Two Odysseys: Pimooteewin / Gállábártnit

2020 Dora Mavor Moore Award Winner in the Opera Division for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble!

Two Odysseys is a joyous celebration of Indigenous language and storytelling. It’s a double-bill of two music dramas, both inspired by the human journey through life and death. Pimooteewin, The Journey, adapts a Cree story from North America which tells how Weesageechak (the Trickster) and Misigoo (the Eagle) try to bring back the spirits of their loved ones to the world of the living, and chaos ensues. Gállábártnit, The Bear, is based on an old Sámi story from the Nordic region, which follows a young woman named Aile who is torn between her beloved and her people, with dire consequences.

“Pimooteewin was the first Cree language opera and Gállábártnit is the answer to our search for a companion piece. It’s an examination of how we live, what are the consequences of love and sacrifice. This story is a perfect parallel to Pimooteewin’s exploration of how we pass to the land of the dead – Gállábártnit is about how we live on earth.” –Michael Greyeyes, co-director

Pimooteewin
Music by Melissa Hui
Libretto by Tomson Highway

Gállábártnit
Music by Britta Byström
Libretto by Rawdna Carita Eira

The simplicity of these stories drew me in, leaving me rapt for the duration and in awe of the execution of it all.
The Globe and Mail

… the excellent performances incite us to hope that we won’t have to leave this alternate universe for a while.
The Toronto Star

Touring Cast & Instrumentation:

Narrators (2)*
Actors/Dancers (3)*
Soprano soloist
Tenor soloist
Music Director
Chamber Choir (12)*
Chamber Ensemble (8)*
Flute/Piccolo
Clarinet
Percussion
Piano
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass

Total Cast: 28 performers

* indicates casting which can incorporate some artists local to the touring region

Creative Team & Featured Artists | Original 2019 Production

Directed by Michael Greyeyes and Cole Alvis
Music Direction by David Fallis

Narrated by Yolanda Bonnell and Heli Huovinen
Vocal soloists Melody Courage, Bud Roach and Asitha Tennekoon
Actor/dancers Samantha Brown, Vienna Hehir and Joelle Peters

Lighting design by Melissa Joakim
Costume design by Shawn Kerwin (Pimooteewin) and Isidra Cruz (Gállábártnit)
Props design by Teresa Przbylski (Pimooteewin)
Mask Carver Mike Dangeli (Gállábártnit)

Duration: 115’ including intermission