Canadian Baritone Philippe Sly Lives with Monks to Prepare for Salzburg St. Francis Role

Philippe Sly, a Canadian baritone, is starring in the Salzburg Festival's production of Olivier Messiaen's six-hour opera St. François d'Assise. To immerse himself in the character, Sly is residing at Kapuzinerkloster, a monastery situated across the Salzach River from the performance venue. He joins the monks for meals in the refectory and participates in every prayer service his schedule allows. His stay provides direct experience of Franciscan monastic life, which is central to the opera's subject, St. Francis of Assisi. The production is part of the Salzburg Festival in Austria.