Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective Presents Bloody Jack!
In 1914, the crime-ridden life of “Bloody” Jack Krafchenko culminated in his death by hanging at Winnipeg’s Vaughan Street Jail. The charismatic, remorseless Krafchenko led an eventful life of bank robberies, escapes, and running from the law. This fascinating character of Manitoba history is explored in Michael Matthews & Dennis Cooley’s new song cycle Bloody Jack, presented by Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective in partnership with Groundswell.
Soprano Dawn Bruch-Wiens and pianist Dr. Laura Loewen will present five songs of the cycle in a world première performance captured by director and videographer Aidan Ritchie. The songs will be interwoven with historical, archival and artistic discussions with historian Kristen Treusch, composer Matthews, and poet Cooley. A collage of voices from Krafchenko’s life combine with the sights and sounds of a raw prairie winter to create a sound experience like no other.
Please visit our Bios page to learn more about the creative forces behind this project.
The in-person première screening with a panel discussion featuring the creative team will be on November 19, 2021, taking place at Little Brown Jug (336 William Ave.) Following the première, audiences can stream the videos via the Flipside website, in a pay-what-you-can format.
We acknowledge that these stories have been collected, sourced, and recreated on Treaty 1 territory and the homeland of the Métis. We acknowledge the harms of colonization and early settlers on the Indigenous population of the land of so-called Manitoba, and are committed to acts of reconciliation and cooperation.
Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective is an independent vocal theatre company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The collective prioritizes Manitoban artists and stories to present low-barrier, classically sung performances that are anything but traditional. Flipside creates compelling, immersive productions, telling truth through song.