The performing arts of Canada

There was a virtual explosion of musical activity in Canada in the second half of the 20th century. Choral music societies sprang up across the country. Opera grew; Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver had regular opera seasons, and the Toronto-based Canadian Opera Company toured extensively, often to remote parts of the country. Construction of a permanent opera house in Toronto began in 2003.

Here is the website of Canadian Opera Company:

https://learn.coc.ca/about-the-coc

 

Individual Canadian performers who have received international renown include singers Maureen Forrester and Lois Marshall, pianists Glenn Gould and Austrian-born Anton Kuerti, guitarist Liona Boyd, country musician Hank Snow, and jazz musicians Maynard Ferguson and Oscar Peterson. Notwithstanding the vibrant music scenes in most major cities in Canada, the lure of the gigantic American market has long attracted Canadian performers, and, though many Canadians have made important contributions to the history of rock and pop music, often they have done so as expatriates—including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and all but one of the members of the Band.

  Glenn Gould  Hank Snow       Maynard Fergus         

Oscar Peterson

Famous Movies You Didn’t Know Were Filmed in Canada

The critically acclaimed Truman Capote biography was shot primarily in Winnipeg, with additional scenes captured in Selkirk, Manitoba. While the story of the In Cold Blood author is set in Kansas the film’s producers selected Manitoba as the American city’s stand-in. Stony Mountain Institution, the Manitoba Legislative Building and Gilbart’s Funeral Home star prominently in this Oscar-winning flick

(Philip Seymour Hoffman won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor).  

                      

Real life catastrophe and movie magic are intertwined on Canada’s east coast. In 1912, when the Titanic was ripped apart by an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, Halifax was the closest major seaport to the disaster. Despite feverish rescue attempts, few survivors were pulled from the frigid waters and over 100 victims were laid to rest in Halifax cemeteries. When James Cameron began production on his 1997 epic, he brought his cast and crew to Halifax. The city would once again play a role in the story as Cameron shot the film’s harrowing ocean scenes aboard the icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent.

 Calling all Twihards! Come to British Columbia and follow in the footsteps of Bella, Edward and Jacob. Three of the four movies in the Twilight saga (New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn) were shot in various locales around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland including David Fraser Secondary School (appearing as Forks High School), Minnekhada Regional Park and the Ridge Theatre. 

     

 

10 most famous Canadian writers:

1. Margaret Atwood

     
Atwood is one of the most popular writers not only in Canada but is known for her work globally. She has been awarded the Booker prize, Scotia bank Giller Prize, Arthur C. Clarke Award and Princess of Asturias Award for literature. Her novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” won her the Arthur C. Clarke Award, 2985 Governor General’s Award and was chosen the finalist for Booker prize. Amongst the many novels written by her these are the few of the ‘must reads’; “The Robber Bride”, “Alias Grace”, “The blind Assassin”, “Oryx and Clarke”, and last but not the least “The year of the flood”.

1. Lucy Maud Montgomery

 

One of her most brilliantly written and appreciated work is “Anne of Green Gables”. Most of her Anne series were set in the Prince Edward Island of Canada. The books have been made into various films and animated television series. Canadian drama television series named “Anne with an E” and based on the 1908 novel premiered on Netflix in 2017.

 

 

1. Douglas Coupland

Known for his command over the fiction novels particularly the mystery genre. He is famous for his international bestselling book “Generation X: Tales for an accelerated culture”. His other work includes “Girlfriend in a coma”, “Miss Wyoming”, “All families are psychotic” and “Eleanor Rigby”.

 

1. Robertson Davies

   

 

Davies wrote 30 books in total throughout his lifetime. His best book “What’s bred in the nine” was shortlisted for the Booker prize. His books were filled with oddball characters, witty and whimsical. His famous quote says it all: “All mothers think their children are oaks, but the world never lacks for cabbages”. Robertson Davies was definitely one of the oaks.

5. Joseph Boyden

He wrote many inspiring books many of which we may even classify as classics. The talented author became interested in the field of literature since a very young age. Boyden’s novel “The Orenda” won the 2013 edition of Canada reads. “Three day roads” won the 2006 Amazon.ca First Novel Award; it also was defended by filmmaker Nelofer Pazira in Canada Reads. His second novel “Through black spruce” also won the Scotiabank Giller prize award.

6. Yann Martel

The author of “Life of Pi”, which was made into a Hollywood movie, was a flamboyant success all over the world. This book also won the Man Booker Prize and was an international bestseller published in more than 50 territories. The book portrays the relationship between an Indian boy and a tiger as they are stuck together on a shipwreck and the journey they make, the outcome of their odd affair is rather unusual and it is up to the readers whether to believe the facts or let their imagination take them into the world of Pi.

7. Heather O’Neill

 

Born in Montreal, O’Neil’s talent is known at international level and her name is widely popular. Her debut novel “Lullabies for little criminals” was selected for 2007 Canada reads. The book won the competition and not only that but also won the Hugh MacLennan prize for fiction. It went on to become an international bestseller.

8. Lisa Moore

 

Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Moore’s first two books, “Degrees of Nakedness” (1995) and “Open” (2002), were short story collections. “Open” was a commercial and critical breakthrough, earning a nomination for the Giller Prize. Her very first novel “Alligator” was also nominated for the Giller Prize. She was also nominated for 2010 Booker Prize for her novel “February”.

Miriam Toews

 

 

Born 1964 in Steinbach, Toews is famous for her two novels “A complicated kindness” and “All my puny sorrows”. Her novel “All my puny sorrows” is inspired by true life events leading up to the 2010 suicide of her elder sister, a touching a sorrowful novel that surely is a must read. She has won a series of awards for her work including the Governor General’s Award for Fiction and the Writers’ Trust Engel/Findley Award.

Margaret Laurence

 

Born in Neepawa, she was the founder of Writers trust of Canada which encourages Canada’s writing community. She was Canada’s most esteemed and beloved author. Best known for her book, “The Stone Angel”, it was made into a featured film directed by Kari Skogland and starring Ellen Burstyn was released in 2017.