December 09, 2005 -

OTTAWA -- When the glittering 2006 Black and White Opera Soiree illuminates the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall stage on February 18, 2006, some of the best voices in Canada will perform some of opera’s most glorious music. Headlining this spectacular evening – entitled Love, Death and Divas -- will be superb soprano Adrianne Pieczonka and brilliant baritone Russell Braun. Witty and charismatic superstar Colm Feore will once again host this glamorous evening, while Richard Bradshaw, acclaimed General Director and Conductor of the Canadian Opera Company, will make his much-anticipated NAC debut conducting the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Opera Lyra Ottawa Chorus.

The Black & White Opera Soiree is presented by Bell Canada in association with Enbridge Inc. Special thanks to the Lowe-Martin Group, Biddle McGillvray Advertising, the Ottawa Citizen, Le Droit, CBC, and Radio-Canada Television.

Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka has been praised by Opera Canada magazine for “…her expressive lyricism, unforced beauty of tone, exemplary diction and compelling acting.” A tall, handsome figure on stage, she possesses not only an understated glamour, but a gorgeous vocal instrument with an uncanny ability to soar. Ms Pieczonka has performed on major opera stages throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia, always to critical and audience acclaim.

One of the most sought-after lyric baritones on the international stage today, Canadian Russell Braun was described by San Diego magazine as “one of the most gorgeous baritones I’ve heard in ages.” He performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, l’Opéra de Paris, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company. Mr. Braun was the winner of the 2001 Juno award for ‘Best Classical Album Vocal or Choral Performance’ for Handel’s Apollo e Dafne (Dorian).

The Black and White Opera Soiree is an annual winter benefit for the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Opera Lyra Ottawa. Love, Death and Divas– the ninth version of this fabulous fundraiser -- features opera’s greatest hits, the most memorable melodies from 400 years of glorious opera repertoire. Accessible and entertaining, this brilliant evening of fine food, high fashion, and some of the most beautiful music ever written promises to be the jewel in the crown of the Ottawa social season.

Proceeds from this year’s Black and White Opera Soiree will help to further develop Canadian musical talent, a shared mission of National Arts Centre and Opera Lyra Ottawa.

The Black and White Opera Soiree takes place on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at the National Arts Centre. Concert-only ticket prices are $75, $65, and $50. Concert-plus tickets are $175 for the concert and the post-concert reception. Gala tickets are $275, which includes a cocktail reception, dinner, concert, and a post-concert party with the stars.

Concert-only tickets are available at the NAC Box Office (in person) and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at (613) 755-1111; Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’s web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Gala tickets and concert-plus tickets can be purchased through the NAC Foundation at 947-7000, ext. 322 or at Opera Lyra Ottawa by contacting 232-9200, ext. 225.

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Information:
Gerald Morris
National Arts Centre,
 (613) 947-7000, x249
gmorris@nac-cna.ca

Karl Balisch
Opera Lyra Ottawa
(613) 232-9200, x229
marketing@operalyra.ca

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

ADRIANNE PIECZONKA
Dramatic and stunning, Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka has performed on major opera stages throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia, under the direction of such conductors as Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Sir Neville Marriner, Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Anthony Pappano, and the late Sir Georg Solti.

The 2005-2006 season offers many challenges and opportunities for Adrianne Pieczonka as she takes on major roles in productions in New York, Vienna, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Berlin. Her season kicked off in Tokyo, where she performed as Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. Appearances as Elisabetta in Don Carlo with the Dresden Opera were followed by performances at the Vienna Staatsoper in the title role in Ariadne aux Naxos. December saw her in Berlin for Strauss's Four Last Songs with the Berlin Philharmonie. Los Angeles will have the opportunity to see her as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro and the spring takes her to Munich for Pique Dame and Der Rosenkavalier. The season ends with Ms. Pieczonka's Bayreuth debut as Sieglinde in a new production of Die Walküre.

Following her much-anticipated appearance as the Marschallin in the Salzburg Festival's new production of Der Rosenkavalier, Ms. Pieczonka's 2004-2005 season featured performances in Dresden as Elisabetta in Don Carlo, a role she reprised for her debut at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, Sieglinde in Die Walküre at the Metropolitan Opera, and Elisabeth in Tännhauser at Milan's famed La Scala. In the spring of 2005, she returned to Los Angeles in one of her signature roles -- the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier with the LA Opera, conducted by Kent Nagano.

The 2003-3004 season was an exciting one for Ms. Pieczonka: she made her debuts in New York in Pique Dame and returned to Toronto to star in the Canadian Opera Company's new production of Die Walküre. Return opera engagements took her to Berlin, Hamburg, Barcelona, Vienna, Munich and Salzburg. Ms. Pieczonka, also a renowned recitalist, appeared in Hamburg, Barcelona, Vienna, Bad Kissingen and Ottawa.

Adrianne Pieczonka was recognized as the best female opera singer of the 2002-2003 season by Spain's critics association for her performance in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

Much sought after as a recitalist, Ms. Pieczonka took Toronto by storm with her recital in Roy Thomson Hall, garnering such praise as "Adrianne Pieczonka's pearly soprano is as lustrous a sound as anyone could imagine…" (Globe & Mail).

Ms. Pieczonka is also an active concert artist, having given song recitals in Great Britain, Austria, France and Canada. Recent appearances include performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester under the baton of Kent Nagano in Berlin, and a reprisal of the same work for a televised gala to celebrate the opening of the new Dortmund Theatre. Her performance of Sieglinde at the 1997 Edinburgh Festival was voted best concert performance of the year by London's Independent newspaper. In 1998, she made her Paris debut in a recital of Strauss's Four Last Songs under the direction of James Conlon. Ms. Pieczonka's appearance at the 1999 New Year's Eve Opera Gala in Toronto received unanimous praise.

Adrianne Pieczonka will shortly release her first solo recital recording on the Orfeo label, featuring works by Strauss and Wagner. Her most recent recordings have garnered critical praise; of Falstaff with Bryn Terfel and conducted by Claudio Abbado, the Sunday Times wrote: "the radiant-voiced Adrianne Pieczonka as Alice" (Sept. 16, 2001). Her Naxos recording of Don Giovanni received similar accolades: "Of the women, Adrianne Pieczonka, the Anna, is the best, with clear, bright tones..." (Grammaphone, December 2001). Considered a major interpreter of Richard Strauss, Ms. Pieczonka is featured on The Complete Orchestra Songs of Richard Strauss (Nightingale). She has also recorded Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde) for the same label.

Ms. Pieczonka began her career at the Canadian Opera Company in Lady MacBeth of Mzensk in 1988, returning to that company in 1994 to sing the role of Mimi in La Bohème. In 1989 she joined the Vienna Volksoper and established her home and career in Europe. In 1991 she became a member of the Vienna Staatsoper where she continues to enjoy great success. In 1995, Adrianne Pieczonka's U.K. debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni brought an immediate invitation to return to sing the title role of Arabella in 1996. In 1997 she made her debut at the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and in 1998, made her debut as Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes in Hamburg and as Desdemona at the Vienna Staatsoper.

Adrianne Pieczonka makes her home in Toronto, Canada.

RUSSELL BRAUN
One of the most sought-after lyric baritones on the international stage today, Russell Braun performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, l'Opéra de Paris, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company.

The 2005-2006 season offers Russell Braun a challenging combination of recitals, concerts, and opera on two continents. The season began with a much-anticipated recital of Die Winterreise in Toronto, at which his new recording was released. October and November took Mr. Braun to Milan for his debut at La Scala in one of his signature roles -- the title role in Pélleas and Mélisande. December featured the Messiah with the Kitchener-Waterloo Choir and he began the New Year with two concerts honouring the 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth. The first, in Ottawa, was a recital with soprano Donna Brown and the second, in Toronto, was a concert entitled "Mozart's Letters" with Michael Schade, Karina Gauvin, and the Toronto Symphony. Mozart also features prominently on Mr. Braun's opera schedule with performances of two of the three Da Ponte Trilogy: the title role of Don Giovanni and the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro. June will take Mr. Braun back to Paris for performances of Iphégenie en Tauride and Dido and Aeneas.

Russell Braun's 2004-2005 season was one of challenges, debuts, new roles, and old favourites featuring two role debuts: the first, as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Canadian Opera Company and the second, in the title role of Eugene Onegin with the San Francisco Opera. He also returned to San Diego in Cosi fan tutte and to Hamburg for Pelléas et Mélisande. Mr. Braun also appeared in concert with the Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Edmonton, and Columbus Symphonies, in duo recital with Michael Schade in Washington D.C., and in a chamber version of Die Winterreise with the Pentaedre Ensemble. The summer of 2005 saw him return to the Oregon Bach Festival as well as the Salzburg Festival as Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte.

Russell Braun began the 2003-2004 season in Montreal as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro before he returned to the Metropolitan Opera in Il barbiere di Siviglia. He made a highly successful debut as Zurga in Bizet's Les Pêcheurs de Perles with the San Diego Opera, returned to the Vienna Staatsoper for the title role of Billy Budd, and debuted at the Glyndebourne Festival in the title role of Pélleas et Mélisande. Russell Braun was also featured in the critically acclaimed concert of Britten's War Requiem in Toronto, in a programme of Noel Coward and Ivor Novello (recorded for television) also in Toronto, in solo recital in Montréal, in duo recital with Michael Schade in San Diego and Graz, and with fellow Canadians Isabel Bayrakdarian, Norine Burgess, and Michael Schade in a Liesbeslieder Walzer at Carnegie Hall in New York. The summer of 2003 featured Mr. Braun's debut at the Tanglewood Festival, performing Brahms's German Requiem with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and performances and a recording of Schoenberg's arrangement of Das Lied von der Erde with Smithsonian Chamber Players. He also performed in festivals across Canada with appearances in Ottawa, Vancouver, Parry Sound, and Salt Spring Island, B.C.

Recent highlights include Russell Braun's critically acclaimed debut in the title role of Billy Budd with the Canadian Opera Company, his debut in the Chicago Lyric Opera's production of The Great Gatsby, the title role in a new Hamburg production of Pelléas and Mélisande directed by Willy Decker, appearances at the Opéra de Paris in Gounod's Faust and Cosi fan tutte, and at the Vienna Staatsoper as Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) and Harlequin (Ariadne auf Naxos). He also appeared in the Salzburg Festival productions of Ariadne auf Naxos and Les Troyens and gave solo recitals in Toronto, New York (Carnegie Hall), Bridgewater (Virginia) and Winnipeg, and duo recitals, with tenor Michael Schade, in Berlin, Hamburg, Strasbourg, and Ludwigsburg.

In much demand as a concert artist, the past few seasons have seen Mr. Braun appear with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony conducted by Bernard Labadie, in L'Enfance du Christ with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, in Elijah with the Minnesota Orchestra, and in the Durufle Requiem with Les Violons du Roy in Québec City. He has performed with many of the world's leading conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Claudio Abbado, Sylvain Cambreling, James Conlon, Bruno Campanella, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Richard Bradshaw, and Bernard Labadie, appearing with major orchestras in Europe, Canada, and the United States including the San Francisco Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Dallas Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Edmonton Symphony, and the Calgary Philharmonic.

Mr. Braun adds to his extensive discography with a fall release of Die Winterreise (CBC Records) and a recording of Mozart arias with tenor Michael Schade and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian (CBC Records). Winner of the 2001 JUNO for Apollo e Daphne with Les Violons du Roy (Dorian), Mr. Braun has twice recorded Dido and Aeneas (Telarc with the Boston Baroque; CBC Records with Taflemusik), the award-winning “Soirée Française” with tenor Michael Schade, “Le Souvenir”, a collection of Canadian songs, “Shattered Night, Shivering Stars” featuring the music of Canadian composer Alexina Louie, and “Liebeslieder – Folksongs” with the Aldeburgh Connection. Other releases include “Meditation”, featuring the works of Gerald Finzi (CBC Records) and “Serata Italiana”, a recording of Italian opera arias and duets with tenor Michael Schade (CBC Records), and “Beethoven Lives Upstairs”, “Mozart and Magic Fantasy”, and “Daydreams and Lullabies” on the Classical Kids Label.

Russell Braun made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1995-1996 in Die Fledermaus, a season which also included his European debut as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro with l'Opéra de Monte Carlo and his debut with the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the same role. In 1996-1997, he debuted as Pelléas in the new Robert Wilson production for l'Opéra de Paris opposite Susanne Mentzer and conducted by James Conlon, a role he reprised at the Salzburg Festival in the summer of 1997, performing opposite Dawn Upshaw. The 1998-1999 season saw Mr. Braun make his highly acclaimed debut with the Washington Concert Opera in the title role of Thomas' Hamlet and performances in Rameau's Les Boréades at the Salzburg Festival (Easter and Summer Festivals), conducted by Simon Rattle.

Russell Braun makes his home near Toronto with his wife, pianist Carolyn Maule, and their two sons, Benjamin and Gabriel.