Maureen Batt, soprano

Maureen Batt

Soprano, co-artistic director, curator, producer

Album

Listen to Lady of the Lake

News

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Schedule

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Meet Maureen

Maureen Batt is celebrated for her “rich, warm sound and masterful acting” (Opera Canada). Recently, Maureen’s solo career has focused on promoting Canadian classical contemporary repertoire by collaborating with established and emerging composers to commission, première, and re-perform their works. In June 2017, her debut CD, Lady of the Lake was released (Leaf Music/Naxos). The album pairs two song cycles based on the epic poem by Sir Walter Scott: Op. 52 by Schubert, and a new song cycle by Canadian composer, Fiona Ryan.

She has created several Canadian opera roles including Helen, Aunt Helen (Monica Pearce); Keri Ferrell, Hipster Grifter (Elisha Denburg); Lorelei Henderson, Stockholm Syndrome (Fiona Ryan); Bride, Cake (Pearce); Hannah, Hannah & Paige and the Zombie Pirates (Christopher Thornborrow); Dorothy Parker, Etiquette (Pearce); Anna, Regina (Denburg); Cindy, Heather: Cindy + Mindy =BFFS 4EVER (Thornborrow); and Mother/Sister Mary Francis, Time of Trouble (Elizabeth Raum).

Essential Opera

Essential Opera has been presenting engaging, entertaining concert opera in Toronto and elsewhere since 2010. We are interested in pushing the boundaries of standard concert opera – emphasizing character and dramatic (or comedic) flair with plenty of onstage action. We explore opera repertoire that is widely considered “essential” (e.g., pillar works like Mozart’s Figaro) and repertoire that has not yet come into the mainstream canon. We want to continue to push these works into their rightful spotlight, highlighting the beauty and drama of operatic music from a wider variety of cultures and from newer composers.

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Crossing Borders

Crossing Borders is a dynamic concert that creates a dialogue among contemporary compositional voices from Canada and abroad. This recital explores the similarities and differences between Canadian and other voices by presenting the pieces in conversation with one another. I am especially invested and interested in Crossing Borders being a performance channel for diverse compositional voices and it is one of my mandates with this concert series is to actively engage with my global creative community. Please feel free to be in touch if you want to talk about collaborating. Upcoming tour Jan-Feb. 2018 (See schedule for more details).

Press Kit

Headshots

Reviews

Gallery

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Soprano Maureen Batt, as Mary McGuire – later to become Sister Francis and then Mother Francis – filled the church with her rich, warm sound and masterful acting.

Daphna Levit, Opera Canada

Soprano Maureen Batt gave us a Morgana blending comedy and poignancy, sung with tenderness.

Leslie Barcza, Barczablog

Enthusiastically at home on the stage, Batt’s interpretation is animated and endlessly energetic.

Stephen Pedersen, Chronicle Herald

The young and lovely Maureen Batt (Zerlina) handled her role with charm, humor and a captivating soprano.

Daphna Levit, Opera Canada

Canadian soprano Maureen Batt performs with clear diction and memorable musical nuances in this fascinating release of two contrasting song cycle versions of Sir Walter Scott’s 19th-century epic poem Lady of the Lake…Batt’s soaring rendition of the original German-language version of the familiar Ave Maria is great…Both Lady of the Lake cycles are well composed and held together by Batt’s shining voice.

Tiina Kiik, The Whole Note

Such an intriguing and worthwhile recording…It’s a piece I really look forward to listening to again soon. Impeccable performances again.

John Gilks, Opera Ramblings

Maureen Batt a une voix riche avec des assises solides dans les graves, ce qui la rapproche du registre mezzo. Elle est également dotée d’aigus lumineux…C’est dans la musique de la jeune Canadienne Fiona Ryan, originaire de Halifax, que l’instrument de Maureen Batt exprime toute sa beauté.

Frédéric Cardin, Ici Musique