Initiated by artistic director Marie-Annick Béliveau, the lyrik laboratories are experimental residencies that bring together artists from different disciplines to explore new creative processes in lyrical art.

Lyrik Lab 04: Project Darkness

Sacred Heart Of Jesus

Chants Libres presents Fantôme de Roy, a spellbinding music theatre piece about the legendary conflict between King Henry II Plantagenet and his chancellor Thomas Becket. Set between sacred fury and royal authority, the work explores the devastating force of anger in a dramatic tapestry woven from both medieval and contemporary texts.

Fantôme de Roy

Songs of the Drowning is an interdisciplinary performance by Roozbeh Tabandeh, inspired by the poetry of Sandeep Bhagwati and the paintings of Khosro Berahmandi.

EPSG:4326

Songs of the Drowning

Édifice Wilder - Espace danse

Chants Libres presents a groundbreaking new bilingual opera titled "Information," set to have its world premiere on April 27 and 28, 2024, at Espace Orange in the Wilder Building, located at 1435 Bleury Street, Montreal. This captivating performance is scheduled for two showings on Saturday, April 27, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and one showing on Sunday, April 28, at 2:00 p.m.

"Information" delves into the tumultuous period of Montreal in October 1970, exploring significant historical events such as the October Crisis, Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s anti-abortion trial, and the death of Jimi Hendrix. Through the new adventures of the Time Traveller, this opera questions the course of history and the human condition, offering audiences a unique and thought-provoking experience.

The opera features music and artistic direction by Tim Brady, with a libretto by Mishka Lavigne. The creative team also includes Anne-Marie Donovan for stage direction, Pascal Germain-Berardi as the musical director, Nalo Bruce for sets and costumes, and Mateo Barerra handling lighting. The performance will showcase the talents of Marie-Annick Béliveau, Pierre Rancourt, Jacqueline Woodley, David Menzies, and Clayton Kennedy, among others.

"Information" is the second opera in the "Hope and the Dark Matter of History" cycle, following the September 2022 premiere of "Backstage at Carnegie Hall." This production is a collaboration between Bradyworks and Chants Libres, presented in partnership with Le Vivier.

Tickets are priced at $40 for regular admission, $32 for pre-sale, and $25 for reduced rates. Reservations and additional information can be obtained by calling 438-333-8588. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a pivotal moment in history through the powerful medium of opera.

INFORMATION: Montreal Oct. 1970

OPER’ACTUEL | Works in progress is a highlight event of Chants Libres, which helps bring to life new operas while also familiarising young singers and the public with new forms of musical expression.

Oper’Actuel | 8th edition

**Event Description:**

Join us for an ethereal evening of music and poetry with the special event "AICHINGER LIEDER REMIX" featuring the creative talents of Sandeep Bhagwati and Mykalle Bielinski. This unique performance is scheduled for Sunday, October 22, 2023, at 7:30 pm, taking place at La Chapelle Scènes contemporaines, located at 3700, Saint-Dominique, Montreal.

**About the Performance:**

"AICHINGER LIEDER REMIX" is a dreamlike and mysterious journey that transcends reality, inviting the audience into a gentle, trance-like state. The performance is a Chants Libres remix that beautifully combines psalmody, orality, ritual, and the living arts, inspired by the ethereal freedom of Ilse Aichinger’s poetry. With the accompaniment of synthesizer drones and looping, the voice and presence of Mykalle Bielinski soar, intermingle, and merge, creating a mesmerizing mirroring effect. This event is presented in both German and French, offering a rich cultural experience.

**Creative Team:**

- Music by Sandeep Bhagwati
- Voice & electronic by Mykalle Bielinski

**Tickets:**

- General Admission: $25
- 15 and under: $15

**Box Office:**

Secure your tickets for this one-of-a-kind performance and immerse yourself in the meditative spirit of Mykalle Bielinski’s concerts.

**Partnership:**

This event is proudly presented in collaboration with Le Vivier, as part of the SMCQ Série Hommage Sandeep Bhagwati.

**Support the Labs:**

In addition to enjoying the performance, attendees have the opportunity to support this research-creation initiative by purchasing a toque with the effigy of the laboratories for $25.00.

Don't miss this special event that blends music, voice, and electronic artistry in a captivating remix of Ilse Aichinger’s poetry. Reserve your seat at La Chapelle Scènes contemporaines for an unforgettable night of creative exploration and artistic excellence.

Bhagwati / Bielinski

La Chapelle Theatre

By participating in this benefit event, you are helping the company to continue to fulfill its mandate of research and creation in lyric art!

Karaoke Night

UQAM Pavillon Sherbrooke

Sprinteuse Eurydice is a lyric research-creation project that brings together playwright Royds Fuentes-Imbert and mezzo-soprano Marie-Annick Béliveau. Between action, narration, description and screams, Royds’ writing and Marie-Annick’s interpretation allow them to experiment with the porosities between song, theater and dance in registers unexplored by the lyric art. Their collaboration on this laboratory is based on questions and issues that the artists share: how to free the body of an opera singer from all the restraints imposed by a long artistic practice and a heavy technical and stylistic heritage? How to break these “protections” and engage it completely, as a whole, as a bios (voice-body-energy) in the performance?

Chants Libres

9 - 11 Feb, 2026

Lyrik Lab 04: Project Darkness

23 - 25 Oct, 2025

Fantôme de Roy

Chants Libres