The Flight of the Hummingbird - Interviews with the Creative Team
3Flight of the Hummingbird is an opera for young audiences, composed by Maxime Goulet and written and designed by internationally acclaimed Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, whose works are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Vancouver Art Gallery. The opera is based on Yahgulanaas’ bestselling book, Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment, which helps children learn about environmental issues and moral courage. The libretto is co-written by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and Barry Gilson and the dramaturgy is by Glynis Leyshon.
The fable of the hummingbird originates with the Quechuan people of South America. In the story, a forest fire rages, and all the animals are overwhelmed by fear and a sense of futility. Only Dukdukdiya, the hummingbird, refuses to give up. She flies to the stream, picks up a single drop of water in her beak, and drops it on the fire. Over and over, back and forth she flies. When the bear finally asks what she is doing, she replies, I am doing what I can. The parable of eloquently expresses the power of taking small steps to achieve a big goal.
Instrumentation: soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone / cello / piano
Duration: 45 minutes
Commissioned by the Vancouver Opera and the Pacific Opera Victoria.