“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
Hailed 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 her performance debut at Roy Thomson Hall for the annual Bravissimo! Gala under maestro Bruno Aprea of Palm Beach Opera.
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 in 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 broadcasted recital with pianist Steven Philcox for In Concert. She appeared in recital again with Steven Philcox for Music Toronto in March 2012. In 2012 Wallis received Encouragement Awards from both the George London Competition and the Metropolitain Opera National Council Auditions, as well as the top prize of the New Discoveries Auditions.
Amici Chamber Ensemble Aspen Music Festival and School The Banff Centre Bravo! Canada Canadian Opera Company Caramoor Festival Chorus Niagara Grand Philharmonic Choir Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Metropolitan Opera Luminato Festival Montreal New Music Concerts Music at Sharon New York Festival of Song Off Centre Music Opera Atelier Opera in Concert (Toronto) Opera Lyra Ottawa Orpheus Choir Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival Ravinia Festival Regina Philharmonic Chorus Regina Symphony Soundstreams Canada
"Vocally outstanding" Christopher Hoile - Opera News, 2009 (The Children's Crusade)
"Vocally, the standout performance came from Wallis Giunta in her all-toobrief solo as the King's Mistress. Her lustrous voice cutthrough the dusty atmosphere and less-than-friendly acoustic of the derelict factory where the show was staged." Eric Domville, Opera Canada, 2009 (The Children's Crusade)
"Mezzo Wallis Giunta (Dorabella) has a beautiful high instrument, an astonishing ease of delivery and consummate expression. Hers is a clear and clean sound that can be molded at will." Opera Canada - Paula Citron
“Mezzo Wallis Giunta was in fine voice in the trouser role of Ernesto, her tender legato lines, passionate execution and stylish assurance a delight.” (Opera in Concert – Il mondo della Luna) Opera Canada – Geoff Chapman
“This scene also showed off the impressive talents of the young mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta…who is plainly on her way to bigger things.” The Globe and Mail – Robert Everett-Green
“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.” The Ottawa Citizen – Richard Todd
“In the demanding title role, mezzo Wallis Giunta etched the troubled teen authentically and with confidence.” (Pandora’s Locker by Dean Burry) Opera Canada – Wayne Gooding – Opera Canada, 2009
“Blessed with glamorous good looks, a gleaming high mezzo and good dramatic instincts, Giunta’s Dorabella was an unalloyed pleasure.” La Scena Musicale – Joseph So
“Mezzo Wallis Giunta showed artistic and vocal maturity beyond her years.” Opera Canada – Dawn Martens
“…the rising star of the vocal community…” (World premiere of R. Murray Schafer’s Children’s Crusade at the Luminato Festival in Toronto) Soundstreams Canada, 2009
