|
The Canadian mezzo-soprano, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Toronto. While there, she also studied vocal pedagogy with Lorna MacDonald and continues to study and mentor with Frederique Vezina. She obtained her Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance both from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London England and McGill University, Montreal.
Catharin Carew is equally at home on both the operatic and concert stage, having performed a wide range of classical repertoire, from Baroque to Contemporary. She has been described as "a real personality with a dark edge to her mezzo as well as clear top notes" (WhatsOnStage, UK) as well as "exhilarating" (Opera Canada). Career highlights include premiering the role of Maeve in Ana Sokolovic's The Midnight Court at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre; performing Mrs. Grose in the Aldeburgh production of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw; Miss Donnithorne in Peter Maxwell-Davies' one woman opera, Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot with the Pazzia Collective; Judith in Béla Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle with Opera Five, the Mezzo in Georges Aperghis' Sextour: L'origine des espèces in Montreal's MusiMars; numerous reprisals of Madame French Fry in Tapestry New Opera works children’s opera Get Stuffed!; as well as a staged version of José Evangelista’s Exercices de style at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. She sang in Tapestry New Opera Works' Queers Crash the Opera (June 2018); and worked with Powerhouse Opera, singing the role of Klytaminestra in their production of Elektra (March 2022).
Most recently in the 2023-2024 season Catharin Carew premiered the role of Demeter in Elizabeth Raum's new opera Romance of the Gods with Orchestra Toronto, participated in a workshop presentation of Afarin Mansouri's opera The Refugees, made her debut as Brangäne in Powerhouse Opera's production of Tristan und Isolde, as well as appearing as mezzo soloist in Robert Cohen's oratorio Alzheimer Stories with Pax Christi Chorale in November and again with Chor Amica in early June. Also in June, Catharin sang the title role in Mascagni's opera Zanetto with Grand River Opera.
An avid singer of oratorio and strong recitalist, Catharin Carew has performed the alto solos in over 24 of J.S. Bach's cantatas through the Church of the Redeemer: Bach Vespers series (Director: Daniel Norman), including BWV 12 (March 2024) and BWV 149 (September 2024); as well as with other groups. She has appeared as a guest soloist most recently with Cantabile Chamber Singers, Durham Philharmonic, Canadian Sinfonietta, Pax Christi Chorale (Alto Choral Lead; Artistic Director, Dr. Elaine Choi), as well as the BBC 2005 composers festival highlighting James MacMillan.
Alongside her classical soloist career Catharin Carew is a workshop clinician specializing in vocal projection with choral groups. |
