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Biography
Arguably one of the biggest names in Canadian theatre today, playwright Michel Marc Bouchard has written over 25 plays that have been translated into several languages, performed internationally, and have even seen award-winning cinematic adaptations.
A recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of Quebec, Bouchard has also been recognized with a National Arts Centre Award, Chalmers Award, Vancouver's Jessie Richardson Awards and Toronto's Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Some of his notable works are Les Feluettes (1987), The Orphan Muses (1988), and more recently Tom at the Farm (2011), which was turned into a film by Canadian directing prodigy Xavier Dolan.
The themes of Bouchard's plays are varied, but are often immersed in myth and allegory, with inherent lyricism and larger-than-life characters. Many of his works explore queer identity against the backdrop of strict socio-cultural norms, as is the case in Les Feluettes.
When asked what interests him in opera, Bouchard replies it is “the sheer magnitude of the emotions, which – through singing and music – touches the most intimate aspects of our being” (Opéra de Montréal program, 2016). This grandeur of storytelling is intrinsic to Bouchard's play Les Feluettes, lending itself quite naturally to his first operatic commission by Opéra de Montréal and Pacific Opera Victoria.
Les Feluettes received widespread acclaim at its Montreal premiere in 2016, validating Bouchard's highly anticipated foray into opera. He is already working on his next project, a commission of Christine, la reine-garçon (The Girl King) by the Canadian Opera Company with composer Ana Sokolovic.
Productions
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Artist Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
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