Singer-In-Residence Monica Whicher, soprano

Singer-In-Residence Monica Whicher, soprano
	Style and musical elegance combined with an intuitive theatrical sense are the hallmarks of soprano Monica Whicher's performances on the concert and opera stage. Her 2008-2009 season reflected the varied aspects of her artistry and highlights include Strauss’ VIER LETZTE LEIDER with Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony, ELIJAH with the Calgary Philharmonic, the title role in THAÏS for Pacific Opera Victoria, Bach’s JOHANNES PASSION for the Amadeus Choir and performances at the Westben Festival, Festival of the Sound and the Aldeburgh Connection. In 2007-2008, Ms. Whicher was heard in Bach’s WEIHNACHTSORATORIUM with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and MESSIAH with the Mississauga Choral Society. Also on the concert stage, she sang Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR with the Kingston Symphony, Grieg’s PEER GYNT with the Victoria Symphony and a new work by Gavin Bryars performed with the Talisker Players of Toronto. Her discography continues to expand with the recording of a set of songs by the Ukrainian composer Dimitri Lysenko. Her 2009-2010 season is made up of concerts, recitals and symphonic engagements across Ontario. For 2006-2007, she sang the Strauss songs for Orchestra London and the Ottawa Symphony, MESSIAH with the Colorado Symphony and the Elmer Iseler Singers, the title role in Purcell’s DIDO & AENEAS for Opera Atelier’s tour of Korea, and then repeated the role for Toronto Masque Theatre. On her schedule for 20005-2006 were Opera Atelier’s ARMIDE and ORFEO and she returned to Pacific Opera Victoria for Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA. ELIJAH with the Vancouver Symphony, DIE SCHÖPFUNG for Orchestra London, Strauss’ VIER LETZTE LIEDER with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Bach’s Mass in B Minor for the Vancouver Bach Choir and Mozart’s REQUIEM with the Victoria Symphony were highlights of her concert schedule. In recent seasons, she was featured in MESSIAHs with the Calgary Philharmonic and the Edmonton Symphony, as Drusilla in Monteverdi’s CORONATION OF POPPEA for the Cleveland Opera and she was lavishly praised for her Naxos recording of CASTOR ET POLLUX with the Aradia Baroque Ensemble and Opera in Concert of Toronto. For Opera Atelier, she starred as the Countess in Mozart’s NOZZE DI FIGARO, the Aldeburgh Connection presented her in Wolf’s ITALIENISCHES LIEDERBUCH and she was in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Mozart’s REQUIEM. On the summer festival circuit were appearances at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and at the Nürnberg Chamber Music Festival as the Governess in TURN OF THE SCREW and Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, the latter recorded for broadcast by Bayerische Rundfunk. Further performance credits include MESSIAH with the Toronto Symphony, Mendelssohn's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the Hartford Symphony, Haydn's ST. CECILIA MASS for Chorus Niagara, Handel’s SOLOMON and Bach's ST. JOHN PASSION. A Mozart interpreter of distinction, she sang Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE for Opera Lyra in Ottawa, Elisa in IL RE PASTORE for the Canadian Opera Company and Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI for Vancouver Opera. On the international circuit, Ms. Whicher performed Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR and EXULTATE, JUBILATE with Rilling in Bilbao and has also been heard with the symphonies of Barcelona, Utah and Minnesota. Winner of the George London Award, she premiered Ryan's OPHÉLIE with the Toronto Symphony and was heard with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony (Brahms' DEUTSCHES REQUIEM) and with the National Ballet (Gorecki's SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS). Of particular note was her performance as Solveig in PEER GYNT with Christopher Plummer and the Toronto Symphony. In concert, Ms. Whicher premiered song cycles by John Beckwith and John Greer for the Aldeburgh Connection and appeared with the Winnipeg New Music Festival and Festival Lanaudiere. She has collaborated with harpist Judy Loman, guitarist Rachel Gauk and the Penderecki Quartet in recital and her concerts are frequently broadcast by CBC Radio 2. Her recordings of Bach, Schubert and Hatzis are available on Marquis Classics and other labels. Ms. Whicher was nominated for a 2002 Juno Award for her CD entitled “Singing Somers Theatre” released on the Centredisc label. Ms. Whicher is a Faculty member of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.

Style and musical elegance combined with an intuitive theatrical sense are the hallmarks of soprano Monica Whicher's performances on the concert and opera stage. Her 2008-2009 season reflected the varied aspects of her artistry and highlights include Strauss’ VIER LETZTE LEIDER with Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony, ELIJAH with the Calgary Philharmonic, the title role in THAÏS for Pacific Opera Victoria, Bach’s JOHANNES PASSION for the Amadeus Choir and performances at the Westben Festival, Festival of the Sound and the Aldeburgh Connection. In 2007-2008, Ms. Whicher was heard in Bach’s WEIHNACHTSORATORIUM with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and MESSIAH with the Mississauga Choral Society. Also on the concert stage, she sang Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR with the Kingston Symphony, Grieg’s PEER GYNT with the Victoria Symphony and a new work by Gavin Bryars performed with the Talisker Players of Toronto. Her discography continues to expand with the recording of a set of songs by the Ukrainian composer Dimitri Lysenko. Her 2009-2010 season is made up of concerts, recitals and symphonic engagements across Ontario.

For 2006-2007, she sang the Strauss songs for Orchestra London and the Ottawa Symphony, MESSIAH with the Colorado Symphony and the Elmer Iseler Singers, the title role in Purcell’s DIDO & AENEAS for Opera Atelier’s tour of Korea, and then repeated the role for Toronto Masque Theatre. On her schedule for 20005-2006 were Opera Atelier’s ARMIDE and ORFEO and she returned to Pacific Opera Victoria for Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA. ELIJAH with the Vancouver Symphony, DIE SCHÖPFUNG for Orchestra London, Strauss’ VIER LETZTE LIEDER with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Bach’s Mass in B Minor for the Vancouver Bach Choir and Mozart’s REQUIEM with the Victoria Symphony were highlights of her concert schedule.

In recent seasons, she was featured in MESSIAHs with the Calgary Philharmonic and the Edmonton Symphony, as Drusilla in Monteverdi’s CORONATION OF POPPEA for the Cleveland Opera and she was lavishly praised for her Naxos recording of CASTOR ET POLLUX with the Aradia Baroque Ensemble and Opera in Concert of Toronto. For Opera Atelier, she starred as the Countess in Mozart’s NOZZE DI FIGARO, the Aldeburgh Connection presented her in Wolf’s ITALIENISCHES LIEDERBUCH and she was in Ottawa with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for Mozart’s REQUIEM. On the summer festival circuit were appearances at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and at the Nürnberg Chamber Music Festival as the Governess in TURN OF THE SCREW and Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, the latter recorded for broadcast by Bayerische Rundfunk.

Further performance credits include MESSIAH with the Toronto Symphony, Mendelssohn's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the Hartford Symphony, Haydn's ST. CECILIA MASS for Chorus Niagara, Handel’s SOLOMON and Bach's ST. JOHN PASSION. A Mozart interpreter of distinction, she sang Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE for Opera Lyra in Ottawa, Elisa in IL RE PASTORE for the Canadian Opera Company and Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI for Vancouver Opera.

On the international circuit, Ms. Whicher performed Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR and EXULTATE, JUBILATE with Rilling in Bilbao and has also been heard with the symphonies of Barcelona, Utah and Minnesota. Winner of the George London Award, she premiered Ryan's OPHÉLIE with the Toronto Symphony and was heard with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony (Brahms' DEUTSCHES REQUIEM) and with the National Ballet (Gorecki's SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS). Of particular note was her performance as Solveig in PEER GYNT with Christopher Plummer and the Toronto Symphony. In concert, Ms. Whicher premiered song cycles by John Beckwith and John Greer for the Aldeburgh Connection and appeared with the Winnipeg New Music Festival and Festival Lanaudiere. She has collaborated with harpist Judy Loman, guitarist Rachel Gauk and the Penderecki Quartet in recital and her concerts are frequently broadcast by CBC Radio 2. Her recordings of Bach, Schubert and Hatzis are available on Marquis Classics and other labels. Ms. Whicher was nominated for a 2002 Juno Award for her CD entitled “Singing Somers Theatre” released on the Centredisc label. Ms. Whicher is a Faculty member of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.