Conductor Robert Tweten has been described as leading with “verve and precision,” his pacing as “flawless”, and having a “musicality and near-symbiotic accord with singers which always impresses.” Most recently the Canadian native returned to Canada to conduct Mozart’s Don Giovanni for Opera Ontario and Tosca for Vancouver Opera. Maestro Tweten serves as the Head of Music Staff at Santa Fe Opera, and has conducted for several orchestras across North America, including, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Southwest, Opera Ontario, Vancouver Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company, to name a few. This is Maestro Tweten’s debut performance with Calgary Opera.

Canadian stage director Rob Herriot began his career in opera on the stage, singing roles such as Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress and Tamino in The Magic Flute. In 2001 he turned his attention to stage direction and began assisting directors across North America on productions for Vancouver Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, San Diego Opera, Calgary Opera, and The Banff Centre. In 2003 Mr. Herriot directed his first production of Lucia di Lammermoor  for Manitoba Opera and has since directed productions of Carmen for Arizona Opera, La Bohème for Manitoba Opera, and  La Traviata  for Opera Ontario. Herriot directed The Brothers Grimm (2007) for Calgary Opera.

Baritone Aaron St. Clair Nicholson has established himself as an artist of the first rank, winning praise for his superb vocal gifts and the dramatic integrity he brings to his performances.  2006-2007 was a banner year for the young baritone, as he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Schaunard in La Bohème conducted by Domingo and followed those performances with Papageno in Die Zauberflöte conducted by Levine. St. Clair Nicholson has also performed with Glimmerglass Opera, L’Opéra de Montréal, Vancouver Opera, Opera Lyra, Atlanta Symphony, Opera Ontario, Opera Saskatchewan, and the Florida Grand Opera.  St. Clair Nicholson last performed in Calgary as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (2003).
                                                           

Canadian Mezzo-Soprano Krisztina Szabó has become a highly sought-after artist in both North America and Europe. She made her Lincoln Center debut as Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the Mostly Mozart Festival, and her 2007-08 season was highlighted by performances of new roles: Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos with Stadttheater Klagenfurt in Austria, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni in her fourth production with Chicago Opera Theater. Ms. Szabó has performed with the Canadian Opera Company, L’Opéra de Montréal, Chicago Opera Theatre, Edmonton Opera and L’Opéra de Québec. Szabó returns to Calgary Opera after her role as Flora in La Traviata (2003).

On the international stages of opera, concert, and recital, Canadian John Tessier has gained attention and praise for the beauty and honesty of his voice, for a refined style and artistic versatility, and for his handsome, youthful presence in the lyric tenor repertoire. He regularly works with many of the most notable conductors today including Lorin Mazel, Leonard Slatkin, Plácido Domingo, John Nelson, Franz Welzer-Möst, Donald Runnicles, Robert Spano and others. Tessier has worked for such companies as New York City Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, Arizona Opera, L’Opéra de Montréal, and many more. Tessier returns to Calgary Opera after his role in Lakmé (2004).

One of America's foremost character bass-baritones, Peter Strummer has earned a reputation for endowing his buffo characterizations with further depth and humanity. His signature portrayals have been described as “highly individual, each formidably different whether as Bartolo or Don Magnifico or Beckmesser or Pasquale.” Mr. Strummer was invited by Maestro James Levine to make his operatic debut as Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Dansker inBilly Budd. Mr. Strummer’s most recent performance in Calgary was Cinderella (1995).

Bass-Baritone Philip Cokorinos has performed in more than 30 productions over several seasons at the Metropolitan Opera. Most notable performances include Masetto in a “Live from the MET” telecast of Don Giovanni, the world premiere of John Corigliano’s highly successful The Ghosts of Versailles, as well as the MET premieres of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, War & Peace, The Gambler, and Sly. Having performed nearly 70 leading roles in his career, Mr. Cokorinos’ appearances have been with such companies as New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Atlanta Opera. Mr. Cokorinos’ last performance for Calgary Opera was in the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni (1999).