DON GIOVANNI CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor Jonathan Brandani was appointed Calgary Opera’s Artistic Director in September 2021. Recent engagements include opera productions and concert appearances at Gothenburg Opera (Sweden), Meininger Hofkapelle (Germany), the Bregenzer Festspiele (Austria), the Danish Royal Opera House Copenhagen, Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Italy), Théatre Royal de Wallonie-Liège (Belgium), Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Italy), The Atlanta Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. From 2014-2019 he was Associate Conductor of Minnesota Opera (USA), and from 2017-2020 he was Principal Guest Conductor of Daegu Opera House (South Korea). Upcoming engagements include a double-bill of Bluebeard’s Castle and Gianni Schicchi for Calgary Opera, as well as concert appearances at the Rossini Opera Festival and the Orchestra Filarmonica Toscanini.
Jonathan Brandani - CONDUCTOR
ANNA THEODOSAKIS - sTAGE DIRECTOR
Anna Theodosakis is a Dora Nominated stage director and choreographer, collaborating with companies across Canada including the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, Saskatoon Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, the Banff Centre, and more. Anna was selected as the 2024 Merola Opera Stage Director where she directed the Grand Finale and Song as Drama Recital. She is a COC Ensemble Studio faculty member and dramatic coach. Passionate about working with emerging artists, she currently teaches acting and dance for the University of Toronto's Opera Division. Upcoming engagements include directing Cosi fan tutte for UofT Opera and La bohème for Manitoba Opera, and returning as Resident Assistant Director with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. www.annatheodosakis.com
PHILLIP ADDIS - dON GIOVANNI
As one of Canada’s most versatile baritones, Mr. Addis’ range makes him at once “a superb Billy Budd…(whose) voice was virile, free and open” as well as “an impeccable antagonist” as Mozart’s Conte di Almaviva (most recently at Calgary Opera.) He is perhaps best known as “the ideal Pelléas of his generation” for his “erotically charged” performances as Debussy’s leading lover. He has been heard at l’Opéra National de Paris, LA Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Semperoper Dresden, Hamburgischen Staatsoper, il Teatro Regio di Parma, il Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma, and the BBC Proms. Additional leading roles include Eugene Onegin, Rossini’s Figaro, Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and Malatesta in Don Pasquale.
MIDORI MARSH - dONNA ANNA
Midori Marsh is an American-Canadian soprano hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. In fall 2019 she won first prize and audience choice awards at the Canadian Opera Company’s Centre Stage competition. As a COC young artist she was seen as Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Annina in La Traviata, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte and Frasquita in Carmen. A familiar face in Canadian opera, she has performed with Tapestry Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, the TSO, the National Arts Centre and more. She took first prize at the 2023 Quilico awards, was a semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023 Laffont competition, a 2023 Lotte Lenya finalist, took home first prize and audience choice award at the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition and was the 2024 Jensen Foundation third prize winner.
AVIVA FORTUNATA - dONNA eLVIRA
Canadian-Italian soprano Aviva Fortunata, twice named one of CBC’s Top 30 Canadian Classical Artists Under 30, is earning international attention with her "velvety timbre" and "diva soprano quality”. Her 2024-25 season includes returns to Calgary Opera as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Sarasota Opera as Lina in Verdi’s Stiffelio. Additionally, Ms. Fortunata joins the Victoria Symphony as the season opening’s featured soloist, singing Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder. Notable recent engagements have seen her join The Metropolitan Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Dallas Opera. A former finalist in the Operalia Competition and Canada's representative at the 2015 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, she holds a master’s degree in Opera from the University of Toronto.
GUIDO LOCONSOLO - lEPORELLO
Italian bass-baritone Guido Loconsolo was a member of the Young Artists Program at Teatro alla Scala. While there, he appeared as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. Career highlights have been his interpretation of Marcello in La bohème at the Teatro Regio in Turin, his debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as Achilla in Händel's Giulio Cesare, Ford in Falstaff and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro. In 2013 he was Achilla at the Metropolitan Opera. Since then, he has interpreted leading roles such as Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale, Escamillo, Count Rodolfo, Don Basilio, Colline, Dulcamara, Figaro, Count Almaviva, Papageno, Leporello and many others in the most prestigious theaters in Italy and abroad.
CHUAN WANG - DON OTTAVIO
A native of China, Chuan studied voice at the Conservatory of Guangzhou and in Italy at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan. His recent and future projects at la Scala include Duke in Rigoletto conducted by Daniel Oren in the historical staging by Gilbert Deflo, and Ramiro in the children’s version of La cenerentola. Other engagements include Pang in Turandot and Duca in Rigoletto at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Carmina Burana Liebeskof in Il viaggio a Reims at La Scala and at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola at Teatro Coccia in Novara, La Cenerentola and Italiana in Algeri in Cagliari, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Turandot at La Scala.
Christina Thanisch-Smith - ZERLINA
Born in Fredericton and raised in Winnipeg, Canadian/German soprano Christina Thanisch-Smith is delighted to return to Calgary Opera as a second year McPhee Artist. Last season, Christina made her Calgary Opera main-stage debut as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore and sang Beauty in Beauty & The Beast. Last summer, she was an Artist in Residence with Brott Music Festival and Toronto Summer Music Festival. In 2023, she completed her graduate studies at McGill University, made her Maison Symphonique debut as soloist for Mahler’s Symphony no. 4, and attended the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Austria. She was recently a soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
NEIL CRAIGHEAD - mASETTO / cOMMENDATORE
Neil Craighead has been celebrated on opera and concert stages in diverse repertoire from Puccini to Somers. Last season saw Neil’s returns to Vancouver Opera (Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte), Pacific Opera Victoria (Tripaldi in Golijov’s Aindamaar), and Edmonton Opera for his role debut as Wotan in Wagner’s Das Rheingold. In 2022-2023, Neil made appearances with Pacific Opera Victoria in their new production of Carmen, with Vancouver Opera for Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Vancouver Bach Choir for Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. Other highlights from past seasons include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte (Edmonton Opera), Colline in La bohème (Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera, Canadian Opera Company), Handel’s Messiah (Vancouver Bach Choir), and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto (Canadian Opera Company).
mark morash - cHORUS DIRECTOR & ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Mark Morash is a conductor and pianist originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and is Calgary Opera’s Chorus Director. For Calgary Opera, he most recently conducted Carmen. He was Director of Musical Studies for the Opera Center of San Francisco Opera where he conducted for the Merola Opera Program, the Adler Fellow Showcase, and Western Opera Theater. Other conducting appearances include Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opera Colorado and Opera Santa Barbara. San Francisco Opera Center performances include A Streetcar Named Desire, Gianni Schicchi, Argento’s Postcard from Morocco, The Barber of Seville, The Rape of Lucretia, Albert Herring, Così fan tutte, Die Fledermaus, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Pasatieri’s The Seagull.
Emily Hamper - HEAD COACH
Originally from Vancouver, Emily is one of Canada’s most highly regarded vocal coaches and has worked for opera companies across Canada and abroad. As a collaborator for voice recitals, she has partnered many of Canada’s finest singers at numerous venues, including Zoomer TV, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, L’Opéra National de Paris, the Canadian Opera Company, Queensland Music Festival. She is an alumna of UBC, the University of Toronto and Merola opera programs, and winner of the Best Collaborative Pianist Prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. Emily recently coached at the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and will join Nuova Vocal Arts in 2025 for the world premiere of the new Canadian opera Silence.
Evan Mounce - Répétiteur
Calgary-based pianist and vocal coach Evan Mounce is in demand as a leader and collaborator. Evan is Assistant Chorus Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, newly appointed Répétiteur with Calgary Opera, and Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. As a vocal coach Evan has worked with kd lang, preparing her for her 25th anniversary tour of Ingenue. Recent collaborations include work with Luminous Voices, Spiritus Chamber Choir, and Edmonton Opera. With his wife Laura Brandt, Evan has presented numerous recitals including for the Mountain View International Festival of Song and Chamber Music, the ProArts Recital Series, and together they have performed on two river cruises from Budapest to Amsterdam as ambassadors of Calgary Opera.
Scott Reid - SET DESIGNER
Scott Reid is a Calgary-based designer who is happy to be back designing for Calgary Opera. Some of his previous Calgary Opera credits include Macbeth, Eugene Onegin, Die Tote Stadt, The Flying Dutchman, Otello, as well as several productions for the McPhee Artist Development program. He recently designed The Pearl Fishers, directed by Rachel Peake, for Vancouver Opera. In addition to opera, Scott designs for theatre and dance at such places as Theatre Calgary, Alberta Ballet, Vertigo Theatre, The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), ATP, and The Shakespeare Company, to name a few. scottreiddesign.com
David Fraser - LIGHTING DESIGNER
As a Calgary-based artist, David Fraser works extensively in theatre, dance and opera. His designs have been presented across the country, from the Vancouver Opera to the National Arts Centre. Additional international work includes designs presented with Choreographer, Tania Alvarado, and the lighting design for the 2015 English Canadian Exhibition at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Space and Design. Nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award, three Betty Mitchell Awards, a SATA Award and 12 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, he has been the recipient thrice for his designs. For Calgary Opera, David was the lighting designer for The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen and the Merry Widow.
Laryssa yanchak - fIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR
With over 25 years experience in the theatre and film industry, Laryssa is a specialist in creating, choreographing and education of story-based violence and intimate moments. Laryssa is Canada’s first female to have been recognized professionally as an award-winning Fight Director, and first woman to have achieved Fight Master status through Fight Directors, Canada. Theatre companies and stages she has enjoyed working with include: Stratford, Shaw, National Arts Center, The Citadel, Vertigo, ATP, Sage theatre, & Alberta Ballet. She is thrilled to be returning to Calgary Opera to help tell this story of Don Giovanni. Previous Calgary Opera credits include Dead Man Walking, Lillian Alling, Macbeth, and the McPhee Artist production of Béatrice et Bénédict.
Shelby-Jai Flick - sTAGE MANAGER
For Calgary Opera: Das Rheingold, The Elixir of Love, Le nozze di Figaro, Macbeth, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Carmen, La traviata, The Merry Widow, Opera Labs, Norma, La bohème. Favourite credits include: As You Like It, (Theatre Calgary), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, La Fille mal gardée, The Sleeping Beauty, The Seagull (National Ballet of Canada); The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Julius Caesar, The Importance of Being Earnest, West Side Story (Stratford Festival); Mimi, Courageous, If We Were Birds (Tarragon Theatre). Other: The Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Film work includes Prey (Disney), Heartland (CBC), My Life With The Walter Boys, and the upcoming series The Abandons (Netflix).
Kate Pallesen - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Kate is thrilled to be joining Calgary Opera for all productions in their 2024/2025 season. Since graduating from the University of Lethbridge with a BFA in 2017, she has stage managed for operas, plays, and live events throughout Alberta, as well as toured across Canada as the Stage Manager for bliss: the birthday party play (Verb Theatre) to Victoria’s Uno Fest and to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. Select credits include: Das Rheingold, L’elisir d’amore, Béatrice et Bénédict, Macbeth, La traviata, La bohème, Amahl and the Night Visitors (Calgary Opera), Ghost Opera (Old Trout Puppet Workshop/Calgary Opera), The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon, The Jungle Book (Alberta Theatre Projects), STRUCK (Ghost River Theatre), The Thin Man, The Drowning Girls (Vertigo Theatre).
Kennedy Greene - ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
For Calgary Opera: Das Rheingold, Carmen, La traviata, Everest, Rigoletto, South Pacific, Turandot, Filumena. Kennedy is thrilled to rejoin Calgary Opera this season. She is a Calgary based Stage Manager, a self-proclaimed stationery nerd and theatre brat. Other select credits include: A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, 80's Solid Gold, Spamalot, Chicago, Gameshow (StageWest); Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - #2B, The Thin Man, The Hollow (Vertigo); As You Like It, The Mousetrap, Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (Theatre Calgary); Naughty But Nice TenMas!, Naughty But Nice 9, LIVE! (Forte Musical Theatre Guild); STRUCK (Ghost River Theatre); Heaven, Flight Risk (Lunchbox); Kim's Convenience (ATP/ Arts Club); Assassinating Thompson (Lunchbox/Inside Out Theatre).