5TH

DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18
DAY-TO-DAY PROGRAM
SUN LIFE FINANCIAL PERFORMING ARTS
ROBERT LEPAGE
Honorary Co-President
Sun Life Financial Arts
Robert Lepage
Photo : Sophie Grenier
WORLD PREMIERE
From February 18 to 28, 8 p.m.
EX MACHINA
PRE-OPENING CONCERT
presents
in collaboration with the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival
The Busker’s Opera
A Musical Theatre Piece created by
ROBERT LEPAGE
Musical Director : Martin Bélanger
With : Frédérike Bédard, Martin Bélanger, Julie Fainer,
Claire Gignac, Frédéric Lebrasseur, Véronika Makdissi-Warren,
Kevin McCoy, Steve Normandin, Marco Poulin and Jean René.
The Busker’s Opera
Somewhere between a Broadway musical and a
road movie, The Busker's Opera takes a peek at
what remains of musical freedom once it’s been
through the wringer of show business.
Photos: Érick Labbé
« Le Québécois
Édouard Lock
est l’homme de
cette fin d’année »
Le Monde, Paris
The very first performance of The Beggar's Opera took place in
London on January 28th, 1728, creating an immediate sensation
and attracting considerable crowds. By taking aim at government
corruption under the guise of a spoof of Italian opera (much in
fashion at the time) the comic piece by John Gay struck a hugely
popular note.
Loosely adapted from Gay's work, Robert Lepage's The Busker's
Opera constitutes a new piece of musical theatre or, more
precisely, a "songspiel" in the sense that the story is entirely told
through song.
The show gathers actors, singers, musicians and a DJ who
collectively created 30 songs that adapt John Gay’s work to a
present-day context. However, the characters, in this case aren’t from
a world of petty crime, but the insidious world of show business.
All types of musical genres are represented within the up-beat,
satirical performance, from ska, reggae and jazz to blues, country,
disco and rap. Irreverent and explosive, the work also includes, in
parallel, pieces composed by John Pepusch for the original London
production.
Robert Lepage stipulated that his latest creation be presented at the
Spectrum concert club, inasmuch as the piece is essentially a musical.
Spectrum de Montréal / Reserved seating format
February 18 to 28, 8:00 p.m.
Price: $29.50 - $39.50 - $47.50 CDN (plus taxes and service charges)
Ticket purchase information see page 3
18
For more details, check out our website at : www.montrealhighlights.com
or call our Info-line at (514) 288-9955 / 1 888 477-9955