Opéra de Montréal

Frédéric Antoun - Prince Charming

Frédéric Antoun’s opera highlights in recent seasons include his New York City Opera debut as Prince Charming (Cendrillon), the title role in Orphée aux enfers at Opéra de Montpellier, Almaviva (The Barber of Seville) and Gérald (Lakmé) here at Opéra de Montréal, Tamino (The Magic Flute) with both Opéra de Tours and Opera Colorado, Ferrando (Così fan tutte) at Angers Nantes Opéra, Carmina Burana and Lenski (Eugene Onegin) at the Festival de Lanaudière, Roméo (Roméo et Juliette) at Opéra de Québec and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Mylio (Le roi d’Ys) with the American Symphony Orchestra. Last OdM appearance: The Barber of Seville (2008).

Noëlla Huet - Madame de la Haltière

Noëlla Huet has garnered acclaim for her performances of Handel's Messiah with Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, Dvorák's Stabat Mater with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, and Duruflé's Requiem with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. She made her operatic debut in 2001 as Ottavia (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and Kabanicha (Kátia Kabanová) with Opéra de Montréal, reappearing in the latter role with Florida Grand Opera. She also toured internationally with Les Deux Mondes theatre company, creating the role of Rosa (Leitmotiv), which she performed in more than thirty cities. Last OdM appearance: The Rape of Lucretia (2003).

Gaétan Laperrière - Pandolfe

The breadth of Gaétan Laperrière’s lyric baritone repertoire reaches into the heroic Italian roles so suited to his instrument. He has performed the title role of Rigoletto and Scarpia in Tosca in acclaimed performances around the world. Engagements in recent seasons include Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and Amonasro (Aïda) with Opera Carolina, Athanaël (Thaïs) with Palm Beach Opera, Scarpia (Tosca) with Opera Ontario and Calgary Opera, Henri (Lucie de Lammermoor) with Cincinnati Opera, Lebret (world premiere of Cyrano) with Michigan Opera Theatre, the Villains (Les contes d’Hoffmann) with Boston Lyric Opera, and Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola) with Florida Grand Opera. Last OdM appearance: Le Gala (2005).

Marianne Lambert - A Fairy

A member of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, where she took part in the touring performance Trois sopranos… et leurs divos, Marianne Lambert has a keen interest in contemporary music: she has attended a special program lead by Pauline Vaillancourt, appeared as a soloist at the Luigi Nono Festival, and recently recorded Michel Gonneville’s Hohzro. Her projects in 2008-2009 included Marianne (Ô mon bel inconnu) at the Rennes Opera, Despina (Così fan tutte) with the Atelier lyrique, Belle-Étoile (La pomme qui chante, l’eau qui danse et l’oiseau qui dit la vérité) with Chants Libres, and the third Apparition (Macbeth) at Opéra de Montréal. Last OdM appearance: Macbeth (2009).

Jean-Yves Ossonce - Conductor

Jean-Yves Ossonce frequently conducts both operas and orchestral works. Appointed to the position of Artistic Director of the Grand Théâtre and the Orchestre Symphonique Région Centre-Tours in 1999, he has put a lot of time and effort into regional musical life, while at the same time leading a career as a guest conductor, especially abroad. Recent engagements include Le pays, Pelléas et Mélisande, The Magic Flute, Carmen, and Armida at the Grand Théâtre de Tours, Lucia di Lammermoor at San Francisco Opera, Tosca at Angers-Nantes Opéra, Faust at Minnesota Opera, and Madama Butterfly at Opéra de Lausanne. Last OdM appearance: Romeo and Juliet (2007).

André Barbe & Renaud Doucet - Directors, sets and costumes

Renaud Doucet started his career as dancer, ballet master, and choreographer for several international dance companies, initially becoming involved in opera as a choreographer. He is also an alumnus of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. Directing credits in recent seasons include Cendrillon at New York City Opera, Opéra National du Rhin, and the Badisches Staatstheather Karlsruhe; Turandot at the Vienna Volksoper and Opera Company of Philadelphia; The Barber of Seville, Szulamit, and Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci at Florida Grand Opera; Les contes d’Hoffmann and Thaïs at Boston Lyric Opera; Si j'étais roi and Pénélope at Wexford Festival Opera; and many others. Last OdM appearance: Turandot (2004).

André Barbe has designed over 175 productions for theatre, television, and opera. In Montreal, he has designed sets for Opéra de Montréal, Le Rideau Vert, Compagnie Jean Duceppe, Just for Laughs Festival, the Jazz Festival, the Francofolies, and numerous television shows. Recent designs for opera include Pénélope at Wexford Festival Opera, Benvenuto Cellini at Opéra National du Rhin, The Barber of Seville at Florida Grand Opera, The Sound of Music at the Vienna Volksoper, Thaïs at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, The Tempest at Pacific Opera Victoria, and Cendrillon at the Opéra National du Rhin and the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsrhue. Last OdM appearance: Turandot (2004).

Guy Simard - Lightning

Born and raised in Montreal, he has worked on over 500 productions — as lighting designer, theatre consultant, technical director, chief electrician, or stage manager. He is active in theatre – locally, nationally, and internationally — and architectural lighting design. He also has an impressive depth of experience in opera, having worked for the Opéra de Montréal, Vienna Volksoper, Opéra Monte Carlo, Opéra national du Rhin, Théâtre national de Belgique, Kentucky Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre, among many others. He is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions for his innovative work as a lighting designer. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, he has been teaching lighting design at the school for several years; he also teaches at various schools in Belgium and France. Last company appearance : Romeo and Juliet (2007)