VCO is stoked for Earth, a brand new opera that was collaboratively written by 11 people for Community Opera Fest 2020. Checkout who wrote the opera, along with some of the recording artists, below!
Earth
An opera by:
Jessica Bertrand, Rebecca Chapeskie, Zach Daza, Ken Kosow, Emily Janet, Dylan Langan, Shan Powell, Emma Verdonk, Windsor Viney, Alexander "Sandy" Wright, & Karen Yeats.
Starring:
Allison Walmsley- The Sun
Toronto-based soprano Allison Walmsley is acclaimed for her “extensive upper register and resonate bottom” and is known to be a “natural and alluring actress” -Ludwig van Toronto. Allison is thrilled to be returning to VCO for the Community Opera Fest 2020 recording. She’s especially excited to portray one of her favourite things in life: THE SUN!!! Some recent competition highlights include Gordon Wallis (first place), CFMTA Young Artist (first place), and Toronto Mozart Competition (finalist). Other recent appearances include Adina (L’Elisir d’amore), Monica (The Medium), Queen of the Night (Magic Flute), Morgana (Alcina), Nanetta (Falstaff), Anna (Le Villi), Sylvain (Merry Widow) and Emily (Our Town).
Bree Horton- The Moon
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.
Camilo Rodríguez-Cuadrado- The Earth
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.
Community Opera Fest 2020 is a project made possible by a grant from the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation. Learn more at https://www.kwcf.ca/
