Artistic Director of the Wexford Opera Festival, David Agler has previously served as Music Director of the Vancouver Opera, Principal Conductor of the Australian Opera, Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Opera, Principal Guest Conductor of the Oper der Stadt Köln, Conductor and Administrator of the Spoleto Festival, Artistic Director of the Opera Festival of New Jersey, and Music Director of the Syracuse Opera. Notable opera companies with whom he has appeared include the Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, The Western Australian Opera, The Netherlands Opera, Reggio Emilia, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, and L'Opéra de Montréal. For Calgary Opera, David Agler last conducted Dead Man Walking (2006).

Kelly Robinson, Director of Creative Development for Toronto’s Mirvish Productions, and recently appointed Director of Theatre Arts at The Banff Centre, is a director and choreographer whose career spans opera, theatre, film, and television.  Mr. Robinson's work has been seen at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Canadian Stage Company (Toronto), the Palace Theatre (New York), the Vineyard Theatre (New York) and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Centre. For Calgary Opera Mr. Robinson directed the world premiere of Filumena (2003), Sweeney Todd (2004), the Canadian premiere of Dead Man Walking (2006), The Magic Flute (2006), the world premiere of Frobisher (2007), and most recently The Ballad of Baby Doe (2007).

Whether in concert, opera or recital, Canadian Soprano Wendy Nielsen enchants audiences with her sumptuous voice and engaging presence. Wendy Nielsen has a long history with the Metropolitan Opera, where she debuted as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte and has sung Micaela in Carmen, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. A signature role, her Countess has been heard in Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Toronto, Tulsa, Ottawa, and with the Minnesota Orchestra led by Jeffrey Tate. She has sung both Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni in Boston, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Edmonton, Tulsa; and Fiordiligi with the Florida Grand Opera and in New Jersey. Ms. Nielsen’s last performance in Calgary was in The Marriage of Figaro (2001).

Canadian Tenor Richard Margison is acknowledged as one of the most acclaimed tenors of our day and has won international acclaim in the most prestigious theatres in the world including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Vienna State Opera, Opera National Bastille, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Hamburg State Opera, Netherlands Opera, San Francisco Opera, Theatre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels, the Royal Opera Covent Garden and the Australian Opera. Mr. Margison was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and he holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Victoria (DMus), University of British Columbia (D.Litt) and McMaster University (D.Litt).

Coloratura Soprano Tracy Dahl has established herself as an important artist on the international concert and opera stages, and made her debut at La Scala in 2006 as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Her flair as an actress, as well as her outstanding vocal abilities have received high praise. She has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Washington Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Châtelet in Paris, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival, and more. Ms. Dahl last performed in Calgary as Baby Doe in The Ballad of Baby Doe (2008).

A winner of the 1999 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Mezzo-Soprano Stacey Rishoi has garnered an international reputation for the beauty and power of her voice. In her recent debut as Adalgisa in Norma the Washington Post stated, “It was Rishoi’s Adalgisa, however, who nearly stole the show with a performance that was convincing and unwavering from start to finish. In her company debut, Rishoi commanded the stage with a lustrous voice graced with natural expression and a surprising clarion projection.” Rishoi has performed for opera companies throughout North America, including Washington National Opera, Virginia Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Orlando Opera, Central City Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Utah Opera. This is Ms. Rishoi’s debut performance with Calgary Opera. 

Gregory Dahl has boldly staked his claim to a position of prominence among baritones of his generation with performances notable for richness of characterization and a remarkable vocal authority. Mr. Dahl first came to national attention as Francis Chancy in the world premiere of James Rolfe’s Beatrice Chancy and has since been hailed in such roles as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Vancouver Opera), Malatesta in Don Pasquale (Opera Ontario) and Belcore in L’Elisir D’Amore (Manitoba Opera). Mr. Dahl created the role of Charlie in Calgary Opera’s production of Filumena (2003), and played George Benton in Dead Man Walking (2006).

One of Canada’s finest character tenors, Michel Corbeil distinguishes himself by his versatility as a singer and by his highly praised acting skills and comedic timing. His most notable roles include Der Hauptmann in Wozzeck,Goro in Madama Butterfly, Nick in La Fanciulla del West, Pong in Turandot, Don Basilioin Le Nozze di Figaro, Beppe in Pagliacci, Tobias in Sweeney Todd, Sellem in The Rake’s Progress, Little Bat in Susannah, Curley in Of Mice and Men, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, The First Jew in Salome, and Tybalt in Romeo & Juliette.Originally from Montreal, Mr. Corbeil finished musical studies at McGill University and trained at l’Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. He was the recipient of the Prix Quilico and an award winner at the 9th International Voice Competition of Marmande in France. For Calgary Opera Mr.Corbeil most recently performed in Magic Flute (2006).

German born and Calgary based Bass-Baritone Uwe Dambruch has appeared as the Father in Hansel & Gretel in Dusseldorf, a Friar in Don Carlos at the Baden State Opera Karlsruhe, and as the Mandarin in the Florentine Opera production of Turandot in Milawauke. Mr. Dambruch made a cameo appearance in the Cannes award-winning film Wahnfried, singing Wagnerian excerpts. Mr. Dambruch has also appeared with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, and Opera Ontario, among others. Mr. Dambruch returns to Calgary Opera after his performance as Sparafucile in Rigoletto (2007).

The British-Canadian Baritone Alexander Dobson has been praised for his musicality and dramatic awareness on both the opera and recital stage.  Recent career highlights for this exciting young baritone include his riveting portrayal of Wozzeck conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin in Montreal  for which he was lauded for his “gripping embodiment of Wozzeck” (Journal Voir). Operatic performances also include Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet for Opera Ontario, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia for Pacific Opera Victoria and Polyphemus in Acis and Galatea for the Toronto Masque Theatre.  He made his Royal Opera debut when The Midnight Court by Ana Sokolovic premiered at Covent Garden’s Linbury Theatre in June 2006. This is Mr. Dobson’s debut performance with Calgary Opera.