Jean-Marie Zeitouni has emerged as one of Canada’s brightest young conductors whose eloquent yet fiery style in repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary music results in regular re-engagements across Canada and the United States. Since 2004 he is associate conductor of Les Violons du Roy. Over the years, he has led the ensemble in over 100 performances in the province of Quebec, around Canada, and in Mexico. His recent CD with the ensemble, entitled Piazzola, garnered him a JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year in the category Solo or Chamber Ensemble in 2007. For Calgary Opera Maestro Zeitouni last conducted the world premiere of Frobisher (2007).

Eda Holmes' work as a theatre director includes: the highly acclaimed 2004 Shaw Festival production of the musical Floyd Collins; The Optimists for Theatre Junction (nominated for five Betty Mitchell Awards); and Helen's Necklace for the 2003 and 2004 seasons at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, to name a few. She also provided direction to the musical Little Mercy's First Murder, co-produced by the Shaw Festival and the 2003 season at Tarragon Theatre (winner of seven Dora Mavor-Moore Awards including one for direction), and The Gwendolyn Poems by Claudia Dey (nominated for a Governor General's Award) at the Factory Theatre. Eda Holmes’ work also includes film and dramaturgy.  This is Eda Holmes’ debut directorial role within the opera milieu.

Since being personally chosen by Valery Gergiev for a production of La Traviata in St. Petersburg, Tenor Marc Hervieux’s career has reached a new level.  He reprised Alfredo for the Cap d’Antibes Festival and in October of 2005 sang the same role with Zubin Mehta and the New Israeli Philharmonic. Heard in Quebec City as des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon during the 2003-2004 season, he also made role debuts as Pinkerton in Butterfly for Edmonton Opera, and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor for Pacific Opera Victoria. For Calgary Opera, Mr. Hervieux debuted in the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (2003),created the role of Michael in the world premiere of Frobisher (2007), and performs the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca (2008).

Bass-Baritone Eduardo Chama has received resounding recognition for his work on both the operatic and concert stages of the world. The Argentine bass-baritone ... does heroic work on every level." The Calgary Herald agrees, stating after performances of Le nozze di Figaro, "Argentine bass-baritone Eduardo Chama sang the title role of Figaro in an easy, stylish way, his voice strong and deep enough for the bass notes." Eduardo Chama has performed the role of Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with opera companies around the globe, such as Calgary Opera, Orlando Opera, Kentucky Opera, Tulsa Opera, Cleveland Opera, Utah Opera, in his debuts with Opera Omaha and Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf. Chama has also received two Grammy Awards for his world-premiere recording of Argentinean composer Osvaldo Golijov: Ainadamar, in the categories of "Best Opera Recording" and "Best Classical Contemporary Composition."

In a short span of time Laura Whalen has made her mark as a Lyric Soprano whose performances are notable for beauty of tone and musical finesse. Ms. Whalen’s career highlights have included her role in La Bohème as Mimi for Pacific Opera Victoria, the Governor General’s Award telecast from the National Arts Centre conducted by Mario Bernardi, and performances for Opera Ontario, Opera Lyra Ottawa, and the Canadian Opera Company. She also toured Europe with the Caritatis Choir singing Brahms’ Requiem in Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg, and has been featured by the Quebec Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic and Hamilton Philharmonic. For Calgary Opera Ms. Whalen created the title role of the world premiere of Filumena by Estacio and Murrell (2003), performed the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute (2006), and created the role of Anna in the world premiere of Frobisher (2007).

Winner of the 2006 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award and a prize winner at the prestigious ARD Musikwettbewerb, Joshua Hopkins has been hailed as “…an outstanding young baritone with a virile, vigorous yet velvety sound and an immediately evident dramatic authority.” Operatic performances of the 2007-08 season bring the Canadian baritone to Houston Grand Opera as Marcello in La Bohème, to Arizona Opera as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and to Central City Opera as Junius in The Rape of Lucretia.  Hopkins last performed for Calgary Opera in Magic Flute (2006).

Born in Calgary and currently residing in Paris, Mezzo-Soprano Andrea Hill has taken the stage to great acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. A 2006-2007 season Emerging Artist with Calgary Opera, Ms. Hill made her European operatic debut portraying the title role of Rossini’s La Cenerentola in May 2007 with Opera Theater Hof (Germany). In November, she accepted a contract to join Paris National Opera’s Atelier Lyrique, and debuted with Paris National Opera in January 2008. Equally at ease on the concert stage, Ms. Hill has sung concerts in such acclaimed halls as Teatro alla Scala (Milano) and La Fenice (Venezia).

Hailed as “a force of nature” (Toronto Star) and “an actress of immense talent” (Opera Canada), Mezzo-Soprano Lynne McMurtry is an exciting and vibrant presence on the concert and operatic stage. Her growing career spans the breadth of classical music genres, from opera and oratorio through art song and new music. She has sung with the Boston Symphony, the Charleston Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, Opera Ontario, and Manitoba Opera, among others, and at many of the major festivals, including Tanglewood, Ravinia, Banff, and Aldeburgh. Conductors with whom she has performed include Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, Simon Kenway, Howard Dyck, Kevin Mallon, Wayne Strongman, Ivars Taurins, and Lorraine Vaillancourt.

Exciting young Baritone Benjamin Covey is delighted to be returning to Calgary Opera for a second season as an emerging artist. Career highlights include performing the title role in Frobisher (Banff Summer Arts Festival) and the roles of Jacob and Dandy 3 in Calgary Opera's The Ballad of Baby Doe. A frequent soloist with the Aldeburgh Connection, Benjamin has also sung Cantatas 70 and 110 with Helmut Rilling. (International Bach Festival) This summer Benjamin sang the role of Demetrius in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream at the Banff Arts Festival and Carmina Burana with the Vancouver Chambre Choir.