Inspired by Fado music, this opera is based on the famous medieval Portuguese story of Inês de Castro. The story is adapted to depict life within Toronto’s Portuguese community in the 1960s. In our version, Pedro, married to Constança, falls fatally in love with the beautiful Fadista Inês.When the pregnant Inês is murdered by Pedro’s parents, he lures them to a church for a shockingly macabre dénouement... The opera unfolds against a backdrop of Portugal’s war in Angola, the Salazar dictatorship and the Portuguese immigrant experience in Canada.

Music – JAMES ROLFE
Libretto – PAUL BENTLEY
Director – JENNIFER TARVER
Designer – YANNIK LARIVÉE
Lighting – KIMBERLY PURTELL
Portuguese translations – ANNA CAMARA & RUI MOTA

Forces – 5 SINGERS, 5 INSTRUMENTALISTS

“Toronto composer James Rolfe weaves a magical score that is in continual motion as the moods and characters shift on stage... giving us rich layers of sound mirrored in gorgeous ensemble moments between the characters.

The operatic voices are mighty fine ... the standout is real-life Portuguese pop star Inês Santos, making her world operatic debut here in Toronto. From the moment Santos steps onto the stage, she grabs our attention with a magnetic stillness that doesn’t let up until the end of the final scene. She also has a sweetly dusky voice that enchants with every note.”…

– The Toronto Star

"The score was an amazing accomplishment, emotionally resonant and clever, deftly steering the fado and classical sounds in parallel to the illegitimate and legitimate relationships between the characters. All of the performers, in the pit and on the stage, inhabited the music superbly."

– The Live Music Report