This fall we’re excited to present the world premiere of Canadian composer Barbara Monk Feldman’s Pyramus and Thisbe in a brand new Canadian Opera Company production. We took a field trip up to the COC Scene Shop to give you an exclusive first look as the sets are being constructed in anticipation of opening night on October 20, 2015!  

The Set 

 

Three massive panels, partly inspired by the Abstract Expressionist canvases of American artist Mark Rothko, help divide the triple bill's three operas into three separate spaces, allowing the three scores to flow into each other without interruption.

The scale of Pyramus and Thisbe’s set demands a huge working space—luckily the COC Scene Shop’s converted fruit distribution factory provides the perfect space to house the multi-story wooden backdrop.

THE BENCHES

 

One of the identifying factors of the set, beyond its beautiful deep pine-green colour, is a long bench extending its entire length. These benches will be the chorus’s home for the majority of the opera.

THE PAINTING PROCESS

When constructing a new production, many tests are undertaken to see which media best suit the theme, space and budget. For Pyramus and Thisbe, the creative team decided to use layers of acrylic paint on a heavily-grained wood in order to highlight natural textures and rich colour palettes.   

After finding the perfect colour mix, the paint is applied to giant sheets of wood using brushes set on long wooden handles, set at about the angle of a hockey stick.

 

The paint is applied in various layers in order to achieve the desired consistency and colour throughout the multiple background and floor panels.  

Because the wood is so deeply textured, the paint is absorbed to different levels, resulting in a deeper stain in certain areas.

 

After they are painted, the floor panels need to be allowed to dry completely undisturbed in order for the paint to come to a perfect, untouched finish.

 

In order to see this stunning set in its full glory (and populated with singers!), buy your tickets today for this innovative program, featuring the world premiere of Canadian composer Barbara Monk Feldman’s Pyramus and Thisbe along with Claudio Monteverdi's Baroque classics Lamento d'Arianna and Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda. See you at the opera!

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For more information on Pyramus and Thisbe and to buy tickets, click here.

Photos: Kiersten Hay