SOUNDSTREAMS PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FIRST CREE OPERA!

ADVANCE RELEASE

December 20, 2007

THE JOURNEY (PIMOOTEEWIN)

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FIRST CREE OPERA

WITH LIBRETTO BY TOMSON HIGHWAY

FEBRUARY 15 & 16 at 8 PM AT THE JANE MALLETT THEATRE (27 FRONT STREET EAST)

¬… Libretto in Cree and narration in English by Governor General award winning Cree writer Tomson Highway. His newest work since 2005!

¬… Music by Montreal based Chinese Canadian composer Melissa Hui.

¬… Featuring a narrator, soloists, chorus and chamber orchestra.

¬… Presented in co-operation with the Elmer Iseler Singers, Lydia Adams, conductor.

¬… Japanese kuroko inspired movement and puppetry choreographed and directed by Canadian National ballet alum and renowned Cree actor and dancer, Michael Greyeyes.

¬… Featuring rising Opera star, Xin Wang and a virtuoso ensemble of Canada's most talented musicians heralding from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra.

Weesageechak (the Trickster) and Misigoo (The Eagle) journey across the river to a magic island where the Spirits of the Dead dance every night by the light of the moon. The Trickster and his companion try to capture the spirits in a basket but on their way back, one by one they begin to escape.

Tickets are $37 adult/ $29 senior/ $10 student and are available through The St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 416-366-7723 or online at www.stlc.com.

About Soundstreams

Soundstreams is a hub for new directions in music, programming culturally provocative concerts and festivals by weaving together music and ideas from globally diverse genres, artists and eras. Founded by renowned oboist Lawrence Cherney in 1982, Soundstreams has presented hundreds of unique and compelling concerts, from intimate chamber music events to multi-choral spectaculars, operas, music-theatre works and 6 highly successful international festivals. A recognized national leader, Soundstreams Canada is one of the largest and most dynamic organizations of its kind anywhere in the world.

Soundstreams Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of TD Canada Trust Music, the Laidlaw Foundation, the Metcalf Foundation, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, SOCAN Foundation, the Creative Trust, the Julie-Jiggs Foundation, the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, the Koerner Foundation, the John D. McKellar Foundation, Roger D. Moore, the Charles H. Ivey Foundation, the Hal Jackman Foundation, the EJLB Foundation and the McLean Foundation for their generous support.

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For more information please contact:

Allison McColl

Soundstreams Canada, Marketing and Public Relations Manager

allisonm@soundstreams.ca

www.soundstreams.ca

416-504-1282