Alex Mathews | Toronto, Ontario
Baritone Alex Mathews performed solo and chorus roles with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, Canadian Opera Company, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra from the age of 6 to 18 in performance venues around Toronto. Alex attended high school at St Michael’s Choir School in Toronto. At Western University, Alex was an active member of the opera program throughout his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He is currently pursuing his Diploma in Operatic Performance at the University of Toronto, under the tutelage of Wendy Nielsen. Most recently, he performed the role of Il Conte and Elviro in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Händel’s Serse at Chautauqua Institution, Count Gil in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s Il segreto di Susanna at the University of Toronto, and is currently taking part in the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s Opera in the 21st Century program. Alex was also recently selected as a winner of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques international training program’s national auditions.
Working Title: Classical Connections
As a lover of the Neapolitan song's style, beauty, and directness of communication, I couldn't help but notice small similarities with this at times genre and the liturgical/classical music of the Indian/Syrian Orthodox Church as well as Indian classical music. As I delved further into the history of the church and the expansiveness of Christianity in India over the course of my life, it became clear to me that we are all similar in more ways than we are different, and that Western thought regarding diverse backgrounds can be rather reductive. This project will seek to bridge the gap of two "seemingly" different worlds and perhaps (eventually) shine a light on the storied tradition of Christianity in India, one that is lost to nearly all in the west.
This program is allowing for a lot of freedom in artistic expression and exploration for me. Strengthening my sense of self along with my passions has made me a more confident and expressive artist.
Alex Mathews
