Getting out to the opera...in Kingston, ON

Laura Whalen

David Pomeroy

Who says you have to hit the big city..or a movie theater to hear opera?  The Kingston Symphony will present Puccini's La Boheme in concert on Sunday, April 29 with some outstanding Canadian singers....The afternoon performance stars soprano Laura Whalen as Mimi and tenor David Pomeroy as Rodolfo and will be hosted by Canadian opera expert Iain Scott.

Soprano Laura Whalen is often noted for her command, precision, and elegance in operatic, orchestral and recital appearances throughout North America. Last season, she performed Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème with the Edmonton Opera, Bach's B minor Mass with the Vancouver Symphony, and Cecelia in the world premiere of Bramwell Tovey's The Inventor with the Calgary Opera. Whalen was honored to inaugurate Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in the fall of 2006, appearing in The Ring as Rhinemaiden (Das Rheingold and Gotterdammerung) and Der Waldvogel (Siegfried), conducted by the late Richard Bradshaw.

Tenor David Pomeroy, who will play Rodolfo, is blessed with a rich voice and thrilling top notes. He has caught the attention of artistic directors internationally. The Newfoundland native recently made his Metropolitan Opera stage debut in the title role of Les Contes d'Hoffmann under the baton of James Levine. He had previously sung the role of Faust at the Metropolitan Opera in the Parks with the same company. Other credits include La Traviata in Vancouver, Macbeth in Edmonton, and Carmen in Ireland, Stuttgart, Victoria, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Kansas City. He also sang Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly in St. Louis, Kansas City, Fort Worth, Connecticut, Detroit, Quebec, and Toronto.

The cast will also include Charlotte Corwin as Musetta, Bruce Kelly as Marcello, David Pike as Schaunard, and Giles Tomkins as Colline.

Tickets range in price from $45 to $75. You can purchase tickets at the Grand Theatre Box Office, 218 Princess Street, by phone at 613-530-2050 or online at www.kingstonsymphony.on.ca .

What to do in...Kingston this weekend!

The Kingston Symphony is always good for a great performance....if you are looking for something to do this weekend in Kingston, check out their performance of Haydn's Creation...soprano Laura Albino is a stunning young singer! 

From their press release:

The Creation is a very gratifying piece of music to perform. Haydn was late in his career, and at the height of his power. He applied every bit of skill and imagination possible to create this big sound, big forces work. Its three parts carry us from initial chaos into the creation of primal light, water, plant life, sea creatures, birds, animals and finally humans, culminating in celebration of all that God has created. Interestingly, it is the first work that was performed by the Kingston Symphony and Kingston Choral Society 58 years ago.

The Creation
Sunday, March 25, 2012
2:30 p.m. | Kingston Gospel Temple

The afternoon performance will feature the Kingston Symphony and Kingston Choral Society joined by soloists Laura Albino, James McLean, and Matthew Zadow.    

Laura Albino has quickly emerged as one of Canada's finest young lyric sopranos. She was a member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio from 2008 to 2010, and  has also received her Master's Degree in Operatic Studies at the University of Toronto. Ms Albino has appeared frequently with the Aldeburgh Connection, and in 2007 debuted with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Bach's St. John Passion.

Tenor James McLean is one of Canada's most distinguished vocal artists, known for his compelling interpretation of the works of Bach, Mozart and Britten. Now based in his hometown of Toronto, Mr. McLean recently joined Ottawa's Opera Lyra as Pang in Turandot, followed by his debut with L'Opera de Rouens as Steva in Janacek's Jenufa.

Since moving to Brussels, baritone Matthew Zadow is enjoying a flourishing international career in recital, oratorio, and opera with recent debuts in Holland, Ireland, and Belgium, interspersed with frequent Canadian performances. A Queen's University graduate, his recent stage roles include Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Dancairo (Carmen), Baron Douphol (La Traviata), as well as Jack Worthing (The Importance of Being Earnest) for Stratford Summer Music.