Betty Waynne Allison, Soprano
Performances by Betty Waynne Allison
| Composer | Title | Date | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergei Rachmaninov | Spring Waters Op. 14, No. 11 | 09/26/2011 |
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| Sergei Rachmaninov | Sing not to me, beautiful maiden Op. 4, No. 4 | 09/26/2011 |
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| Sergei Rachmaninov | They Answered, Op 21, No. 4 | 09/26/2011 |
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| Libby Larsen | Katherine of Aragon, fromTry Me, Good King: Last Words of the Wives of Henry VIII | 09/26/2011 |
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| Libby Larsen | Katherine Howard, from Try Me, Good King: Last Words of the Wives of Henry VIII | 09/26/2011 |
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| Libby Larsen | Anne of Cleves, from Try Me, Good King: Last Words of the Wives of Henry VIII | 09/26/2011 |
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| Sergei Rachmaninov | Lilacs Op 21, No. 5 | 09/26/2011 |
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Betty Waynne Allison, Soprano
Biography
Canadian soprano, Betty Waynne Allison is becoming known to audiences as one who “combines it all -- voice, acting ability, presence and beauty -- in one highly impressive package” (Toronto Sun). Betty hails from Ladysmith, British Columbia, and completed two bachelor degrees at the University of Victoria, in music and education.
Growing up with a love for musical theatre, she first hit the stage as Lily in the Secret Garden with Victoria Operatic Society in 2001. In 2006 she moved to Toronto where she officially began her operatic training with the Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) Ensemble Studio, under the direction of acclaimed pianist and coach, Liz Upchurch. Since moving to Toronto she has covered and preformed a versatile repertoire, demonstrating her natural ability and talent. Some of these roles have included Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Luisa Miller (Luisa Miller), Freia (Das Rheingold), Marguerite (Faust), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Tatiana (Eugene Onegin), and Amelia (Simon Boccanegra). With the Ensemble Studio she has performed Donna Elvira in Gazzaniga’s Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), and Mona (Swoon) by Toronto composer, James Rolfe. On the COC stage she made her operatic debut as Annina (La Traviata) and has also performed the Turnspit (Rusalka). In the COC’s 2010/11 season she will perform the First Lady in their new production of The Magic Flute.
Betty has also performed with Pacific Opera Victoria, the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI), and the Concert Opera Group. In 2009 she sang the title role of ‘Vixen’ in Janáček’s Cunning Little Vixen at the Banff Center for the Arts; a new translation by John Murrell. Betty was applauded for her “convincingly foxy movements, her sly vocal style and her well-rounded characterization” (Opera Canada).
Betty is equally comfortable on the concert stage, with her wonderfully rich and florid Händel’s Messiah, Hadyn’s The Creation, Dvořak’s Te Deum and Vivaldi’s Gloria. She recently returned from Europe as the Canadian representative from the first ever Stella Maris Vocal Competition, hosted and adjudicated by world-renowned tenor Michael Schade, where she placed first in the Oratorio class and fourth overall.
Other recent competition successes have included a regional finalist finish at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Pittsburgh, a second place finish in the Czech Slovak International Competition, a grand prize at the Ottawa Choral Society New Discoveries, a grand finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition and a top prize at the Jeunnes Ambassadeurs (2009).