Margaret Atwood’s first opera premieres in Vancouver tonight.

Atwood wrote the libretto to the story about First Nations poet Pauline Johnston. It’s receiving its world premiere at City Opera Vancouver.

The music has been written by west coast composer Tobin Stokes. It’s his fifth opera. Stokes has also made a name for himself on the west coast as a pop composer. He wrote much of the music for a show called Good Timber, featuring the poetry of loggers set to folk music.

Mezzo-Soprano Rose-Ellen Nichols sings the title role in the Atwood-Stokes chamber opera Pauline.