"A TALENT TO WATCH"

Marion's fall Carmen performance has been reviewed by Timothy McGee in the Spring 2005 issue of Opera Canada.
 
"With an exuberant standing ovation, the capacity audience at Markham Theatre showed its enthusiasm for an outstanding Opera York performance of Bizet’s Carmen on November 25. The orchestra was in excellent form and conductor Sabatino Vacca led them through a fast-paced, well-modulated reading that contributed much to the excitement of the evening. Although billed as a 'concert' performance, Artistic Director Penelope Cookson produced an appealingly animated rendition, with the cast moving about the stage, and toreador Escamillo making his entrances through the aisles. The York Opera chorus was well-trained and in good voice, augmented by a spirited and dynamic girls chorus from St. Elizabeth Catholic High School. Soloists were all of very high quality, notably Mirela Tafaj (Micaela), and Keith Klassen (Don José), who received a very warm reception from the audience. But the most memorable performances of the evening belonged to baritone Andrew Tees (Escamillo) and mezzo Marion Newman (Carmen), both gifted with excellent voices and impressive stage presences. Newman, a comparative newcomer, is a real find. She imbued her Carmen with a charming seductiveness and beautifully warm legato line that marks her as a talent to watch."
 
Timothy J McGee has a been active in the field of music as a performer, coach, writer, teacher, and radio commentator for over 40 years.
 

READING, WRITING AND
THE RED PRIEST

Marion Newman is honoured to have been featured in a spotlight on First Nations musicians in the recently released "Vivaldi and the Four Seasons" textbook.
 
This resource was created by the National Arts Centre to present the world of classical music in a fun, interactive and relevant way to students in grades 4 through 6, and was distributed to elementary schools in Canada in 2005.
 
For more information, visit www.artsalive.ca
 

QUEEN OF THE FAERIES

Pacific Opera Victoria's February 2004 production of Lee Hoiby's The Tempest was met with enthusiastic reviews. Marion's performance as Juno, Queen of the Faeries, garnered a mention on CBC2's "On The Island" radio programme, where "the three Goddesses – Iris, Ceres and Juno – played by Phoebe MacRae, Michelle Sutton and Marion Newman" were praised with "the best aria of the night... a thrilling trio!"
 
Also appearing were Edward Crafts as Prospero, Nathalie Paulin and Ariel, Frederique Vezina as Miranda, Doug MacNaughton as Trinculo, Terence Mierau as Gonzalo and John David De Haan as Caliban in Shakespeare's classic tale of spirits, sorcery, monsters, maidens and a scheming nobleman shipwrecked on a mystical isle.
 
Marion's brother Carey Newman sang the role of Sebastian, marking their first performance in an Opera together.
 

ROSINA REDUX

Following a well-received performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the George Weston Recital Hall in January 2004, Marion joined the Toronto Philharmonia to reprise her role as Rosina this past July for the closing event of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.
 
The sold out Opera-in-Concert also featured Alexander Dobson as Figaro, Colin Ainsworth as Almaviva, Charles Baxter as Don Bartolo, Van Abrahams as Fiorello, and Vicki St Pierre as Berta. Opera aficionado Iain Scott hosted the evening while Kerry Stratton conducted.
 

CANTO ERGO SUM

This past November Marion travelled to Lithuania with the Ergo Ensemble to perform at the Is Arti International Contemporary Music Festival. The trip was part of Autumn Passing, an exchange of Canadian and Lithuanian composers.
 
Accompanied by percussionist Samuel Morgenstein and pianist Stephen Clarke, Marion performed bear*ing, a new work by Canadian composer Micheline Roi.