about

Canadian soprano Jacqueline Woodley is a recent alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble, where she was heard on stage this past season as the Page in Christopher Alden’s Rigoletto and First Priestess in Robert Carson’s Iphigénie en Tauride alongside Susan Graham and Russell Braun.

After her success as the “deliciously sexy” Papagena last year in the Ensemble production of Diane Paulus’ Die Zauberflöte, she sang Iris this May in Semele. In past seasons at the COC she was heard under Maestro Steuart Bedford in Death in Venice, covered the roles of Olympia and Stella in Les contes d'Hoffmann, Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos and Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice and sang Lucy in The Telephone for the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series. Jacqueline has been featured frequently in the Free Concert Series, most notably in “Tenebrae” by Golijov, where she appeared with the Tokai Quartet, Clarinet and dancers and in her recent solo "Les Adieux" recital with pianist Rachel Andrist.

Last summer, Ms Woodley sang the world premiere of Ana Sokolovic’s opera Svadba-Wedding, commissioned and produced by the Toronto-based contemporary company Queen of Puddings Music Theatre. She sang the role of Milice, the bride, to rave reviews. Other recent operatic highlights include singing Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Lisette in La Rondine, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, Serpina in La serva padrona, Despina in Cosí fan tutte and Belinda and Second Woman in Dido and Aeneas.

Possessing a strong affinity for oratorio and concert work, Jacqueline has performed Bach’s St. John Passion, Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Fauré’s Requiem, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio and Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem. She recently gave a concert with renowned counter-tenor Daniel Taylor, a program of duets and arias in the Music at Sharon series. She has also toured with Mr. Taylor as part of the Conseil des arts de Montréal series in a 2008 program called “Lie Down Poor Heart”. Jacqueline has sung for the Brott Music Festival, including “La Dolce Vita: Italian Opera Favourites” alongside John Fanning, and in a solo concert recital. She is also becoming known for her interest in contemporary music, which started with her debut with the Queen of Puddings Music Theatre in their concert of Pärt’s Stabat Mater (vocal and string trios) and works by Tavener and Kancheli. She has received much praise for her recent concerts at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series of music of Judith Weir and Kaija Saariaho, singing a cappella, in chamber ensembles and with electronics.

Ms Woodley holds her master’s in opera from McGill University and trained for three years with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv and Montreal. She has studied with Wendy Nielsen, Marlena Malas, Elizabeth Koch and Joanne Kolomyjec and worked with various coaches including Liz Upchurch, Michael McMahon, Daniel Taylor, Patrick Hansen, Rachel Andrist and Joan Dornemann.

She is a winner of the Ottawa Choral Society's New Discoveries Auditions 2012, is recipient of the David and Ann Award at the Canadian Opera Company and also holds her A.R.T.C. diploma in piano performance. Upcoming commitments include a Western Canada tour and the European debut and tour of Svadba-Wedding.

Managed by Dean Artists Management. 416-969-7300

OPERA ROLES:

Britten
Albert Herring (Miss Wordsworth)
Death in Venice (Lace Seller)
Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena)

Burry
Isis and the Seven Scorpions (Isis)

Gluck
Iphigénie en Tauride (Première Prêtresse)
Orfeo ed Euridice (Amore -Cover)

Handel
Radamisto (Fraarte)

Menotti
The Telephone (Lucy)

Mozart
Così fan tutte (Despina)
Die Zauberflöte (Pamina, Papagena)

Offenbach
La vie parisienne (Claire)
Les contes d’Hoffmann (Antonia, Olympia -Cover)

Pergolesi
La serva padrona (Serpina)

Puccini
La Rondine (Lisette)

Purcell
Dido and Aeneas (Belinda, Second Woman)

Sokolovic
Svadba -Wedding (World Premiere) (Milice-Bride)

Strauss
Ariadne auf Naxos (Najade -Cover)

Verdi
Rigoletto (Gilda -Role Study, Page)

ORATORIO:

Bach
St. John Passion
Mass in b minor (Excerpts)

Fauré
Requiem

Handel
Dixit Dominus
Messiah

Mozart
Exsultate, jubilate
Vesperae confessore di solennes

Pärt
Stabat Mater

Vaughn-Williams
Dona Nobis Pacem

Saint-Saëns
Christmas Oratorio

calendar

"When we can hear Jacqueline next?"

NOW! Spring 2013

Astral Award Ceremony, "My First NAC" Showcase Concert

National Arts Centre, award winner and guest artist. May 8 2013 7:30pm, Studio Hall of National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON.

Mass (Brumel)

Ensemble: Société de musique ancienne de Montréal, Conductor: Christopher Jackson

Sunday May 12 2013, 2pm, Espace Hypérion, Québec City, QC

Requiem (Duruflé)

Ensemble: Requiem (Duruflé) and works by Fauré and Canteloube

Friday May 24 2013, 7:30pm, Maison symphonique, Montréal QC

With I Musici, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor, with the ensemble SMAM and I Musici

"Let Evening Come" (Bolcom) with piano, viola

National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute, Chamber Music Concert

Thursday June 27 2013.

Upcoming Winter 2014

Die Fledermaus (Strauss Jr)

Adele, Edmonton Opera, January 1 and February 2, 4, 6, 2014, Jubilee Auditorium.

Tickets and info: http://www.edmontonopera.com/season/2013-2014.php

Past: 2013 Season

Kafka Fragments (Kurtág)

One woman one-act opera with violin (violinist Kerry DuWors), double bill with Janáček's The Diary of One Who Disappeared.

Against the Grain Theatre. March 1-2 2013, the Extension Room (30 Eastern Ave.) Toronto ON

For tickets and info: www.againstthegraintheatre.ticketleap.com/kafka-janacek-kurtag

The Creation (Haydn)

Georgian Bay Concert Choir. April 19, 2013, Georgian Shores United Church, Owen Sound ON.

Conductor: Regan MacNay, Organist: Ian Sadler

Carmina Burana (Orff)

l'Orchestre à vents de Montréal. April 27, 2013 7:30pm, Salle Claude Champagne, Montréal QC.

Conductor: Maria Seminara

Music of Kaija Saariaho, Concert in Washington D.C.

"Quatre Instants" (with Liz Upchurch, piano) and "Lonh" (with Darren Copeland, electronics)

February 21, 2013 (time TBA) at the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

Sunday Afternoon at the Opera (Ottawa Choral Society)

Arias, Ensembles with Choir: Sunday, February 10, 2013, 3pm - Dominion-Chalmers United Church, Ottawa ON

Soloists: Jacqueline Woodley, Emma Parkinson, Isaiah Bell, Geoffrey Sirett, and Jonathan Oldengarm, organ

New Discoveries Showcase Recital (Ottawa Choral Society)
Arias and Ensembles: Friday, February 8, 2013, 7pm - St. Andrew's Church, Ottawa ON

Laureates: Jacqueline Woodley, Rihab Chaieb, Isaiah Bell, and Geoffrey Sirett and Jordan de Souza, piano

Guest Artist, Doctorate Recital for Rodrigo de Carvalho (conductor)

Bachianas Brasileiras No 5, Aria and Dansa with 13 cellos

Salle Claude Champagne, Monday February 4, 2013, 7:30pm.

Svadba-Wedding (Sokolovic)

Milice-Bride, Edmonton Opera, January 12, 13, 16, 18, 19 2013.

Conductor: Daìrine Nì Mheadra, Director: Michael Cavanaugh

Tickets and info: www.edmontonopera.com/season/svadba.php

2012 Season

Messiah (Handel)

National Arts Centre, December 18-19 2012, 7pm.

National Arts Centre Orchestra, conducted by Paul Goodwin.

Tickets and info: www.nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra/event/2422

Messiah (Handel), 1742 version

Saturday December 8 2012, 7:30pm at Mountainview Church, Grimsby and Sunday December 9 2012, 2:30pm at Calvary Church, St. Catharines ON.

With Chorus Niagara and Talisker Players, Robert Cooper, conductor

Tickets and info: www.chorusniagara.ca/page/handel_s_messiah

Requiem (Fauré)

Soprano Solo, Maison du Parc (La journée mondiale du SIDA) with members of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of St. Andrew and St. Paul

Tuesday November 27 2012, 7:30pm, Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. Tickets $25, information at www.maisonduparc.org/evenement.php

Jordan de Souza, conductor

Rencontre XVIII-XX

Ensemble: Magnificat (Bach) and Berliner Messe (Pärt)

Thursday December 6 2012, 7:30pm, Église Immaculée-Conception, Montréal QC

With the Société de musique ancienne de Montréal and I Musici, Christopher Jackson, conductor

Svadba-Wedding (Sokolovic)

Milice-Bride, European Concert Tour to France, Serbia and Ireland. October 12-22.

Conductor: Daìrine Nì Mheadra

Competitor, Montreal International Music Compeition

May 28-June 8, First Round performance is May 29, 3pm at the Salle Bourgie, Montreal.

Competitor, Prix d'Europe

June 10-15, First Round recital is June 11, 3:30 pm at the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, Montreal.

"Shepherd on the Rock" (Schubert) with clarinettist David Lemelin, part of the Summer Institute of Music of the NAC

June 23, 7 pm, Tabaret Hall, Ottawa.

Semele (Handel)

Iris, Ensemble Mainstage Performance, Canadian Opera Company, May 23 2012/ Cover: May 9 to 26 2012.

Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini, Director/Set Designer: Zhang Huan

Les contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach)

Olympia Cover, Canadian Opera Company, April 10 to May 14 2012.

Conductor: Johannes Debus, Director: Lee Blakeley

2011 Season

"King Harald's Saga" by Judith Weir

Praise of Women Concert (Music by female composers)

Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, January 17, 2012, 12pm.

"Lohn" (for voice and electronics) and "Changing Light" (with Marie Bédard, violin) by K. Saariaho

From the Grammar of Dreams: the Vocal Music of Kaija Saariaho, hosted by Kaija Saariaho

Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, February 2, 2012, 12pm.

Collaboration Concert by members of the COC Ensemble and l'Atelier de Montréal

Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, February 7, 2012, 12 pm.

Dona Nobis Pacem (Vaughan Williams) Soprano Solo

Hart House Chorus, The Great Hall: Hart House, University of Toronto, Sun. Nov. 20, 2011.

Isis and the Seven Scorpions (Burry)

Isis/Sally Smith, Xstrata School Tour, COC Ensemble, November 2011.

Rigoletto (Verdi)

Page, Canadian Opera Company, Sept. 29 to Oct. 22 2011.

Conductor: Johannes Debus, Director: Christopher Alden

Iphigénie en Tauride (Glück)

First Priestess, Canadian Opera Company, Sept. 22 to Oct. 15 2011.

Conductor: Pablo Heras-Casado, Director: Robert Carsen

"Fiançailles pour rire" (Poulenc) and Fauré duets in French Mélodies

Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, Thurs. Oct. 6 2011, 12pm.

Pianists: Jenna Douglas and Timothy Cheung, with singers Ambur Braid, Rihab Chaieb, Philippe Sly, Adrian Kramer.

Svadba-Wedding (Sokolovic) Concert Version

Milice-Bride, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, Wed. Oct. 12 2012, 12 pm.

Conductor: Dáirine Ní Mheadhra, Singers: Shannon Mercer, Krisztina Szabó, Carla Huhtanen, Andrea Ludwig, Laura Albino

Svadba-Wedding (Sokolovic)

Milice-Bride, Queen of Puddings, Toronto June 24 to July 2 2011.

Conductor: Dáirine Ní Mheadhra, Director: Michael Cavanagh

Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss)

Najade Cover, Canadian Opera Company, April 30 to May 29 2011.

Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis, Director: Neil Armfield

Orfeo ed Euridice (Glück)

Amore Cover, Canadian Opera Company, May 8 to 28 2011.

Conductor: Harry Bicket, Director: Robert Carsen

The Telephone (Menotti)

Lucy, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, April 27 to 29 2011.

Musical Director and Pianist: Liz Upchurch, Director: Ted Huffmann

Stabat Mater (Pärt), Caris Mere (Kancheli), Melina (Tavener)

"New Voices" Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, January 23, 2011.

Conductor: Dáirine Ní Mheadhra

Die Zauberflöte (Mozart)

Papagena, Ensemble Mainstage Performance, Canadian Opera Company, Feb. 17 2011/ Cover Jan. 29 to Feb. 25 2011.

Conductor: Johannes Debus, Director: Diane Paulus

2010

Isis and the Seven Scorpions (Burry)

Isis/Sally Smith, Xstrata School Tour, COC Ensemble, November 2010.

Music Director: Christopher Mokrzewski, Director: Graham Cozzubbo

Death in Venice (Britten)

Lace Seller, Canadian Opera Company, Oct. 16 to Nov. 6 2010.

Conductor: Steuart Bedford, Director: Yoshi Oida.

“A Song in the Heart” (solo recital with Larysa Gulenko, piano)

Brott Music Festival, ON, July 18 2010.

Requiem (Fauré)

Choral Society of St. Lambert, QC, April 18 2010.

Mass in b minor (Bach)

Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, QC, April 2 2010

gallery

As Iris (Semele) wIth Rihab Chaieb, Juno. Canadian Opera Company, 2012. Photo: Michael Cooper.

As the Page in Rigoletto, Canadian Opera Company 2011. Photo by Michael Cooper.

Papagena, Die Zauberflöte, Canadian Opera Company 2011. With Adrian Kramer, Papageno. Photos by Michael Cooper.

Svadba-Wedding, as Milice (Bride), Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, 2011. Photos by John Lauener.

Cover of Opera Canada, Fall 2011. Photo by John Lauener.

From left to right: Tel Aviv, Israel, IVAI Competition, 2009; Photo shoot by John Lauener for Svadba-Wedding, 2011; "BUFFO" Recital, with Julien Patenaude, 2010.

L-R: Pamina, Die Zauberflöte, Opera NUOVA 2008; Behind the scenes as Despina with Aidan Ferguson, Dorabella, Così fan tutte, McGill University, 2008; as Despina "the Doctor", 2008.

Singing Mein Herr Marquis at the Viennese Ball, Montreal 2008.

Poster for Svadba, Photo by John Lauener.

Headshot by Helen Tansey, 2011.

press

Press for Saariaho Concert at the Phillips Collection, Washington D.C. February 22, 2013:

"In "Lonh," a work for soprano and electronics from 1996, Saariaho combined a medieval love poem (beautifully sung by Jacqueline Woodley in the ancient Occitan language) with an electronic score that manipulated bells and bird song to evoke a distant and almost luminous landscape. "Quatre Instants” for soprano and piano was more urgent and compelling — an “emotional journey,” as the composer put it, through the bliss and terrors of love, from the poignant “Longing” to the anguished cri de coeur of 'Torment.'"
-Stephen Brookes, The Washington Post, “At Phillips, Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho exposes the human psyche”, Friday, February 22. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/at-phillips-finnish-composer-kaija-saariaho-exposes-the-human-psyche/2013/02/22/5e148ea4-7d1c-11e2-9073-e9dda4ac6a66_story.html

Interview with Leslie Barcza about Kurtag's Kafka Fragments presented by Against the Grain "10 Questions for Jacqueline Woodley":

February 18, 2013. http://barczablog.com/2013/02/18/10forjwoodley/

Press for Iris, in the COC Ensemble Studio production of Semele May 23, 2012:

“Soprano Jacqueline Woodley gave the lone aria for 'Iris', 'There, from mortal cares retiring', a performance that was absolutely gorgeous. She wrapped herself in every note and completely owned the stage for those few moments...The revelry 'Iris' (Woodley) depicted through her complicity in the plot came through with the keenness of a sharpened blade.”
-Brian Hay, http://norules-nolights.com/semelecocensemble.html.

For the Ottawa Choral Society's New Discoveries Auditions 2012:

“Twenty-seven year old Canadian soprano Jacqueline Woodley’s luminous performance of Debussy’s Apparition was mesmerizing and her emotionally compelling interpretation of “Zerfleisse, mein herze” from Bach’s St. John Passion showed her to be an artist who completely inhabits her text.”
-Media release, Ottawa Choral Society, March 14 2012.

Press for Svadba, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Toronto 2011:

“Six of the seven scenes are ensemble pieces. The final one cedes the spotlight to bride Milica, providing Woodley an opportunity to show off her gorgeous, lyric voice in a haunting, chantlike solo.”
(John Terauds, thestar.com, June 24, 2011, www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1014973--review-six-female-characters-in-search-of-an-opera)

“Yet the piece also captures the wistful quality of the upcoming event, especially in the final number, a solo for Milica, which Woodley sings with a touch of eroticism as well as seductive simplicity. With Milica’s friends supplying a background sound cushion for her melody, she bids farewell to the past and welcomes the future; the music shimmers, while the elegant final visual will take your breath away.”
(Jon Kaplan, Now Toronto, June 28 2011, www.nowtoronto.com/daily/stage/story.cfm?content=181504)

“The precision of the six singers under conductor Dáirine Ní Mheadhra was breathtaking, especially considering that they also had to execute tightly choreographed movements while occasionally playing various instruments such as rainsticks and ocarinas. Woodley brought a pure, plaintive voice to her solo and its medieval cadences.”
(Christopher Hoile, OperaNews, September 2011)

“I ask them to be Baroque singers, to be folksingers, to be mothers, to be wives, to be sexy to be ugly, to be on the floor. They are a lot of things — a lot of characters — and they just do it. They are young, they are beautiful and they are talented.”
(Ana Sokolovic to reporter John Terauds, Jun 22, 2011, www.toronto.com/article/689992--toronto-and-new-opera-a-match-made-in-heaven)

For Papagena, Canadian Opera Company, Toronto 2011:

“...and Jacqueline Woodley’s deliciously sexy Papagena joined a comparably well-cast trio of Ladies...to raise high hopes for the next generation of singers.”
(William Littler, Opera Canada, Spring 2011)

“[Adrian Kramer] had excellent chemistry with his Papagena, nicely sung and acted by soprano Jacqueline Woodley.”
(Joseph So, La Scena Musicale Blog February 18, 2011, http://blog.scena.org/2011/02/coc-ensemble-studio-flute-ready-for.html)

For the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre Free Concert Series, 2011:

“Pierre Rancourt and Jacqueline Woodley contributed a charming ‘La ci darem la mano’, with the soprano a sparkling Zerlina. The singers were well applauded by a very appreciative audience.”
(Joseph So, La Scena musicale, http://blog.scena.org/2011/04/coc-ensemble-and-odem-atelier-lyrique.html)

For Lucy in The Telephone (Menotti) for the Free Concert Series, April 2011:

“Adrian Kramer and Jacqueline Woodley performed Menotti’s The Telephone; a piece about a man who can’t propose to his girlfriend because she is always on the telephone. Performed by the Ensemble’s two best comedians this was predictably funny and very well sung.”
(John Gilks, April 29 2011, http://operaramblings.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/multiple-small-opera-at-the-rba/)

As soprano soloist for Handel’s Messiah for National Academy Orchestra, December 20 2008:

“Soprano Jacqueline Woodley was full of sweetness and lightness of being and decorated her lines to telling effect.” (Hugh Fraser, “Brott Messiah enthralls” December 2008)

From “La Dolce Vita: Italian Opera Favourites!” Brott Music Festival, July 30 2008:

“Guest soloists were sopranos Sinead Sugrue & Jacqueline Woodley; mezzo Mia Lennox Williams; baritone John Fanning and John Tiranno- tenor. All are professional operatic performers with the demanding range; power and expressive acting skills...Woodley has very clear diction and underlines what she sings with strong facial expression...Woodley and Fanning presented an exquisitely passionate rendering of Don Giovanni’s opening seduction of Zerlina...” (Danny Gaisin, Ontario Arts Review, 30 September 2008)

As Fraarte in Opera McGill’s Radamisto:

“Autre rôle travesti, Fraarte, frère de Tiridate, trouve chez Jacqueline Woodley une bonne technique vocale et une bonne presence.” (Claude Gingras, La Presse, 17 March 2006)