Violons du Roy | The Highly Talented Innu Soprano Performing at the Opening Concert

Genres and styles : Baroque / classique

Additional Information

Needless to say, the arts mastered by Indigenous Peoples today go far beyond the expression of their ancestral heritage or their modern adaptation to American aesthetics, more specifically country, folk, or rock music. Artists of all genres are emerging and shining, and opera singing is no exception.

That is why PAN M 360 gives pride of place to Innu soprano Élisabeth St-Gelais, guest soloist with Les Violons du Roy under the baton of Jonathan Cohen, performing three arias by German Baroque composer Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787).

As the respected and esteemed Florent Vollant pointed out at an ADISQ Gala (when an Indigenous category was inaugurated), this artist was not invited to this prestigious program for political correctness, but simply because she is excellent!

Elisabeth St-Gelais now has an international career. Her journey speaks for itself:

An Innu from the community of Pessamit (near Baie-Comeau), raised mainly in Saguenay, she holds a master’s degree from McGill University in the Voice and Opera program. Her great talent earned her the prestigious Wirth Vocal Prize as well as first prize in the 19-30 age category at the 2022 CANIMEX Canadian Competition. In 2023, she won the Prix d’Europe at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. That same year, she also won first prize and the audience prize at the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition in Toronto. Named Radio-Canada Classique’s Revelation for the 2023-2024 season, she was selected in 2024 for the regionals of the Met Laffont Opera Competition, where she won the Encouragement Award. Committed and responsible, the singer has also been a member of the board of directors of the Conseil québécois de la musique since April 2023.

PAN M 360: You are a flagship of indigenous modernity, whose artistic expression is much more diverse than people realize. Bravo!

Elisabeth St-Gelais: It’s wonderful to hear you say that! If only you knew how much it means to an Indigenous artist.

PAN M 360: You trained in classical Western music and are known for your classical performances, but you are also deeply rooted in and committed to your ancestral culture.

Elisabeth St-Gelais: Absolutely. So, my training, in fact, what I want to do, and I think people can get a little confused about my goal. That goal is very simple: to be an opera singer.

Through this, I am a representative of Canada’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, who are Canada’s first peoples. I have a platform, as I am somewhat well-known in the classical music world. If I achieve my goals and my career progresses, perhaps my role as a representative will become a little more apparent.

PAN M 360: Like any artist in the world who excels in opera singing, you don’t limit yourself to your own culture, which is perfectly normal.

Elisabeth St-Gelais : Absolument.

PAN M 360: Of course, you have to master the great repertoire. And if there are indigenous composers, so much the better. The renaissance of indigenous culture is far from over! We are still in the golden age of the phenomenon.

Elisabeth St-Gelais: Exactly. And as more and more Indigenous composers are finding greater opportunities to express themselves, collaborations are being considered on a larger scale. In this era of truth and reconciliation, Indigenous peoples are becoming more empowered in all spheres of society. So now is really the time when we can see the full potential of Indigenous artists.

PAN M 360: Let’s talk about your invitation to Les Violons du Roy for this grand opening concert in Quebec City and Montreal, conducted by Jonathan Cohen. Big deal!

Élisabeth St-Gelais : Yes, indeed!

PAN M 360: In this program, you perform three arias by Gluck, namely arias WQ40, WQ45, and WQ44. Tell us about them!

Élisabeth St-Gelais: Of course. I first had discussions with Laurent Patenaude (co-executive director and artistic administrator of Les Violons du Roy) to choose the Baroque repertoire for me, which is more romantic, because this orchestra specializes (mainly) in that period.

So we went with Gluck and found excerpts from three different operas: Iphigénie en Aulide (WQ 40), Armide (WQ 45) and Alceste (WQ 44). So we will have the interpretation of three strong characters at pivotal moments in each opera.

PAN M 360: How did the preparation go?

Elisabeth St-Gelais: I just got back from a rehearsal with Les Violons du Roy, and I was very impressed by the ensemble and its extraordinary conductor, Jonathan Cohen. Today’s rehearsal has definitely given me even more inspiration. The orchestra is extraordinary. It’s a great opportunity for me to deepen my musical language, to play with performers of this caliber, and with a conductor of Mr. Cohen’s stature. Yes, and Baroque singing is quite different from 19th-century singing.

PAN M 360: Vocal technique is different when it comes to baroque music. Tell us about the adjustments you make.

Élisabeth St-Gelais: There are several possible approaches, in fact. We are taking a slightly more intellectual approach here than usual, as far as I am concerned, but it is still extremely passionate. It really inspired me.

PAN M 360: Apart from working with conductor Jonathan Cohen, did you work with anyone else to adapt to Baroque singing?

Elisabeth St-Gelais : Oui, notamment avec Alexandre Dratwicki, directeur du Palazzetto Bru Zane à Venise, qui collabore régulièrement au Domaine Forget de Charlevoix. J’ai aussi travaillé avec ma coach Louise Pelletier et mon professeur de chant Stefano Algieri.

PAN M 360: That’s quite a mandate, three arias of this caliber. Big contract!

Elisabeth St-Gelais: Not just big, but beautiful too!

PAN M 360: Upcoming projects?

Elisabeth St-Gelais : October is a very busy month! There’s the Stella Musica Festival on October 17 at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts. Then there’s the opening of the Agora Orchestra season, a recital at the Théâtre du Lac-Brome with Louise Pelletier, and then I’ll be heading off to Berlin for a while.

PAN M 360: Opera singers always travel!

Elisabeth St-Gelais : Oui!

Raoul-Jobin Hall at Palais Montcalm, Thursday, October 9, 7:30 p.m. Information and tickets HERE.

Maison Symphonique, Friday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. Information and tickets HERE

Programme

J.-B. LULLY

Suite Le bourgeois gentilhomme

C.W. GLUCK

• Dieux puissants que j’atteste… Jupiter lance la foudre (Iphigénie en Aulide, Wq. 40)
• Ah ! Si la liberté me doit être ravie (Armide, Wq. 45)
• Ah, malgré moi, mon faible cœur… O Ciel ! Quel supplice, quelle douleur (Alceste, Wq. 44)

A. VIVALDI

Concerto pour violoncelle en do mineur, RV 401

J.S. BACH

Ouverture pour orchestre n° 3 en ré majeur, BWV 1068