Created by Chelsea Kutyn as part of Manitoba Opera's Digital Emerging Artist Program. "Helen’s Wedding" Based on Mary’s Wedding (2011) Music by Andrew Paul MacDonald and libretto by Stephen Massicotte ---------------------------- Mary’s Wedding, is a tale of love and war woven through a non-linear dream world that has Mary grappling with the pain of loss, guilt, and hope. On the eve of her wedding, Mary must come to terms with the fact her first love, Charlie, has passed away, and feel at peace with the new life she is about to begin. I wondered if my grandmother, Helen, grappled with similar feelings on the eve of her wedding to my grandfather, after her first husband died in a military training accident. When he passed, they had been married less than a year leaving Helen pregnant with their unborn son. The historical family footage contains scenes from her first marriage, her first husband's military funeral, and the second wedding to my grandfather. Helen’s wedding is a reflection of all those who lose someone too soon, and serves as a reminder to cherish the moments we are given. Lest we forget —----------- Credits: Chelsea Kutyn Director, producer, and performer Shannon Hiebert Collaborative pianist Director of Photography Laina Brown Folks Films Winnipeg, Canada Recorded and Mixed by Lloyd Peterson at Paintbox Recording Winnipeg, Canada Assistant Engineer Mae McKillop Music and Lyrics "The Blades of Grass" from the opera Mary's Wedding, op.78 (2011) Music by Andrew Paul MacDonald with libretto by Stephen Massicotte Canadian Opera Anthology - Soprano, vol. I Published by Counterpoint Music Library services Inc. Kanon Artists Ltd. www.andrewpaulmacdonald.com Based on the play “Mary’s Wedding” by Stephen Massicotte Credit Track Selection of “Blades of Grass” from Mary’s Wedding by Andrew P. MacDonald Arranged by Shannon Hiebert Historical Footage Thank you to the Kutyn family National Archives Canada at War 1934-1951 Identifier 149273258 MT MTT 752ij MT MTT 752a Audio Effects Epidemic Sound On-site Locations Thank you to Doug and Cheryl Durnin for the generous use of their home And the staff and volunteers at St James Anglican Church 540 Tylehurst Street, Winnipeg, MB And St. Andrew’s River Heights 255 Oak St, Winnipeg, MB On-site Wardrobe, Prop Master, and Moral Booster Ashley Schneberger Costumes and Props Chelsea Kutyn Cheryl Durnin (Veil) Mary Knight (Vintage Mirror) A Special Thank You to the Digital Emerging Artist Program Faculty Core Faculty Stephen Bell Tracy Dahl Ann Hodges Monica Huisman Scott Miller Marion Newman John Tessier Guest Instructors Nicholas Borg Rebecca Hass Laura Loewen Katherine Twaddle

III. Dezember, from Tanzer Lieder by Ana Sokolović Chelsea Kutyn, soprano Megan Dufrat, piano Recorded April 2023

"At this time last year, I was beginning my recovery from suspected COVID-19 after 29 days in isolation with severe difficulty breathing. AWAITING THE DAWN symbolizes my fear of the night while I was sick; the fear that I would stop breathing, the fear that I may give it to a member of my family, and the fear I would be unable to help them. This idea eventually developed into the themes of fear and anxiety of the unknown. Yet, despite this fear faced by many, people continue to push towards a brighter future. Thus, I chose to have a cyclical nature to my project, and it begins and ends not with the night of fear, but a morning of hope for a better day." - Chelsea Kutyn, May 2021 Piano Kimberly-Ann Bartczak Edited by Nicholas Borg Produced in Partnership with Christ Church Cathedral Sponsored by RBC See more of Music Alive at https://pacificopera.ca/event/music-alive/ Chapters 0:00 Epilogue 1:06 Die Nacht

Chelsea Kutyn, soprano Megan Dufrat, piano Recorded April 2023

Tanzer Lieder- by Ana Sokolovic 00:00 #2- Stimmen 01:40 #3-Dezember Megan Dufrat-piano Chelsea Kutyn- Soprano Recorded April 2023