Organization

Conductor

Sean Mayes

Assistant Stage Director

Sheree Spencer

Singer

Soprano

Neema Bickersteth

Portia Body

Adrienne Danrich

Portia Spirit

Canadian Opera Company

Stage director

HAUI (Howard J Davis)

Dramaturge

Set designer

Laura Warren

Video designer

Costume designer

Diseiye Thompson

Sound designer

Wayne Hawthorne

Lighting designer

Bonnie Beecher

Stage combat master

Siobhan Richardson

Mezzo-soprano

SATE

Portia Soul

Choreographer

Aria Evans

Henos Girma

Jimmie

Orchestra

Canadian Opera Company Orchestra

Stage Manager

Kat Chin

Associate Producer

English

Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White

Toronto

Canada

Canadian Opera Company Theatre (Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre)

Public

Aportia Chryptych

Approved

Canadian Opera Company Theatre (Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Ce

Photo of Neema Bickersteth, Adrienne Danrich and SATE

The song "Think on Me" has become synonymous with Portia White, known for its lyrics supposedly penned by Mary Queen of Scots. Portia acknowledged the song's...

Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White: Aportia Chryptych Mayes | Davis, H. J.

Nova Scotian contralto Portia White was the first Black Canadian concert performer to achieve international fame in the mid- 20th century, touring North America and performing in Europe while being hailed as the best classical voice of her generation. Yet despite such artistic accomplishments, her story has been erased from Canadians’ collective memory.

Working against this history, Aportia Chryptych is a bold, new Black opera that sets out to reclaim Portia White’s story, evoking memories of the past as a form of political resistance. Spoken word, rap, folk songs, hip-hop, R&B, and classic opera repertoire collide in an explosive score that seeks to break down musical silos and unite artistic and cultural communities.

APORTIA CHRYPTYCH: A BLACK OPERA FOR PORTIA WHITE
HAUI x Sean Mayes
JUNE 14, 15, AND 16, 2024

Canadian Opera Company Theatre
227 Front St. E., Toronto, Ontario

WORLD PREMIERE

Sung in English, Creole, and Joual



CAST AND CREATIVE TEAMS

Composer: Sean Mayes with HAUI
Director and Librettist: HAUI
Assistant Director: Sheree Spencer
Dramaturg: Neema Bickersteth
Conductor: Sean Mayes
Set & Projection Design: Laura Warren
Lighting Design: Bonnie Beecher
Costume Design: Diseiye Thompson
Sound Design: Wayne Hawthorne
Stage Manager: Kat Chin
Assistant Stage Manager: Jessica Severin
Choreography & Intimacy Director: Aria Evans

Portia Body: Neema Bickersteth
Portia Spirit: Adrienne Danrich
Portia Soul: SATE
Jimmie: Henos Girma

Associate Producer: Sheree Spencer

Produced by the Canadian Opera Company, in association with the National Arts Centre's National Creation Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, and Ontario Arts Council

The COC Orchestra is generously sponsored, in part, by W. Bruce C. Bailey, in honour of Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director, and Johannes Debus, COC Music Director, and, in part, by the Schulich Foundation

Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera for Portia White by Mayes, From (2024/2024), Directed by HAUI (Howard J Davis),, Conductor Sean Mayes, Canadian Opera Company Theatre (Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Ce, Toronto, Canada

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues