OPERA NEWS
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Review for Hippolyte et Aricie
“As with so many figures from ancient mythology Phaedre is like a chapter from a psychology textbook, a study in pathology as she gives voice to her desire for her step-son and then -when he vanishes-is wracked with guilt. In other words her extreme passions-rage, desire, remorse-are ideal for an operatic treatment. While there may be lots to listen to in this opera, Phaedre is squarely at the centre of the work. OiC didn’t disappoint in casting Allyson McHardy. I’ve missed that gorgeous voice, her unrelenting approach to performance. In addition to the villainous side of the performance, McHardy added a surprising vulnerability, an element that felt modern, and made the character three-dimensional. Her passions were larger than life in this portrayal. ” (barczablog, 3 February 2014)
Toronto Star Interview on Hippolyte et Aricie
Allyson speaks to Trish Crawford about her upcoming role as the love-crazed stepmother, Phedre in Opera in Concert’s presentation of the rarely performed Hippolyte et Aricie by Rameau on February 2nd at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto. Also catch a sneak peek into a rehearsal with tenor Colin Ainsworth as the two prepare for the twisted love story of gods and mortals.
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About
A unique vocal colour and commanding stage presence are the hallmarks of performances by mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy. Hailed by Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle as “a singer of enormous imagination and versatility”, she has appeared with the Paris Opera, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Chicago Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Glyndebourne Festival, San Francisco Opera, Boston Symphony, Canadian Opera Company, Warsaw Philharmonic and Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse. Adam Fischer, Seiji Ozawa, Jeremy Rohrer, Kent Nagano, Emmanuelle Haim, Bernard Labadie, Ludovic Morlot, Carlos Kalmar and Jesus Lopez Cobos are among the conductors with whom she has collaborated for performances of works such as L’enfant et les sortileges, La clemenza di Tito, Das Rheingold, Dream of Gerontius and Messiah.
Latest Album
Handel: Messiah
Music of the Baroque Orchestra
Recorded live in November 2021, Handel’s Messiah features the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra and soloists Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano, Brian Giebler, tenor, and Matthew Brook, bass-baritone under the direction of Nicholas Kraemer.