From British Columbia, Chad Louwerse is poised to take his place among the most important bass-baritones of his generation. He debuted in Europe with l’Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg as Bernadino in Berlioz’ BENVENUTO CELLINI and in Canada has been heard from Quebec to British Columbia. With the Montreal Opera, he starred as Boniface in Haydn’s IL MONDO DELLA LUNA, sang Talpa in IL TABARRO and covered Leporello in DON GIOVANNI. As a member of Montreal Opera’s Atelier Lyrique, he was singled out in Chabrier’s L’ETOILE by Gingras of La Presse, who stated that “for pure comedy, first distinction goes to Chad Louwerse”.
In 2007-2008 he sang Capulet in ROMÉO ET JULIETTE with Montreal Opera and the Bonze in MADAMA BUTTERFLY for Pacific Opera Victoria. In 2008-2009, he was in Vancouver for Artesia in EUGENE ONEGIN, a Nazarene in SALOME and Monterone in RIGOLETTO and was also heard as Hortensius in Edmonton Opera’s LA FILLE DU REGIMENT and as Palemon in THAÏS for Opera Pacific Victoria. Highlights of the 2009-2010 season included RAKE’S PROGRESS for Pacific Opera Victoria and JOHANNES PASSION for the Calgary Philharmonic. He returned to Pacific Opera Victoria in 2010-2011 for Alidoro in Rossini’s LA CENERENTOLA and was featured in the Lanaudiere Festival’s DER VAMPYR conducted by Jean Marie Zeitouni. Back at Vancouver Opera, he was heard as the le Duc in ROMEO ET JULIETTE.
In past seasons Mr. Louwerse appeared with Pacific Opera Victoria as Harasta in Janácek’s CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN and Bonze in MADAMA BUTTERFLY. He performed the title role in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Balthazar in Menotti’s AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS with Opera NUOVA, Don Alfonso in COSI FAN TUTTE with the Opera Project and Leporello in DON GIOVANNI with the Masterworks Festival. Bartolo in FIGARO! FIGARO! FIGARO! and Alidoro in LA CENERENTOLA for the Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble, he was featured in mainstage productions of MACBETH, WERTHER and LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST.
He is a winner of both the CBC Westcoast Performance Pacific Spotlight competition and the Début competition and has given recitals broadcast on CBC Radio Two. On CD, he can be heard in excerpts of Robert Turner’s opera VILE SHADOW and Sylvia Rickard’s song-cycle THREE CHINESE SONGS OF AUTUMN for the Canadian Music Centre. He was named to the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques in 2005 and received the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold award. An active oratorio singer and recitalist, Mr. Louwerse’s concert repertoire includes the Bach Mass in B minor, the Brahms and Mozart REQUIEMs and Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH.
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST GIANNI SCHICCHI MADAMA BUTTERFLY IL TABARO
Smetana
Kezal/Krushina
THE BARTERED BRIDE
Strauss, R.
The Nazarene
SALOME
Verdi
Doctor/Servant
MACBETH
Concert
Bach
Cantata #131 - 'Aus der Tiefe'
Johannes Passion Magnificat Mass in B minor
Beethoven
Symphony No. 9
Brahms
Ein Deutsches Requiem
Dvorák
Mass in D
Dubois
Seven Last Words of Christ
Fauré
Requiem
Handel
Chandos Anthem No. 9 Dettingen Te Deum Dixit Dominus Israel in Egypt Bass II Messiah
Jongen
Mass
Mendelssohn
Elijah
Mozart
Vesperae Solennes de Confessore Grand Mass in C minor Requiem
Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Stainer
Crucifixion
Vaughan Williams
Serenade to Music
Verdi
Requiem
Awards
Winner of CBC Radio Debut Young Concert Artist Series Winner of CBC Radio West Coast Performance Pacific Spotlight Competition Vancouver Opera Guild Award Vancouver Women’s Musical Society Named to the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques
Calgary Philharmonic Canadian Music Centre Edmonton Opera Music in the Morning Opera Brève Opéra de Montréal Opera National du Rhin (France) Opera Nuova Orchestra London (Canada) Pacific Opera Victoria Vancouver Opera Victoria Choral Society
“Chad Louwerse, handled Alidoro extremely well” [Cenerentola, Pacific Opera Victoria] Opera Canada – Robin Miller
“Chad Louwerse got the evening off to a superb start with a vivid portrayal of Le Bailli. His singing was rock solid and well projected, his character involvement complete.” Opera Canada – Christopher Carling
“No less deft in the role of the Bailiff was bass-baritone Chad Louwerse, his French and his singing impeccable.” Review Vancouver – J H Stape
“…the drunken duet with his astrologer, Siroco (bass-baritone Chad Louwerse), was a show-stopper.” Opera Canada – Arthur Kaptainis
“…as the king’s astrologer Chad Louwerse was an especially fine drunk.” The Globe and Mail – Alan Coulter
“Pour le comique pur, premières mentions à Chad Louwerse.” La Presse – Claude Gingras
“As his personal astrologer, the bass-baritone Chad Louwerse was…a very funny Siroco on stage and was vocally ideal. Joined in the duo “Je me sens, hélas” they brought a particularly enthusiastic auditorium to tears of laughter.” Ópera Actuel – Daniel Lara
