CBC Radio: Commissions

CBC Radio commissions a wide variety of music for our programs. Here are some examples of recent commissions.

Baby Young Canadian opera composer Dean Burry was asked to envision an episodic telling of the story of Baby Kintyre , the mummified infant discovered by a construction crew in the attic of a Toronto home in 2007.

You'll be able to hear an episode of the opera each week on CBC Radio 2's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera beginning Saturday 7 Nov, 2009. A new episode will be posted here each week so be sure to check back.

Orchestra & cast directed by Dáirine Ní Mheadhra
Vocal preparation: John Hess
Sound effects: Anton Szabo
Producer: David Jaeger
Recording Engineer: Steve Sweeney

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Listen to Episode 1 of Baby Kintyre

Duration: 7:50
Download Libretto [pdf]
Words & Music: Dean Burry
Cast:

Bob, a Toronto contractor: Tenor, James McLennan
Bob's Wife: Soprano, Laura Albino

Listen to Episode 2 of Baby Kintyre

Duration: 7:32
Download Libretto [pdf]
Words & Music: Dean Burry
Cast:

John Nichols, reporter for CBC Radio in Toronto
Mary Wiens, Star Reporter for CBC's Metro Morning
Rita, the elderly Rita Rich (nee Rutter)
Rita, a child living with her aunt & uncle: Soprano, Eileen Taylor Nash
Wesley, her uncle: Bass, Giles Tompkins
Della, her aunt: Soprano, Shannon Mercer

Listen to Episode 3 of Baby Kintyre

Duration: 7:03
Download Libretto [pdf]
Words & Music: Dean Burry
Cast:

Rita, a child living with her aunt & uncle: Soprano, Eileen Taylor Nash
Della, her aunt: Soprano, Shannon Mercer
Wesley, Della's husband: Bass, Giles Tompkins
George, a stranger from Ottawa:Baritone, Ben Covey

Listen to Episode 4 of Baby Kintyre

Duration: 9:04
Download Libretto [pdf]
Words & Music: Dean Burry
Cast:

Rita, a child living with her aunt & uncle: Soprano, Eileen Taylor Nash
Della, her aunt: Soprano, Shannon Mercer
Alla Mae, her sister: mezzo-soprano, Krisztina Szabo
George, a stranger from Ottawa: Baritone, Ben Covey
Wesley, Della's husband: Bass, Giles Tompkins

Listen to Episode 5 of Baby Kintyre

Duration: 9:27
Download Libretto [pdf]
Words & Music: Dean Burry
Cast:

George, a stranger from Ottawa: Baritone, Ben Covey
Della, her aunt: Soprano, Shannon Mercer
Wesley, Della's husband: Bass, Giles Tompkins
Alla Mae, her sister: mezzo-soprano, Krisztina Szabo
Bob, a Toronto contractor: Tenor, James McLennan
CBC News readers: themselves
The elderly Rita Rich: herself

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