Miriam Khalil
Miriam Khalil | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Miriam Khalil by Shayne Gray Media | |
| Born | Damascus, Syria |
| Alma mater | Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Ottawa |
| Occupation | Operatic soprano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Website | miriamkhalil |
Miriam Khalil is a Canadian-Lebanese opera singer performing with leading opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world. She is sought after for her interpretation of the works of Golijov,[1][2] Puccini,[3] and Mozart.[4] She also teaches voice at the University of Alberta.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]Miriam Khalil (born on August 1) in Damascus, Syria,[6] and later emigrated to Ottawa, Canada. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Ottawa, and further advanced her studies by obtaining an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She went on to participate in prestigious training programs, including the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia and the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme.[7]
Khalil is also a graduate of the Canadian Opera Company's Ensemble Studio, an elite program that cultivates emerging opera talents.[8]
Career
[edit]Miriam Khalil is a distinguished soprano whose career has spanned major opera houses and festivals across North America and Europe. She has become particularly known for her portrayal of Mimì in La bohème, a role she has performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Minnesota Opera, and other notable institutions. Her role as Almirena in Rinaldo at Glyndebourne Festival Opera further demonstrated her versatility as an artist.
In recent seasons, Khalil has continued to expand her repertoire, performing Leila in The Pearl Fishers [9] with Vancouver Opera, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa,[10] and Sabine in Mary Kouyoumdjia and Royce Vavrek's opera Adoration at the Prototype Festival in New York.[11] Her performances are characterized by a deep emotional connection to the material and a rich, versatile voice.
Khalil's career highlights also include her celebrated interpretation of Osvaldo Golijov’s Ayre, a song cycle that she has performed to critical acclaim across North and South America, including a South American debut at the Kirchner Cultural Centre in Buenos Aires. The album Ayre: Live earned her a Juno Award nomination for Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral.[12][13]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Khalil successfully transitioned to digital platforms, participating in innovative virtual productions such as Against the Grain Theatre's Messiah/Complex, a multilingual adaptation of Handel’s Messiah that was widely praised and led to her second Juno Award nomination.[14] She also directed a film adaptation of Holst’s Sāvitri (a chamber opera)[15] and created an online Arabic recital titled Songs My Parents Taught Me as part of Pacific Opera Victoria's ‘For All to Hear’ series.[16]
Teaching and mentorship
[edit]Miriam Khalil is also a passionate educator. She joined the Voice Faculty at the University of Alberta, where she mentors the next generation of opera singers. Her role in education complements her active performance career, allowing her to share her extensive experience with emerging artists.
Personal life
[edit]Miriam Khalil is married to Joel Ivany, a Canadian stage director and artistic director of Edmonton Opera. They were married on June 5, 2010, and currently reside in Edmonton, Alberta.
Discography and videography
[edit]Recordings
[edit]- AYRE: LIVE with the Against the Grain Ensemble[17]
- Messiah/Complex with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra[18]
- BOUND with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra[19]
Video appearances
[edit]- Khalil appears in a 2008 feature documentary film, The Audition, which tracked the lives and progress of the winners and participants of the Met's National Council Auditions.[20]
- O Canada (in Arabic)[21]
- O Canada for The Toronto Symphony Orchestra[22]
- Messiah/Complex - "If God be for Us"[23]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Miriam Khalil has been the recipient of multiple awards and grants from esteemed organizations such as the George London Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition Scholarships.[24]
References
[edit]- ^ "Artist of the Week: Miriam Khalil", Operawire, 14 April 2022. Accessed 3 September 2024
- ^ "Artist of the Week: 29 Qs for Miriam Khalil", Opera Canada, 22 February 2024. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Edmonton gains the celebrated gifts of soprano Miriam Khalil", Edmonton Journal, 2 September 2021. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Mozart Ladies With A Twist: Miriam Khalil & Shantelle Prybylo", Schmopera, 3 December 2015. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Soprano Miriam Khalil joins the Department of Music", University of Alberta, 25 June 2021. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "A soprano's story part one: Miriam Khalil", Ottawa Citizen, 31 July 2015. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Miriam Khalil", Dean Artists Management, August 2024. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Ensemble Studio: About", Canadian Opera Company. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Classical music: Vancouver Opera’s The Pearl Fishers an enchanting charmer", Vancouver Sun, October 12, 2022. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the NAC Orchestra", National Arts Centre, June 2023. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "NYC REVIEW: Adoration, Myths, and Reality (PROTOTYPE FESTIVAL)", Twin Cities Arts, January 13, 2024. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Miriam Khalil breathes new life into Against the Grain’s Ayre", Globe and Mail, January 13, 2020. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Juno Awards Winners and Nominees: 2019", Juno Awards. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Messiah/Complex Artists", Against the Grain Theatre. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Sāvitri", Against the Grain Theatre. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "For All To Hear Series", Pacific Opera Victoria. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Ayre: Live", Apple Music. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Messiah/Complex", Apple Music. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "BOUND", Apple Music. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Full Cast & Crew: The Audition (2008)", IMDB. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "O Canada", YouTube. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "O Canada", YouTube. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "If God Be For Us", YouTube. Accessed 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Minnesota Opera Biography of Miriam Khalil", Minnesota Opera. Accessed 3 September 2024.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Miriam Khalil on Facebook
- Miriam Khalil's channel on YouTube
- Profile at Dean Artists Management
