Miriam Khalil

Introduction




“Khalil has a gorgeous, romantic, arching sound that immediately commands the ear. Hers is truly a beautiful and distinctive voice." Opera Canada - Paula Citron 2009



Biography

Praised for her stage presence and her distinctive vocal tone, Lebanese-Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil is described as being “a lush lyric with spinto overtones” (Opera Canada) and “on the road to future greatness” (Classical 96.3 FM). The beginning of the 2009-10 season finds Miriam Khalil in the role of Rosalinde in DIE FLEDERMAUS at Highlands Opera Studio in Ontario, Canada, followed by an appearance doing various arias with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Soprano Soloist in Handel’s MESSIAH with the International Symphony Orchestra and Mimi LA BOHÈME with Opera Hamilton.

A member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio under Richard Bradshaw, she sang such roles as Leah in James Rolfe’s world premier of SWOON, Laura in LUISA MILLER, the Confidante in ELEKTRA, and Pamina in THE MAGIC FLUTE. She was acclaimed for her interpretations of Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Fata Morgana in L’AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES, Governess in THE TURN OF THE SCREW, Micaëla in CARMEN and Dido in DIDO AND AENEAS.

A graduate of The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Miriam holds an Artist Diploma in Voice, and a Bachelor’s Degree in vocal performance from the University of Ottawa. In 2007 she won first place in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions for the Great Lakes Region. She is a recent member of both The Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia and The Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.

Miss Khalil is also esteemed for her concert and oratorio work. Her most recent credits include Ravel’s SHÉHÉZADE, Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH, Bach’s CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN, Vivaldi’s GLORIA, Mozart’s REQUIEM as well as Pergolesi’s and Szymanowski’s STABAT MATER.

Recent engagements include Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Opera Lyra Ottawa, Empress Marie in THE BIRD SELLER for Toronto Operetta Theatre, Elizabeth D’Aulnières in Charles Wilson’s much anticipated world premier of KAMOURASKA with Opera in Concert, Toronto, and Brahms’ GERMAN REQUIEM for the Windsor Symphony. A recent cover engagement at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in the role of Cleopatra GIULIO CAESARE became a great success when she unexpectedly went on in the role. August 2010

For further information, please visit www.miriamkhalil.com

Full Repertoire

Opera

Bizet Frasquita/Micaëla CARMEN
Bernstein Maria WEST SIDE STORY
Britten Governess THE TURN OF THE SCREW
Handel Rodelinda
Cleopatra
RODELINDA
GIULIO CESARE
Moore Meg THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE
Mozart Pamina
Donna Elvira
Despina
Susanna
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE
DON GIOVANNI
COSI FAN TUTTE
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Prokofiev Fata Morgana L’AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES
Puccini Mimi LA BOHEME
Purcell Dido DIDO AND AENEAS
Rolfe, James
Strauss, J.
Leah
Rosalinde
SWOON
DIE FLEDERMAUS
Strauss, R. 4th Maid/Confidant ELEKTRA
Torroba Carolina LUISA FERNANDO
Verdi Laura LOUISA MILLER
Wagner
Wilson
Zeller
Woglinde
Elisabeth D'Aulnieres
Empress Elizabeth
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
KAMOURASKA
THE BIRD SELLER

 

Concert

Bach, J.S. Christ Lag in Todesbanden
Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem
Chausson Chanson de la Mer et de l’Amour
Chanson Perpetuelle
Daniels Neruda Canciones
Handel Messiah
Mahler Rückert Lieder
Mendelssohn Elijah
Mozart Exultate Jubilate
Requiem
Pergolesi Stabat Mater
Ravel Shéhérazade
Szymanowski Stabat Mater
Vivaldi Gloria

 

Song Cycles

Barber The Hermit Songs
Beckwith Five Lyrics of the T’ang Dynasty
Brahms Acht Zigeunerlieder
Copland Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
Debussy Ariettes oubliées
Granados La maja dolorosa I, II, III
Mercure Dissidence
Messiaen Poème pour Mi
Obradors Canciones clàsicas espaňol
Poulenc Airs Chantés
Fêtes Galantes
Respighi Italian Songs
Schubert Suleika I & II
  Mignon Lieder
Schumann Frauenliebe und Leben
Wolf Mignon Lieder

 

 

Engaged By

Aldeburgh - UK Britten-Pears Young Artists Programme
Canadian Opera Company
Center for Opera in Sulmona Italy
Colours of Music Festival
Company of Musical Theater
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Kanata Symphony Orchestra
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
International Symphony Orchestra
Opera in Concert (Toronto)
Opera Hamilton
Opera Lyra
Opera Ontario
Ravinia Festival (Steans Institute)
Sudbury Symphony
Toronto Operetta Theatre
Toronto Sinfonietta
Windsor Symphony Orchestra

Reviews



"George Frideric Handel made Popera's A-list this year with Khalil effectively capturing the mood changes in Piangero from Giulio Cesare."
Leonard Turnevicius - The Hamilton Spectator 2009

"Miriam Khalil expressed all of Cleo's anguish and attraction in her excerpt from Handel's Julius Caesar. Her breath control and modulation make her singing look easy."
Danny Gaisin - Ontario Arts Review 2009

"The trio of Puccini excerpts came across with the composer's intended love and happy discovery of this famous relationship. In Mimi's aria, soloist and conductor immediately settled into the ebb and flow, producting a memorable result. Highlights included...Khalil's reverently thoughtful "Song to the Moon".
S. James Wegg, JWR 2009
"Khalil's single movement...No. 5, Ihr Habt nun Traurigkeit...is perhaps the most moving of the seven movements."
Ted Shaw - The Windsor Star 2009

"Miriam Khalil lends a fully operatic tone to the Empress Elzabeth and her beautifully phrased Lied, "Als gebluht der Kirschenbaum", is on of the musical high points of the evening."
Christopher Hoile - Stage Door 2009

"The exquisite Miriam Khalil as the young Elizabeth D'Aulnieres and the stately Loralie Kirkpatrick as the mature Elizabeth were excellent."
Ken Winters - The Globe and Mail 2009

"Already a multiaward winner, Miriam Khalil (the Governess) has a lush lyric with spinto overtones. Her voice is ravishing, with its soaring arc and gorgeous, full-throated middle register."
Paula Citron - Opera Canada
"Also ones to watch were soprano Miriam Khalil (Pamina)...Khalil is capable of power and passion, with a hint of spinto, yet her voice is pure in colour."
Paula Citron - Opera Canada
"Miriam Khalil as the Governess has a lush lyric with spinto overtones and is on the road to future greatness."
Paula Citron - Classical 96.3 FM
"Khalil is a raven-haired beauty of Lebanese descent who mesmerized the judges, singing three arias...Her diction in all three languages, Italian, English and French was impeccble and her tone exquisite."
OperaBuffs News, Western New York
“Miriam Khalil provided a wonderful afternoon of French art songs and operatic arias, as well as two well-received encores following a standing ovation from our large, enthusiastic audience”
OperaBuffs News, Western New York

“Someone to watch is Soprano Miriam Khalil, who has a strong stage presence and voice.”

John Terauds – Toronto Star

“Miss Khalil, new this season, is a real find.”

Ken Winters – The Globe and Mail

“An unexpected highlight was the duet from West Side Story, featuring a lovely Maria in Miriam Khalil who is vocally suited to this repertoire.”

La Scena Musicale - Joseph So

“There was a little moment last night where Miriam Khalil sang the word “joy” in such a way that it produced joy in one’s heart.”

Andrew Porter – Whole Note Magazine

“The richness of Khalil’s tones … are a fine contrast to the bustle and overt passion of the group numbers.”

Iris Winston – The Ottawa Citizen