Experimental Toronto opera theatre taps high-profile librettist as artistic director

The experimental Toronto-based opera company Against the Grain Theatre has recruited award-winning librettist Royce Vavrek, shown in a handout photo, as its new artistic director. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

By Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press

Posted Oct 15, 2024 11:28:44 AM.

Last Updated Oct 15, 2024 11:31:21 AM.

TORONTO — The experimental Toronto-based opera company Against the Grain Theatre has recruited award-winning librettist Royce Vavrek as its new artistic director.

The Alberta-born, Brooklyn-based Vavrek is taking the reins from founding artistic director Joel Ivany, who left the role last year.

The company, founded in 2010, is known for staging operas in unexpected places, including a monthly series in pubs.

Vavrek won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2017 for writing the text of the opera “Angel’s Bone” with composer Du Yun.

Royce is currently adapting the Thomas King novel “Indians on Vacation” for the opera with composer Ian Cusson.

The project was co-commissioned by Against the Grain and Edmonton Opera and is expected to debut in 2026.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2024.

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press

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