For the second year in a row, the Canada Research Chair in Opera Creation has organized an interdisciplinary research-creation seminar on the art of the clown in opera at Orford Musique. Led by Ana Sokolović, composer and holder of the Research Chair, this seminar brought together a team of renowned coaches and professors, including choreographer Sarah Bild, director and puppeteer Martin Genest, director of the French playwriting program at NTS Diane Pavlović, bouffon teacher Massimo Agostinelli, puppeteer Caroline Tanguay, clown Véronika Makdissi-Warren, as well as postdoctoral researchers Patrick Giguère and Kit Soden.
During these two intensive weeks, composers, librettists, musicologists, singers, dancers and instrumentalists had the opportunity to be immersed in an interdisciplinary creative process. Guided by the experts, participants collaborated on the realization of original and innovative works. Through improvisation, co-creation, and research-creation, they explored and reinvented the many facets of the lyrical arts.
This exceptional seminar aimed to stimulate collective reflection and push the boundaries of creativity. Students were encouraged to create operas rooted in contemporary issues, reflecting our times. With the resources at their disposal and the time given, they unleashed their imagination to shape the future of this millennia-old art form.