Originally from Edmonton, Catherine Daniel is a dynamic performer whose training and performances have taken her across North America and Europe.

Catherine Anne Daniel, mezzo- soprano is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her upcoming projects for this season include: Debuting Jezibaba in Theater Erfurt’s production of Rusalka, reprising the role of Erda in Calgary Opera’s production of Das Rheingold and ending the season singing Fricka in Edmonton Opera’s Das Rheingold.

Last season included recitals in Edmonton and Winnipeg, reprising the role of Katie Allen in Omar (UNC Chapel Hill and Boston Lyric) and her COC debut in the new work “Pomegranate” by Kye Marshall.

Earlier in 2022 Ms. Daniel sang Messiahs in Annapolis, Maryland and Regina Saskatchewan. She joined the Orchestre Classique de Montreal for two performances of “La Flambeau” by David Bontemps.

Catherine began graduate studies with Canadian Tenor John Tessier at the University of Alberta in the 2021/2022 season. She had two engagements with Opéra de Montréal and her Spoleto festival debut in the new work “Omar” by Rihannon Giddens. In the summer of 2022 rejoined the Bicycle Opera project to film the acappella work “Sweat” by Juliet Palmer. The film is set to be released in 2023.

The 2020/2021 season was full of digital projects including: lecture recitals, opera galas, children’s outreach and Against the Grain Theatre’s Messiah Complex.

The 2019/ 2020 season included engagements in Montreal and Edmonton and her Opera Tampa debut as Carmen in the opera of the same name.

The 2018/2019 season included engagements with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, singing Erda in Montreal Opera’s production of Das Rheingold and Emelda Griffith in Montreal Opera’s production of the Champion.  She returned to Knoxville to sing Santuzza in Knoxville Opera’s production of Cavalleria Rusticana. Natasha Gauthier from Opera Canada writes:

Mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel was a force of nature as Griffith’s mother, right down to her sing-song West Indian chiding. Her long, wrenching Act II solo—superbly accompanied by jazz bassist Eric Lagacé–was the opera’s musical highlight, soaring, textural, guttural.

The 2017/2018 singing in the Knoxville Opera 40th season and performing with the Edmonton Symphony in their Messiah concerts. Ms. Daniel sang Carmen in The Little Opera Company’s production of La Tragédie de Carmen. This project was Ms. Tracy Dahl’s directorial debut. Catherine also premiered the role of Matron Pearl in the Canadian Opera Llandovery Castle in collaboration with the Bicycle Opera project.

The 2016/2017 season included singing Jezebel and the Angel in Elijah with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and singing Elisabetta in Knoxville Opera’s production of Maria Stuarda.

Ms. Daniel stepped in for the role of Klytemnestra in Edmonton Opera’s production of Elektra (2017). Mark Morris from Edmonton Journal wrote:

The mezzo-soprano Catherine Daniel had an even more formidable task. As the understudy for Klytämnestra, she took over the role at fairly short notice, when Elizabeth Turnbull had to withdraw for health reasons. She pulled it off triumphantly, rather imperious in her stage presence, with a chilling range of vocal expression, colour, and often menace. Stepping in as an understudy can make a singer’s reputation, and that may well be the case here.

The 2016/2017 season’s engagements included singing First Maid in Opéra de Montréal’s production of Elektra, returning to Edmonton to sing Mercedes in their production of Carmen and a summer Porgy and Bess tour in Germany.

In the 2015/2016 season featured Catherine singing Third Lady with Edmonton Opera’s Magic Flute and a European tour of Porgy and Bess. Ms. Daniel sang the Messiah with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke and participated in the Opéra de Montréal Gala. Arthur Kaptainis from the Montreal Gazette wrote:

“Mezzo-soprano Catherine Anne Daniel applied a bright, forward sound and vivacious acting style to the ode from Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos.”

In the summer of 2014 Catherine joined 18 other singers at the Highlands Opera Studio for a residency and performances of William Walton’s the Bear. Ms. Daniel sang the role of Popova directed by Richard Margison and conducted by Wayne Strongman.

Catherine began 2014 singing Maria in Opéra de Montréal’s production of Porgy and Bess.  She then returned to Edmonton to sing Kate Pinkerton in Edmonton Opera’s production of Madama butterfly for their 50th anniversary season.

In 2013, Ms. Daniel released her first Album “Songs Dear to my Heart”. The project is a collection of hymns and spirituals. Catherine participated in several local concerts and events in her native city, Edmonton.

From July 2nd through August 7th 2012 Catherine participated in the Franz Schubert Institute. There she worked with master teachers: Robert Holl, Elly Ameling and Bernarda Fink to name a few.  The FSI, run by Dr. Deen Larsen is an annual masterclass aimed at the perfection of German Lied taking place in Baden, Austria.

2011 opened with more concerts and the Opera Studio Nederland’s (OSN)  production of Cosi fan tutte. In the fall Catherine performed Kundry in an excerpt of the Wagner opera Parsifal. This production was a celebration of de Muziek theater’s anniversary in Amsterdam.

Later that fall, Ms. Daniel was a featured soloist for several performances in Canada such as the Manitoba food grains fund raiser and Judas Maccabaeus under the direction of Elroy Friesen.

Ms. Daniel then returned to the Netherlands to sing Carmen in the Peter Brooke’s version of Bizet’s opera with the Magogo Orkest and conductor Arjan Tien.

November and December 2010 brought Catherine back to Canada for engagements: first to Winnipeg to sing Messiah with the University choirs under the direction of Elroy Friesen and second to Montreal to sing in the annual Opera Gala. That fall, Catherine sang La Messagiera in Monteverdi’s Orfeo as part of the OSN’s 20th anniversary under the direction of Pierre Audi. Ms. Daniel also participated in the Jubileum concert at the famed Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

In the spring, Ms. Daniel joined Kirstin Chavez and Luis Ledesma singing Mercedes in Manitoba Opera’s production of Carmen.

As her European debut, Catherine sang Dido and the sorceress in Opera Studio Netherlands production of Dido and Aeneas in the fall of 2009. This touring project was a collaboration with Opera Zuid and Ad Mosam. Ms. Daniel subsequently became a full member of the (OSN) in May of 2010 under the direction of Hans Nieuwenhuis.

From 2008-2010, Catherine was a member of the Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. There she sang such roles as Wowkle in Fanciulla Del West, the 2nd spirit in Verdi’s Macbeth, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte and Third Lady in Magic Flute. Ms. Daniel also toured with l’Orchestre Metropolitan in December 2009.

Catherine graduated from the University of Manitoba with an Integrated Music/Education degree in 2007. There she studied voice with Coloratura soprano Tracy Dahl.