
TRAVERSÉES: An Opera-Ballet

The
Grand Opera-Ballet “ Traversées”
is a welcome return to the Golden Era of opulence and creative style in music
and dance. In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Acadian
presence in North America,
it presents, in various stages and settings, the many chapters of this long and
amazing history, threaded together through the aural presence of an Angel, who guides
the audience along musical pathways. Beautiful staging, lavish costumes, a
splendid cast of soloists and choirs were accompanied by L’Orchestre de la garde républicaine, Paris, France, brilliantly bringing to life
the Opera’s exquisite music score composed by world-renowned composer-pianist Ludmila Knezkova-Hussey, with a
libretto by Award winning Acadian writer/dramatist, New Brunswick’s
Lieutenant Governor, Herménégilde Chiasson.
.

Moving
through 4 centuries, Traversées relives the history
of New Brunswick’s
Acadian peoples, highlighting their tragedies and triumphs since the first
mapping of the coastline by Samuel de Champlain on the 1604 voyage. For 3
hours, the audience is totally transported back into history, from the time of
the first Acadians arrival to Ste. Croix Island, then during their tragic
dispersal (1755), to the eventual triumphant rebirth of Acadian culture. Traversées marries a classical vocal and symphonic score
with interpretive, classical ballet, and the
narrative
is sung by a 50 voice chorus. Although this original opera ballet is performed
primarily in French it also includes aboriginal languages, Latin and English,
with subtitles provided throughout the presentation. The beautiful stage
setting is enhanced by a large video backdrop that depicts supporting scenic
pictures of the surrounding countryside.

“Traversees” is the
first Opera documenting the Acadian history in the New
World.
