Éric Champagne has won the SOCAN Foundation’s very first $5,000 Lori Davies Composition Award for Excellence in Dance, Opera or Music Theatre, for his opera, Yourcenar : Une île de passions. Composed by Champagne, with libretto by Hélène Dorion and Marie-Claire Blais, it was selected as the winner in a unanimous committee vote.
Committee chairperson, celebrated composer, and husband of the prize’s late namesake, Victor Davies, said: “Selected from diverse entries in opera, dance, and musical theatre, and featuring a chamber orchestra, six soloists, and a Greek chorus of 12 representing the Fates, Champagne’s score elevates the emotional depth of the libretto, orchestrating musical motifs that unify the work into a compelling whole.”
Penned by renowned Québec authors Hélène Dorion and Marie-Claire Blais, the poetic libretto draws inspiration from Greek tragedies, exploring timeless themes of love, life, death, friendship, art, and history. At the heart of the story is Daisy (Marguerite), a professor of classics and daughter of a famed antiquities expert, who shares a complex relationship with her assistant and lover, Grace. Set against a historical backdrop that runs from World War II through the civil rights era, Daisy’s journey of love, betrayal, and self-discovery unfolds on a Greek island and in Paris. After Grace’s passing, Daisy finds new companionship with Jerry, a photographer with ulterior motives, ultimately leading her back to solitude, and a renewed commitment to life.
The committee praised Champagne’s orchestration and vocal writing, for capturing the nuanced emotions of the characters, crafting an immersive experience of musical and thematic resonance.