Virginia Hatfield, soprano

Virginia Hatfield, soprano
In Rossini's La Donna del Lago – "In her Opera in Concert debut, Virginia Hatfield sang Elena, the title role, with an appealing balance of power and subtlety, her arias given glowing texture and showing her wide range of dynamics and tonal colour at their best." – Geoff Chapman, Opera Canada Soprano Virginia Hatfield is becoming known across Canada for her 'beguiling' performances (The Globe and Mail) and 'has gobs of charisma' (Toronto Star). Recent opera roles for this versatile artist include Zerlina (Don iovanni) and Marzelline (Fidelio), both with the Canadian Opera Company, as well as debuts with Pacific Opera Victoria - Italian Singer (Capriccio), Opera Hamilton - Musetta (La Bohème), and Toronto’s Opera in Concert, singing the title role of Elena in Rossini's La Donna del Lago. Highlights of the 2010/2011 season include premieres of Canadian and Mexican works with Soundstreams Canada and renowned Mexican percussion ensemble Tambuco for the Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico and at Koerner Hall in Toronto; performances of Messiah with the symphony orchestras of Thunder Bay and Windsor; Bach’s Ich habe genug with Kevin Mallon and the Aradia Ensemble at Glenn Gould Studio, and her debut with Saskatoon Opera as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. As a member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio from 2005-07, Virginia performed the roles of Pamina (The Magic Flute), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Frasquita (Carmen), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), the Fifth Maid (Elektra), and Laura (Luisa Miller). With the COC Ensemble, Virginia created the role of Leah in James Rolfe’s Swoon. In June, 2007, Virginia performed arias and ensembles with the COC Orchestra and the late Richard Bradshaw in “Opera under the Stars” for the National Capital Commission, which was recorded for DVD. A gifted recitalist, Virginia has appeared several times with the Aldeburgh Connection both in Toronto and at the Bayfield Festival of Song, where in 2010 she joined mezzo soprano Lauren Segal for a duo recital. She is a frequent guest of Westben: Concerts at the Barn, in her hometown of Campbellford, Ontario - in 2009 performing Lieder with pianist Brian Finley, and returning in 2010 for "Lovin' dat Hammerstein" with Brian Jackson, pianist/host. Other recent concert performances include Messiah with Mississauga Choral Society and Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Bach's Mass in B Minor with Toronto's Pax Christi Chorale, Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Poulenc's Gloria with Barrie's King Edward Choir, and Mozart's Requiem with Kingston Chamber Choir. Future engagements include return appearances with the Windsor Symphony and the Aradia Ensemble, and debuts with the Kingston Symphony, the Guelph Chamber Choir, and Symphony Nova Scotia. Virginia received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Toronto Opera School and was also a recipient of the Canadian Opera Company Ruby Mercer Award.

In Rossini's La Donna del Lago –
"In her Opera in Concert debut, Virginia Hatfield sang Elena, the title role, with an appealing balance of power and subtlety, her arias given glowing texture and showing her wide range of dynamics and tonal colour at their best."
– Geoff Chapman, Opera Canada

Soprano Virginia Hatfield is becoming known across Canada for her 'beguiling' performances (The Globe and Mail) and 'has gobs of charisma' (Toronto Star).

Recent opera roles for this versatile artist include Zerlina (Don iovanni) and Marzelline (Fidelio), both with the Canadian Opera Company, as well as debuts with Pacific Opera Victoria - Italian Singer (Capriccio), Opera Hamilton - Musetta (La Bohème), and Toronto’s Opera in Concert, singing the title role of Elena in Rossini's La Donna del Lago.

Highlights of the 2010/2011 season include premieres of Canadian and Mexican works with Soundstreams Canada and renowned Mexican percussion ensemble Tambuco for the Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico and at Koerner Hall in Toronto; performances of Messiah with the symphony orchestras of Thunder Bay and Windsor; Bach’s Ich habe genug with Kevin Mallon and the Aradia Ensemble at Glenn Gould Studio, and her debut with Saskatoon Opera as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro.

As a member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio from 2005-07, Virginia performed the roles of Pamina (The Magic Flute), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Frasquita (Carmen), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), the Fifth Maid (Elektra), and Laura (Luisa Miller). With the COC Ensemble, Virginia created the role of Leah in James Rolfe’s Swoon. In June, 2007, Virginia performed arias and ensembles with the COC Orchestra and the late Richard Bradshaw in “Opera under the Stars” for the National Capital Commission, which was recorded for DVD.

A gifted recitalist, Virginia has appeared several times with the Aldeburgh Connection both in Toronto and at the Bayfield Festival of Song, where in 2010 she joined mezzo soprano Lauren Segal for a duo recital. She is a frequent guest of Westben: Concerts at the Barn, in her hometown of Campbellford, Ontario - in 2009 performing Lieder with pianist Brian Finley, and returning in 2010 for "Lovin' dat Hammerstein" with Brian Jackson, pianist/host.

Other recent concert performances include Messiah with Mississauga Choral Society and Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Bach's Mass in B Minor with Toronto's Pax Christi Chorale, Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Poulenc's Gloria with Barrie's King Edward Choir, and Mozart's Requiem with Kingston Chamber Choir.

Future engagements include return appearances with the Windsor Symphony and the Aradia Ensemble, and debuts with the Kingston Symphony, the Guelph Chamber Choir, and Symphony Nova Scotia.

Virginia received the Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Toronto Opera School and was also a recipient of the Canadian Opera Company Ruby Mercer Award.