler Singers, conducted by Lydia Adams."
The Toronto Star, John Terauds
TOUR BLOGS from the Cast and Crew:
The tour of Pimooteewin: The Journey is made possible with the support of:
Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation
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