Mezzo Soprano
Bio
Christopher Hoile,
Eye Weekly
As Goffredo in Aradia Ensemble’s Naxos recording of
Handel’s Rinaldo –
“Marion Newman, showing remarkable versatility for
such a small role; she has a magnificently full-bodied
voice reminiscent of Jennifer Larmore’s in her “Mio
cor, che mi sai dir?” and a tamed, almost without
vibrato, and androgynous tone in “Sorge nel
petto”.
Jacqueline Waeber
Early Music America, Vol 15, 2009
First Nations mezzo-soprano Marion Newman "has a
distinctive, dusky voice that suggests drama with every
note" (Toronto Star) and has been noted as "a show
stealer" (BBC Music Magazine). In her debut with Cork’s
Opera 2005 in the title role of
Carmen, she was widely praised for her
“superbly sinuous sexuality” and as “a very exciting
new talent” by the Irish Examiner. She returned to Cork
to appear as Rosina in Il Barbiere
di Siviglia, and has appeared as
Margret in Wozzeck and
Juno in The Tempest with
Pacific Opera Victoria.
Recent engagements include Third Lady
in Die Zauberflöte with Vancouver Opera, and
the roles of Flora in La
Traviata and Cherubino in Le
Nozze di Figaro in Sulmona, Italy as part of the
C.O.S.I. programme. International appearances include
performances in the Czech Republic and Germany as
Don Ramiro in Mozart’s Die
Gärtnerin Aus Liebe and Ericlea
in Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno di Ulisse. Marion
also sang the roles of Zita and
La Zia Principessa in Puccini’s
Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica in
Italy. As part of the Banff Centre new music programme,
she toured France with Richard Dubelski’s What’s
Goin’ On and traveled to Lithuania with the ERGO
ensemble to perform at the Is Arti New Music Festival.
In 2008/9, Marion sang Cherubino and
Cenerentola with Ottawa’s Opera Lyra ,
debuted in Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus with the
National Ballet of Canada in a new production by
Sabrina Matthews, and was Hansel in
Opera Hamilton’s touring production of Hansel and
Gretel.
Highlights of the 2009/10 season for this versatile
singer include de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo” in
October with Toronto Philharmonia, Messiah
with Symphony Nova Scotia, (conducted by Kevin Mallon),
Mozart’s Mass in C with London Fanshawe Chorus
and in April 2010, the world premiere of Spy
Denomme-Welch/Catherine Magowan’s opera for Native
Earth Performing Arts, “Giiwedin”.
At Glenn Gould Studio in May, Marion presents
“Thunderbird” with Aradia Ensemble. In October
2010, Marion returns to Pacific Opera Victoria to sing
Tisbe in La Cenerentola.
On the concert stage, Marion has performed with the
Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Portland Baroque
Orchestra, Kingston Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia,
Elora Festival Singers, Talisker Players, and Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir.
Marion’s discography includes three discs with the
Aradia Ensemble for Naxos: Vivaldi’s Sacred
Music and Griselda, Handel’s
Rinaldo and Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit
pour Noel and Te Deum.
For audio and video clips, please
visit www.marionnewman.com