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Leslie Fagan - Soprano
Leslie Fagan's exceptional artistry and talent continue to garner much attention on international stages. Having performed under the batons of such noted conductors as Hans Graf, Sir David Willcocks, Jukke Pekke Saraste, Kent Tritle and Daniel Lipton, Ms. Fagan has delighted audiences and critics alike at Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Bordeaux Opera House, Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall.
Ms. Fagan’s upcoming season includes 2 engagements at Carnegie Hall; Israel in Egypt and Poulenc’s Gloria. She will also be performing Judas Maccabaeus with both the Clarion Music Society in New York, and under the baton of Heinz Ferlisch at the Berkshire Choral Festival. The 2010 – 2011 season fills out with Mozart’s Grand Mass In C in both Kentucky and Toronto, Messiahs in London, Haydn St. Cecilia Mass in Bedford, and two Beethoven 9th Symphonys in Hamilton and Thunder Bay. Leslie is also looking forward to solo recital collaborations with pianist Lorin Shalenko, in London and Kitchener. As a part of the recently formed group, Project Aria, Leslie will collaborate with Trumpeter Guy Few, Soprano Donna Brown and Pianist Stephanie Mara on repertoire from Bach to Greer.
Leslie’s exciting 2009-2010 season included a return engagement to Carnegie Hall performing Mozart’s Grand Mass in C. Leslie sang with Kent Tritle at the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space Series at St. Ignatius of Loyola, New York City. Also included in last year’s season were performances of the Messiah in London and Peterborough, an Evening of the Music of Mozart and His Letters and the premier of a one woman show entitled “ Dressed in Love”. In the spring of 2009, Leslie premiered 5 Mendelssohn Lieder at Steinway Hall in New York with the Clarion Music Society. The previous season marked Ms. Fagan’s official Carnegie Hall debut and her Lincoln Center debut. She was invited by both the Oratorio Society of New York under the direction of Kent Tritle and Music Sacra under the baton of Richard Westenburg to sing their performances of Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall in December. Leslie made her Lincoln Center Debut in May singing Carmina Burana with Musica Sacra and the world premier of Alessandro Cadario’s Cantata for Revival.
Highlights of Ms. Fagan's past engagements include: a solo concert of music of Stravinsky and Debussy with the Bordeaux Aquitaine Symphonie Nationale, France; Bach's Weinachts Oratorium in Stuttgart, Germany; Handel's Messiah with Sir David Willcocks at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England; Tafelmusik Orchestra and Choir in Toronto, Ontario; an engagement as guest soloist at the International Choral Festival in Gouda, Netherlands. Ms. Fagan has been fortunate enough to share the stage with many great artists including Victor Borge and Maureen Forrester.
On the opera stage, Ms. Fagan has sung the title role in Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix; Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte; Sophie in Massenet's Werther; Musetta in Verdi's La Boheme and Nanetta in Verdi's Falstaff. At the Aldeburgh Festival in England Ms. Fagan performed the roles of Tytania in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Ms. Fagan can be heard frequently on CBC radio and has appeared on CBC television and both BBC radio and television. Leslie Fagan's recordings include her debut solo album "le miroir de mon amour" and "A Song for all Seasons" with The Toronto Children's Chorus.
"...her voice sounds nothing short of astonishing….she is in a class of her own."
Robert Thomas, Wholenote Magazine
Recent Reviews
"In the difficult role of his mother, Nitocris, Leslie Fagan sang with a bright, nimble soprano and aptly portrayed the anguish of a parent who despairs of her vile son yet still loves him."
Handel's Belshazzar, Choir and Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola
Vivien Schweitzer, October 2007
To see the original New York Times review, click here.
"Leslie Fagan was more adventurous in her embellishments and took a few risks as well, soaring fleetingly into an upper range...she gave "How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them" and "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" with the dignified grace they require."
Allan Kozinn, New York Times, December 2007
"Leslie Fagan, soprano...had transcendent moments as well."
Allan Kozinn, New York Times, December 2007
To see the original New York Times review, click here.
"Leslie Fagan was as light as her emerald-green dress in her solo Stetit Pulella."
Carmina Burana, Musica Sacra
Harry Rolnick, Concerto.net
To see the original Concerto.net review, click here.
"...Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Faure, Tchaikovsky and Hahn are beautifully sung...her voice
sounds nothing short of astonishing. I am talking about Richard Strauss of which we only get 3 and are left wanting more!...she is in a class of her own."
Le miroir de mon amour (CD)
Robert Tomas, Wholenote March 2004
"Coloratura Soprano Leslie Fagan in the title role impressed from the start, but then her opening aria 'O luce di quest'anima' is a real cliff climber with stratosperically high notes. There are other vocal peaks to scale, too, and she did this fearlessly and successfully..."
Linda di Chamounix, Opera in Concert
Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star
"Fagan displayed her solid technique...sparkling in the quick scalar runs, handling the passagio with ease. Reynald Hahn's L'heure Exquise was exquisite...Ah, fors'e lui & Sempre libera... wowing everyone with her ringing high E flat."
Brott Summer Music Festival, Recital
Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator July 2005
"Leslie Fagan's voice floated beautifully above the choir. Her tone in O Glaube was exquisite."
Mahler 2nd Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic
Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator Mar 2005
"Fagan's pitch and agility were nothing short of wonderful. Her voice was both clear and fullsounding."
Alberta Baroque Ensemble Concert
D.T. Baker, Edmonton Journal, April 2001 | 
