Raccoon Opera
RACCOON OPERA is a dark comedy where the ills of the millennial generation are dramatized through the exploitative relationship between a wily raccoon and an aimless, indebted tenant.
Raccoon Opera was commissioned by Musique 3 Femmes, and is a 2022 Winner of the Mécénat Music Prix 3 Femmes, a national prize encouraging new opera compositions by female and non-binary creators. Premiered in part at Salle Bourgie, Montréal in May 2024, with Rebecca singing the titular role.
Libretto and visual designs are by Rachel Gray, an Ottawa based interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of drawing, writing, animation, set and costume design.
Music by Rebecca Gray, composer and soprano based in Montréal.
A Fable of the Housing Crisis
At the start of Raccoon Opera, Erin is a tenant spending 70% of her income on rent, and cooks her meals on a hot plate in her bedroom to avoid interacting with her intrusive landlord. One night, a charismatic raccoon appears at the window, lending a sympathetic ear and railing against the systems and people who have failed her. The Raccoon encourages Erin to take charge of her life and dominate her landlord, but ultimately it is the Raccoon who gains control of Erin and her apartment.
Don’t let Erin die in vain. Get involved in the story.