More than 30 years after its stage premiere, the opera Nelligan by André Gagnon and Michel Tremblay returns to life in this recording of the complete version.

Featuring the cast from the 2020 revival at Montreal’s Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde, the recording features15 actor-singers including the popular tenor Marc Hervieux in the role of the adult Nelligan; the celebrated baritone Dominique Côté as young Nelligan; Kathleen Fortin reprising the role of the poet’s mother; Frayne McCarthy as Nelligan’s father; Linda Sorgini as Françoise; and Jean Maheux as Pere Seers.

Nelligan recounts the main events in the tragic life of Émile Nelligan, Quebec’s poete national, who was born in 1879 and died on November 18, 1941 after having spent more than 40 years confined to the Saint-Jean-de-Dieu psychiatric hospital in Montréal.

Québécois artist Mathieu Laca was commissioned to create a portrait of Emilie Nelligan for the album cover inspired by the famous photo of the poet. ATMA Classique and Éditions Leméac will publish the complete text of the opera by Michel Tremblay in deluxe Primabook format.