- Rosalie Malo | annexe
- Jan 15
- 5 min read
L’OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
CLOWN(S)
January 31 to February 8, 2026
At Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts, Montreal
Montreal, QC – January 15, 2026 – Opéra de Montréal presents CLOWN(S), a brand-new, original work created entirely in Montreal by composer Ana Sokolović, with stage direction by Martin Genest. Driven by Sokolović’s rich imagination and singular sensibility, this 1 hour and 15-minute opera, performed without intermission, will take flight with its world premiere on January 31, 2026, at Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts in Montréal.
Inspired by the world of the circus as well as iconic figures of cinema such as Fellini and silent film legends Chaplin and Keaton—and blending music, theatre, dance, acrobatics, and puppetry—CLOWN(S) offers a musical fable in seven tableaux exploring the cycle of life. Among the artists on stage, we find a figure well known to the public: high-diving athlete, circus performer, and Big Brother Célébrités Season 2 participant, Lysanne Richard, performing alongside the Dynamo troupe.
“For me, the clown is humanity laid bare: vulnerable, funny, awkward, but deeply truthful. Clown(s) is a celebration of that humanity, in all its brightness and imperfection.”
— Ana Sokolović, composer and librettist
Synopsis
This fresco combining invented language, music, and magic immerses audiences in the fantastical world of the circus and its performers. A production that promises to amaze and move.
Surprising the audience, a car arrives on stage, releasing an entire inner and imaginary universe. A journey then unfolds through the great stages of life: birth, discovery, wonder, love, joy, conflict, sadness, and serenity. A tale in which clowns—sometimes in makeup, sometimes stripped bare—celebrate the grandeur of humanity.
Written for four soloists, choir, brass ensemble, percussion, and ondes Martenot, CLOWN(S) reveals a score rich in colour, texture, and distinctive sounds, reflecting Ana Sokolović’s boundless imagination.
“What excites me about opera is the power of music: it allows emotions to travel from the performer’s body to that of the audience.”
— adds, Ana Sokolović
“I translated the rhythms, colours, and tonal shifts of this inspiring work into images, in order to reveal all of its subtleties.”
— Martin Genest, stage director
“Behind the musical complexity of CLOWN(S) lies Ana’s rich, sensitive, and humorous imagination. To travel through her work, I chose to use multiple media: puppets, circus arts, shadows, black light, clown performance… an immense playground.”
— adds, Martin Genest
A Defining Creation for Opéra de Montréal
With CLOWN(S), Opéra de Montréal reaffirms its commitment to supporting contemporary creation and local artists. Entirely conceived, imagined, and brought to life by Québec and Canadian talent—from writing and staging to performers, artisans, and musicians—this work pushes the boundaries of the operatic genre and illustrates the vitality of our artistic ecosystem. This ambitious production reflects Opéra de Montréal’s dedication to giving a voice to today’s creators, fostering innovation, and nurturing a renewed dialogue between tradition and modernity.
“CLOWN(S) embodies what Opéra de Montréal seeks to offer our audiences: bold, deeply human works rooted in local creativity. We are extremely proud to champion this original creation and to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent of Québec and Canadian artists, both on stage and behind the scenes.”
— Michel Beaulac, Artistic Director, Opéra de Montréal – Zhao-Ionescu Family
CLOWN(S): An Opera to Discover!
Tickets starting at $25 are available at:
Cast and Creative Team
Soloists
Aline Kutan, Soprano (Canada/Armenia)
Mireille Lebel, Mezzo-soprano (Canada)
Andrew Haji, Tenor (Canada)
Bruno Roy, Baritone (Canada)
Conductor
Jiří Rožeň
Dramaturg
Dáirine Ní Mheadhra
Assistant Director
Stéphanie Capistran-Lalonde
Set Design
Anne-Séguin Poirier
Costume Design
Sébastien Dionne
Lighting Design
Laurent Routhier
Puppet Design
Patrick Martel
Rehearsal Pianist
Francis Perron
Chorus Master
Claude Webster
Opéra de Montréal Chorus
Odei Bilodeau / Anne-Marie Beaudette / Ghislaine Deschambault / Rosalie Lane Lépine / Mathieu Abel / Julien Girard / Clermont Tremblay / Guillaume St-Cyr
Musicians
Trumpet: Stéphane Beaulac
Horn: Louis-Philippe Marsolais
Tuba: Austin Howle
Percussion: Blair Mackay
Trombone: Patrice Richer
Ondes Martenot: Wesley Shen
DynamO Théâtre Performers
Yves Simard / Andréanne Joubert / Hugues Sarra-Bournet / Lysanne Richard / Xavier Malo / Samuelle McGowan-Richer / Caroline Tanguay / Matthew Monty
Production
Productions ODM inc., with the financial support of SODEC
Performance Dates
• January 31, 2026 – World Premiere, Montreal
• February 3, 2026
• February 5, 2026
• February 8, 2026
Tickets starting at $25:
ABOUT THE OPÉRA DE MONTRÉAL
Firmly rooted in Montréal, at the crossroads of North American and European cultures, the Opéra de Montréal acts as a catalyst for the city’s artistic creativity and celebrates Québec and Canada’s rich vocal heritage. Bringing opera to life in all its diversity and daring, the company presents both the great classics of the repertoire and new works from here and abroad. Through its development program for Canada’s top young singers and its strong commitment to community and educational initiatives, the Opéra de Montréal creates unforgettable lyric events where everyone feels warmly welcomed and inspired.
ABOUT ANA SOKOLOVIĆ
A leading figure in contemporary music, Québec-based composer Ana Sokolović has distinguished herself on the international stage through her imaginative, rhythm-driven music. Her repertoire spans critically acclaimed operas and orchestral works, as well as powerful solo and chamber music compositions.
Originally from Serbia, Sokolović writes music infused with Balkan rhythms and influenced by multiple artistic disciplines. She has recently won two consecutive JUNO Awards for Classical Composition of the Year: in 2019 for Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes, a work for countertenor, choir, and orchestra; and in 2020 for her violin concerto Evta. Her four operas have been presented internationally, including at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Boston, and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. Her opera Svadba, premiered in 2010, received the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best New Opera.
This season, Sokolović’s opera CLOWN(S) receives its world premiere at Opéra de Montréal. This new stage work draws inspiration from the worlds of Sand, Fellini, Chaplin, and Keaton to create a musical favola told in seven scenes. Alongside her work as a composer, she has been appointed the inaugural holder of the Opera Research and Creation Chair at the Université de Montréal.
ABOUT MARTIN GENEST
A major figure in the performing arts in Quebec for over twenty years, Martin Genest has created groundbreaking stage concepts both in Quebec and internationally.
An experienced director, he is recognized for his immersive and innovative approach to theater, challenging the traditional stage-audience relationship and engaging the spectator’s senses.
Two productions, particularly acclaimed by critics — Festen, Fête de famille (adapted from Thomas Vinterberg’s film) and Octobre 70 (adapted from Pierre Falardeau’s film) — brought him to the attention of the wider public and earned him several awards.
He collaborates with major institutions such as Théâtre du Trident and Cirque du Soleil, notably with Joyà, a permanent show combining circus performance, music, theater, and culinary arts, which has been running in Mexico since 2014.
After a trip to Vietnam, Martin Genest made his first foray into opera, working with Robert Lepage as the puppet choreographer for The Nightingale and Other Fables by Igor Stravinsky, which has been performed across Europe.
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Source: L'Opéra de Montréal
Pour plus d'informations:
Lyne Dutremble | annexe | lyne@annexe.media
Et/ou Maryse Bouchard | annexe | maryse@annexe.media
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