|
|
Saturday, January 31, 2004
12:00 Noon
The Friends of Canadian Libraries
THE FRIENDS LUNCHEON
12:15 pm
ALL CONFERENCE CLOSING GALA LUNCHEON
With Plenary Super Hero...
MARY LOU FALLIS
Toronto-born Mary Lou Fallis made her operatic debut at 15 years of age
as the Second Spirit in a CBC-TV production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.
After obtaining the first Master's degree in Performance and
Literature
from the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, her career has
encompassed performances of major oratorios and choral works with
leading
orchestras, as well as opera - her roles ranging from Despina in Cosi
fan
Tutte to Zerbinetta in R. Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. In addition to
her North American engagements, Mary Lou has extensively toured the
United Kingdom, appearing in London's West End, Covent Garden
International Festival, the Wexford Opera Festival, and the Edinburgh
International Festival.
She is probably best known as the creator of five one-woman shows: her
award winning Primadonna, based on her own life as a singer and its
sequel, Primadonna's First Farewell Tour; Emma, Queen of Song about the
real-life Canadian diva, Emma Albani; The Mrs. Bach Show hosted by Anna
Magdalena, the wife of J.S. Bach; and Ms. Mozart, the story of Nannerl
(sister of the more famous Wolfgang).
Ms. Fallis' latest CD is entitled Primadonna on a Moose with members of
the Toronto Symphony. On the Opening Day label, it contains
little-known
and often uproarious Canadian Heritage material from 1840 to 1925.....
hits include Oh What a Difference Since the Hydro Came, Take Your Girl
Out
to the Rink and Paddle Your Own Canoe! Over the past four
seasons Ms. Fallis has been heard regularly on CBC Radio Two's "Take Five" on
Friday afternoons reading from The Primadonna's Diary in which she
documents travels real and imaginary across Canada.
Mary Lou Fallis teaches at the Faculty of Music at the University of Western
Ontario when she is not out thrilling audiences or making them laugh
until they cry. Most recently she has performed at the
Covent Garden Festival, London, England and has appeared as the Aviatrix
in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Elgin Theatre. Recent seasons have also
included engagements in Japan and Western Canada including a
performance of Ms. Mozart with the Edmonton Symphony, and appearances at
the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and the Indian River Festival in
Prince
Edward Island. As well, Ms. Fallis ran her show "Primadonna II: The
First Farewell Tour" at Canadian Stage at Berkeley Street - for a
month-long summer run as a sequel to her smash hit of the previous
season
- Primadonna, for which she was nominated for a Dora Award. Upcoming
engagements include a tour this summer of the Maritimes and the Parry
Sound and Indian River Festivals.
One of Canada's most sought after treasures!
|
