In recital, Mary has appeared for the Aldeburgh Connection, the Toronto Arts and Letters Club, Trinity St. Paul's Church, the Toronto Wagner Society, the Toronto Mozart Society and Montréal's Debut series at La Chapelle Historique du bon-Pasteur. In addition, she recently contributed her talents to Peter Gzowski's Red Barn benefit gala and the prestigious Toronto Opera Ball and gave a masterclass and recital presentation at Luther College High School in Regina, Saskatchewan, her alma mater. Mary also enjoys performing in a series of duet recitals with her husband, tenor Michael Colvin.

Equally at home on the opera stage, Ms Bella most recently appeared as the Second Lady in The Magic Flute with Manitoba Opera. She also performed in a workshop presentation of Dean Burry's new opera The Brother's Grimm with the Canadian Opera Company, and sang Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for the Orford Arts Centre, Tiny in the Canadian première of Benjamin Britten's Paul Bunyan and Serpetta in Mozart's La finta giardiniera, conducted by Mario Bernardi. Her Montréal performance in L'incoronazione di Poppea was described by critics as "simply outstanding. She sang wily Poppea with so rich a voice and so much seductive vocal beauty that the title of empress seemed the least she deserved for such art" (The Montreal Gazette). Other opera credits include the title role in Bartered Bride by Smetana, Aloés in Chabrier's L'étoile, Nina in Donizetti's Il giovedi grasso and excerpts from Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, the Governess in Britten's Turn of the Screw, Mimi in La Bohéme, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo. Ms Bella has also performed in several French Baroque Opera pastiches with the period dance troupe La Belle Danse.

In February 2001, Ms Bella recorded a CD with "Classical Kids" entitled A Classical Kids Christmas, which has met with great critical acclaim and been broadcast repeatedly on local and national radio stations. "One will occasionally find a piece that is not familiar--such as the Polish Lullaby, stunningly ung by Mary Bella, whose voice pours forth in a cathedral of grand magnificence" (Lance G. Hill, MBC). Last spring she made another appearance with the Toronto Classical Singers performing Haydn's Mass in Time of War and Beethoven's Mass in C. Among this season's engagements are appearances Mozart's Requiem with Pax Christi Chorale and Mozart's Coronation Mass with Toronto Classical Singers.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Mary Bella holds a Masters in Music Performance and an Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto, as well as a Bachelor of Music with honours from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has also studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, McGill University and the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England. Ms Bella has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the prestigious Eaton Graduating Scholarship from the University of Toronto.

Reviews

"Soprano Mary Bella showed off an attractive vibrato and ready to soar bouyancy..."

Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star on Brahms' Requiem
 

"...with Mary Bella's maid Serpetta a hard-nosed Despina in the making"

William Littler, The Toronto Star on Mozart's La finta giardiniera
 

" ...soprano Mary Bella was simply outstanding. She sang wily Poppea with so rich a voice and so much seductive vocal beauty that the title of empress seemed the least she deserved for such art."

The Montreal Gazette on Coronation of Poppea
 

"En Poppée, Mary Bella domine la distribution: belle voix, geste sensuel, étonnante aisance."
[As Poppea, Mary Bella rules the cast: beautiful voice, sensual gestures, surprising ease.]

La Presse, Montreal on Coronation of Poppea
 

"Mary Bella... et Michiel Schrey jouent tous deux avec un étonnant naturel et forment un couple d'amoureux parfaitment vraisembable. Ils sont également trés sûr vocalement: chez elle l'aigu est remarkablement puisant et juste..."
[Mary Bella and Michiel Schrey both act with surprising naturalness and form a perfectly realistic pair of lovers. They are equally very sure vocally: in her the upper range is remarkably strong and accurate...]

La Presse, Montreal on Bartered Bride

Contact details and further information

E-mail Mary Bella

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