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November 6 &7 @ 7:30PM, November 8 @ 2:30PM
Hecate Sea | In Her Hands | Essential Opera
WORLD PREMIERE
Sanctuary Arts Centre
100 Ochterloney St., Dartmouth, NS
Tickets HERE
Essential Opera and Nova Scotia composer/librettist Fiona M. Ryan bring you a spellbinding performance inspired by Macbeth. We reimagine the classic tragedy in the voices of Lady Macbeth, the Weird Sisters, and their goddess Hecate. In Her Hands is an atmospheric, eerie music theatre piece that weaves ancient musical traditions together with supernatural vocal colours. It tells the story of the women and queer-coded characters who are often relegated to the background, and explores themes of gender, power, and inclusion/exclusion.
“What stories would my followers tell
If the chroniclers had sought them out to record their words?”
Featuring a team of artists from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, NYC, Montreal, and Toronto, we aim to provide a welcoming, accessible environment for the artists and audience, accommodating varying accessibility needs at each performance.
November 6 at 7:30pm: masks required and November 6 livestream option
More info at essentialopera.com
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May 29, 7-10PM, 2026
Essential Opera’s Album Launch and 15th Anniversary Party
The Carleton
1685 Argyle St., Halifax, NS
www.essentialopera.com
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April 17, 2026
Essential Opera’s Debut Album
SOME OF MY STORIES: THE OPERAS OF MONICA PEARCE
Listen here: https://leaf-music.lnk.to/lm279
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March 15, 2:00PM
Opera Kitchen Party: Voyage | OperAtlantic
Chain Yard Cider
2606 Agricola St, Halifax, NS
Tickets and info: https://operatlantic.com/
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January 11, 7:30 PM
Caroline | Caroline’s Sweeper | Open Waters Festival
Joseph Strug Concert Hall
Fountain School of Performing Arts
1385 Seymour St, Halifax, NS B3H 3M6
Tickets HERE
Caroline’s Sweeper follows Caroline Herschel, 16th century comet huntress, as she discovers eight comets. Largely overshadowed by the success of her astronomer brother William Herschel, she was the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist and was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. In this chamber opera, Caroline Herschel’s life and work is unfolded through a series of vignettes exploring her astronomical discoveries.
Composed by Michael Donovan with libretto by Monica Pearce, Caroline’s Sweeper was commissioned by Maureen Batt with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Maureen Batt, soprano, as Caroline Herschel
Chamber Ensemble:
Music director and pianist: Tara Scott
Conductor: Jodie Alcorn-Miller
Electric guitar: Geordie Haley
Electric bass: Richard Belding
Double bass: Megan Chandler
Creative Team
Composer: Michael Donovan
Librettist: Monica Pearce
Stage director: Erin Bardua
Projection and lighting consultant: Matt Downey
Costume designer: Diego Cavedon
Festival info and tickets: https://upstreammusic.org/event/carolines-sweeper
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December 22, 2025 – January 22, 2026
Virtual Premiere | Five Formosa Songs | Crossing Borders
WORLD PREMIERE ONLINE
December 22 @ 7:30p.m. AST
December 23 @ 7:30a.m. TST
Maureen Batt, soprano
Tara Scott, piano
Chia Yin Wu, composer
Chen Mo Lin, poet
Jeremy VanSlyke, producer, post-production
Ally Cribb, assistant recording engineer
Luke Fraser, director
Chin Yi Lin, poster artwork
Chia Yin Wu, English poetic translations
Phín-tsì Kí, lyric diction coach, copy editing, translation
