Maureen Batt, soprano

Maureen Batt

Soprano, artistic director, teacher, curator, producer

Music

Newest release: Lighthouse

All recordings: Music

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Meet Maureen

Maureen’s career is centred on promoting Canadian classical contemporary repertoire by collaborating with composers to commission, première, and re-perform their works. Her discography includes Lady of the Lake, Breathing in the Shadows, Mirror Mirror, and Aunt Helen. Lighthouse, a collaboration with Grej, is her latest release.

Maureen is a member of the Canadian Music Centre Canada board. She has received grants from the SOCAN Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, SSHRC, FACTOR, Music Nova Scotia, and Arts Nova Scotia. Maureen is the co-artistic director of Essential Opera which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020. In 2015, Maureen founded the contemporary classical recital series Crossing Borders.

She has a Master of Music from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas University.

Maureen has been on faculty at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival. Maureen teaches voice, offers workshops online, and is a frequent music festival adjudicator.

As an educator, Maureen invites her students to explore their singing through the lens of wholeness, embodied play, curiosity, and compassion. Head here to read more about working with Maureen.

Essential Opera

Essential Opera has been presenting engaging, entertaining concert opera since 2010. Co-artistic directors Maureen Batt and Erin Bardua 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. Essential Opera promotes the role of women in all aspects of opera. Essential Opera celebrated its 10^th anniversary this past year with two opera short films of works by Canadian composers Anna Pidgorna (Mirror, Mirror) and Monica Pearce (December).

Click on the links below to follow us on social media. And click here to visit us and other companies on Indie Opera TO.

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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.

Next up: Crossing Borders: Shifting the Lens, December 2021 with Fabián Arciniegas, Claire Harris, and Tara Scott.

Diva Station

Diva Station trio debuted April 2019 at Neptune Theatre with their show “Songs Through the Ages”. This new Halifax trio features Laura Caswell (Neptune Theatre, Eastern Front, Drayton); Merritt award winner, Sarah Richardson (Whale Song Theatre, The Black Rats); Maureen Batt (Opera Nova Scotia, Essential Opera, Lady of the Lake).

Known for their vivaciousness and versatility, Diva Station boasts a repertoire that fuses Broadway, rock n roll, and opera. Whether in striking three-part harmonies, or in solo form, these women will take you to angelic heights and soulful depths.

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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

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With any other questions, contact Maureen