MISSING | CITY Magazine - REVIEW

Music Review | 'MISSING' 

by: Mona Seghatoleslami | July, 2025

The opera “MISSING” weaves together stories of a missing Indigenous girl, a young law student, their families and a professor who teaches characters about the Indigenous Gitxsan language and culture.

The opera was written by composer Brian Current and librettist Marie Clements and premiered in Vancouver in 2017. The debut recording comes out July 11 from the forward-thinking New York City label Bright Shiny Things.

The artists created this work, in their words, “to give voice to the story of Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls, and to show that each and every one of these missing people is honored.”

The story uses abstract elements to connect to these very real and painful events, told in both English and Gitxsan, with music that has a bit of a minimalist groove.

This album is a rich resource to explore, digging into music that tells meaningful stories and connects to social issues. At the same time, something in here commands attention the way a good Broadway cast recording does.

It is strange, in some ways, to think that such a work could be listened to for fun or enjoyment. But despite the haunting story and the questions it asks (“How can our daughters live?”), I am also beguiled by the luminous beauty and energy of this music.

The Rochester connection here is conductor Timothy Long, artistic and music director of opera at the Eastman School of Music. A citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, with matrilineal Choctaw heritage, Long is a passionate advocate for Indigenous artists. This is one of his many projects worth following for both its artistry and the way it can expand an understanding of the world.

The opera “MISSING” weaves together stories of a missing Indigenous girl, a young law student, their families and a professor who teaches characters about the Indigenous Gitxsan language and culture.

The opera was written by composer Brian Current and librettist Marie Clements and premiered in Vancouver in 2017. The debut recording comes out July 11 from the forward-thinking New York City label Bright Shiny Things.

The artists created this work, in their words, “to give voice to the story of Canada’s missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls, and to show that each and every one of these missing people is honored.”

The story uses abstract elements to connect to these very real and painful events, told in both English and Gitxsan, with music that has a bit of a minimalist groove.

This album is a rich resource to explore, digging into music that tells meaningful stories and connects to social issues. At the same time, something in here commands attention the way a good Broadway cast recording does.

It is strange, in some ways, to think that such a work could be listened to for fun or enjoyment. But despite the haunting story and the questions it asks (“How can our daughters live?”), I am also beguiled by the luminous beauty and energy of this music.

The Rochester connection here is conductor Timothy Long, artistic and music director of opera at the Eastman School of Music. A citizen of the Muscogee Nation and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, with matrilineal Choctaw heritage, Long is a passionate advocate for Indigenous artists. This is one of his many projects worth following for both its artistry and the way it can expand an understanding of the world.