BY ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK (adapted by Aaron Coates and Mel Kirby)
Aaron Coates stage Director Aaron is a director, writer, actor, and the coartistic director of Trepan Theatre. He studied acting at Mount Royal University and at École Philippe Gaulier in Paris. Directing credits include: The Magic Flute, The Scorpions’ Sting, Hansel and Gretel, Hannaraptor (Calgary Opera School Tours), The Bachelor, La Bohème, The Phantom of the Opera Sing-Along, The Sound of Music Sing-Along (Cowtown Opera), The After Party, The Way of All Fish (Lunchbox Theatre), Dying City (Pangloss), The Old Neighborhood (Rogues Theatre), Iraq and Back (Ghost River Theatre), and The End of the Rope (Vertigo Theatre). Aaron is also the Co-Artistic Producer of Dirty Laundry, Calgary’s live improvised soap opera.
Evan Mounce Music Director & Pianist Pianist and coach Evan Mounce has recently been heard with Calgary Opera in The Magic Flute, L’enfant et les sortilèges, The Scorpions’ Sting, Portrait of Manon, and Hansel and Gretel and is delighted to music direct for them this summer at Opera in the Village. Evan also enjoys working with Cowtown Opera, and will music direct their production of NYC Meets YYC this spring. Evan has attended Opera NUOVA, the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, and the Vancouver International Song Institute and has done apprenticeships at St. Andrews By the Sea, and Opera on the Avalon. Although primarily a pianist these days, Evan holds a master’s degree in classical saxophone from the University of Toronto.
10 CALGARY OPERA 2016-17 SEASON
Laura Brandt soprano
Gretel Soprano Laura Brandt was recently an Emerging Artist with Calgary Opera. Mainstage credits there include Frasquita (Carmen) and Peep-Bo (The Mikado). Other roles as an Emerging Artist were Aurore (Le Portrait de Manon), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), and Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia). Past highlights include The Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), Sprechstimme (Pierrot Lunaire), and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni). Laura has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in both their education and pops series. She has a Master of Music in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory.
Matthew Bruce tenor
Witch Matthew Bruce’s passion for the performing arts inspired him to study voice, acting, and dance at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. Upon graduating, Mr. Bruce continued his vocal training at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and continued his studies in the Opera Studio program and studied privately with Ms. Nancy Argenta. Mr. Bruce is a graduate of the Calgary Opera Emerging Artist Development Program and has performed the roles of Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), Candide (Calgary Opera in the Village), Jonathan Dale (Silent Night), Le Dancaïre (Carmen), and Roderigo (Otello).