Hal France is a sought after guest conductor in opera throughout the United States. Since his professional debut, he has conducted nine productions for the Houston Grand Opera, three productions for the New York City Opera, four productions for Opera Theater of St. Louis (including the world premiere of Beauty and the Beast), five productions for Kentucky Opera, five productions for Central City Opera, and three productions for Orlando Opera, among others.  He has served as Artistic Director of Opera Omaha and as Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic. Maestro France last conducted Tosca (1997) for Calgary Opera.

Kelly Robinson, Director of Creative Development for Toronto’s Mirvish Productions, is a director and choreographer whose career spans opera, theatre, film, and television. He has worked extensively in the United States with critically acclaimed productions of Die Zauberflöte, La Bohème, and La Belle Hélène. Recent highlights include productions of West Side Story for the Stratford Festival and Hansel and Gretel for Arizona Opera. For Calgary Opera Mr. Robinson directed the world premiere of Filumena (2003), Sweeney Todd (2004), the Canadian premiere of Dead Man Walking (2006), The Magic Flute (2006), and most recently the world premiere of Frobisher (2007).

Coloratura Soprano Tracy Dahl has established herself as an important artist on the international concert and opera stages. Her flair as an actress, as well as her outstanding vocal abilities have received high praise. She has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Washington Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Châtelet in Paris, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Ms. Dahl last performed in Calgary in her first Gilda in Rigoletto (2007).

A glance at John Fanning's schedule is evidence of his pre-eminent position among today's baritones. A veteran of seven seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, recent roles there include John Plake in Sly, co-starring with Placido Domingo, Mandryka in Arabella, and Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. In September 2006, Mr. Fanning reprised his role of Gunther in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Götterdämmerung, as they presented the entire Ring Cycle. Mr. Fanning has also performed with San Francisco Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, New York City Opera, and Vancouver Opera, among others. Mr. Fanning last performed in Calgary in the title role of the world premiere of Frobisher (2007).

A winner in the Metropolitan Opera Competition, Albertan Elizabeth Turnbull is a Mezzo-Soprano with a growing reputation in the U.S. and Canada. Ms. Turnbull has performed with such companies as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, The Banff Centre, and Edmonton Opera. Ms. Turnbull created the role of Maria Picariello in the 2003 Calgary Opera world premiere of Filumena and the 2003 Banff Centre production at the Banff Summer Arts Festival, a role she reprised in 2005 at the Centre’s production at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and in the Edmonton Opera production. Ms. Turnbull most recently performed with Calgary Opera in Dead Man Walking (2006) and Frobisher (2007).

John Avey is an elite member of Canada’s baritone fraternity whose repertoire encompasses a wide variety of major operatic roles as well as the principal symphonic and oratorio works. Mr. Avey debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1999, and has performed with such opera companies as New York City Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Edmonton Opera, L’Opéra de Montrèal and Opera Lyra Ottawa. No stranger to Calgary, Mr. Avey last performed as Ping in the 2005 production of Turandot.

Marcia Swanston enjoys a varied career commanding an astounding array of vivid operatic roles and a variety of oratorio and concert repertoire. Career highlights include Mrs. Sedley in L’Opéra de Montréal’s Peter Grimes, Czipra in Zigeunerbaron with Pacific Opera Victoria, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Last Night of the Proms with Symphony Nova Scotia. Ms. Swanston has also performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, l'Opéra de Montréal, and Edmonton Opera, among others. Ms. Swanston last performed in Calgary in Eugene Onegin (1996).