Who the H... is Georges Aperghis? 
- 1996 Opera Production 

Music by Aperghis and Contemporaries

Company Biographies (1996)

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PARMELA ATTARIWALA, Violin

Originally from Calgary, Parmela now makes her home Toronto. She has studied at Indiana University, the Bern Conservatory in Switzer land, and the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies in England from which she holds a Master's Degree in Ethnomusicology. Parmela specializes in contemporary and cross-cultural music. Earlier this year, she recorded a CD of new contemporary music for violin and viola at the Banff Centre, which includes collaborations with North Indian musicians.

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KRISTA BUCKLAND, violin

Krista received her training in Toronto, New York and Boston through funding from the Ontario Arts and Canada Councils. She has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras across the U.S. and Canada and as winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatte Competition, made a nation-wide solo recital tour. Krista currently resides in Toronto where she is Principal Second Violin of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra.

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LORI FREEDMAN, clarinet

Described as fluid, physical and mesmerizing, Lori Freedman is a Canadian musician who specializes in the performance of contemporary music. She plays with several ensembles across the country in addition to presenting solo concerts, commissions and CD recordings. She is extensively involved with the creation of new works in dance, improvisation and interdisciplinary fields. Lori has been guest soloist with numerous orchestras and has received several awards from the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada Arts Councils. She has an expansive repertoire of 20th century music for clarinet and bass clarinet and she continually explores new grounds for musical expression.

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BARBARA HANNIGAN, soprano

A Nova Scotian soprano, Barbara received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 1993 (University of Toronto), where she studied with Mary Morrison. Other training includes studies at The Banff Centre (1994), the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1994-95), and the Royal Conservatory of the Hague (1995-96). Barbara has been featured with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout North America and Holland, performing in styles ranging from baroque to contemporary music. Opera roles include the Queen of the Night (Opera Atelier, Toronto) Anne Truelove in The Rake's Progress (Banff) and the title role in Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen (Royal Conservatory, The Hague). Upcoming performances include concerts with the Asko and Ives Ensembles (Amsterdam), the Utrecht Baroque Consort (Amsterdam) and musicians of the Steve Reich Ensemble (Copenhagen.)

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CHRISTINE HUANG, marimba

In 1995, Christine graduated with honours from the University of Toronto where she studied with Russell Hartenberger of Nexus. Then she went on to study with Gaston Sylvestre at CNR de Rueil- Malmaison in France. In the fall of 1995, Christine received a commission grant from the Toronto Arts Council for Canadian composer Christopher Paul Harman to write a solo marimba piece for her.

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MARIA KOWAN, soprano

After completing a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet at the University of British Columbia, Maria completed an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Maria has sung recitals at the Vancouver Academy of Music, Vancouver Women's Musical Club, Vancouver Arts Council and recently, at the Vancouver Art Gallery. She is currently enrolled at the University of Toronto Opera School, where she performed the role Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. Other roles include Witch in Dido and Aeneas (Western Concert opera), Dorabilla in Cosi Fan Tutti, the Mother Les Côtes d'Hoffman (Vancouver Academy of Music). Maria sang with the Vancouver Opera Chorus for three seasons and will return to Vancouver later this summer to sing in Vancouver Opera's presentation of Opera and Shakespeare.

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MICHAEL McMAHON, piano

A graduate of McGill University, Michael McMahon refined his art in Vienna at the Franz Schubert Institute and the Hochschule für Musik, and in Salzburg at the International Summer Academy held at the Mozarteum. Michael has performed with many outstanding singers including Maureen Forrester, Wendy Nielsen, Richard Margison and Nathan Berg, and is a frequent guest artist on both the CBC and Radio Canada. He has been a member of the teaching staff at McGill University in Montreal since 1980, and is also a coach with l'Atelier lyrique de l'Opera de Montreal. Michael is featured on two recordings with mezzo soprano Catherine Robbin, a recording with baritone Kevin McMillan, and a live recording with soprano Lyne Fortin.

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PATRICIA O'CALLAGHAN, soprano

Born and raised across the Canadian North, Patricia settled in Toronto to obtain her Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto. Contemporary music theatre, Mozart and cabaret have since become her passions. She is a co-founder of the interdisciplinary company Zebra Schvangk, which has performed many world premieres. European credits include Bach and Rossini masses and excerpts from Le Nozze di Figaro. Patricia is presently completing a CD of songs by Parlenc, Satie and Weill. Upcoming roles include Bessie in Weill's Mahagonny. Patricia was a 1995/96 recipient of a Chalmer's Performing arts grant.

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CATHERINE PAVET, percussion

A resident of Paris, France, Catherine Pavet received a Licence de Musicologie at Université Sorbonne, Paris (1992), a DEUG de Musicologie at Université de Reims (1990). She has also studied at the Conservatoire National de Région de Rueil Malmaison. Most recently, she has performed in l'ATEM Théàtre des Amandiers de Nanterre, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy at the festival Nouvelles Scenes de Dijon, a concert tour of Globokar's music at l'IUFM de St-Brieuc and the festival Densité de Verdun. In 1994 she formed a percussion trio to perform the repertoire of Jean Pierre Drouet, Georges Aperghis, V. Globokat and JF Piette.

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PETER PAVLOVSKY, double bass

Peter graduated with Great Distinction from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1991. He then went on to Prague for two years to study privately with Radomir Zalud, principal bass for the Czech Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Peter played in the Regina Symphony Orchestra for four years and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for two years, touring across Canada with the group in 1994. Currently he is freelancing in Toronto and studying privately with Joel Quarrington, principal bass for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

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ERIKA LEE TANNER, soprano

A current resident of Toronto, Erika has appeared as Lucy in Opera Anonymous' spring production of The Telephone, as Lucia in Toronto Opera Repertoire's Lucia di Lammermoor and as Olga in Toronto Operetta Theatre's Merry Widow. In her graduating year, Erika performed Carmina Burana with the University of Toronto orchestra. Her intrigue with contemporary music has led Erika to recital performances with composer Gary Kulesha and to the finals of the 1996 Eckhardt-Gramattée Competition.

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SHANNON UNGER, soprano

Shannon completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Manitoba. She has been a chorus member with the Manitoba Opera Association, Winnipeg Singers, Winnipeg Baroque Ensemble and the CBC Hymn Sing chorus. Shannon has directed productions of The Beggar's Opera, The Old Maid and the Thief and Amahl and the Night Visitors with the New voices Opera Co. Her oratorio credits include solo work in Mendelssohn's Elijah and Handel's Messiah.

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PATRICK VISSEQ, piano

Patrick originally has studied in Paris, France, as well as at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. He has coached master classes for Laura Sarti, Norman Shetler, Walter Moore, Ferenc Rados, and he was coach for Frau Kammersangerin Sena Jurinac's master classes in Vienna in 1993-94. He is accompanist for the International Belvedere Competition, and has recently worked as accompanist and coach in France, Austria and Germany.

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