NEWS FLASH

Richard "singing beautifully" in Fidelio

"Opera is about illusion, and we never forget that. Nothing made this more obvious than Richard Margison's larger-than-life voice - particularly his extraordinary delivery of Florestan's great second-act aria. From that moment on, we will go anywhere: We recognize and welcome opera's artifice; it is freeing." (Globe and Mail, 31 March 2008)

"The Victoria-born artist brings an emotional intensity to the music that shows you why he's one of the world's most sublime tenors. He soars above the complex orchestration without ever sounding forced. His daunting "Gott! Welch Dunkel hier" aria builds believably from the soft tones of a near-dead prisoner to sweet yet ecstatic heights."(Georgia Straight, 27 March, 2008)

"Well-known international tenor Richard Margison, top-billed as Florestan, easily navigates the difficult vocal lines of "In des lebens Frühlingstagen." Every syllable is clear, every note audible from the nosebleed seats." (Vancouver Courier, 26 March 2008)

"...musically he performs wonders in the part of Florestan, his singing beautifully phrased and his aria slightly held back so as to contain excitement, and when the release came, it felt as if unbearably accumulated." (Vancouver Sun, 23 March 2008)

Richard Margison Nominated for a 2008 GRAMMY Award

Richard's recording of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's chamber works with the Artists of the Royal Conservatory has received a 2008 GRAMMY Award nomination in the category of Best Chamber Music Performance. The GRAMMY Awards will be handed out on February 10, 2008. Check back then for news!

Where Have all the Tenors Gone? - CBC Radio 1 "Ideas" December 17

Monday December 17, CBC Radio 1, Richard is a featured participant in the radio documentary, Where Have all the Tenors Gone, in a program created Anne Mullens. Check local listings for details.

**Richard in Un Ballo in Maschera, Montreal**

“…the voice is still there: very high and very open, like Di Stefano, articulated and projected with energy, clarity, roundness and precision. Not overly emotive, the man understands the sense of the words he sings. There are more famous tenors who do not have this talent!" (La Presse, September 2007)

Richard Margison and Valerie Kuinka create the Highlands Opera Studio.

Following its huge success in 2007, Co-Artistic Directors Canadian superstar tenor Richard Margison and Opera Director Valerie Kuinka have put together the 2008 season of the Highlands Opera Studio. For three weeks in August, the HOS will provide six hours of training and rehearsals per day six days a week. The course involves approximately 12 participants ranging in age from nineteen to thirty, selected by an audition process held each spring. The expert faculty offers voice master-classes, individual voice lessons, stage craft coaching and staging rehearsals for their concert and opera shows at the end of the summer, presented by the Highlands Summer Festival. This year the HOS will offer three comedic operas August, 25, 27 and 29 and a concert of opera excerpts on August 15. For more information, please visit: www.highlandsoperastudio.com and www.highlandssummerfestival.on.ca

University of British Columbia Honours Richard Margison:

"For his countless achievements both in recordings and on stage, and for his contribution to the world of Opera," Richard Margison received the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, from the University of British Columbia on 25 May 2006.

Special Performances:

Festival Vancouver Gala with Measha Brueggergosman

Richard Margison joins forces with soprano Measha Brueggergosman for the Alvin S. Nemetz Memorial Concert, on August 7 at the Chan Centre in Vancouver, presented by Festival Vancouver. SOLD OUT

LUNA, Luminato Festival's Opera Gala

Richard joined a host of Canadian singing stars on the stage of Roy Thomson Hall on Friday, June 8 for LUNA, Luminato Festival's opera gala.

It will be rebroadcast on September 1st on Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and CBC Records will release a CD of highlights later this fall.

On the Threshold of Hope nominated for a 2007 JUNO

The ARC ensemble's recording of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's chamber works, featuring Richard Margison has received a 2007 JUNO Award nomination in the category of Classical Album Of The Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble. The JUNO Awards will be handed out on March 31 and April 1, 2007. Check back then for news!

Recent Accolades

'Aida' a grand season finale

Margison, a powerful Radames, met the challenge of singing his showpiece "Celeste Aida" just moments into the opera and his duets with Daltirus soared. (The Cincinnati Post, 26 July, 2007)

Richard in Turandot at the Met

"Canadian tenor, Richard Margison-a telling vote of confidence on the part of the Met that the role is a perfect fit for his stentorian, increasingly heroric-sounding tenor." (Opera Canada, Summer 2007)

Richard "radiating" in Hamburg

"Richard Margison (Pollione) proved a radiating tenor with obviously unflappable striking power." (Hamburger Abendblatt, 31 May 2007)

As Calaf in the Metropolitan Opera's Turandot

"Richard Margison, the tenor who sang Calaf, can pump out sound, but the effort was audible, though he rose to the occasion for the greatest-hit moment, "Nessun dorma." (New York Times, 3 April 2007)

"The rich-toned Canadian tenor Richard Margison as Calaf, her suitor, while in obviously excellent form." (New York Post, 2 April 2007)

Reviews of Richard's recording of songs by polish composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg with the ARC Ensemble (Sony, 2006)

"The songs, one of which alludes to the 1941 massacre at Babi Yar, are given tender and passionate readings by Richard Margison." (New York Times, 14 January 2007)

"All the performances are first-class in the sense that I don't see how they could be improved upon. Canadian tenor Richard Margison lends his handsome voice and interpretive commitment to the Halkin songs." (ClassicalNet, 8 January 2007)

Richard Margison Rocks the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival's Opening Gala

"Margison [sang] Beethoven's Adelaide and Der Kuss. This listener first heard him sing Adelaide more than 25 years ago, while he was still a student at the Victoria Conservatory. He sang it beautifully then, when his voice was still rather small. He sings it more beautifully now, so last night's rendition was something special. ...He sang selections by Massenet, Verdi and Puccini, including the ever-popular barn-burner, Nessun dorma. The results were spectacular. Most of the rest of the program was given to a set of show and pop tunes in which Margison was joined by 14-year-old daughter, Lauren. Lots of talents in those genes." (Ottawa Citizen, 23 July 2006)

As Gustavus in the Cincinnati Opera's Masked Ball

"The Gustavus of Richard Margison basked in good humour, with plenty of strength and majesty in the voice." (Opera, December 2006)

"Richard Margison's Gustavo was a pillar of strength and majesty." (Opera News, October 2006)

"Canadian tenor Richard Margison portrayed Gustavus III in bold strokes — whether sweeping grandly into his chambers, laughing off the soothsayer's prediction or singing ardently in his love duet with Amelia. His vocal splendor, ringing top notes and spine-tingling power more than made up for acting that sometimes seemed an afterthought. But he carried off the gallows scene magnificently, and his third act romanza, musing on his lost love, was impassioned and heartfelt. Gustavus met his end authentically, with a gunshot." (Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 July 2006)

A long-awaited return to l'opéra de Montréal in Aida

"The singing was very fine. That was apparent as soon as Richard Margison, as the hero Radames, sang the almost impossible aria Celeste Aida at very top of Act 1. It's no surprise that this Canadian tenor is in great demand in opera houses around the globe." (Globe and Mail, 27 May 2006)

"As Radamès, Richard Margison is in splendid vocal form....the tenor's high notes are projected with power and sureness indispensable to the success of Celeste Aida. As well, in the moments of tenderness, his voice shimmers with colour. Also, his ecstatic Morir! si pura e bella in the fourth act had an admirable expressive quality." (Forum Opéra, May 2006)

Richard Margison portrays a "lyrical" Florestan in the Met's Fidelio

"[Richard Margison's] performance proved that this vocally awkward role, which leads so many tenors to shout, can be sung lyrically. This was a dignified and moving portrayal, and he was at his best when it mattered most: the anguished scene when we meet Florestan, chained and half-starved in a dark dungeon." (New York Times, 22 March 2006)

"Canadian tenor Richard Margison is the owner of a fine voice that can do almost anything. He has no trouble with Beethoven's difficult tessitura or cruel dynamic changes." (ClassicsToday, 22 March 2006)

Other Recent Awards and Events

Richard Margison Inducted into the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame, December 7, 2003

The induction took place at the Opéra de Montréal's 8th Gala, Sunday, December 7, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts in Montréal. Richard Margison was honoured for his exceptional contribution to the world of opera. The Canadian Opera Hall of Fame currently includes 44 members.

Richard Margison receives Order of Canada.

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Last Updated: June 13, 2008