SPRING 2012 ARTISTS

Come to an Against the Grain performance this fall and here's who you may meet:

Pianist

Music Director Topher Mokrzewski occupies a unique niche between the solo and collaborative piano disciplines. He is a graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, where he served as apprentice vocal coach and répétiteur for several mainstage operas and Ensemble Studio productions. Most recently he participated on the music staff for the COC’s critically-acclaimed 2011 production of Rigoletto as a coach and répétiteur, and gave several well-received recitals in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Topher holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music, and is a graduate of the Vocal Piano Program at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, where he studied with renowned vocal coach and collaborator Warren Jones. This spring Topher looks forward to a jazz collaboration with soprano Lauren Margison, a concert of Schubert leider with baritone Adrian Kramer, and a solo piano program of Brahms and Liszt. He will also serve as head coach and répétiteur for Saskatoon Opera’s spring 2012 production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

The Governess

Ms. Khalil returned to Glyndebourne in the summer of 2011 for one performance and to cover the role of Almirena in Handel’s RINALDO.  Previously for Glyndebourne Ms. Khalil has covered the roles of Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI and Cleopatra in Handel’s GIULIO CESARE.  She was enthusiastically received when she stepped in at the very last second to replace an indisposed Danielle de Niese as Cleopatra.  Further credits include Mimi in LA BOHÈME with Opera Hamilton, Musetta in LA BOHEME with Edmonton Opera, Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Opera Lyra Ottawa, Empress Marie in THE BIRD SELLER and Carolina in Torroba’s LUISA FERNANDA for Toronto Operetta Theatre, Elizabeth D’Aulnières in Charles Wilson’s KAMOURASKA with Opera in Concert, Toronto, and an Opera Gala with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.  She will be heard this season as Frasquita in CARMEN for Pacific Opera Victoria and debuts with the Thunder Bay Symphony in Raminsh’s REQUIEM.

A member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, she sang such roles as Leah in James Rolfe’s world premier of SWOON, Laura in LUISA MILLER, the Confidante in ELEKTRA, and Pamina in THE MAGIC FLUTE.   She was acclaimed for her interpretations of Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Fata Morgana in L’AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES, Governess in THE TURN OF THE SCREW, Micaëla in CARMEN and Dido in DIDO AND AENEAS.

A graduate of The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Miriam holds an Artist Diploma in Voice, and a Bachelor’s Degree in vocal performance from the University of Ottawa.  In 2007 she won first place in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions for the Great Lakes Region.  She is a recent member of both The Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia and The Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.

Mrs. Grose

Canadian mezzo-soprano Megan Latham has enjoyed the distinction of recognition in opera, oratorio, and recital.  Her artistry has been described as “rich and breathtaking” and her voice “clear and wonderful”.  Ms. Latham has worked with distinguished conductors including Harry Bicket, Will Crutchfield, Richard Bradshaw, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, David Agler, Jeanne Lamon and Agnes Grossman.

This season Ms. Latham sings Giovanna in Verdi’s RIGOLETTO, Voice of the Mother in HOFFMAN and Zita in GIANNI SCHICCHI with the Canadian Opera Company. Highlights of the past season include the Rhombus media production of Alexina Louie’s POLITICS IS CRUEL: AN OPERA, Verdi’s REQUIEM for Regina Symphony, Secretary to Chairman Mao in COC’s NIXON IN CHINA and Eduige in Pacific Opera Victoria’s production of RODELINDA.

Ms. Latham appeared as Sister Sophia in the long-running Mirvish production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, following which she was heard as Marcellina in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO for Vancouver Opera and in BON APPETIT with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony.

During her programme to obtain a Master of Opera degree at the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Music in Opera from the University of British Columbia, Ms. Latham performed Dorabella in Mozart’s COSÍ FAN TUTTI, Ruggiero in Handel’s ALCINA, and Mrs. Herring in Britten’s ALBERT HERRING, Second Lady in Mozart’s LA FINTA GIARDINIERA, and Mrs. Nolan in Menotti’s THE MEDIUM.

Prologue/Peter Quint

Born in Newfoundland, tenor Michael Barrett is a former member of the COC Ensemble Studio. Some of Mr. Barrett’s recent roles include Monostatos in MAGIC FLUTE, High Priest of Neptune in IDOMENEO, El Remendado in CARMEN, Lieutenant Bonnet and Aide de Camp to General Compans in WAR AND PEACE, First Prisoner in FIDELIO, the Gamekeeper in RUSALKA, Captain of Archers in SIMON BOCCANEGRA, Parpignol in LA BOHEME, Snout in A MIDASUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and Ferrando in the Ensemble Studio production of COSI FAN TUTTE. At the University of Toronto Opera School he performed many roles including Nemorino in L’ELISIR D’AMORE, Male Chorus in RAPE OF LUCRETIA and Eisenstein in DIE FLEDERMAUS. Michael regularly appears with the Aldeburgh Connection, where he performed in OUR STORY for the 25th Anniversary celebrations.

The current season began with Michael as the witch in the Canadian Opera Company’s touring production of HANSEL AND GRETEL.  Further highlights include the world premiere of TAPTOO for Toronto Operetta Theatre, MESSIAH with the Newfoundland Symphony and Spalanzani in TALES OF HOFFMAN for the COC.

Miss Jessel

Prize-winning soprano Betty Allison first came to prominence as a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio. Her career expands to Europe this season and she will make her French debut in Metz as Alice in Verdi’s FALSTAFF.  On home turf in British Columbia she creates the title role in MARY’S WEDDING, a world premier production by Pacific Opera Victoria led by Timothy Vernon.  Her U.S. debut is scheduled for March of 2012 with the title role in Floyd’s SUSANNAH for Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. 

Leading assignments in COC Ensemble productions include Fiordiligi in COSI FAN TUTTE, Donna Elvira in Gazzaniga’s DON GIOVANNI, and Mona in the world premiere of James Rolfe’s SWOON.  On the mainstage she has covered and performed a wide range of roles, demonstrating her natural ability and talent.  Included among these are the High Priestess (AÏDA), Donna Anna (DON GIOVANNI), Annina (LA TRAVIATA), Luisa Miller (LUISA MILLER), Turnspit (RUSALKA), Freia (DAS RHEINGOLD), Marguerite (FAUST), Countess (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO), Tatyana (EUGENE ONEGIN), and Amelia (SIMON BOCCANEGRA). She sang Erste Dame in a new production of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE during the COC’s 2010-2011 season and in concert she was heard with Ottawa’s Choral Society and in the New Discoveries Showcase.

The statuesque Ms. Allison was the Canadian representative to the first ever Stella Maris Vocal Competition, hosted and adjudicated by world-renowned tenor Michael Schade, placing first in the Oratorio class and fourth overall. Other competition successes have included selection as a regional finalist at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Pittsburgh, a Silver Medal in the Czech Slovak International Competition, Grand Prizes at the Ottawa Choral Society New Discovery and West Palm Beach Opera competitions and a top prize from Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques (2009).

Ms. Allison completed Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees at the University of Victoria in Music and Education.

Flora

Originally from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan soprano Johane Ansell is quickly establishing herself as a versatile performer of both opera and concert repertoire. For the 2011 – 2012 season Johane will be the soprano soloist in Howard Goodall’s oratorio Eternal Light: A Requiem with the Orpheus Choir at Roy Thomson Hall, and she will be joining the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra as the soprano soloist in their presentation of Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and the Fauré Requiem. Other concerts this season include performances of the Beethoven Mass in C, the premiere of the oratorio No Mortal Business by Canadian composer Allan Bevan, with Chorus Niagara and the Orpheus choir of Toronto, and a performance of Andrew Staniland’s Calamus with cellist Rachel Mercer for the University of Toronto New Music Festival. This summer she will sing Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the Maritime Concert Opera and will be returning to the Highlands Opera Studio to sing Erste Dame in their production of Die Zauberflöte.

In 2011 Johane performed Mrs Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium with the Highlands Opera Studio, travelled to Aldeburgh, with the support of the Canadian Aldeburgh Association, to be a soloist in the Bach St. John Passion with tenor Mark Padmore and performed Gabriel and Eva in Haydn’s Die Schöpfung with the Choeur Polyphonique de Charlevoix. Recently Ms. Ansell appeared in recital with the Aldeburgh Connection and was a finalist in the Classical Music Consort Handel Competition, winning the Audience Favorite award.

Other opera credits include Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring) Laurie (The Tender Land), Clorinda (Cenerentola), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), and Alcina (Alcina) . In concert, Ms. Ansell has appeared as the soloist in Ēriks Ešenvalds’  Passion and Resurrection, Imant Raminsh’s Quaternity: A Cantata for Seasons, Mozart’s Requiem, Vesperae Solennes, Vivaldi Magnificat, Bruckner Te Deum, Haydn’s Creation, Charpentier’s Messe à Huit Voix  and Messe des Morts, Esther in Handel’s Esther,  and Barmherzigkeit in Mozart’s oratorio Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots.

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Johane holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice from the University of Saskatchewan.

Stage Director

Stage director Joel Ivany is the founder and artistic director of Against the Grain Theatre. He recently served as assistant director for the critically-acclaimed Canadian Opera Company production of Iphigénie en Tauride under renowned director Robert Carsen. Other credits include directing Così fan Tutte for the Banff Centre, Le Nozze di Figaro at Norwegian National Opera, knotty together (a new work composed by Njo Kong Kie and performed in Dublin) and the world premiere of Dean Burry’s The Secret World of Og in Toronto.

Joel holds a music degree from the University of Western Ontario and an artist diploma in opera directing from the University of Toronto. He was a recent finalist and prizewinner in the European Opera-Directing Prize for his concept of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi with designers Camellia Koo and Jason Hand.  

Upcoming projects include serving as associate director at Washington National Opera for its production of Verdi's Nabucco and directing a new production of Les Contes D'Hoffmann for Edmonton Opera in 2013.

Set Designer

Camellia Koo was recently awarded 3rd Prize in the 6th European Opera Directing Prize alongside director Joel Ivany and lighting designer Jason Hand. Her previous designs for opera include the set design for Giiwedin (Native Earth), and set and costume designs for Dido and Aeneas (Opera on the Avalon) and The Shadow (Tapestry New Opera). 

She has assisted Michael Levine on numerous opera productions, and was his associate designer on Candide directed by Robert Carsen (Hyogo PAC) and The Magic Flute directed by Laszlo Marton (Budapest State Opera). In 2010, she received a Chalmers Award to shadow on A Dog’s Heart directed by Simon McBurney (De Nederlandse Opera). Her designs for theatre include collaborations with fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, Cahoots Theatre Projects, Obsidian Theatre, Theatre Smash, Tarragon Theatre, The Second City, Soulpepper Theatre Company and The Shaw Festival. Camellia has received four Dora Awards, a Sterling Award, and a Siminovitch Protégé Prize for her work. She is a graduate of Ryerson University, and Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (UK). Upcoming productions include The Lighthouse directed by Tim Albery (Boston Lyric Opera) and Maria Stuarda directed by Maria Lamont (Pacific Opera Victoria).  

Lighting Designer

Jason Hand is a Toronto-based lighting designer working in theatre and opera.  Most recently, he collaborated with director Joel Ivany and designer Camellia Koo to conceive a production of I Capuletti e i Montecchi that placed third in the biennial European Opera-Directing Prize. Jason has created the lighting for the world premieres of Morris Panych’s The Trespassers at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Tijuana Cure and A Boy Called Newfoundland for Theatre Smash, and Gorey Story and Peer Gynt for the Thistle Project. He also designed Ivona Princess of Burgundia (George Brown College), Othello, Romeo and Juliet (Classical Theatre Project), Sweeney Todd, 42nd Street, and Wonderful Town (Clarkson Music Theatre).

In opera he has designed Giulio Cesare for Orchestra London at the Grand Theatre and assisted on over 25 productions at the Canadian Opera Company. A graduate of York University, Jason has also assisted on musicals and plays at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Soulpepper, the Vancouver Playhouse, Luminato and Dancap. Upcoming projects include Tim Albery's Dido and Aeneas at Opera on the Avalon, The Winter's Tale for Canadian Stage and the Toronto premier of The Ugly One for Theatre Smash. 

Costume Designer