Jeffrey Ryan and Michael MacLennan – The Laurels

Releases May 1, 2026

The Laurels is a short one-act opera — a contemporary retelling of the Daphne and Apollo myth, conceived as a thriller charting one woman’s psychological unravelling in the aftermath of a harrowing crisis.

Laurel runs through the forest of a city park at night, chased by a male Stranger. He’s evidently a dangerous stalker while she’s a helpless victim. Or is something more happening? Is the Stranger real, or a haunting manifestation of Laurel’s own psyche? In his dogged pursuit, does he seek to harm, or is she in fact the villain here? As the opera runs along this knife’s edge, The Laurels questions the scope of morality and how the past haunts us. You can run, but…

TRACK
1. The Laurels (an opera in one short act) 14:08

DIGITAL BOOKLET

CREDITS
Jeffrey Ryan, composer
Michael MacLennan, librettist

Jacqueline Woodley, soprano
Nathan Keoughan, baritone

Rosemary Thomson, conductor
AK Coope, clarinet/bass clarinet
Katie Rife, percussion
Janelle Nadeau, harp
Rebecca Ruthven, violin
Isabelle Roland, viola
Rebecca Wenham, violoncello
Meaghan Williams, contrabass

Denise Ball, producer
Don Harder, recording engineer / digital editing / mastering
Recorded Sept 11, 2025, CBC Studio One, Vancouver

Pascal Milelli, graphic design

Jordan Nobles, Redshift Records

The Laurels is dedicated to Wayne Strongman and Claire Hopkinson, and was commissioned by Tapestry New Opera Works with the generous assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and New Op Angel: Ernest Balmer.

We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and Canada’s private radio broadcasters. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada. Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au gouvernement du Canada.

The Laurels is available for pre-order from: