Andréanne Joubert / Xavier Malo / Samuelle McGowan-Richer / Matthew Monty / Lysanne Richard / Hugues Sarra-Bournet / Yves Simard / Caroline Tanguay
ODM Productions Inc., with the financial support of SODEC
January 31, February 3 & 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and February 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts
We are deeply grateful to Vickie Zhao and Alex Ionescu for their exceptional support of CLOWN(S)
We thank Le Square Phillips Hotel & Suites for its generous support of the filming of CLOWN(S).
Public Partners
The Opéra de Montréal sincerely thanks the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the City of Montreal and Emploi Québec.
/
Richer
Martenot: Wesley Shen
Experience the magic of the Opera
BMO is excited to present magical moments of the Montreal Opera. Prepare to be enchanted by captivating stories and incredible vocal performances.
A WORD FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
It is with great joy that I invite you to discover Clown(s), a bold and luminous new creation presented in world premiere at Théâtre Maisonneuve.
Imagined by composer and librettist Ana Sokolović and brought to the stage by Martin Genest, Clown(s) is a vibrant, multidisciplinary work that celebrates life in all its forms. Inspired by the universe of the circus and the great figures of silent cinema, this favola in musica unfolds in seven tableaux that trace the universal cycle of life from birth to old age with humour, tenderness, and humanity.
In this short, immersive format without intermission, music meets theatre, movement, acrobatics, and visual poetry. Through invented and multiple languages, Clown(s) speaks directly to the senses and emotions, inviting us to laugh, to be moved, and to recognize ourselves in the vulnerability and beauty of the human condition.
With Clown(s), Opéra de Montréal reaffirms its commitment to contemporary creation and to works that are both artistically ambitious and deeply accessible. This Montreal creation reflects our desire to open opera to new forms, new audiences, and new ways of experiencing music on stage, while remaining faithful to its power to move and unite.
At the heart of winter, Clown(s) offers a moment of warmth, wonder, and shared emotion. I look forward to welcoming you to the theatre and to experiencing this unique journey together.
See you in the foyers before or after the performance.
JEAN-PIERRE PRIMIANI
Complice de l’Opéra de Montréal
A WORD FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ZHAO-IONESCU FAMILY
Discovery.
For nearly a decade, the Opéra de Montréal has been widely regarded as a leading light of Canadian operatic creation.
Every season features new works that are received with interest and enthusiasm – an unmistakable sign of renewal for the operatic art form.
We are honoured to present the world premiere of Ana Sokolović’s Clown(s) here in Montreal. This unprecedented work contains a vision of the future where opera remains a place of reflection and interrogation, in tune with the world around us.
Together, composer Ana Sokolović and director Martin Genest invite us on a magical journey into a fairground universe, bursting with culture, where the story of life is told with freedom, poetry, and humour in an invented language.
Clowns have fascinated filmmakers and movie lovers throughout history, and they continue to reach across generations today.
Enjoy the show!
MICHEL BEAULAC
Votre rendez-vous culturel
Chaque jeudi, Sortir vous ouvre les portes de la scène culturelle d’ici, pour renouer avec le frisson de l’art vivant.
Découvrir
This production is an artistic tribute to the life of the clown. Constructed as a ‘‘favola in musica’’ – a musical fable – the opera explores the universal life cycle of a clown through birth, youth, adolescence, adulthood and old age. Composed for four solo singers, chorus, brass ensemble, percussion and ondes Martenot.
PROLOGUE
TABLEAU 01 BIRTH
Intermezzo 01
TABLEAU 02 CHILDHOOD
Intermezzo 02
TABLEAU 03 ADOLESCENCE
Intermezzo 03
TABLEAU 04 YOUNG ADULT
Intermezzo 04
TABLEAU 05 MATURE ADULT
Intermezzo 05
TABLEAU 06 OLD AGE
TABLEAU 07 DEATH EPILOGUE
A WORD FROM THE COMPOSER & LIBRETTIST
I like clowns. They are on the margins of the artistic world, but at the centre of how we explore the human condition.
Despite my ambivalent relationship to circus, I have always been fascinated by travelling entertainers from around the world and throughout history –artists who arrive in a community, perform, and leave again in search of somewhere new to set up camp.
My initial inspirations were the book Masques et bouffons by Maurice Sand and the Federico Fellini film I clowns. I then consulted my brilliant colleague Mariella Pandolfi, whose insights paved the way for the creation of this piece.
Like a “favola in musica” or myth set to music, Clown(s) explores a clown’s life cycle through the full gamut of human emotions – joy, love, fear, anger, surprise, sadness.
Through perpetually shifting tableaux, filled with energy and exuberance, I have created a Baroque fresco of an opera, one that combines all my artistic passions: puppets, shadows, acrobatics, and an abundance of Balkan rhythms and effects.
Both cinema and opera are quintessential total art forms. Although cinema may have taken centre stage a century ago, it is now my turn to draw inspiration from innovations in the art of film: Fellini’s underdogs, Keaton’s ingenious burlesque, Chaplin’s tragicomic humanity, the rhythmic absurdity of Tati, and the rich imaginations of Robin Williams or Jerry Lewis.
Clown(s) is gratefully dedicated to Mariella Pandolfi.
ANA SOKOLOVIĆ
A leading figure in contemporary music, Quebec composer Ana Sokolović has gained international recognition for her imaginative and rhythmically vibrant music, with a repertoire ranging from critically acclaimed operas and orchestral works to powerful solo and chamber pieces.
Originally from Serbia, Ana Sokolović’s music is infused with Balkan rhythms and shaped by influences from multiple artistic disciplines. She recently won back-to-back JUNO Awards in the “Classical Composition of the Year” category: in 2019 for Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes, a work for countertenor, choir, and orchestra; and in 2020 for her violin concerto Evta. Her four operas have been performed internationally, including at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Boston, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Her opera Svadba, premiered in 2010, received the Dora Mavor Moore Award for “Outstanding New Opera.”
This season, Ana Sokolović’s opera Clown(s) receives its world premiere at the Opéra de Montréal. The new stage work draws inspiration from the worlds of Sand, Fellini, Chaplin, and Keaton to create a musical favola told in seven scenes. Alongside her compositional work, she has been appointed the first holder of the Opera Research and Creation Chair at the Université de Montréal.
Soprano CANADA/ARMENIA
ALINE KUTAN
CLOWN 1
Of Armenian origin, Canadian soprano Aline Kutan has enjoyed a distinguished threedecade career, singing a wide range of operatic and concert repertoire. Celebrated for her crystalline voice and captivating stage presence, she recently won acclaim as Marie- Éléonore in Julien Bilodeau’s La reine Garçon at both the Canadian Opera Company and Opéra de Montréal.
Her more than 30 roles include Lakmé, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, and Violetta in La Traviata. She created the role of Pasiphaé in the world premiere of Fénelon’s Les Rois in Bordeaux and sang Semele in Europa Riconosciuta at La Scala under Riccardo Muti.
Kutan has appeared at major opera houses and festivals worldwide and performed extensively in concert, including notable collaborations with the OSM under Kent Nagano and Charles Dutoit. A prizewinner of several international competitions, she teaches at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and McGill University. Last appearance at OdM: La reine-garçon (2023)
Mezzo-soprano CANADA
MIREILLE LEBEL
Canadian mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel has built a distinguished international career on both the operatic and concert stages. Based in Berlin, she began her training at the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, where she received several honours, including awards from the Desmarais Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts. She later moved to Germany to join the Theater Erfurt ensemble before embarking on an independent career that has taken her to the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Prague’s National Theatre, Theater Basel, the opera houses of Metz, Nice, and Vancouver, and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
A Grammy Award winner for La descente d’Orphée aux enfers, she has recorded seven additional operas with the Boston Early Music Festival. Her discography also includes Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 2 and the world premiere recording of The Wives of the Dead. Known for signature roles such as Carmen, Octavian, and Orfeo, she also forges new artistic paths. In 2020, she co-founded the Crown The Muse collective – supported by the Canada Council for the Arts – through which she has created and performed innovative projects at the Festival de Québec and with Berlin’s 1781 Collective. Last appearance at OdM: Cendrillon (2010) Former member of the Atelier lyrique
ANDREW HAJI
Andrew Haji is one of the most sought-after lyric tenors whose effortlessly transcendent voice has been described as “bright yet warm, mellifluous yet ringing, used with grace and all the requisite legato lines,” and “few have the lyric beauty and carrying power that Haji has.” The renowned Canadian lyric tenor is celebrated on concert and operatic stages with his musical rapture and silky clarion vocal prowess.
Recent opera highlights include Jonathan in Handel’s Saul at the Edinburgh International Festival, Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Taiwan) and Canadian Opera Company, and the title role in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito with Pacific Opera Victoria. This season, Andrew appears in concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Les Violons du Roy. First OdM Appearance
CLOWN 2
BRUNO ROY
Montreal-born baritone Bruno Roy is a versatile performer known for his work in opera, concert, and art song. He is an alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio, where he appeared on the mainstage in The Magic Flute, Tosca, Louis Riel, Arabella, Rigoletto, and The Nightingale and Other Short Stories.
Recent highlights include Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles, Marcello in La bohème, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro and Baryton-Martin in Vivier’s Kopernikus with Against the Grain Theatre, and a German debut with Oper Frankfurt in Capriccio. In 2024, Bruno performed in the Equilibrium Artists Gala Concert with renowned conductor-performer Barbara Hannigan.
Bruno has also engaged in new opera workshops, notably collaborating with composers Ana Sokolović and Danika Lorèn on a new opera based on Henrik Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler. Bruno is a Recipient of the 2019 Eva & Marc Stern Fellowship at SongFest and a Western Canada District Winner of the 2021 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. First OdM Appearance
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jiří Rožeň’s strong identity as a Czech conductor with a broad training is as manifest in his diverse and often adventurous repertoire as in the dynamic trajectory of his career in the Czech Republic and around the world.
In the 2025-26 season Rožeň conducts in the Czech Republic, Romania, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland and Germany. The Czech premiere of Friedrich Cerha’s epic orchestral cycle Spiegel, with the Hradec Králové Philharmonic, is followed by engagements with the Prague Philharmonia, the Ostrava Center for New Music, and the Rok na 4 doby Festival (an Italian opera gala with soprano Victoria Khoroshunova and tenor Daniel Matoušek). At the start of the season, he gives his debut at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest (Enescu’s Symphony No. 2 with the Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra Iași). After Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with the National Orchestra of Ireland and his third visit to the Interlaken Classics Festival, Rožeň finishes the season with a 20th century double bill at the Frankfurt Opera: Weill’s Der Zar läßt sich photographieren and Orff’s Die Kluge. Nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year 2025 by the leading German magazine Opernwelt, Jiří Rožeň gained his formative experience as both an orchestral and operatic conductor after studies in Prague, Salzburg, Hamburg, Zurich, and Glasgow (as Leverhulme Conducting Fellow at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). He went on to become a finalist at both the Nestlé and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award and the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition, and to spend two years as Assistant Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. First OdM Appearance
CZECH REPUBLIC
MARTIN GENEST
STAGE DIRECTION
A major figure in the performing arts in Quebec for over twenty years, Martin Genest has created groundbreaking stage concepts both in Quebec and internationally. An experienced director, he is recognized for his immersive and innovative approach to theatre, challenging the traditional stage-audience relationship and engaging the spectator’s senses. Two productions, particularly acclaimed by critics — Festen, Fête de famille (adapted from Thomas Vinterberg’s film) and Octobre 70 (adapted from Pierre Falardeau’s film) — brought him to the attention of the wider public and earned him several awards. He collaborates with major institutions such as Théâtre du Trident and Cirque du Soleil, notably with Joyà, a permanent show combining circus performance, music, theater, and culinary arts, which has been running in Mexico since 2014.
After a trip to Vietnam, Martin Genest made his first foray into opera, working with Robert Lepage as the puppet choreographer for The Nightingale and Other Fables by Igor Stravinsky, which has been performed across Europe. His work in theater has received numerous awards, including Best Production and Best Direction, granted by the Quebec Theatre Academy, the Quebec Association of Theatre Critics, and the juries of the Quebec Excellence Awards. Martin Genest is currently preparing a tribute to Félix Leclerc. First OdM Appearance
ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTOR : Stéphanie Capistran-Lalonde
DÁIRINE NÍ
MHEADHRA
DRAMATURGY
Dáirine Ní Mheadhra began her professional career at seventeen as a cellist with the Irish National Symphony Orchestra. While in the orchestra she developed a passion for new music, and co-founded the award-winning new music ensemble Nua Nós, establishing it as a leading exponent of new music in Ireland.
In 1995 Dáirine relocated to Toronto to join her Canadian husband, pianist John Hess, where they co-founded Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, an opera company that specialized in commissioning, developing, and producing new Canadian chamber opera. Highlights include Beatrice Chancy (Rolfe/Elliott Clarke), The Midnight Court (Sokolović/Bentley/O’Connor), Beckett Feck It! (Beckett, Barry, Hamilton) and Svadba-Wedding (Sokolović, original Serbian texts). Queen of Puddings productions toured internationally, including to Philadelphia Opera, Covent Garden, Bemus Festival, San Francisco Opera, Festival Lyrique d’Aix-en-Provence, Théatre d’Orléans and Holland Festival.
Dáirine was awarded Canada’s Molson Prize in the Arts in recognition of her outstanding lifetime achievements and ongoing contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of Canada. She was subsequently awarded the Opera Canada Ruby Award in recognition of a distinguished career as musician, conductor and educator in the Canadian operatic community.
Having relocated to Dublin in 2020, Dáirine is co-founder and Artistic Director of Tionscadal na nAmhrán Ealaíne Gaeilge/Irish Language Art Song Project, a new collection of 50 Irish language art songs, commissioned from Irish and International composers. Current projects include Opera Póca, newly commissioned works for accordion and female singers based on Irish language texts, set to premiere in 2026. First OdM Appearance
IRLANDE
THE DESIGNERS
ANNE-SÉGUIN POIRIER
SET DESIGNER
Artistic director and scenographer Anne-Séguin Poirier has been working on international stages for over 25 years and has designed more than 100 theatre, circus, opera, and visual arts productions. A highly regarded multidisciplinary artist, she has collaborated with Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon (4D Art), Les 7 doigts de la main (Shana Carroll, Gypsy Snyder), Luc Langevin, and Jean Grand-Maître (Alberta Ballet), and has been working continuously with Cirque du Soleil since 2003.
At Cirque du Soleil, she has contributed to numerous major productions, including Delirium Arena (2005), Iris in Los Angeles (2010), the Toronto Pan American Games (2015), Paramour in New York (2016), Volta (2017), Crystal (2018), Vitori in Malta (2019), and Alegría under the Big Top in Montréal (2019). She is currently creating LUDO, her 11th collaboration with the company.
Since 2020, Anne-Séguin Poirier has been based in the Eastern Townships of Québec, where she develops distinctive, intimate performance events in Waterloo. She has established her creation studios there, as well as a unique regional cultural venue – Sissi Buvette, a hybrid cultural bar and artistic gathering space. Last appearance at OdM: Starmania (2009)
SÉBASTIEN DIONNE
With a degree in scenography from the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec (Canada, 2007), Sébastien Dionne quickly distinguished himself in costume design. Since then, he has designed costumes for over 75 productions for theatre, circus, opera, contemporary dance, cinema, musicals, and many special events.
His artistic signature is characterized by his Haute Couture-inspired approach with a strong interest in period costumes. He is especially well known for his creations for major classical and contemporary productions as well as his multiple collaborations with Robert Lepage, Icelandic Opera, and Cirque du Soleil. Over the years, his work has received 11 nominations and five awards for Best Costume Design from the Prix d’excellence des arts et de la culture de Québec / Les Prix Théâtre Last appearance at OdM: La reine-garçon (2023)
LAURENT ROUTHIER
LIGHTING DESIGN
Laurent Routhier studied film and photography before choosing to specialize in lighting design for the performing arts. Over the years, he has created lighting design for many theatrical productions in Quebec and abroad. In recent years, he has focused on exploring the various applications of video and lighting in stage design.
His academic training and experience with large-scale productions have led him to design lighting and video for numerous performances filmed for television. More recently, his work has extended into the world of circus, where he has designed lighting for a range of international productions and events. First OdM Appearance
CANADA
THE DESIGNERS
PATRICK MARTEL
Patrick Martel is a puppeteer, puppet designer, scenographer, and stage director. He teaches at the Université du Québec à Montréal in the graduate program (DESS) in contemporary puppetry. For 25 years, he collaborated with Théâtre de l’Avant-Pays. The Arlyn Award Society awarded him a special mention for his puppet design for their production À nous deux!
He is the costume designer for all five seasons of Chanteurs masqués on TVA. In 2022 and 2023, he received Gemini Award nominations for Best Costume Design. He has also designed several characters for the American version, The Masked Singer.
Martel works closely with Kid Koala as a puppet designer and puppeteer on the productions Nufonia Must Fall and The Storyville Mosquito, both of which are still touring internationally. With 4D Art (Lemieux/Pilon), he is a puppet designer and puppeteer for Cité Mémoire At Cirque du Soleil, he served as puppet coach and designer for Toruk – The First Flight. Additional projects as a puppet designer and coach include Nezha, l’enfant pirate with Cirque Éloize, the Scooby-Doo Live Tour produced by Monlove, All Systems Are Go!, a permanent production at the Kennedy Space Center, and, in opera, The Magic Flute for the Glyndebourne Opera Festival. First OdM Appearance
MADELEINE SAINT-JACQUES
A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada in scenography (2004), Madeleine Saint-Jacques has been working behind the scenes in Montreal for nearly twenty years. Originally trained as a set and costume designer, she quickly developed a specialization in the design and fabrication of props. A longtime collaborator with the Opéra de Montréal as head prop master, Clown(s) marks her first contribution to the company as a designer. First OdM Appearance as a designer
Founded in 1981, DynamO Théâtre is a leading figure in Québec’s theatre for young audiences and proudly celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2026. With 27 original productions presented internationally to more than 1.5 million spectators, the company has contributed to the renewal of contemporary theatrical forms.
At the invitation of Stage Director Martin Genest, DynamO Théâtre is pleased to collaborate with the Opéra de Montréal on CLOWN(S). Rooted in acrobatic movement theatre and clowning, the company’s artistic approach engages in dialogue with the opera’s music through movement, rhythm, and acrobatic prowess, adding a distinctive physical dimension to the operatic stage.
This collaboration brings together eight performers from diverse backgrounds, each contributing their own specific artistic expertise, along with the rigor and high standards of DynamO Théâtre’s team, in service of this multidisciplinary operatic creation.
This collaboration was marked by a stimulating creative process and rich artistic exchanges, experienced with great joy by the company.
IN REHEARSALS
CLAUDE WEBSTER
CHORUS DIRECTION
For 30 years, Claude Webster has been working both internationally and at the Opéra de Montréal, where he became chorus master in 2007 after working for 20 years as the Atelier lyrique’s principal vocal coach. He is also an accredited Professional Certified Coach and holds a certificate in psychology from the Université du Québec à Montréal. For the past fifteen years, he has been using his knowledge and expertise to support musicians. He gives regular workshops and lectures, both at home and abroad, about stress management and mental preparation for performance. These trainings gave rise to a book, Atteindre sa zone d’excellence, published by Éditions de l’Homme. His most recent publication, The Performance Handbook for Musicians, Singers and Performers, is now available for purchase. Last OdM appearance: Jenůfa (2025)
FRANCIS PERRON
REHEARSAL PIANIST
Francis Perron is a pianist and vocal coach renowned for the breadth and diversity of his career in vocal and operatic music. A sought-after collaborator on the international stage, he is recognized for the subtlety of his accompaniment, his musical sensitivity, and his deep understanding of both voice and text. His expertise has led him to work with prestigious institutions such as the Canadian Opera Company, Opéra de Montréal, Opéra de Québec, Wien Kammeroper, ARD Music Competition, Salzburg Summer Academy, and Royaumont Festival, as well as with the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and Société de musique contemporaine du Québec.
Active in both recital and opera, Francis Perron has performed alongside acclaimed singers such as Christian Immler, François Le Roux, Nathalie Paulin, and Julie Boulianne. He has also participated in the creation of more than twenty contemporary operas in Canada and abroad, making a significant contribution to the development and international visibility of today’s operatic repertoire.
A respected teacher, he is regularly invited to give masterclasses at leading institutions, including the New England Conservatory in Boston, the Vancouver International Song Institute, Orford Music, and Mexico Lieder Fest, as well as at conservatories in Paris and Lyon and in various countries across Europe, South America, and Asia.
A founding member of the ensemble Orford Six Pianos and a member of Nouvel Ensemble Moderne since 2017, Francis Perron has a diverse discography and is frequently broadcast on Radio-Canada and France Musique. He is a professor at the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal, where he directs the piano accompaniment program and co-directs the UdeM–McGill Piano-Vocal Arts Residency. Last OdM appearance: La bohème (2025)
Your idea of you happens here
MUSICIANS, CHORUS SINGERS AND ACROBATS
Opéra de Montréal Chorus
SOPRANOS
Odéi Bilodeau
Anne-Marie Beaudette
MEZZOS
Ghislaine Deschambault
Rosalie Lane Lépine
TENORS
Mathieu Abel
Julien Girard
BARITONES/BASSES
Guillaume St-Cyr
Clermont Tremblay
Musicians Acrobats
TRUMPET
Stéphane Beaulac
HORN
Louis-Philippe Marsolais
TUBA
Austin Howle
PERCUSSION
Blair Mackay
TROMBONE
Patrice Richer
ONDES MARTENOT
Wesley Shen
Andréanne Joubert
Xavier Malo
Samuelle McGowan-Richer
Matthew Monty
Lysanne Richard
Hugues Sarra-Bournet
Yves Simard
Caroline Tanguay
Nurturing and visionary support for future opera stars
Thank you to Vanda Treiser Initiatives for helping propel the careers of emerging artists at the Atelier lyrique!
The Philanthropic Community
DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE
$5,000,000+
Le Fonds OVI, Fondation de la famille
Zhao-Ionescu*
$1,000,000+
Power Corporation du Canada*
Initiatives Vanda Treiser*
Thank you, dear donors, for supporting the Opéra de Montréal with such passion and generosity!
*Multi-year pledge
$250,000+
Azrieli Foundation*
René Branchaud*
Services financiers André Ferraro/ Industrielle Alliance*
Tony & Betty Infilise Family Foundation*
Elizabeth Wirth*
$100,000+
Sigrid & Gilles Chatel*
Hydro-Québec
Dr François Loubert*
Sheila & Paul Martin Family Foundation*
RBC Foundation
Ruth & David Steinberg Family Foundation*
$50,000+
Fondation Sandra & Alain Bouchard
Andrée Boucher &
Louis Georges Ste-Marie
CGI
Patrick Corrigan & Marc Poliquin*
Fondation J.A. DeSève
Fondation Jacqueline Desmarais pour les jeunes chanteurs d'opéra canadiens*
Claude Leblanc*
Le Square Phillips Hôtel & Suites*
Carolyn & Richard J. Renaud
$25,000+
Famille Andrea Alacchi*
Naomi & Eric Bissell
Normand Cardella*
Fondation Famille Carré-Tremblay
Françoise P. Chagnon VOCALEX INC.
Antoine Chagnon & Antonio Vieira*
Me Bruno-Étienne Duguay
Famille Dupont*
Ossama el Naggar
Fasken
Fondation Stéfane Foumy
Joyce Fung, in memory of Theodore Fung*
John Farrell & François Leclair
The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation
Fondation Marie-Christine
Tremblay & Jacques Marchand
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Isabelle Murray & Dominic Chalifoux*
Louise Roy O.C., O.Q.
Nestor Hugo Valencia
Joan Vogelesang & Fred Heese †*
Vickie Vouloumanos
Sue & Soren Wehner*
Colleen & Mirko Wicha
Dre Nathalie Zan*
$15,000+
The Adair Family Foundation
Blakes, Cassels & Graydon, Law firm
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg
S.E.N.C.R.L., s.r.l.
The Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation
Jean-François Painchaud
Monique Roy
Sagard
TD Canada Trust
Lillian Vineberg-Goodman Anonymous (1)
$10,000+
Felicia & Arnold Aaron Foundation
Fondation Famille Bertrand
Clear Skies Foundation
Fonds Cogeco
Lise Laberge & Daniel Labrecque
Fondation Famille Lavigne
Fondation Famille Le Blanc
Fondation Famille Lupien
Marcia McKenzie
Patrick Menda
Stella Gignac & Patrick Ouellet
Marie-France Ouimet & Ricardo Pascoe
Mike & Valeria Rosenbloom Foundation
Mike James Ross
Leonard Sanders Family Foundation
Nadia & David Sela
Leslie Silver & Laurent Ferreira
Christopher Winn
AMBASSADORS' CIRCLE
$5,000+
Doron Altman
Antje Bettin, en l'honneur de Chantal Lambert
Rosanne Boisvert & Arto Imamedjian
Isabelle Brassard & Claude Rivard
Isabelle Westwick & François Carrier
Fondation Pierre Desmarais
Belvédère
Gustel Fischer †
Fondation Famille Laoué Cerceau
Jean-Pierre Le Clerc & Mario Ménard
Elizabeth Constance McCormack
Robert Nadeau
Ronald Ouellette
Thérèse & Peter Primiani
Dr. W. Mark Roberts & Roula Drossis
Lesley & Mark Robinson
Jane M. Skoryna
Solutions Heptaèdre
Deborah & Robert Trudeau
Daniel Turp
Anonymous (1)
$3,000+
Lucille Beauchemin
Claudette Belliveau
Danielle Blouin
Louis Bouchard
Vincent Compagnat
Alain Desmeules
Jill de Villafranca & Dr. David Kostiuk
Marie-Hélène Fox
Ann & Andy Ip
Marjory Jolicoeur Inc.
Nathalie Labrecque
Marie-Anick & Jean Eric Laferrière
Nan & Bill Lassner
Stéphane L'Espérance & Carmen Hernandez
À la mémoire de Monique Lussier
Eunice Mayers
Dr. Jacqueline McClaran & Dr. Jonathan Meakins
Vincent Picard-Dufresne & Amélie Michaud
Julie & Pierre Pomerleau
Jean-Pierre Primiani &
Christine Paulino
Emmelle & Alvin Segal
Howard Stotland
Susannah Tam & Peter Ko
Robert Thibaudeau
Tourisme Montréal
Vogelesang Dancik Family
Fonds Famille Jacques L'Écuyer Anonymous (1)
$1,200+
Louise Ahdoot
Philippe Alcouffe
Munirah Amra
Micheline & Raymond Bachand
Dr François Bertrand, Mdcm, Inc.
Carole & Myer Bick
Hy & Joan Bloom
Jill Bodkin
Pierre-Yves Boivin
Mathieu Bouchard
Yves Boulanger
Me Luc Bourbonnais
Fondation Pierre R. Brosseau
Jonathan Brotto
André Canakis
Jean Charbonneau Toxicologue Inc.
Francyne Anne Charbonneau
Jacques L. Charuest
Dominique Chatel
François-Pierre Chevalier
Dr J.P. Chiasson, MD, F.A.S.A.M.
Dr Richard Cloutier
Richard de Blois
Pascal de Guise
Isabelle Demers - idmrs
James Dorff & Laurent Thibault
Michel Drapeau
Fondation Martineau Drapeau
Jean Duclos & Isabelle Beaudin
David Essiambre CPA
Dana Even & Antonella Pagano, thanks to Vanda Treiser
Lucy Fellowes
Pierre Filiatrault & Lucie Gauthier
Me Stephen James Fogarty & Christine Clarke
Claire Fournelle
Yvon Fournier & Douglas Nemish
Antoine Gervais, à la mémoire de Raymond Gervais
The philanthropic community (continued)
Mouna & Elias Ghannoum
Émile Ghattas &
Mona Latif-Ghattas †
Julius H. Grey & Lynne-Marie Casgrain
Marina Gusti
Eren Halil
Philippe Harvey Designer
Fondation Sibylla Hesse
Linda Houle
Peter Hunt
Jarislowsky, Fraser Limitée | Gestion privée de patrimoine
Calvin Kalman & Marilyn Cooperman
Constantine Kyres
Denise Lambert
Diane Lanctôt
Honorable Charles Lapointe, c.p.
Raymonde Lavoie
Martin Lépine
Thomas Leslie, MMM, CD Dr André Levasseur
Kejun Liang, in honour of Frédéric Antoun
The Irving Ludmer Family Foundation
Francis Malka & Marie-Claude Poupart
Louise Joly & Catherine Mirchandani
Caroline Montminy
Maria Morse MBA, CPA & Martin Roberge
Katerine Mousseau
Famille Pierre Provencher
Ginette Quintal
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Marie Christine Torchio & Louis Racine
Pierrette Rayle
Drs. Alexandra & Mark Reich
Évangéline Richard
Catherine Rowe & John Di Gironimo
Henriot M. Sabourin & Pierrette Couture
Dr. Jinder Sall
Serfati Musique
Fondation St-Germain Kavanagh
Merle & Bernard Stotland
Bernard St-Pierre-Marcotte & Francine Ouellette
Karim Talaat
Ruth & Tony Terenzi
Famille Vossos
Diana C. Wall
Martin Watier
Dre Marie Youssef
Tamara Zakon
Linda & Joe Zalter
Anonymous (2)
FRIENDS OF THE OPERA
$600+
Levon & Ana Afeyan
Jocelyne Antille
Paul Benoit
Howard Bergman & Colette Pilon
Anne-Marie Boucher
Martin Bowman
Peter Chiotis & Anthi Balafoutis
Julie Choquet
Maryse Chynchuck
Berney Creighton
à la mémoire de Mme Hélène
Dagenais (3)
Nannette de Gaspé –
NNTT Beauté Inc.
Serge Depatie
Denis Faucher
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Jocelyne Langevin
George E. Lovick
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René Marineau
Allan Marr
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Salvatore Nicastro
Mariella Pandolfi
Jennifer Paquet
Jean-Pierre & Marie-Rose Paradis
David Paulhus
SDBL Administration & Comptabilité inc.
Anonymous (9)
$300+
Ahmed Alzaidi
Alexandre Barradas
Paul Barré
Carole Beaulieu
Louise Blain
Eileen & Herb Borsuk
Denise Bourgeois
Michelle & Guy Bouthillier
Anjali Caillat
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Dre Michelle Comeau
Fonds Micheline & Pierre L. Comtois
Lucile Cyr
Marc-Antoine D'Aragon
Jean-Pierre Deschamps
Suzanne Venne & Jan De Smet
In memory of Jacqueline Ducas
Claude Dumas
Hélène-Louise Dupont Élie
Janka Dvornik
Léopold Ferron
Faustine Fournier
Jacques Gagnon
Thérèse Gagnon Giasson
Peter D. Hannen
John Higginson
Nathalie Ishak
Vincent Jean-François
Louise Julien
Gordana Jovanovich & Charles Kaplan
Berthe Kossak
Mario Lafond
Gilles Lanctôt
Mélanie LaRoche-Boisvert
Arthur LeBlanc
Jean-Charles Le Brun & Normand-G. Robert
Audrey Le Cour
Jacob T. Levy & Shelley Clark
Tina Liu
Murielle Matteau & Daniel
Ladouceur, à la mémoire de Jacqueline Ducas (1931-2024)
Serge Meunier
Mirziyod Mirakhmedov
Malcolm F. Neill
Andrée Noël
Juan Peralta
Michel Perrault & Joanne Bazinet
Marie-Soleil Pichette
Denise Pilote
John Bossange & Lynne Poteau
Margot Provencher
Hélène Rochon
Antoine Saati
Bahjat Salem, à la nourriture de l'âme
Adrienne Savoie
V. Sirois
Lisa Stotland
Marilyn Thomas
Simon & Mathilde Tinawi
Enrique Torrealba
Anna-Maria Tsanaclis
Gerald Zion
Anonymous (9)
$120+
Joseph Allam
Karyn Allen
Nancy Atkins
Adam Atlas
Valentin Bachelier
André Beauchamp
Michel & Margy Beaulne
Robert Belanger
Francine Bélanger
À la mémoire de Jean-Guy Benoit
Francesco Biondi Morra Di Belforte
Élaine Bissonnette
À la mémoire de Normand Blais
Claude Briand
Susan Brown
Mariette Cardinal
Le cercle canadien des femmes de Montréal
Marie-Andrée Champagne
Fannie Charron
Elena Chirokova
Florina Clatisteanu
Philippe Cloutier
Miriam Cooper
Teodor Gabriel Crainic
Suzanne Cummings
Luc Dagenais
Danielle Daveluy
Ute & Michael Davis
France De Garie
Laurie-Anne Deilgat
Micheline Desgagné
Luc Doray
James Dorff & Laurent Thibault
Charles Draimin
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Sylvie Fontaine
Marie-Fabienne Fortin
Laurent Garel
Denyse Gautrin
Denis Gauveau
Magella Girard
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Amy Grainger
Pierrette Gravel Shedleur
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Claude Laneuville
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Marie-Claude Le Clair
Francis Lecomte
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Nacia Faure &
Georges L'Espérance
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Pamela McGovern
Scott Mckay
Chantale Mercier
Joseph Mereb
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Jean-Jacques Nattiez
Alexander Nudelman
Alain Orvoine
À la mémoire de Claire Parenteau Abbott
Desiree Park
Monique Pauzé
Jacques Piché
Henri Pilon
Suzanne Plamondon
François Poirier
Jason Poirier Lavoie
Serge Poisson-de-Haro
Nicole Blanchet, pour les 25 dernières années d'abonnée
Zineb Qannousse
Jean-Pierre Racette
Carmen Reid
Agathe Rhéaume
Marc-André Roberge
Madeleine Rocheleau
Renée & Joseph Rouleau †
Hélène Roy
Lucie Sanfaçon
Marianne Schlegel
Michel Scott
Hugo Sierra
Patricia Spry
Thomas Stewart
Raymonde St-Pierre
Dr. Jean Taillefer
Zivojin Tanich
Martine Tremblay
Suzanne Vadboncoeur
Susan Vincelli
Nan & Jack Wiseman
Anonymous (44)
Lamy-Martel Family
"Even in the hockey locker room, we talk about opera!"
For the Lamy-Martel family, music is a love passed down from one generation to the next, like a hockey puck from one player to another. “Our son Phoenix attended his first concert when he was only one month old,” jokes Josiane Lamy. “I remember it very clearly, it was jazz. Since then, he’s joined us for almost all of our musical outings, including the opera!”
Now in fourth grade, Phoenix has developed a curiosity for all kinds of music. And accompanying his parents to see Clown(s) or Carmen at Opéra de Montréal doesn't stop him from playing... the drums!
It's never too early to see an opera
“I don't come from a family of musicians,” says Éric Martel, "but I've always loved classical music. Then, at age 12, I discovered opera and the beauty of its staging. What a shock! The vibrations, the harmony, the emotion—it was magnificent. Something was born at that moment, and
it never stopped. It’s important to have experiences like this early in life, because it changes our relationship with the world."
His partner had a remarkably similar experience. "In Gaspésie, where I lived, I played the piano, was part of bands and the choir, attended grand organ concerts, but did not have access to opera. So, the first thing I did when I arrived in Montréal was to go to Place des Arts. They were
Josiane Lamy and Éric Martel at the premiere of The Marriage of Figaro
Portrait of a Philanthropic Family
playing Carmen. Seeing that same opera, on the same stage, in a few months, will bring back a lot of memories," she says, looking at Phoenix and Éric with a knowing smile, as if opera were the common thread running through this family. A thread of love.
A first gift from the heart
Long-time subscribers, the Lamy-Martels have been financially supporting Opéra de Montréal since the pandemic. “Many performances were canceled during the health crisis, and rather than asking for a refund, we donated the value of the tickets. It was our way of helping the Opera and the artists weather the storm. It got us hooked on cultural philanthropy," explains Éric, an IT consultant, and Josiane, who works in healthcare. Today, the couple are regular patrons of the company and members of the Ambassadors' Circle.
The couple take their role as ambassadors very seriously... but with a sense of humour! “One day, we took our son to hockey. Since we were going to the opera right after, we were dressed up, which prompted questions from the other parents. And there, between the players' locker room and the stands, we shared our love of opera, talked about the emotion, the beauty...”
The story doesn't say whether Phoenix scored a goal that night, but one thing is certain: opera definitely scored some points!
Ensuring the next generation of artists and audiences
Having passed on their love of music to their son, Josiane and Éric dream of passing on a passion for opera to new generations. "We are very attached to the Atelier lyrique, which trains the next generation of Canadian artists, and to the efforts of Opéra de Montréal to promote local creators. But what matters most to us is that the art of opera continues and is accessible to as many people as possible. That's why we give. Our gifts make it possible to offer lower-cost tickets for each performance. And we are happy to give as many people as possible— young people, students, those with limited means—a chance to experience opera. It’s a very tangible impact.”
Very tangible and very generous! Thank you, Josiane, Éric, and Phoenix, for your enthusiasm and for sharing your love of opera with all your hearts.
To learn more about the different ways to support the Opéra de
please reach out to:
Géraldine Leong Sang Philanthropic Operations and Communications Coordinator
514 985-2222 poste 2222 gleong-sang@operademontreal.com
The Lamy-Martel family at the Opera's Quizz Night
Montréal,
Civic Impact and Education Partners
Presenting Partners
National Auditions Partner
MRS. VANDA TREISER and in in memory of MR. BENJAMIN TREISER
DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal
Hôtel Saint-Sulpice LaCité
Le Mille Neuf Malinki
Marie-Claude Paquette, graphic designer Place des Arts
La Fondation Azrieli est fière de soutenir l’Opéra de Montréal dans la découverte, l’élévation et l’amplification de nouvelles voix.
The Azrieli Foundation is proud to support Opéra de Montréal in discovering, elevating and amplifying new voices.
Artistic coordinator and Stage / Dominique Guindon, Head / Sonya Bayer, Administrator, / Sandra Chirico, Wardrobe
L’OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Director, Atelier lyrique / Program Manager / Head Vocal Coach / Artistic Associate
Head, Philanthropy / Manager, Philanthropy / Audrey Le Cour, Advisor, Philanthropy and Partnerships / Manager, Philanthropic Operations and Communications / Mia Acting Manager, Philanthropic Operations and Communications / Marion Project Manager, Philanthropic / Géraldine Leong Sang, Coordinator, Philanthropic Operations and Communications / Micol Battaglia, Assistant, Philanthropic Events and / Pierre-Antoine Ferracin, Assistants, Philanthropy
SOCIAL IMPACT AND EDUCATION
Director, Social Impact / Charlotte Gagnon, Manager, Social Impact and Education / Trycia Paquin, Coordinator, Social Impact and Education
Acting Director, Finance and Administration / Ndieme Diene, Payroll / Antoine Leriche, Accounting
HUMAN RESOURCES
Director, Human Resources
Bélanger, Assistant Stage Managers
COSTUMES
Dominique Guindon, Head of Wardrobe / Sonya Bayer, Administrator, Wardrobe / Sandra Chirico, Wardrobe Supervisor / Cassandre Josépovic, Wardrobe Technician / Richard Provost, Hat Maker / Mélanie Richard, Alain Spooner, Cutters / Anne-Sophie Boucher, Marie-Claire Doyon, Anna-Mae E. Hutchison, Sandrine Moreau, Asami Rey, Seamstresses / Guylaine Gagnon, Shoemaking / Geneviève Fortin, Head Dresser (ODM) / Sophie Boivin, Head Dresser (PDA)
PUPPET CONSTRUCTION
Christine Plouffe, Véronique Poirier, Sam St-Pierre, Alizée Milot, Atenu Sandu
PROPS
Madeleine Saint-Jacques, Head Props / Philippe Pointard, Distinguished Props Master
HAIR & MAKE-UP
Julie Casault, Head of Makeup Department and of Hair & Wigs / André Duval, Janie Otis, Guislaine Sant, Karine Deest, Marie-Ève Ménard, Manon Alexandre, Hair Stylists
Camiel McLean, Marianne Bobet, Stéphanie Villemaire, Alexe-Rose Francoeur, Jacques Besner, Steve Day, Makeup Artists
RUNNER
Tyler Parent
FILM PRODUCTION
Benoît Guérin, assisted by Dominick Cousineau-Benoit
Technical Staff OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Daniel Masse, Head Carpenter / Julie Latulippe, Martin Jannard, Head Carpenters Assistants / Pierre Véniot, Olivier Venne, Heads of Sound / David Leblanc, Prop Master / Isabelle Gagnon, Prop Master / Martin Turgeon, Nicolas Bernier, Prop Master Assistant / Charles Denis, Head Fly Man / Eric Piché, Assistant Head Fly Man / Saturnin Goyer, Head of Lighting / Chantal Dostie, Assistant, Head of Lighting
Stage technical services are provided by: IATSE local 56 / Unité PDA
PRESIDENT René Branchaud
Lavery
VICE-PRESIDENT
Elizabeth Wirth
Wirth-Brand Inc., Wirth Rail
TREASURER
Sylvie Marois
Professionals’ Financial Group, Wealth Management
MEMBERS
François Carrier Desjardins, Marché des capitaux
Antoine Chagnon
Lallemand
Bruno-Étienne Duguay
NOVACAP
Lise Laberge Philanthropist
Joanie Lapalme Fasken
François Loubert
Angus medical Clinic
Guillaume Marion Sagard
Isabelle Murray Philanthropist
Louise Roy, O.C., O.Q. CIRANO
Bernard Stotland, FCA, FCPA
Richter
Vanda Treiser Philanthropist
Daniel Turp Université de Montréal
Joan Vogelesang
Joan Vogelesang (JV) Consultants
Vickie Zhao Philanthropist
GRAN FINALE CONCERT
MAY 20, 2026, AT 7PM THÉÂTRE MAISONNEUVE
The Atelier lyrique’s closing concert is the highlight of the year! Open to the entire community, it celebrates the talent of our artists through music in a warm, festive atmosphere. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and share a joyful moment centred on opera.
Donors to the Opéra de Montréal enjoy exclusive early access to tickets for the Gran Finale concert. Join fellow patrons and friends of the opera to secure priority seating and ensure your place at this one-of-a-kind celebratory event.
CARMEN - BIZET
MAY 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 2026
SALLE WILFRID-PELLETIER
There is no “opera” without Carmen and there is no more potent Carmen than that which pours forth from the masterful baton of Jean-Marie Zeitouni and the Orchestre Métropolitain.
This production will explore the full emotional range of Bizet’s tempestuous masterpiece — its beauty, its intensity, its truth — alongside a cast of operatic luminaries, including Rihab Chaieb, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Magali Simard-Galdès, and Ethan Vincent.
Up to 40% off solo tickets with the code: SOLOCARMEN
NOUVE AUTÉS. CL AS SIQUES. ÉVÉNEMENTS.
Le meilleur du cinéma d’art et d’essai sur grand écran.
