-\| Louis Riel: traitor or iconic Canadian?
This and other questions raised by UBC’s reprise of the
rarely performed opera, Louis Riel

By Jay Schreiber, Arts Editor light to his apparent sociopathic
state. Since Riel doesn’t have that
connection with the people he
represents, it kind of makes his
whole battle appear in vain.
Nevertheless, although the
content was often difficult to deal
with, the talent being brewed at

UBC managed to pull through in

fter 125-odd years to reflect

on the “heroic” ending to

Louis Riel’s life, Harry
Somer’s opera is still bringing this
story to the stage. Having only been
performed a few times since its debut
on CBC in the late 1960s, this itself

Olympic Edition

 

Vancouver and loads of acts are going to be turning this city into party central. Here’s a

| ike it or lump it, various performance stages have been set up around the city of
highlight reel of what to see and where to find it during the craziest two weeks this city

 

 

 

will most likely ever experience.

Saturday, February 13

See Wilco at 9 p.m. on the Livecity Yaletown stage located in David Lam Park at
Drake St. and Pacific Blvd. downtown. This rockin’ group is not a free show that you
want to pass up.

Sunday, February 14

Vancouver Seeds winner Daniel Wesley rocks out the free Livecity Yaletown stage at
9:30 p.m. tonight while Nelly Furtado gets promiscuous with all of BC Place for just
$22.

Monday, February 15
On the Yaletown stage at 9:30, don’t miss Jewish reggae star Matisyahu, and later that
night at Granville Island’s Backstage Lounge, Sloan featuring The Stanfields.

Tuesday, February 16

Starting at 7:30, Barenaked Ladies play a $22 BC Place concert, when at 9:30 the
Yaletown Stage has Ontario emo group Alexisonfire for free. On the Downtown Stage
at 9:30, Buck 65 is rocking it until The Trews come on stage at the Granville Island
Lounge around 10:30.

Saturday, February 20
Crowd around the Yaletown Stage at 9:30 to see the Sam Roberts Band play a free
show.

Sunday, February 21
Pay the $22 to get into BC Place for great Canadian ‘80s rock groups Loverboy and
Trooper at 7:30.

Monday, February 22
DJ Bones will be spinning at the Club Adrenaline on Granville Island at 9:30 and at
the same time, you could catch Colin James play at the Yaletown Stage.

Tuesday, February 23
For the low, low price of $22, you can see Billy Talent play at BC Place, or for free
you can check out The Constantines at the Yaletown Stage.

Wednesday, February 24

Determined Australian rock group INXS are going to be at BC Place for an overpriced
$22 show, and at 9:30 the talented Damian Marley will be rocking on the Yaletown
Stage.

Thursday, February 25

For the pop punker in you, Ill Scarlet plays the Yaletown Stage at 6:30, but blow that
one off because the great Burton Cummings is taking care of business for only $22 at
BC Place.

Friday, February 26
Get lost in the Great Big Sea at BC Place, and a few surprise acts may show up on the
city stages.

Sunday, February 27
On the last night of concerts, check out Great Big Sea at BC Place, before the stadium
is used for the closing ceremonies.

 

 

iit

is a historical moment for the arts
world in our city.

For anyone who fell asleep in
Grade 10 social studies, here’s a

quick recap of why Riel is important.

The guy stood up against the British
in an act of rebellion on behalf of
French and Natives living in what
is now Manitoba. British win, Riel
hangs and today we live in Canada.
For the Canadian centennial
in ‘67, the same government that
had Riel put under the rope paid

- Harry Somers to compose an opera

based on the life of Canada’s most
infamous traitor. The opera has now
become perhaps the most famous
in Canadian history, and to see
the students of UBC re-enact this
moment in our past is a reminder of
how we’ve developed as a society.
That being said, the production
of this historic opera comes with
some issues attached to it. For
example, Harry Somers modernist
composition style can sometimes
make the libretto difficult to take
in one sitting. A simple feeling and
thought in any given scene gets
unnecessarily articulated and twisted
for no apparent reason. Riel is often
singing secluded away from the
general population in order give

 

delivering high-quality depiction of
Somer’s vision. The pit orchestra
was the star of the show, articulating
an accurate portrayal of the often
intriguing, well thought out score.
The chorus held together very well
as townspeople with the standout
performances going to the scenes
featuring members of Riel’s family.

With the stage split between
Red River and Ottawa divided down
the middle by a giant stairwell, it
seems that the acting was contained
and often it became difficult to get
engaged in the performance. With
the exception of a few all inclusive
scenes, such as the day Riel stands
trial, things were fairly divided much
like the state of Canada at this point
in history.

In the end, Riel was just a
traitor who made a few bad mistakes
that put him in the way of Canada’s
creation as a country from coast
to coast. Like the last line of the
production states “Thank God the
Bastard’s Dead.” Like most things
in this country, the production of
something so important to our history
is tough to chew, and isn’t very east
to enjoy. Like Riel found out, being a
Canadian isn’t all easy.