In a short span of time, Laura Whalen has made her mark as a lyric soprano whose performances are notable for beauty of tone and musical finesse. Her busy 2005-2006 schedule was impressive and called for some of the most important leading roles in the repertoire. Ms.Whalen made her debut as the tragic heroine in ROMÉO ET JULIETTE for both Opera Lyra Ottawa and Opera Ontario and the title role in Estacio’s FILUMENA took her to Edmonton (also filmed for television). She rounded out her opera season in Calgary as Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, another role debut. Ms. Whalen’s concert schedule was equally demanding with performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (National Arts Centre Orchestra - Pinchas Zukerman; the Florida Orchestra - Stefan Sanderling; the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir - Noel Edison), and DIE SCHÖPFUNG (Gautemala City and the Elora Festival in Ontario). Vancouver Symphony audiences heard her in Poulenc’s GLORIA and for the Rochester Philharmonic and the Vail Valley Festival in Colorado, she sang Mozart’s REQUIEM. His KRÖNUNGSMESSE and VESPERAE SOLENNES DE CONFESSORE were on tap for the Ottawa Choral Society.

In 2006-2007, Ms. Whalen inaugurated the new opera house in Toronto in September and October, appearing in DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN as a Rhinemaiden in DAS RHEINGOLD and GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG and Der Waldvogel in SIEGFRIED. She appeared as soprano soloist in a new production of CARMINA BURANA for Alberta Ballet with performances in Calgary and Edmonton and returned to Calgary Opera for the world premiere of Estacio’s FROBISHER in January of 2007. Also on her schedule of 2006-07 was a return to the Vancouver Symphony for a Viennese Evening. On her schedule for 2007-2008 are performances with Arizona Opera in the title role of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and as Violetta in LA TRAVIATA for Opera Lyra Ottawa plus Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Hamilton Philharmonic.

Ms. Whalen toured Spain and Portugal singing DIE SCHÖPFUNG in the summer of 2004 and began her 2004/2005 season as Norina in DON PASQUALE for Opera Ontario. She debuted with the Canadian Opera Company as Der Waldvogel in SIEGFRIED and for her Chicago Opera Theatre debut was heard as Helena in Britten’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. She scored a personal success in CARMINA BURANA with Washington (D.C.) Choral Arts Society conducted by Leonard Slatkin and was also heard with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in Beethoven’s MISSA SOLEMNIS, Rutter’s MASS OF THE CHILDREN for Chorus Niagara conducted by the composer and CHRISTUS AM ÖLBERGE with the Vancouver Bach Choir.

During the 2003/2004 season, she sang the title role in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR for Pacific Opera Victoria, Aurore in LE PORTRAIT DE MANON for Opera Ontario, Almirena in RINALDO for Opera in Concert and Rosalinda in DIE FLEDERMAUS for Toronto Operetta Theatre. She was in Tampa for the Florida Orchestra’s Mozart REQUIEM, Calgary for DIE SCHÖPFUNG with the Calgary Philharmonic, Toronto for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay for MESSIAH. Of particular note was the World Premiere of Bramwell Tovey’s MAGNIFICAT with the Hannaford Street Silver Band conducted by Richard Bradshaw.

Career highlights have included the creation of the title role in FILUMENA by Estacio and Murrell for Calgary Opera, Mimi in LA BOHEME for Pacific Opera Victoria and the Governor General’s Award telecast from the National Arts Centre conducted by Mario Bernardi. She toured Europe with the Caritatis Choir singing Brahms’ REQUIEM in Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg and has been featured by the Quebec Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic and Hamilton Philharmonic in such works as Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, ELIJAH and Mozart’s EXULTATE JUBILATE. Ms. Whalen’s eclectic mix of repertoire includes LES DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES, LA FINTA GIARDINIERA, PAUL BUNYAN, LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Rossini's LA GAZZA LADRA. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the University of Victoria and an Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto. She studied at the Britten-Pears School in England and has received important awards from the Vancouver Opera Guild, Canadian National Music Festival and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

- Updated September 2007, Courtesy of Dean Artists Management

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