Carolyn Sproule
Acclaimed for her "irresistible charisma and dark luscious sound…whose star is deservedly on the rise” (Opera News), Canadian mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule is engaged in the 2022-2023 season to debut with Pacific Opera Victoria as Carmen, return to The Metropolitan Opera singing Third Lady in The Magic Flute, return to the Canadian Opera Company as the Page in Salome as well as to sing a recital, sing Carmen in concert with the Reno Philharmonic, return to Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Pobehlice in Janacek’s From the House of the Dead, and debut in Finland at the Savonlinna Opera Festival as Stephano in Roméo et Juliette.
Last season, Ms. Sproule returned to Houston Grand Opera as Carmen in Rob Ashford's dynamic production, conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya shortly after debuting as Carmen with Opera Hong Kong. Ms. Sproule subsequently debuted at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Varvara in Kát’a Kabanová in a Richard Jones production, conducted by David Robertson; returned to The Metropolitan Opera for their production of Madama Butterfly; and debuted at Festival d'Aix-en-Provence in Andrea Breth’s new production of Salome.
Highlights of past seasons include singing Dorabella at The Metropolitan Opera in Phelim McDermott's Coney Island production of Così fan Tutte conducted by Harry Bicket, as well as Ines (Trovatore), Page (Salome), and Sandman (Hansel and Gretel) at The Met; Erika in Samuel Barber's Vanessa at The Wexford Festival for which she received unanimous critical acclaim and received an award from the festival as their favorite singer of the season. In her native Canada, Ms. Sproule has sung Maddalena in Rigoletto for her Canadian Opera Company debut in a Chris Alden production, as well as at Vancouver Opera, Opéra de Montréal and Houston Grand Opera. She has sung Olga in Eugene Onegin in Vancouver, Montreal, and for her Michigan Opera Theater debut.
A native of Montréal, Canada, Carolyn Sproule is a graduate of The Juilliard School (BM 2010), and Rice University (MM 2012). She also participated in residencies at the Merola Opera Program, Wolf Trap Opera (Filene Young Artist), the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Aspen Opera Theater, and The Banff Centre. She is a winner of a 2019 George London award, the Marcello Giordani memorial prize in the 2019 Premiere Opera Foundation Competition, as well as a recipient of grants from the Jacqueline Desmarais foundation, HGO studio, Wolf Trap Opera, and Merola.
September 2023
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““The best of the opera was mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule as Erika. Both vocally and theatrically she gave a flawless performance, putting the audience in her pocket as every good Erika should do. Her voice is attractive, and she sings with great expressiveness. Ms. Sproule definitely has a career ahead of her.” ”
