"Sproule...is astonishing. Her Carmen is, first and foremost, a magnetic stage beauty...She owns her power. Her eyes flash, her smile radiates. Who could resist her? And then there's that voice – deep and rich...She commands the stage and you can't take your eyes off her – or your ears."
Houston Press
Acclaimed for her "irresistible charisma and dark luscious sound…whose star is deservedly on the rise” (Opera News), Canadian mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule is engaged in the 2022-2023 season to debut with Pacific Opera Victoria as Carmen, return to The Metropolitan Opera singing Third Lady in The Magic Flute, return to the Canadian Opera Company as the Page in Salome as well as to sing a recital, sing Carmen in concert with the Reno Philharmonic, return to Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Pobehlice in Janacek’s From the House of the Dead, and debut in Finland at the Savonlinna Opera Festival as Stephano in Roméo et Juliette.
Last season, Ms. Sproule returned to Houston Grand Opera as Carmen in Rob Ashford's dynamic production, conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya shortly after debuting as Carmen with Opera Hong Kong. Ms. Sproule subsequently debuted at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Varvara in Kát’a Kabanová in a Richard Jones production, conducted by David Robertson; returned to The Metropolitan Opera for their production of Madama Butterfly; and debuted at Festival d'Aix-en-Provence in Andrea Breth’s new production of Salome.
Highlights of past seasons include singing Dorabella at The Metropolitan Opera in Phelim McDermott's Coney Island production of Così fan Tutte conducted by Harry Bicket, as well as Ines (Trovatore), Page (Salome), and Sandman (Hansel and Gretel) at The Met; Erika in Samuel Barber's Vanessa at The Wexford Festival for which she received unanimous critical acclaim and received an award from the festival as their favorite singer of the season. In her native Canada, Ms. Sproule has sung Maddalena in Rigoletto for her Canadian Opera Company debut in a Chris Alden production, as well as at Vancouver Opera, Opéra de Montréal and Houston Grand Opera. She has sung Olga in Eugene Onegin in Vancouver, Montreal, and for her Michigan Opera Theater debut.
A native of Montréal, Canada, Carolyn Sproule is a graduate of The Juilliard School (BM 2010), and Rice University (MM 2012). She also participated in residencies at the Merola Opera Program, Wolf Trap Opera (Filene Young Artist), the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Aspen Opera Theater, and The Banff Centre. She is a winner of a 2019 George London award, the Marcello Giordani memorial prize in the 2019 Premiere Opera Foundation Competition, as well as a recipient of grants from the Jacqueline Desmarais foundation, HGO studio, Wolf Trap Opera, and Merola.
PRESS FOR "CARMEN"
"This is Carmen as it was intended to be sung, by a voice with a massive amount of depth, that is luxurious and rich. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone perform it better, and I hope this becomes the staple of Sproule’s repertoire. "
Melissa Ratcliff, Schmopera
"Canadian mezzo Carolyn Sproule, as Carmen, was a stand-out, not just for her singing—which was rich, creamy and expressive—but her acting too. With that expressive face and powerhouse voice, Sproule is clearly a singer with a huge career ahead of her."
Robin J. Miller, Opera Canada
"Mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule brought the title role an earthy, full-throated voice that exuded Carmen’s rebelliousness and free spirit. Sproule’s voice soared aloft with an ease and vibrancy that made the occasional vaulting phrases into visceral expressions of Carmen’s courage in the face of doom."
Steven Brown, Texas Classical Review
"Starring as Carmen is Carolyn Sproule, an attention magnet from the moment she appears onstage...the Montreal native brings a dusky glamour and easy sensuality to the role...At certain moments Sproule seems to be almost purring, her supple mezzo-soprano luxuriating over the libretto and a come-hither twinkle in her eye. "
Chris Gray, Houston Chronicle
"As Carmen, HGO studio alumna Carolyn Sproule combined unshakeable confidence and irresistible charisma with a dark, luscious sound. The Canadian mezzo clearly relished the role."
Gregory Barnett, Opera News
"Sproule...is astonishing. Her Carmen is, first and foremost, a magnetic stage beauty...and then there's that voice – deep and rich..She commands the stage and you can't take your eyes off her – or your ears."
D.L. Groover, Houston Press
SCHEDULE
12, 14, 18, 20 2022
Carmen
Pacific Opera Victoria
Timothy Vernon, Conductor
François Racine, Director
16,18, 22, 24 26,28, 30 January
2, 6, 2023
Third Lady
The Metropolitan Opera
Duncan Ward, Conductor
Julie Taymor, Director
3, 5, 9, 11
17, 19, 24
2023
Page of Herodias (Herodias cover)
Canadian Opera Company
Johaness Debus, Conductor
Atom Egoyan, Director
23, 25, 27
28, 30
2023
From The House of the Dead
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
Dmitry Matvienko, Conductor
Krzysztof Warlikowski, Director
12, 14, 17
2023
Roméo et Juliette
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Yves Abel, Conductor
Amy Lane, Director
CONTACT
Marcin Kopec
TACT International Art Management
marcin@tact4art.com
+44 79 81 91 88 14
Henry Ingram, Director - Concert Division
Dean Artists
henry@deanartists.com
+1 416 969 7300 x 304