Master Series Concerts & Tickets
Guest Artist Monica Huisman
Master Series 4, February 14, 2009Touted as the 'next great voice on the Canadian Opera scene exuding dramatic flair with a resonant voice as rich as melted chocolate' (Winnipeg Free Press) lyric soprano Monica Huisman continues to make her mark in the musical world.
Born in Winnipeg, of Dutch descent, Ms. Huisman has been hailed as possessing a soprano voice that embodies both flawless technique and dramatic impact. She returned to her Dutch roots in 2000 with her debut at the famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in a live broadcast of Riccardo Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini, with now famous IL DIVO star Carlos Marin and the European Bel Canto sensation Nelly Miricioiu, whom is also Ms. Huisman's teacher.
Most recently Ms Huisman made her debut singing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Pacific Opera Victoria, where critics acclaimed her performance ‘beautifully acted with a beautifully nuanced voice…her soprano a wonder to behold as it rides along the crest of the ensemble’. She began the year of Mozart’s anniversary with a hugely successful Mozart gala with the Guatemala Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Francis Graffeo.
She has soared on the stages of Vancouver Opera, Calgary opera, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Manitoba Opera, Opera Ontario and Saskatoon Opera in productions of Cenerentola, Susannah, Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, Cunning Little Vixen, La Bohème, Magic Flute, Hansel and Gretel and Lakmé alongside great Canadian talents like Jean Stilwell, James Westman, John Tessier, Judith Forst, and Richard Margison .
Ms Huisman stepped in last minute with Opera Ontario in their 2005 production of Carmen to sing the role of Micaela which Opera Canada hailed her as the 'star of the show'.
Concert repertoire has seen her thrill audiences with her versatile voice and absolute stage charm in Pops concerts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra with fellow Canadian Tyley Ross (founder of the New York sensation East Village Opera Company), Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra London. In oratorio Ms Huisman has found a home in Handel’s Messiah as well as Mendelssohn’s Elijah, where she shared the stage with Canadian Bass sensation Robert Pomakov in a thrilling performance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
She has collaborated several times with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet enjoying huge successes with Mark Goddens’ premiere of The Magic Flute, Handel’s Messiah, and Strauss’ Four Last Songs which critics applauded Ms Huisman's heart rending voice.
Ms Huisman likes a variety in the arts, and last year made her theatre debut singing a specially commissioned piece in Shakespeare’s The Tempest with Manitoba Theatre Centre.
In addition, Ms Huisman has been heard with the Saskatoon Symphony in Strauss’ Four Last Songs, Radio-Symphony Orkest Amsterdam in a charming Gala concert honoring Mozart that was broadcast live, Concertgebouw Symphony Orkest Amsterdam, and the Hamilton Philharmonic.
Ms. Huisman has been heard on the CBC in recital of Czech music when she won first place in the Czech/Slovak competition in Montreal. Other awards include being regional finalist in the Metropolitan National Council auditions, finalist in the International Vocal Competition Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, first prize in the Debut Young artist recital series, and finalist in the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques competition in Montreal. .
As well as having a busy operatic and concert career, Miss Huisman enjoys teaching as part of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Music voice program as well as adjudicating vocal competitions.
Upcoming engagements include Mozart's Requiem with the University of Manitoba, the world premiere of Transit of Venus with Manitoba Opera, H.M.S Pinafore with Edmonton Opera, and La Bohème with Vancouver Opera.