Verdi's NABUCCO - Opera In Concert!

Toronto based baritone, Michael Robert-Broder (He/Him) is an engaging performer who has crafted an enviable career balanced between recital, oratorio, and opera engagements.  

Described as “smooth mellifluous baritone of a Gerald Finley or a Hermann Prey” (barczablog.com - Fidelio), he has specialized in the performance of German language opera and lieder above all else.  As Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier he “sang an impressive “Ein ernster Tag, ein grosser Tag” (ludwig-van.com) and as Jochanaan he gave “a stunningly lyrical reading of this role…singing a smoothly lyrical line throughout, putting out a fabulous wall of sound from time to time, always on pitch and never harsh sounding.” (barczablog.com).  In his portrayal of Nabucco he “sang solidly and with emotional range too.” (operaramblings.blog), as Dr. Falke he was praised for his “warm baritone” (Opera Canada), and in his premiere of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe he “fashioned a brilliantly conflicted Magistrate, stern and compassionate, cynical and resigned”  (operagoto.com)

Upcoming engagements include Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and the premiere of two songs cycles on texts by American poet Marie Howe.

@michaelrobertbroder

Canadian Dramatic Soprano, Krista de Silva, praised for her dark mystical colours, recently sang Leonora in Il Trovatore with The Macedonian Opera and Ballet. After obtaining a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary, Krista realized her true passion was singing. With a constant pursuit and focus on developing her operatic voice, she earned a Licentiate and Master’s degree in Music from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. 

As a mezzo-soprano, Krista sang in the title role of Opéra de Montréal’s Carmen directed by Charles Binamé. She has performed with Calgary Opera (Ballad of Baby Doe, What Brought Us Here), Edmonton Opera (La Traviata), Concepcion (l’Heure Espagnole), Idamante (Idomeneo), Carmen (La Tragédie de Carmen), Maddalena (Rigoletto) and Mignon (Mignon) and Sadia, in the opera version of Luc Plamondon’s Starmania with l'Opéra de Québec and l’Opéra de Montréal.  Other roles: Regina Symphony Orchestra (Candide) and Dido (Dido and Aeneas) with Polifonia (Macedonia). Future roles:  Turandot and Aida

Native of Joliette “Sol de la Musique”, Quebec, Bass-Baritone Bertrand Malo graduated from McGill University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. In 1999, he started his career with a first prize in his category at the National Association of Teacher of Singing (NATS) competition in Potsdam, New-York. He has performed for several opera companies, the most recent ones being Edmonton Opera and Calgary Concert Opera. Throughout his career, he has sung main roles in various opera productions such as Les Pécheurs de Perles, Christopher Sly, Don Giovanni, Fidelio, Le Nozze di Figaro, Salome, Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci, Die Zauberflöte, Il Tabarro, Adriana Lecouvreur and Gianni Schicchi. In the concert arena, he has appeared as a guest soloist with the Edmonton Metropolitan Orchestra, the Vermont International Opera Festival (VIOF) galas and Edmonton Verdi Festival.

William Shookhoff is a noted conductor, pianist and vocal coach throughout Canada and abroad. He has conducted Canadian orchestras from coast to coast, as well as in the Netherlands and China. He has served on the music faculties of the Universities of Toronto, Alberta, Wilfrid Laurier, as well as the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Johannesen Summer Institute of Music. He has been on the Music Staff of the Canadian, Netherlands, Edmonton, and Portland (Oregon) Opera Companies.

Equally at home in Music Theatre, Mr Shookhoff was the Associate Conductor of the inaugural Canadian production of Les Miserables, and of the Canadian Tour and Toronto productions of Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest Music Director with Neptune Theatre (Halifax), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), and Citadel Theatre (Edmonton).

Frequently in demand as coach and conductor, Mr. Shookhoff makes frequent appearances in those capacities throughout Western Europe and China, as well as maintaining an active coaching studio in Toronto. He is a regular guest conductor with the Bluebridge Festival and with Opera Kitchener. He has also devoted his efforts to the development and presentation of the Massed Piano or Monster Concert, and has conducted such events at Carnegie Hall, New York; Massey Hall and Nathan Philips Square, Toronto; the White House, Washington, DC; and the Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

 A veteran ensemble singer, tenor Oliver Munar is in increasing demand as an on-stage leader as a soloist, chorusmaster and conductor. Since his early days as a member of the world-renowned Calgary Boys' Choir, Oliver has been blessed with a number of mentors from whom he has honed his unique leadership style and qualities. He was often called upon to lead sectional rehearsals with his peers, which he would later expand into music theory, vocal diction and singing technique. As a section principal for the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, he filled in periodically for the Chorusmaster during rehearsals. More recently, he served as a section lead with the Calgary Opera Chorus, and as a vocal coach and mentor with the Grande Prairie Boys' Choir.

Oliver is thrilled to again collaborate with Calgary Concert Opera Company as chorusmaster and conductor. He last fulfilled both roles in the company's 2019 production of Saint-Saëns "Samson et Dalila", for which he also sang the role of the Philistine Messenger. As a singer, Oliver recently had his Toronto operatic debut in Janáček's "Věc Makropulos" (Opera by Request), and a role debut as the gossipy Abbé de Chazeuil in Cilea's "Adriana Lecouvreur" (Calgary Concert Opera Company). He also collaborates with the Edmonton-based Straight Up Opera, is a proud member of the Calgary Opera Chorus, and will debut as Evangelist in a production of J.S. Bach's "St. John Passion" in the spring 2025.

  Professional accompanist Grace King received her L.R.S.M in pianoforte teaching from the Royal Schools of Music in London, England and was the winner at the Franz Schubert pianoforte competition in 1961. She was Resident Music Mistress at Bishops High School for girls in Jamaica and taught piano and languages for many years. Grace accompanied singers at the George-Hahle Academy of Music from 2001 to June 2007 and is currently the repetiteur for Calgary Concert Opera.

Originally from Edmonton, tenor Daniel Rowley has performed the roles of Alfredo (La Traviata) and Samson (Samson et Dalila) with Calgary Concert Opera Company, Canio (Pagliacci) with Pop Goes The Opera, Rudolfo (La Boheme) and Don Jose (Carmen) with Opera Nuova, Pirelli (Sweeny Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street) with One Way Tickets to Broadway. Dan has also understudied Luigi (Il Tabarro) with Mercury Opera, and Second Nazarene (Salome) with Edmonton Opera. 

Currently Dan studies under the tutelage of Lary Benson.

 Canadian mezzo-soprano Barbara King is no stranger to the stage, having been a championship gymnast in Québec to dazzling audiences with her "exquisite vocal command of a three-octave range" in title roles such as Carmen, Dalilah, Princess de Bouillon, and Octavian. Barbara launched 2024 by debuting with Alberta Vocal Arts as Prince Orlofsky in Strauss' Die Fledermaus, followed by returning to Manitoba Opera as Carmen’s friend Mercédès where she “showcased her hugely powerful and affecting voice” and dance skills (Schmopera). Other previous performance highlights include Flora (La Traviata) with Manitoba Opera, Carmen (Carmen) and Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) with Opera Kelowna, Olga (The Merry Widow) and The Confidante (Elektra) with Edmonton Opera and a principle soloist with Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra and Calgary Civic Symphony. In addition, Barbara co-founded Divas Opera and is Artistic Director of Calgary Concert Opera Company, where she will bring the character of Fenena to life in Verdi’s Nabucco followed by her return as a principal guest artist with Calgary Civic Symphony in "Christmas and Neujahrskonzert with the Divas". @barbkingmezzo 

Melissa Wang Jackson, lyric soprano, had her first professional experience singing with

Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg, at age 5! With Calgary Opera, roles include Barbarina (Le

nozze di Figaro), Sister Catherine (Dead Man Walking), the Page (Rigoletto), Shepherd

Boy (Tosca) and over 50 productions in the chorus. With Cowtown Opera, she was First

Lady (The Magic Flute), Miss McLennan (Annie Davidson Opera), Bottle, (Alice’s

Adventures in Wonderland), and Donna Anna (Who Killed Don G?). Recently, Melissa

returned to musical theatre to play Mary (Vanities-The Musical), Hannah (The Spitfire

Grill) with SDMTS, and Dot and Cinderella (Stephen Sondheim Tribute Revue) with

FRC.

Melissa is a soloist with choirs and orchestras, including Kantorei, Dutch Canadian

Choir, German Men’s Choir, VoiceScapes, and Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra.

Melissa cofounded Nightingale Arts Collective, an inclusive, collaborative community for

performing artists, singing the role of Marian in Bridges of Madison County Musical In

Concert, in April. https://melissawangjackson.wordpress.com/

 Jason Ragan is a regular member of Calgary's professional chamber choir, the Juno-nominated Luminous Voices, as well as Tenor Section principal with the CPO Chorus. He has been a soloist with the Calgary Bach Society, Festival Chorus, Bow Valley Chorus, Lethbridge Symphony, Okanagan Symphony, and Firebird Symphony. Jason is a proud graduate of the McPhee Artist Development Program with Calgary Opera.