MISSING
ATOM (ARTISTS OF THE OPERA MISSING), TIMOTHY LONG, CONTINUUM ENSEMBLE

FOR YOUR
GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION

Best Opera Recording
Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Missing by Brian Current

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MISSING is a powerful opera confronting the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. With music composed by Brian Current and a libretto by Marie Clements, it follows Ava, a young woman whose encounter with the spirit of a lost Indigenous girl changes her forever. The Artists of The Opera MISSING (ATOM) and Continuum Ensemble, led by conductor Timothy Long, weave contemporary classical music with Gitxsan language and cultural traditions, moving through grief, memory, and justice, ensuring these voices continue to be heard.

About ATOM:

Artists of the Opera MISSING (ATOM) is a collective formed in 2022 to sustain the mission of bringing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) to audiences through the opera MISSING. Beyond creating a definitive commercial recording, ATOM is dedicated to ensuring that the opera continues to be recognized as a powerful artistic response to this national tragedy.
The collective includes notable artists such as conductor Timothy Long, mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, librettist Marie Clements, composer Brian Current and soprano Melody Courage, alongside a team of dedicated musicians, cultural consultants, and production professionals. ATOM’s work is deeply rooted in collaboration with Indigenous artists, particularly Gitxsan speaker and Elder Vince Gogag, whose contributions ensure the authenticity and respectfulness of the opera’s linguistic and cultural elements.


MISSING began as a commission by City Opera Vancouver and Pacific Opera Victoria, with a libretto by Marie Clements. Composer Brian Current was invited to join the project, shaping the music in collaboration with the creative team and Indigenous artists to honour the opera’s cultural and linguistic foundations. Since its premiere in 2017, Missing has had over 30 performances across Canada, including in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Toronto, as well as a U.S. presentation in Anchorage, Alaska. The first performance of each production has been reserved exclusively for the families of the victims, reinforcing the opera’s role in remembrance and healing.

Featured
MISSING | OPERA NEWS - REVIEW

“An undertaking of extraordinary moral ambition, here is an opera that seeks to confront an appalling, ongoing crime: the disappearance, violation and murder of indigenous women and girls in Canada.”

MISSING | GRAMOPHONE - REVIEW

“Few operas arrive with such a fierce sense of purpose … MISSING is strongly anchored in well-drawn characters — in an entrancing and highly accomplished piece with a distinctive atmosphere resonating from an ancient, mystical world view.”

MISSING | CITY Magazine - REVIEW

“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.”

MISSING | CULTURAL ATTACHÉ - REVIEW

“Current has written music that finds its way deep into your soul and continues to make its home there during the 78 minutes of music on this recording. Conductor Long, the Continuum Ensemble and the entire cast perform Missing beautifully.”

MISSING | LA SCENA MUSICALE - REVIEW

“This is an impressive piece that needs to be seen across Canada … It tackles a difficult and emotionally charged issue in a way that makes good theatre.”