| Lara Ciekiewicz |
Introduction “The vocal find was soprano Lara Ciekiewicz as Anna. Bel canto is not an easy sing, but Ciekiewicz was able to do everything required in gorgeous fashion. She could spin out her legato lines with elegance, force out her dramatic low notes to great effect and toss off high ones of crystal beauty. Her coloratura is formidable, and she is an expressive singer of note.” Opera Canada, Paula Citron
BiographyWhether being hailed as “mesmerizing” (Classical Voice of North Carolina), “thrilling” (The New Classical 96.3 FM), or “a clear standout” (San Francisco Classical Voice), versatile soprano Lara Ciekiewicz is quickly making her mark as a compelling, intelligent, and accomplished singing-actress. A recent graduate of l’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, she has distinguished herself at some of the continent’s most prestigious training programs including San Francisco’s Merola Opera Program, the Banff Centre for the Arts’s Opera as Theatre program, the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center, and Opera NUOVA. Her combination of flair, humour, presence, vocal beauty, and style, all backed by a solid technique, is already gaining attention. Last season saw Ms. Ciekiewicz return to l’Opéra de Montréal as the saucy Musetta in LA BOHÈME, to Manitoba Opera as Papagena in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, and to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for a rarely heard performance of Penderecki’s SEVEN GATES OF JERUSALEM. Appearances also included Lyudmila in Glinka’s RUSLAN I LYUDMILA for Opera in Concert, Le Gala 15e édition at l’Opéra de Montréal, as well as a recital at Montreal’s Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the Gala des Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques for Montreal’s Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20. Ms. Ciekiewicz’s 2008-2009 season proved equally exciting, culminating in a turn as Fiordiligi for the Merola Opera Program’s production of COSÌ FAN TUTTE. Praising the beauty of her instrument, her poise and intelligence, San Francisco Classical Voice’s Jason Victor Serinus declared, “…she could build a career as a consummate Mozartian and also branch out into weightier, more dramatic repertoire.” In addition, Ms. Ciekiewicz made two company debuts – one on the mainstage at l’Opéra de Montréal as the Dama in MACBETH, the other as Paquette for Manitoba Opera’s CANDIDE. She returned to Toronto’s Opera in Concert as Elisabetta in ROBERTO DEVEREUX and sang Fiordiligi, this time for l’Atelier lyrique. Concert engagements included an evening of Mozart with Boris Brott and the McGill Chamber Orchestra, Rutter’s MAGNIFICAT with the Winnipeg Singers, and MESSIAH with the Sinfonia de Lanaudière. Her 2007-2008 season began in North Carolina at the Brevard Music Center, where she debuted as Pamina in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE under David Gately’s stage direction and the baton of Steven Smith. She then presented her first CARMINA BURANA with Keith Lockhart and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra. Other debuts included the title role in ANNA BOLENA for Opera in Concert, the title role in ALCINA for Opera McGill, and her first Fiordiligi, again for Opera McGill.
January 2013
Full RepertoireOPERA
CONCERT/ORATORIO
Engaged By
ReviewsAn all-Manitoban cast of soloists, including Lara Ciekiewicz was impressive. Ciekiewicz sounds better every time we hear her, her lovely vibrato and passionate conviction well suited to the role." “The vocal find was soprano Lara Ciekiewicz as Anna. Bel canto is not an easy sing, but Ciekiewicz was able to do everything required in gorgeous fashion. She could spin out her legato lines with elegance, force out her dramatic low notes to great effect and toss off high ones of crystal beauty. Her coloratura is formidable, and she is an expressive singer of note.” “…un seul sujet se détachait de l’ensemble: Lara Ciekiewicz, qui a l’allure et la retenue – et les héroïques intervalles – d’une vraie Fiordiligi.” (…one single person rose above the ensemble : Lara Ciekiewicz, possessing the style and control – and the heroic intervals of a true Fiordiligi.) “…the two leads in this Toronto Operetta Theatre production are so strong, so charming and so engaged in the topsy-turvy operatic story…we’ll hopefully get to see them onstage again soon. Soprano Lara Ciekiewicz is the ideal Countess…tenor David Curry is Count Tassilo…and, when the two are onstage alone, their chemistry is magical.” “Soprano Lara Ciekiewicz (Fiordiligi) was a clear standout. The sheer beauty of her instrument, the poise with which it is handled, and the intelligence with which she shaped Fiordiligi’s other great aria, ‘Per pietà’, declared that she could build a career as a consummate Mozartian and also branch out into weightier, more dramatic repertoire.” “Most consistently mesmerizing and dramatically compelling was Ciekiewicz as Pamina; she brought the house down with her heart-wrenching ‘Ach, ich fühl’s’.” “Ciekiewicz has a fine, pure voice – well suited to this work. [Rutter’s Magnificat] With imperceptible breathing and centred high notes as clear as icicles, she sang with intelligence and emotional warmth.” “How nice to see and hear soprano Lara Ciekiewicz again. This talented young singer has the ability to draw an audience, with her pure, penetrating voice and expressive abilities. As the flirtatious maid Paquette, she was priceless – slithery and incorrigible.” “Soprano Lara Ciekiewicz made an impressive Opéra de Montréal debut as the wanton Paquette. She let her hair down, tossing her fluffy red boa while acting out Pangloss’ ‘ladies’ during ‘The Venice Gavotte,’ her strong, clear voice projecting at all times.” “Lara Ciekiewicz est tour à tour comique et séduisante dans les deux ‘incarnations’ de Papagena.” (Lara Ciekiewicz was first comical and then seductive in Papagena’s two ‘incarnations’.) “En bonne comédienne, la soprano Lara Ciekiewicz lui [Papageno] donne la réplique dans un jeu de miroir, tout aussi enlevant. Bref, nul ne doute qu’ils sont faits l’un pour l’autre. ” (A fine comic actress, soprano Lara Ciekiewicz matched Papageno with flair in a stylish mirror game. In short, there was no doubt that they were made for each other.) "Lara Ciekiewicz, one of the few alumni of the Atelier program, was in sparkling form in Manon's Act I [aria] from the Massenet opera. Heck, she even looked a bit like Beverly Sills." "...a riotous "Je suis encore toute étourdie" from Massenet's Manon." |