We are thrilled to announce the cast for our double-bill production of Rapunzel and The Dino Opera, premiering February 15th and 16th in Cambridge and Waterloo.
Adriana Orozco-Burbano- Rapunzel/Velociraptor
Colombian soprano Adriana Orozco-Burbano obtained a Bachelor as Master of Singing at the University of Antioquia in Colombia and is currently in her first year of the Masters in Voice Performance and Literature at Western University in London, Ontario. Adriana is joining Vera Causa Opera for the first time performing the roles of Rapunzel in Rapunzel and the Velociraptor in The Dino Opera. Adriana has performed the roles of Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Mozart, Gretel in Hansel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. She has also performed with the Medellin’s Network of Schools Music Orchestra, Eafit Symphony, Caldas Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of Medellin, University of Antioquia Opera Workshop, among others. In 2014, she obtained the first prize in the Young Singer’s Opera competition from the Caldas Symphonic Orchestra. Adriana is a winner of the London Opera Guild Scholarship Competition 2019.
Camilo Rodríguez-Cuadrado- The Father/T-Rex
Colombian baritone Camilo Rodríguez-Cuadrado obtained a Master's degree in voice performance from The University of Western Ontario in 2018. Camilo will join again Vera Causa Opera for the 2019 – 2020 season in the operas The Child and The Spells by Maurice Ravel, The Dino Opera / Rapunzel by Canadian composer Dylan Langan, as well as in Community Opera Fest. In 2019, he made his first appearance in musical theatre by performing the role of Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Andrew Lloyd Webber) with Pacheco Theater. Camilo was also part of the Halifax Summer Opera Festival 2019, performing the role of Melisso in Händel’s Alcina. Camilo has also performed with The University of Western Ontario Opera Workshop, Accademia Europea dell’Opera, Fundación Jaime Manzur, Canadian Operatic Arts Academy, Caldas Symphony Orchestra, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Symphony Orchestra, and Universidad Nacional de Colombia Opera Workshop, among others.
Bree Horton- The Mother/Iguanodonna
Canadian Mezzo Soprano Bree Horton is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, where she studied with Jane Eaglen. She has performed in operas across Canada and the US. Last season, she had the pleasure of singing Renfield in the world premiere of Dracula with Vera Causa Opera, and is thrilled to be singing with this exciting company again. Other favourite roles include Polina (Queen of Spades) with Opera by Request, Naomi (Ruth) with Arcady, The Witch (Hansel and Gretel) with Opera Nanaimo, Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte) at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief) with Fear No Opera, and Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring) at the New England Conservatory.
Nansee Hughes- Dame Gothel/Pterodactyl
Lyric coloratura Nansee Hughes has performed the roles of Lillian in McCune & Cavanagh's Y2K Black Death Oratorio with Pop Goes the Opera (2018), Giulietta in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Opera NUOVA (2016), Atalanta in Handel's Serse (2010) and the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel (2009) with the University of Alberta Opera Workshop, and the young lover in Mercury Opera’s production of Il Tabarro (2009).
As a concert soloist, Ms Hughes was soprano soloist in performance of Mozart's Laudate Dominum (St. Anthony's Parish), Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater (Schola Cantorum Women's Chorus), and performances of Messiah (Grande Prairie Regional College & McDougal United Church). Nansee has also performed for the Edmonton Polish Culture Society's Gala welcoming the Polish Ambassador to Canada, Andrzej Kurnicki. In March 2019, Nansee made her orchestral debut with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Carlos Foggin.
In summer 2019, Nansee was one of 15 singers participating in the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Baden-bei-Wien, Austria. Nansee was a participant in the Advanced Singers Program through the Centre for Operatic Studies in Sulmona, Italy. In 2014, Nansee was selected as a participant in the Music Conference Alberta’s Ben Heppner Masterclass.
Nansee has been the recipient of a Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies scholarship, a Winspear Fund scholarship, scholarship to attend Opera NUOVA, scholarship to attend the Centre for Operatic Studies in Italy (COSI), the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Scholarship for voice, the Diane Thorssen Award, and received the Beryl Barnes Memorial Graduate Award.
Not Pictured: Patrick Simms- The Prince/Don Ornithischio
Catch these incredible performers on stage in the world premiere of these two operas this February!