NEWS

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.

I am undertaking another CD recording: a collection of sacred Christmas carols. This project, requires an arranger/producer to create varied instrumentation. I will be pulling on jazz and gospel influences for some of the tracks while remaining true to my classical roots. There will even be an a cappella piece for 8 voices!

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.