“One of the things that I really want to do is to find the stories that are very relevant to the things that are happening in the world, and Sophia’s Forest fits in that direction,” he shares. “If we are more curious about what other people’s stories and experiences are, I think it helps to create a society with more empathy.”

A hybrid soundscape

With music by Lembit Beecher and libretto by Hannah Moscovitch, Sophia’s Forest first premiered on a Philadelphia stage in 2017. It was through following Moscovitch’s work, particularly the award-winning opera 10 Days in a Madhouse, when Gerrard came across Sophia’s Forest.

“Then, I learned about Lembit, the composer, and it just seemed like a really compelling story,” says Gerrard. “I want [the audience] to be provoked into thinking about what’s on stage, and then having a chat with their family, friends, neighbours, coworkers.”

He was also intrigued by the opera’s use of sound sculptures. Constructed from bicycle parts and wine glasses, these mechanical sculptures will perform alongside the orchestra and cast – controlled in real time by Beecher through his laptop.

“The combination of these very unusual sounds from the sculptures with more sort of traditional opera singing creates an experience that people won’t have had before,” Gerrard shares. “And that is interesting and memorable in itself.”

Gerrard adds that these sculptures will be the same pieces used in the Philadelphia premiere. He also sees the show’s live projections – created by an SFU team under the direction of assistant professor Wladimiro Woyno – as contributing to the show’s “compelling visual aspect.”

“There’s a scene where the family is travelling through the forest to escape what’s happening and the violence that is all around them,” explains Gerrard. “This world is created mostly by the projections that Woyno and his team have put together, so it’ll be really striking visually as well as orally.”

Exploring familial bonds

Drawing from the lived experiences of those who have suffered through war and displacement, Sophia’s Forest explores the universal themes of loss, resilience and shared humanity. The narrative switches between the perspectives of an adult and a younger Sophia, grappling with traumatic memories from her childhood.

“It’s a memory play; it is about what Sophia discovers long after the fact,” says Gerrard. “What happens to our memories with the passing of time is a big part of the story.”

He adds that family relationships, particularly Sophia’s relationship with her mother, come under scrutiny. For him, the opera’s message goes beyond resilience: it is also about understanding familial bonds following a horrific event.

“It’s how we pick up those pieces and keep going, and how those things inform our relationships after the fact,” he reflects. “I think everyone will come from that with their own feelings, their own experience, their own viewpoints.”

The older Sophia will be performed by Canadian soprano Elena Howard-Scott – a singer Gerrard describes as “incredible.” Joining Howard-Scott is Canadian Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Adanya Dunn as Anna (Sophia’s mother) and baritone Luka Kawabata as Anna’s partner.

Arya Yazgan will play younger Sophia and Audrey Gao will play Emma (Sophia’s sister). Both are members of the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs.

“And then, of course, we have a string quartet and percussion of all sorts of interesting and compelling sounding instruments,” Gerrard adds. “On top of that are the sound sculptures which create an underlay of really fascinating sounds that run throughout the show.”

He hopes that Sophia’s Forest will encourage people to recognize the stories in others. And the opera is an apt medium for doing so; Gerrard sees the opera’s power as its ability to connect audiences to the human voice.

“I do think opera elevates that experience, that visceral reaction to hearing the human voice in this extraordinary way, combined with visual elements,” he reflects. “It’s a total package storytelling, which I think can have a remarkable effect on all of us.”

For more information, see www.cityoperavancouver.com/season/sophias-forest