Lauren Segal, Mezzo Soprano
Pacific Opera Victoria
Dorabella in Così fan tutte
April, 2010
Lauren Segal makes her Pacific Opera Victoria debut in April 2010 as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte.
Lauren Segal – the only Canadian chosen to participate in the inaugural Salzburg Festival Young Artist Project – is an alumna of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio. The company has featured her as Siébel in Faust, Aljeja in Janácek's From the House of the Dead and as Popova in Walton's The Bear. She also understudied the title role in Carmen, Wellgunde, Siegrune and Rossweise in Der Ring des Nibelungen, and performed the Third Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute and Dritte Magd in Strauss' Elektra.
Ms. Segal has performed in Calgary Opera's production of Allan Bell's Turtle Wakes as part of their Emerging Artist Program and the role of Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito at the Orford Arts Festival. In 2009-2010, she looks forward to Dorabella in Pacific Opera Victoria's Così fan tutte, Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus for Opera Hamilton, Mercedes in Carmen for the COC, Messiah for the Grand Philharmonic Choir and the Bach Elgar Choir and an Opera Gala for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
Engagements in the 2008-2009 season included Sonya in Prokofiev's War and Peace and Dorabella in Così fan tutte with the Canadian Opera Company, Messiah with the Victoria Symphony, Suzuki in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with Manitoba Opera and Opera Hamilton, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and an appearance with the Aldeburgh Connection of Toronto.
Past performance include Rosina in The Barber of Seville for Toronto Summer Music, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro at The Banff Centre, Agnese in Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda Fenena in Nabucco and Smeton in Anna Bolena with Toronto's Opera in Concert, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel in Hamilton as well as Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Flora (La traviata), Valencienne (The Merry Widow) and Erika (Vanessa).
A recipient of two Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Encouragement Awards, Ms. Segal's concert performances include Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 for the Mississauga Symphony, Elijah for the Amadeus Choir of Toronto, Bach's Cantata BMV 147, Bruckner's Mass in F minor and Haydn's Nelson Messe. Born in South Africa, Ms. Segal holds a Master's of Science degree from the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto.
Mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal as Smeton always impresses with her honey-coated, distinctive, lush tone.
Paula Citron, Classical 96.3 FM
Particularly striking was mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal (Sesto), who has a beautifully expressive tone and solid technique, and was totally at ease, dramatically and musically.
Renee Maheu, Opera Canada
March 2010