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North American Works Directory Listing
| Composer: |
Claude Vivier
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| Composer Bio: |
Many consider Claude Vivier the greatest composer Canada has yet produced. At the age of 34, he was the victim of a shocking murder, leaving behind some 49 compositions in a wide range of genres, including opera, orchestral works, and chamber pieces. György Ligeti once called Vivier "the finest French composer of his generation."
Born in Montréal, Vivier studied at the Conservatoire de Musique. In the fall of 1976 a visit to Bali caused Vivier to reevaluate his ideas concerning the role of the artist in society, initiating a new period in his stylistic evolution. In the wake of this journey he wrote Shiraz for piano, Orion for orchestra, and his opera Kopernikus. Above all, it was in his cycle of pieces for voice and instrumental ensemble, particularly Lonely Child (1980) and Prologue pour un Marco Polo (1981) that Vivier's unique style crystallized. In a New York Times profile, Paul Griffiths observed, "The harmonic auras are suddenly more complex, and the fantastic orchestration is unlike anything in Vivier's earlier music, or anyone else's…”
Vivier advocates include Mauricio Kagel, Kent Nagano, Reinbert de Leeuw, David Robertson, and Dawn Upshaw. Vivier's music featured prominently in Holland Festival 2005, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra opened its 2005-06 season with Lonely Child, with David Robertson conducting and Dawn Upshaw as the soprano soloist. In 2005, the Montréal Symphony Orchestra inaugurated the Claude Vivier National Prize for the best work by a Canadian composer.
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| Librettist: |
Claude Vivier
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| Other Artistic Personnel: |
Lorraine Viallancourt (Conductor)
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| Premiere Date: |
August 05, 1980
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| Producing Company: |
l’Atelier de jeu scénique de la Faculté de Musique de l’Université de Montréal
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| Description: |
In this ‘mystic tale’ the central character Agni – named after a Hindu deity – calls on historical and mythical figures: Lewis Carroll, Merlin, a witch, the Queen of the Night, a blind prophet, an old monk, Tristan, Isolde, Mozart, the Lord of the Waters, Copernicus and his mother.
Is Agni merely dreaming that they are present? Are they no more than figments of her imagination? Or are they memories of the human archetypes that accompanied her during her ritual initiation? Agni dematerializes.
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| Reviews: |
Opera Canada, Paula Citron, 9/22/2001; La Scena Musicales, Joseph So, 6/29/2001; La Folia, Grant Chu Covell, 2/2010;
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| Orchestration: |
1 ob, 3 cl - 1 tpt, 1tbn - perc(played by singers):tam-t/Balinese gong/rin gongs/ant.cyms/t.bells - vln
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| Contact: |
Hendon Music / Boosey & Hawkes
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| Address: |
229 W 28th Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10001
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| Phone: |
212-358-5300
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What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
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From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45 (not including tip).
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JFK -
Take the AirTrain ($5 - approx. 15 minutes) to the Jamaica Street Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).
Take the LIRR to Penn Station ($12 - approx. 35 minutes). See Penn Station directions below.
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LaGuardia -
Take the M60 Bus to the Hoyt Ave/31st Street. Get on the
 or  Train and take that to 42nd/Times Square Station.
Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
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Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See
the Penn Station Directions below.
From Penn Station/Madison Square Garden:
Leave the station through the 7th Avenue/33rd Street exit and walk south for four blocks. The building is on the right hand side.
From Grand Central Station:
Take the  Train to the 42nd/Times Square station and transfer to the  Train.
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
From 42nd Street/Times Square:
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the MTA Web site.
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