Canadian soprano Vanessa Croome’s curiosity for repertoire both new and old paired with a dynamic stage-presence has launched her into the world of opera and classical music. Described as “an incredible vocal talent...moved us to tears” (Ludwig Van Montreal), Vanessa is quickly building a name for herself on the operatic stage and in the world of new music.

 

Winner of the Opéra de Montréal Prix Étoile Stingray, Vanessa is an artist in residence with the house for the 2021-2022 season. This season she will cover the role of Königin der Nacht in Barrie Kosky's production of Die Zauberflöte and make concert debuts with Orchestre Métropolitain (Donizetti, La fille du régiment), Orchestre de L'Agora (Rameau, Platée) and Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville (songs of Mahler and Strauss). Vanessa will be an Apprentice Artist with The Santa Fe Opera during the 2022 festival season, performing ensemble roles in Carmen (Frasquita, cover), Falstaff, and the world premiere of Huang Ruo's opera M.Butterfly. Other recent performance highlights include Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), Morgana (Alcina), Cunégonde (Candide), and Miles (The Turn of the Screw).

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In 2020, Vanessa debuted the role of Léa for the world premiere of Laurence Jobidon's L’hiver attend beaucoup de moi to critical acclaim on a performance broadcast across Canada with Opéra de Montréal. During the 2020-2021 season, Vanessa had the chance to appear both virtually and in concert with Orchestra de L’Agora performing the soprano solo in Mahler’s 4th Symphony as well record arias by Mozart with musicians from Orchestre Métropolitain under the baton of Nicolas Ellis. 

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Vanessa received early training at the Opera Theater of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist on the world premiere of Huang Ruo's An American Soldier. She holds a Masters degree in Voice & Opera from McGill University and a Bachelor’s of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She has appeared in Masterclass with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Marilyn Horne, Christopher Allen, Michael McMahon, and Wolfgang Holzmair. Vanessa was a finalist for the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition and the Elizabeth Wirth Vocal Prize, as well as a semi-finalist for the 2021 Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition. 

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A proud collaborator with community-based teams, Vanessa works often with organizations performing outreach and educational concerts. Her happy place is on a stage using opera and song as a storytelling medium for today's complex world.

 

Vanessa’s education in the United States and Canada was generously supported by the British Columbia Arts Council.

ROLES

 

Bernstein:        Cunégonde / Candide 

 

Britten:             Miss Wordsworth / Albert Herring 

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Bizet:                Frasquita/ Carmen

 

Donizetti:          Corilla / Viva la Mamma

 

Handel:             Morgana / Alcina 

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Jobidon:            Léa/ L'hiver attend beaucoup de moi +

 

Mozart:              Barbarina/ Le nozze di Figaro            

                          

                          Königin der Nacht/ Die Zauberflöte

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Ruo, Huang:      Josephine Young* / An American Soldier +

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Schönberg:       Cosette / Les Misérables 

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(*) Cover   (+) World Premiere

CONCERT & CHAMBER

 

Barber:              Knoxville, Summer of 1915

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Chausson:         Chanson Perpétuelle, Op. 37

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Fauré:                Requiem in D minor, Op. 48

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Honegger:         Le Roi David (Soprano soloist)

 

Mahler:              Symphony Nº 4

 

Mendelssohn:    Elijah, Op. 70 (#7, 28, 35 soloist) 

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SONG

 

Copland:            Four Early Songs 

 

Debussy:           Quatre chansons de jeunesse

                          Fêtes galantes, L.86 Book I 

 

Larsen:              Songs from Letters

 

Poulenc:            Fiançailles pour rire 

                          Deux poèmes de Louis Aragon 

                          Métamorphoses

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