NOTE: This evening begins with a complimentary artist talk with composer Ian Cusson. Open to the public, this session takes place before the concert and runs from 6:30pm to 7:15pm in the Joseph Strug Concert Hall lobby. Please come to hear Ian discuss his career and creative process.

Join us for our season-closing performance, featuring the evocative and powerful compositions of our 2023/24 Composer-In-Residence, Ian Cusson. Of Métis and French-Canadian heritage, Cusson’s music explores the depths of Canadian Indigenous experience, mixed-racial identity, and the blend of Western and Indigenous cultures. This recital showcases three of Cusson’s song cycles: “Love Songs on Poems of Michael Ondaatje,” a cycle that sets to music the evocative poetry of the Sri Lankan-Canadian author, and “Where There’s A Wall,” inspired by the profound reflections of Japanese-Canadian poet Joy Kogawa, both performed by the emotive Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon. Innu soprano Élisabeth St-Gelais brings her warm and lyrical voice to “Le récital des anges,” a cycle based on six poems by Québécois poet Emile Nelligan, along with the stunning concert arias “Dodo, mon tout petit” from Cusson’s opera “Louis Riel” and “Joan’s Aria” from his opera “Empire of Wild.” ​J​oined by award-winning pianist Jennifer King, the program also includes a new work commissioned during Cusson’s residency​ – a duet setting of the e.e. cummings poem “i carry your heart,” a piece that beautifully captures the essence of love and interconnectedness. This extraordinary season finale not only revisits some of Cusson’s most celebrated works but also introduces audiences to the broad emotional and cultural tapestry his compositions represent, all performed by award-winning artists who are deeply connected to the music’s spirit and narrative. Main Stage Concert Series Major Sponsor: Scotiabank. Season Sponsor: Jules Chamberlain / Red Door Realty. Presented in partnership with Dalhousie University’s Fountain School of Performing Arts. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Arts Nova Scotia.