Opéra de Montréal

David Pomeroy - Cavaradossi

Blessed with a rich tenor and thrilling top notes, David Pomeroy has caught the attention of artistic directors all over the world. Recent engagements include Ladislov (The Two Widows) at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Michigan Opera Theatre, Ruggero (La Rondine) also at Michigan Opera Theatre, Skuratov (From the House of the Dead) at the Canadian Opera Company, the Duke (Rigoletto) at Calgary Opera, and Don José (Carmen) at Vancouver Opera. He has also appeared with all of the major orchestras and choral companies in Canada, and has recorded for the Centrediscs label. OdM debut.

Greer Grimsley - Scarpia

Greer Grimsley has gained international recognition as an outstanding singing actor and is one of the leading interpreters of the Wagnerian repertoire. He made his Metropolitan debut as Captain Balstrode (Peter Grimes) and subsequently performed Escamillo (Carmen), Jokanaan (Salome), Scarpia (Tosca), Telramund (Lohengrin), and Amfortas (Parsifal). He first came to international attention as Escamillo (La tragédie de Carmen), which he has sung in venues around the world. His most recent engagements include Don Pizzarro (Fidelio) with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Portland Opera, and Portuguese National Opera, and Scarpia (Tosca) with San Diego Opera. Last OdM appearance: Bluebeard’s Castle (2004).

Alexandre Sylvestre - Sacristan

An alumnus of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, Alexandre Sylvestre made his debut with Opéra de Montréal in the roles of Zalzal and the Chief of Police (L’étoile) in 2005, and was later invited to appear in the Gala in 2006. Engagements in recent seasons include the Duke of Verona (Roméo et Juliette), Prince Yamadori (Madama Butterfly) and Jack Wallace (La fanciulla del West) at Opéra de Montréal, the Second Priest (The Magic Flute) for Pacific Opera Victoria and Orchestra London, and Haydn’s Stabat Mater with Les Violons du Roy. Last OdM appearance: Macbeth (2009).

Stephen Hegedus - Angelotti

A member of the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, Stephen Hegedus is described as a “charming actor and more to the point a singer of enormous promise” (Opera Canada). He made his Opéra de Montréal debut as Silvano (Un ballo in maschera) and also appeared here as Grégorio (Roméo et Juliette), Fiorello (Il barbiere di Siviglia), and Il Commissario (Madama Butterfly). Recent engagements include the title role of Le nozze di Figaro at Teatro Municipal de Santiago, and 2009 engagements include Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte) with the Atelier lyrique and Bach’s Mass in B-minor at Carnegie Hall. Last OdM appearance: Macbeth (2009).

Paul Nadler - Conductor

One of the world’s most exciting and respected conductors, he has led over 50 performances at the Metropolitan Opera—including Rigoletto, Un ballo in maschera, Aida, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Tannhäuser, Don Carlo, Andrea Chénier, La traviata, Carmen, and Fidelio—conducting stars such as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Karita Mattila, Bryn Terfel, and Ben Heppner. He has also collaborated with renowned soloists Garrick Ohlsson, Emmanuel Ax, Misha Dichter, Elmar Olivera, and Glenn Dicterow. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Filarmonica de Stat Iasi (Romania), co-director/founder of the International Vocal Arts Institute, and founder of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Last OdM appearance: Le Gala (2008).

Michael Cavanagh - Director

One of Canada's most versatile and popular opera interpreters, he has directed productions throughout the country: Vancouver Opera (L’Italiana in Algieri, Carmen, The Rake's Progress, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly), Edmonton Opera (Macbeth, Of Mice and Men, La traviata, La bohème, The Rake's Progress), Opera Lyra Ottawa (Daughter of the Regiment, Un ballo in Maschera, The Pearl Fishers), Opéra de Montréal (Turandot, Madama Butterfly), Manitoba Opera (Cavalleria rusticana, I Pagliacci), and Calgary Opera (Tosca, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La traviata, La Cenerentola). In the U.S., he has directed at companies including Minnesota Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Arizona Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and Tulsa Opera. Last OdM appearance: Romeo and Juliet (2007).

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle - Sets

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle (1932-1988) was a French opera director and designer who mounted productions for opera houses throughout Europe and the United States. He began his career in Germany in 1952, as a theatre designer for Henze’s opera Boulevard Solitude. After designing and directing Tristan und Isolde in Düsseldorf (1962), he began to handle multiple aspects of opera staging. He was an early supporter of international co-productions, in which two or more opera companies shared a successful new staging. His work included stage productions at the Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera, and opera productions for motion pictures and television. OdM debut.

Malabar - Décors

Anne-Catherine Simard-Deraspe - Lightning

For theatre, she has designed the lighting for Les fourberies de Scapin (Théâtre Denise-Pelletier), Le caillou de saturne (Théâtre du p'tit loup), Le père Léonidas et la Réaction (Montreal Arts Interculturel), Ce fou de Platonov (Théâtre Prospero), Molière en hiver (Bain St-Michel), and Théâtre sans animaux (Théâtre La Licorne). At the opera, she has designed the lighting for Il tabarro/Suor Angelica (Opéra de Montréal, 2006) and was the assistant lighting designer for Thaïs (Palm Beach Opera). Technical Director and Designer for I Musici de Montréal, she is also currently the Technical Director at the Orford Arts Centre. Last OdM appearance: Lucia di Lammermoor (2009).