| Wallis Giunta |
|
Introduction “Her voice is strong, supple and tends to a pleasing lightness of timbre. It is even throughout her range and, to waste few more words, utterly beautiful.” Richard Todd – Ottawa Citizen BiographyHailed by critics as "vocally outstanding" (Opera News), Canadian mezzo soprano, Wallis Giunta, is enjoying a diverse and vibrant career. For the 2011-2012 season, she joins the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera and makes debuts with Fort Worth Opera and Opera Lyra Ottawa. She is also excited to make performance debuts at Roy Thomson Hall (annual Bravissimo! gala under maestro Bruno Aprea of Palm Beach Opera) and at the annual Opéra de Montréal “LEGALA” under maestro Timothy Vernon. Wallis was invited by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to join her young artists' program at the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia di Bel Canto in July. Following her time in Tuscany, she recorded a series of concerts with the Bavarian Radio as part of Edith Wiens' program, the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie in Germany. Last season, Ms Giunta finished up an exciting second year with the Canadian Opera Company (COC) Ensemble Studio. She performed the role of Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, the English Lady in Britten's Death in Venice and covered both Nancy T'sang (Nixon and China by Adams) and Angelina (Cenerentola by Rossini). She also made her New York debut in the COC's production of The Nightingale and other short fables (Stravinsky) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. A sought after recitalist and concert soloist, last season Ms Giunta made her debut with the New York Festival of Song, the Caramoor Festival, and recorded a CBC broadcast recital with pianist Steven Philcox for In Concert. She appears in recital again with Steven Philcox at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto in March 2012. In 2010 Wallis received Encouragement Awards from both the George London Competition and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, as well as the top prize of the New Discoveries Auditions. An "extraordinarily talented" (Globe and Mail) artist, she is no stranger to contemporary pieces and has premiered various works/roles. She created the title role of Dean Burry's opera Pandora's Locker as well as the King's Mistress in R. Murray Schafer's highly anticipated work, The Children's Crusade. On the concert stage, she recently performed as alto soloist for the Toronto premieres of Jonathan Willcocks' Lux Perpetua and Derek Holman's Requiem. September 2011
For further information, please visit www.wallisgiunta.com. Full RepertoireOpera
Concert/Oratorio
Engaged By
Reviews"Vocally outstanding"
“This scene also showed off the impressive talents of the young mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta…who is plainly on her way to bigger things.” “Her voice is strong, supple and tends to a pleasing lightness of timbre. It is even throughout her range and, to waste few words, utterly beautiful.” “In the demanding title role, mezzo Wallis Giunta etched the troubled teen authentically and with confidence.” (Pandora’s Locker by Dean Burry) “Blessed with glamorous good looks, a gleaming high mezzo and good dramatic instincts, Giunta’s Dorabella was an unalloyed pleasure.” “Mezzo Wallis Giunta showed artistic and vocal maturity beyond her years.” “…the rising star of the vocal community…” (World premiere of R. Murray Schafer’s Children’s Crusade at the Luminato Festival in Toronto) |