| Michèle Bogdanowicz |
Introduction "Michèle Bogdanowicz dominated with natural simplicity and an ease of exemplary style, not only is her voice already relatively ripe, she possess a freshness which seduces."
Le Devoir – François Tousignant
BiographyCanadian Michèle Bogdanowicz is poised to take a commanding place among the young mezzo-sopranos of her generation. A recent Fellow at Ravinia’s Steans Institute for Young Artists, she was chosen to present the world premiere of a set of songs by acclaimed American composer Jake Heggie and as a member of the prestigious Merola Program of the San Francisco Opera, she had a resounding success as Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO. A young Mozartean of note, Ms. Bogdanowicz also appeared in several recent productions of DON GIOVANNI as Zerlina (Opera Ontario, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Pacific Opera Victoria and Orchestra London) and sang Papagena in THE MAGIC FLUTE in Andrew Porter’s staging for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble. As a member of the COC’s Ensemble Studio, she appeared in mainstage productions of CARMEN as Mercédès, Ruders’ THE HANDMAID’S TALE as New Ofglen and ALBERT HERRING as Nancy. Recent engagements include Yum Yum in MIKADO for Toronto Operetta Theatre, Gretel in HANSEL AND GRETEL and 2nd Lady in THE MAGIC FLUTE for Opera Hamilton, a programme of Berlioz and Mendelssohn with the Hamilton Philharmonic, Handel’s MESSIAH with the Fanshawe Chorus London, Rossini’s PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE with the Ottawa Cantata Singers and an Opera Gala for Brott Summer Music. She returned to Pacific Opera Victoria for Despina in COSI FAN TUTTE and sang ALEXANDER NEVSKY with the Ottawa Choral Society. This season she looks forward to Cuniza in Verdi’s OBERTO.
Her activities on the concert stage include a recital at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa broadcast by CBC’s Radio Two, an appearance with the Ottawa Choral Society in “Notes from America”, an evening of American music and an all-Debussy programme for the Aldeburgh Connection. She was named a winner in the New Discovery Auditions adjudicated by Music Directors from the Montreal Symphony Chorus, Ottawa Choral Society, Choeur St. Laurent and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa. The prize included a debut recital in Ottawa. She was also a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Ms. Bogdanowicz has appeared as a soloist with many groups and festivals both nationally and internationally; among them, the renowned EMI recording artists The St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Orford Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival and the Aldeburgh Connection, the Brevard Music Center Festival, the Leith Summer Festival and the Northern Lights Music Festival in Mexico. Born and raised in Toronto, her heritage is French and Polish and she is fluent in both French and English. She has received grants recognizing her talent from the Chalmers Foundation of the Ontario Arts Council, the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation, the Toronto Symphony and the Canadian Opera Company. Ms. Bogdanowicz holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Music and a Diploma in Operatic Performance from the University of Toronto. January 2012 For further information, please visit www.Michele-Bogdanowicz.com
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“Michèle Bogdanowicz showed a lovely “speaking” quality in Deh vieni” Opera News, Brian Kellow, May 2007 “Michèle Bogdanowicz is the flirtatious bride-to-be Zerlina, [she was] in spectacular voice” Sun Media ( London Free Press) James Reaney, May 2007 “Superior vocal and acting abilities are revealed by... Michèle Bogdanowicz [who] reveals her flirty side as the coquette Zerlina.” Times Colonist, Grania Litwin, April 2007 “...making big career moves, soprano Michèle Bogdanowicz acquitted [herself] superbly as Zerlina.” Classical 96.3 FM, Paula Citron “Peter Barrett...had good chemistry with the vivacious and sexy Papagena of Michèle Bogdanowicz” Opera Canada, Joseph K. So “Soprano Michèle Bogdanowicz was an ideal Papagena, perfectly matched in sound, perkiness and sense of joy with Peter Barrett’s Papageno.” www.stage-door.org, Christopher Hoile "Both [Papagenos] had fun with Michèle Bogdanowicz, who twittered away with comic appeal as the equally birdlike Papagena" NOW Magazine "Soprano Michèle Bogdanowicz was a perky Papagena" Globe and Mail – Ken Winters “Several Canadian singers in supporting roles were also ideally cast…Sopranos Virginia Hatfield as Frasquita and Michèle Bogdanowicz as Mercédès, Carmen’s friends, were a treat in the ensembles.” Globe and Mail – Ken Winters “…sopranos Michèle Bogdanowicz and Virginia Hatfield generate more sexual energy in their supporting performances as Carmen's cohorts…” Toronto Sun – John Coulbourn"... duets by members of the COC Ensemble were extraordinarily pleasing... Peter Barrett and Michèle Bogdanowicz made charming work of "Dunque io son" from Rossini's the BARBER OF SEVILLE"Globe and Mail – Ken Winters “...Michèle Bogdanowicz sparkled in Handel's [final duet] from GUILIO CESARE" Post Newspaper Group – Janos Gereben, Arts Editor “Michèle Bogdanowicz, a sparkling Canadian soprano, convinced one and all that the Count and Figaro would literally duel for her affections.” Opera Canada – John Bender “Michèle Bogdanowicz as Susanna sang a meltingly beautiful “Deh vieni non tardar”” San Francisco Classical Voice – Olivia Stapp “What singers! Merola '05 opened with a stunner. Two of the principals, Michèle Bogdanowicz (Susanna) and David Crawford (Figaro) don't need no stinkin' training program - they were born to the stage, both are fully developed major singers. The soprano from Toronto exhibits a voice twice as large as her slight frame could be expected to support, and she projects powerfully into every nook of the old hangar. She is a natural, very funny, totally believable”. Post Newspaper Group – Janor Gereben, Arts Editor “bass David Crawford and soprano Michèle Bogdanowicz joined forces nimbly as Figaro and Susanna” Chronicle Music Critic – Joshua Kosman “…standouts are...Peter McGillivray and Michèle Bogdanowicz as Sid and Nancy whose splendid duet shows their emotions and sensuality” Now – Jon Kaplan “Michèle is gorgeous, both physically and musically, with an unprecedented sense of warmth and beauty.” Toronto Stage – Wilhelm Kuelke "Michèle Bogdanowicz enraptured local audiences with her clear and powerful voice during concerts presented by the Northern Lights Music Festival from Canada"
The Colony Reporter – Jeanne Chaussee, Jalisco, Mexico "Michèle Bogdanowicz (Zerlina) and Phillip Addis (Masetto) made a colorful and sympathetic couple"Opera Canada – Renée Maheu "Special bravos go to... Michèle Bogdanowicz, who showed, in the role of Nancy Waters, that warmth and love can blossom even in the most claustrophobic environments" National Post – Tamara Bernstein "Michèle Bogdanowicz (the Enfant) was delightfully méchant as she dashed about the stage, doing harm to both furniture and pets, she was most impressive, [a] moving child." Opera Canada – Paul Baker "Michèle Bogdanowicz brought the right youthful touch to the trouser role of Pippo" Opera Canada – Wayne Gooding "Michèle Bogdanowicz dominated with natural simplicity and an ease of exemplary style, not only is her voice already relatively ripe, she possess a freshness which seduces."
Le Devoir – François Tousignant
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