Spotify Playlist of Recorded Work
Gilgamesh: A Visual Opera (Composer: Scott Bruchacher)
This commissioned song cycle is the fruit of an interdisciplinary creative collaboration that spans more than a decade — between Scott Brubacher, David James Brock and Tenor Stephen Lancaster. The visual production, produced and directed by Four/Ten Media, lays a captivating backdrop for composer Brubacher and Brock’s adaptation of Gilgamesh.
”Lancaster masterfully commands the epic role, despite the historical weight of the character. With prismatic support from pianist Susan McDaniel and dancer Kyle Marshall in the role of Enkidu, the ancient story comes to life.” - Navona Records
To learn more about GILGAMESH, please visit the album page here or watch the full piece below!
Cannot say enough good things about this project. Like a stew cooked slow. It was ready when it was ready. - djb
Year of the Horse (a Western Opera on Film and Record w/ Fucked Up)
Perceval is a film co-written by David James Brock and Mike Haliechuk. The film accompanies the Fucked Up EP The Year of the Horse with lyrics by Haliechuk, story by Haliechuk & Brock, and score by the band Fucked Up. The writing of Perceval was supported by the Harold Greenburg Fund in conjunction with Rawk Moving Pictures Inc. As of 2026, the film is looking for development partners. Act One of the Four Act album is posted below and a great concept video from PORCH (@porch_world) & Director Trevor Blumas (@_trevy_metal_) was made from the script here.
Good album. Script is great. Thanks Mike. - djb
Pandora (a ballet-opera with three Canadian composers)
NOMINATED FOR TWO DORA MAVOR MOORE AWARDS - OPERA DIVISION (Outstanding Production, Outstanding Director)
Pandora was written by librettist David James Brock (Toronto, ON) with music composed by David Storen (Vancouver, BC), Joseph Glaser (Montreal, QC) and Kit Soden (Montreal, QC). The story centres around the development of a character, played by tenor Jonathan MacArthur, who stumbles upon an object and quickly gets drawn into what, and who, is inside. The piece will be directed by FAWN’s Founder and Artistic Director Amanda Smith, who is known for her visceral and visually compelling productions. Reflecting on this production’s new take on an ancient tale, Smith observes: “Although this piece isn’t directly about the myth, I imagine that in Pandora we see what happens when the jar, or box, is opened a second time. Hope and good shoots out from a place of isolation and is now mixing in with the darkness that was previously released. The result we see is humanity, with its raw contradictions and complexities.” For more details, visit the Fawn website.
Fawn will do amazing things yet. Amanda’s ideas can change how anyone might do this. - djb
Tap Ex: Metallurgy (with Fucked Up & Ivan Barbotin)
A 2015 collaboration with Tapestry New Opera, Members of Fucked Up, and composer Ivan Barbotin. Combining elements of traditional opera, experimental new music, and punk, Tap: Ex Metallurgy explored the intersection of classical and contemporary. Visit my Press Page or the Tapestry New Opera for details about the collaboration.
Michael Mori will say I demanded this, and I was right. I haven’t demanded much since. This was a cool event even if it only ended up in getting to help out on a really good Fucked Up album and a brutal punk soccer tournament. - djb
Breath Cycle (with Gareth Williams & Scottish Opera)
With support from Wellcome Trust, librettist David James Brock and composer Gareth Williams created Breath Cycle -- a concept community opera project for people with cystic fibrosis. Each of the songs is inspired by conversations they had with participants during the project. Together with Scottish Opera and Gartnavel General Hospital's respiratory unit, the project is also exploring the effect of learning classical singing techniques and breath control on the respiratory health of Breath Cycle participants.
Scottish Opera pretends I had nothing to do with this, but that’s okay. It’s helping people. - djb
A sketch by composer Gareth Williams.
The Sloans Project (with Gareth Williams)
Composer Gareth Williams and librettist David James Brock created this site-specific promenade opera inspired by Glasgow's oldest pub, Sloans. The audience moves through the 250-year-old pub and encounters a series of scenes telling stories of love, loss, revenge and forgiveness.
Commissioned by NOISE Opera with development support from Tapestry New Opera, The Sloans Project was recently remounted for the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Scottish Arts Club. I met some great friends on this show, not the least of which is Gareth, who has done great things.
This show is my most performed, I think, which only matters to me. It was the breakthrough, and we should all recognize our own. - djb
Soprano Miranda Sinani on the shoulder of baritone Paul Keohone in the Ballroom at Sloans (Glasgow, UK). Photo credit: Neil Thomas Douglas.
Sewing the Earthworm (with Brian Harman)
Commissioned by the Canadian Art Song Project, this song cycle for solo soprano and piano was composed by Brian Harman with libretto by David James Brock. This piece explores the relationship between physical health and mental illness through the character of a woman who accidentally severs an earthworm while gardening. Mirroring a fear of her own fragmentation, she decides to attach the pieces with needle and thread to save its life. The seemingly futile attempt is compounded by her desire to prove that physical control has not abandoned her, and the piece makes a rapid shift as a mental struggle takes over.
The piece premiered in March 2012 at Canadian Opera Company’s Richard Bradshaw Auditorium in Toronto. In the summer, Sewing The Earthworm was also featured in The Bicycle Opera Project's inaugural season. In 2012, the ensemble cycled throughout Ontario to Peterborough, Port Hope, Belleville, Prince Edward County, Kingston, and Gananoque.
Brian is such a creative, incredible and innovative composer and I hope we work together again someday - djb
Soprano Carla Huhtanen and pianist Steven Philcox performing Sewing the Earthworm in the Richard Bradshaw auditorium. Photo credit: Tracy Kay.
Soprano Larissa Koniuk performed Sewing the Earthworm as part of The Bicycle Opera Project's 2012 season.
Pretty Boy (with Jack Perla)
Commissioned by the Paul Dresher Ensemble, this electro-acoustic song cycle for solo tenor was composed by Jack Perla with libretto by David James Brock.
The six-part song cycle, which premiered at San Francisco’s Z-Space in December 2012, focused on the last minutes in the life of the American bank robber and folk-hero Charles Pretty Boy Floyd.
I learned a lot on this show about creating work for voice. I also learned a lot about how composers deal with emerging writers. We all need that experience where we get a bit screwed by a creative partner, and fingers crossed, learn from it - djb