Christina Haldane

Soprano CHRISTINA RAPHAËLLE HALDANE enjoys an active performing career in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America. In Jan 2012 she made her mainland European stage debut, singing Cleopatra to Franco Fagioli's Caesar, in Finnish National Opera's daring new production of Handel's GIULIO CESARE. This success was quickly followed by a performance with the Capella Cracoviensis and Maestro Alessandro de Marchi, of Handel's SOLOMON in Krakow.

She made her international operatic debut singing the title role in Donizetti's LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT for Musica Viva Hong Kong in 2010, returning in January 2011 to perform Adina in ELISIR D'AMORE.  This past season her performance of Lucinda in Mendelssohn's DIE HOCHZEIT DES CAMACHO for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/European Opera Centre with Vasily Petrenko, will also be released on recording in 2013. Recently she performed Clorinda in Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA at Iford Arts' magical Italianate cloister with the Chroma Ensemble. On the concert stage, her Viennese Programme with the Brighton Philharmonic was described as "superb".  The 2010 season also saw this bi-lingual French/English speaker return to her native Canada, to celebrate her Acadian roots by performing a song recital for the 48^thFestival Acadien. Christina is dedicated to performing contemporary music and was delighted to contribute to the recent workshops for Mark Anthony Turnage and Richard Thomas' new opera ANNA NICOLE at the Royal Opera House.

For the Royal Opera House she has performed Rapunzel in Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS and gave the London premier of Jonathan Dove's MINTERNE at the ROH Crush Room. She has also performed the title role in Donizetti's LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT for Swansea City Opera, Clorinda in Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA for Scottish Opera, title role in Janácek's CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN for the Oundle International Festival and Fox in CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN for Longborough Festival Opera, and Coryphée & Sidonie in Gluck's ARMIDE for Buxton Festival Opera and Pamina in Mozart's DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE for the Cambridge Philharmonic.

Other roles in Christina's repertoire include Musetta in Puccini's LA BOHÈME, the title role in Handel's ALCINA and Anna Page in Nicolai's THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Christina's concert performances include Handel Messiah, Bach St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, and Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Mozart Requiem, Coronation Mass and Exultate Jubilate, Rossini Petite Messe Solenelle, Haydn Nelson Mass, Pergolesi Stabat Mater, DeLalande Confibitur Tibi and Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise. When studying in Indiana she collaborated with Lukas Foss on his Time Cycle and her performance was hailed as "a triumph".

Christina received a BMus from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, then spent a year at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music training with Patricia Wise.  She then attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded an MMus in 2005.

Many institutions have supported Christina over the years, and she has been the recipient of awards and scholarships in Canada, England and the USA. She has been funded by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, the Chautauqua Institute, the Lake Placid Institute, the Britten - Pears Young Artist Programme, the Mario Lanza Educational Trust, the Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation and the Canada Council for the Arts. She has also been given awards by the Elora Festival Young Musicians Competition and NATS. Christina is grateful for the continued support provided by the Canada Council for the Arts.