SEASON ARTISTS
Conductor Jonathan Brandani was appointed Calgary Opera’s Artistic director in September 2021. Recent engagements include opera productions and concert appearances at Gothenburg Opera (Sweden), Meininger Hofkapelle (Germany), the Bregenzer Festspiele (Austria), the Danish Royal Opera House Copenhagen (with soprano Angela Gheorghiu), Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Italy), Théatre Royal de Wallonie-Liège (Belgium), Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Italy). From 2014-2019 he was Associate Conductor of Minnesota Opera (USA), and from 2017-2020 he was Principal Guest Conductor of Daegu Opera House (South Korea). Upcoming engagements in the 24-25 season include Don Giovanni and a double-bill of Bluebeard’s Castle and Gianni Schicchi for Calgary Opera, as well as The Barber of Seville at the Opera Theatre St. Louis (USA).
Jonathan Brandani
ANNA THEODOSAKIS
Stage director and choreographer Anna Theodosakis is a rising figure on the operatic scene, with critically acclaimed productions featuring “clean and uncluttered direction” [Opera Canada]. This season Anna saw engagements with Edmonton Opera (Carmen), University of Ottawa (Così fan tutte), and returns to the Canadian Opera Company as assistant director for their new production of The Cunning Little Vixen, and to Opera Theatre of St. Louis for La bohème. Previous seasons include productions of Dove’s Flight (Glenn Gould School), Verdi’s La traviata (Brott Opera), assisting on productions of Mozart’s Così fan tutte (Opera Theatre of St. Louis) and Le nozze di Figaro (Canadian Opera Company), and serving as associate director on Against the Grain’s production of Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. Anna has appeared as a frequent collaborator with the Canadian Opera Company, earning a nomination for the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction for her work as revival director on The Magic Flute (2022).
PHILLIP ADDIS
As the Count Almaviva, Phillip Addis has performed from Miami to Montreal, and Dresden to Versailles, and is delighted to interpret the role in Calgary, where he now lives. Last season he triumphantly reprised the roles as Zurga in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles with Vancouver Opera and as Pelléas in Modena and Piacenza. He also made role debuts as Don Alfonso in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Così fan tutte, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Opéra de Québec. His next role is also a debut, as Dr. Malatesta in Vancouver Opera’s Don Pasquale. In 2022-23 he performed Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestre Classique de Montréal, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Early Music Voices Concert Society in Calgary and Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières.
MIDORI MARSH
Midori Marsh is an American-Canadian soprano, hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. In fall 2019 she won first prize and audience choice awards at the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage competition. As a COC young artist she was seen as Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Annina in La Traviata, Papagena in Die Zauberflote and Frasquita in Carmen. A known quantity in the Canadian opera scene, she has performed with Tapestry Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, the TSO, the National Arts Centre and more. She took first prize at the 2023 Quilico awards, was a semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023 Laffont competition, a 2023 Lotte Lenya finalist and took home both first prize and audience choice award at the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition.
AVIVA FORTUNATA
Canadian-Italian soprano Aviva Fortunata, twice named one of CBC’s Top 30 Canadian Classical Artists Under 30, is earning international attention with her "velvety timbre" and "diva soprano quality”. Her 2024-25 season includes returns to Calgary Opera as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Sarasota Opera as Lina in Verdi’s Stiffelio. Additionally, Ms. Fortunata joins the Victoria Symphony as the season opening’s featured soloist, singing Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder. Notable recent engagements have seen her join The Metropolitan Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Dallas Opera. A former finalist in the Operalia Competition and Canada's representative at the 2015 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, she holds a master’s degree in Opera from the University of Toronto.
GUIDO LOCONSOLO
Italian bass-baritone Guido Loconsolo was a member of Teatro alla Scala “Young Artists Program”. During his years at La Scala, he appeared in several productions in such roles as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro.
Highlights of his career have been his interpretation, among others, of Marcello in La Bohème at the Teatro Regio in Turin, his debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as Achilla in Händel's Giulio Cesare, Ford in Falstaff and Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, his interpretations of Il Cavalier Belfiore in Verdi's Un giorno di regno at Teatro Regio in Parma and of Leporello in Don Giovanni at the Bolshoi in Moscow.
In 2013 he was Achilla at the Metropolitan Opera. From then on, his already brilliant career lead him to the interpretation of leading roles such as Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale, Escamillo, Count Rodolfo, Giorgio, Don Basilio, Selim, Colline, Dulcamara, Figaro, Count Almaviva, Publio, Papageno, Leporello and many others in some of the most prestigious theaters in Italy and abroad.
CHUAN WANG
A native of China, Chuan studied voice at the Conservatory of Guangzhou where he earned his 1st-level diploma in 2012. He continued his studies in Italy at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan graduating with top marks in 2016. He enriched his experience with various performances like Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Tonio in Ponchielli's I Promessi Sposi, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Orff's Carmina Burana and masterclasses and he qualified in important international singing competitions.
Among his recent an future projects Duke in Rigoletto conducted by Daniel Oren in the historical staging by Gilbert Deflo, Ramiro in the children’s version of La cenerentola and the tenor part in the world premiere of Madina all at la Scala, Pang in Turandot and Duca in Rigoletto at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Carmina Burana Liebeskof in Il viaggio a Reims at La Scala and at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, in Bruxelles, Gernando and Ubaldo in Rossini's Armida in Marseille, Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola at Teatro Coccia in Novara, Ermione and Armida at the Wildbad Festival, Il barbiere di Siviglia in Macao and in Novara, La Cenerentola and Italiana in Algeri again in Cagliari, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Turandot at La Scala.
NEIL CRAIGHEAD
Neil Craighead has been celebrated on opera and concert stages in diverse repertoire from Puccini to Somers. This season sees Neil’s returns to Vancouver Opera (Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte), Pacific Opera Victoria (Tripaldi in Golijov’s Aindamaar), and Edmonton Opera for his role debut as Wotan in Wagner’s Das Rheingold. In 2022-2023, Neil made appearances with Pacific Opera Victoria in their new production of Carmen, with Vancouver Opera for Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Vancouver Bach Choir for Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. Other highlights from past seasons include Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte (Edmonton Opera), Colline in La bohème (Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera, Canadian Opera Company), Handel’s Messiah (Vancouver Bach Choir), and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto (Canadian Opera Company).
JACQUES LACOMBE
Music Director of the Vancouver Opera and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Classique de Montreal, Jacques Lacombe has previously been Music and Artistic Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse in France from 2017 to 2021, Principal Conductor of the Bonn Opera in Germany from 2016 to 2018 and Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières from 2006 till 2018. From 2010 to 2016 he was Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and from 2002 to 2006, principal guest conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal after being music director of the Philharmonie de Lorraine in Metz, France. Jacques Lacombe is renowned as a “gifted and ambitious” conductor (The New York Times) whose artistic integrity and rapport with musicians and orchestras have propelled him to international stature.
STEFANIA PANIGHINI
Stefania Panighini studied at the National Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome and at the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Turin. She also graduated in Musicology at the Turin University. In 2004 she won the Prize Idee per Alfieri (Festival Astiteatro) and then began to work as a stage director.
Her most recent productions include Le songe d'une suit d'été by Ambroise Thomas at the Wexford Festival Opera, Maria de Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla at the Opera Giocosa in Savona, at the Pergolesi Spontini Foundation and at the Luglio Musicale Trapanese, Rinaldo by Handel at the Opera de Tenerife (where she also staged Rinaldo and Hansel and Gretel).
Highlights of Stefania's career are her stagings, among others, of La Traviata in coproduction between Daegu Opera Festival (Korea) and Teatro delle Muse of Ancona, of La Boheme and of Madame Butterfly at Luglio Musicale Trapanese, a brilliant american debut with a triumphal reception of La Traviata at the Dallas Opera, and her ongoing involvement with the "Opera Giocosa” project in Savona, where she has staged Don Pasquale, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Nina ossia la pazza per amore by Paisiello, involving young students under 18 and seniors over 65 as actors.
JOHN FANNING
A Member of the Order of Canada, John Fanning has enjoyed a wide-ranging career over the past 40 years. He has performed frequently with all major Canadian orchestras and opera companies, many in the United States, including nine seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, and in Europe, Asia and South America.
He was featured as Firmin in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on the national tour and in Toronto, has been the operatic voice of many commercials, starred in CBC’s WIND AT MY BACK and was featured in Norman Jewison’s film, MOONSTRUCK.
John frequently gives masterclasses and has mentored at opera programs across Canada. Retired from his position at the University of Montreal, he enjoys being home and close to family.
LUCIA CESARONI
With her “lush, creamy voice” and “giddy coloratura”, Italian-Canadian soprano Lucia Cesaroni is in demand as some of opera’s most coveted heroines. In 2022/23, Ms. Cesaroni joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera where she covered Olga in Giordano’s Fedora, sang Violetta in La traviata with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and returned to Pacific Opera Victoria as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. Other recent seasons have seen her make debuts with Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Opera and the Spoleto Festival. Upcoming engagements in the 23/24 season include reprising Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Calgary Opera and Ava in Rocking Horse Winner with Tapestry Opera. Ms. Cesaroni is an alumna of the University of Toronto Opera School (MMus).
JOHN TESSIER
Highlights to date of John Tessier’s distinguished operatic career include Cavalli’s La Calisto at Teatro alla Scala, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La fille du Régiment, and I Puritani at Wiener Staatsoper, Cherubini’s Médée at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Les pêcheurs de perles and Maria Stuarda at Seattle Opera, The Elixir of Love at English National Opera and New York City Opera, Werther for Manitoba Opera, Der fliegende Holländer at Covent Garden, and Don Giovanni at Teatro Colón.
A vibrant discography includes Mozart’s Requiem both with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Les Violons du Roy, Corigliano’s A Dylan Thomas Trilogy with the Nashville Symphony, Paulus’ To Be Certain of the Dawn with the Minnesota Orchestra, and Bernstein’s A Quiet Place the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
ALAIN GAUTHIER
Born in Montreal, Alain Gauthier worked in several opera houses in North America and Canada.
Working closely with L'Opéra de Montréal, he frequently staged major repertory pieces for the company, including La bohème, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi, Dead Man Walking, Elektra and Written on Skin.
Elsewhere in Canada, Gauthier has worked at the Edmonton Opera, the Calgary Opera, the Manitoba Opera, the Pacific Opera Victoria as well as the Opéra de Québec. In the United States, he has directed several productions for the Cincinnati Opera and has also worked at the Austin Opera and the New York City Opera.
Recently, Alain Gauthier directed La veuve joyeuse at the Festival d’opéra de Québec and La bohème at the Cincinnati Opera. The upcoming season of L’Opéra de Montréal will feature a brand-new production of Hamlet.
GIUSEPPE ALTOMARE
After graduating in political science, Giuseppe Altomare began his musical studies at the "Hochschule Mozarteum" in Salzburg with M° R. Knoll. He then specialized with Iris Adami Corradetti, M° Pier Miranda Ferraro, M° Franco Corelli, M° Aldo Danieli, M° Carlo Bergonzi and M° Silvano Carroli.
His international career began as the title role in "Gianni Schicchi" at the 39th Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago. He has interpreted all the major baritone roles, debuting more than 56 leading roles so far.
Among the most important conductors he has worked with are Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Angelo Campori, Stefano Ranzani, Alain Guingal, Bruno Bartoletti, Daniele Callegari, Daniel Oren, Donato Renzetti, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Metha and Riccardo Muti.
Recordings: Macbeth for Naxos and Dynamic, Escamillo for Kikko, Dialogues des Carmelites for TDK with M° Muti, Assassinio nella cattedrale for Sony; Re di U. Giordano for Bongiovanni, Linda di Chamonix for Dynamic.
SARA GARTLAND
BIO is coming soon.
KRISTEN LEBLANC
Described as a "major vocal revelation" (Le Devoir), soprano Kirsten LeBlanc is quickly becoming known for her rich, powerful voice, and engaging stage presence. The 2023/2024 season saw Kirsten engaged for cover assignments at both l’Opéra de Montréal (Christine in Bilodeau’s La Reine-garçon, world premiere) and the Canadian Opera Company (Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio). In 2022/2023, Kirsten appeared as Ines in Verdi’s Il Trovatore with l’Opéra de Montréal and made her Toronto Operetta Theatre debut as Roselinde in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. LeBlanc also returned to Opéra de Montréal for Golijov’s Ainadamar and Bilodeau’s La beauté du monde, covering roles in both premieres. Other credits include Zweite Dame in Barrie Kosky’s Die Zauberflöte, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Hanna Glawari in Lehar’s The Merry Widow.
CHRISTOPHER OGLESBY
Engagements of note during the 2023-2024 season for American tenor Christopher Oglesby include Rodolfo in La bohème with Utah Opera, a role debut with Sarasota Opera as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and a return to the same company marking the centenary of Puccini’s death in a concert of the composer’s most beloved works. During the previous season, Oglesby's continued assignments with San Francisco Opera included a cover of Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra and performances as First Commissioner in Dialogues des Carmélites. That season, Christopher also made his role and company debut with Sarasota Opera as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and a role and company debut with Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera as Rodolfo in La bohème. Later that summer, Mr. Oglesby scored a triumph as a last-minute replacement in a concert performance of Madama Butterfly at the Grand Teton Music Festival in the role of Pinkerton, singing opposite Ana María Martinez under the direction of Sir Donald Runnicles.
MARIANNE CORNETTI
Marianne Cornetti* is an internationally renowned Verdi mezzo-soprano who has appeared at the most prestigious opera houses across the world. In early 2024, Cornetti sang Cieca in La Gioconda at The Deutsche Oper in Berlin and the role of Madame Croissy in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites with Amigos Canarios de la Opera in the Gran Canary Islands. In 2023, she made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Burya in Janacek’s opera Jenůfa. Her 2022-23 season saw performances as Ježibaba in Rusalka with Pittsburgh Opera, where she was last seen as The Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, and later joined the company as Azucena in Il Trovatore, which she reprised with Opera Hong Kong. Cornetti also joined the Metropolitan Opera to cover the role of Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmélites.
ALAIN COULOMBE
One of the most commanding and exciting singers of his generation, French-Canadian bass Alain Coulombe has enjoyed a thirty-year international singing career. This season sees Alain’s return to one of his signature roles, Zuniga in Carmen,with Vancouver Opera and Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes, and a role debut in the world premiere of La Reine garçon with Opéra de Montreal. Recent seasons have included Zuniga (Carmen) for Canadian Opera Company, and Tripaldi in the Canadian premiere of Golijov’s Ainadamar for Opéra de Montréal. Other career highlights include Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni) at the Salzburg Festival, Der Doktor (Wozzeck) and Archangel Uriel in the world premiere of CO2 at Il Teatro alla Scala, and Clark Gable in the world premiere of Waiting for Miss Monroe for the Dutch National Opera.
Scott Reid
Scott Reid is a Calgary-based designer who is happy to be back designing for Calgary Opera. Some of his previous Calgary Opera credits include Macbeth, Eugene Onegin, Die Tote Stadt, The Flying Dutchman, Otello, as well as several productions for the McPhee Artist Development program. He recently designed The Pearl Fishers, directed by Rachel Peake, for Vancouver Opera. In addition to opera, Scott designs for theatre and dance at such places as Theatre Calgary, Alberta Ballet, Vertigo Theatre, The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), ATP, and The Shakespeare Company, to name a few. scottreiddesign.com