Province/Territory: Ontario
City: London
Role(s) in this year's festival:
Valetto / 1st Friend of Seneca: "The Coronation of Poppea"
Ensemble: "Tuck Everlasting"
Nuova's program is both exciting and daunting, and filled with opportunities to both learn and perform. As I am in the Six-Week program I am taking the time to learn and prepare repertoire, study the scores, and I even started to collect certain items I will need to fly out! My primary priority is score study as my role of Valetto in "The Coronation of Poppea" requires new vocal techniques for myself. Bring on the mezzo coloratura! The opportunity to perform a pants-role is also one that very much intrigues me. Delving into the characterization and development of Valetto is exciting for me and I want to ensure that I enter Nuova putting my best foot forward.
Nuova's program not only allows me an opportunity to perform but also to learn. One of the things I am most eager to participate in are the masterclasses and workshops. During those I will be able to work with new people in the industry and truly get into the nitty-gritty of being a performer. It is what I want to do for a career and Nuova has the best of both worlds. The classes prepare you with knowledge and tools to enter the world whilst also adding an opera and musical to your resume. To be in both productions is a taste of both worlds for myself as I come from a heavy music theatre background, but fell in love with classical music later on. I want this year to be a year of growth in my vocal technique, performing capabilities, and overall as an artist as I enter my final year of my undergraduate degree next year. Next Fall, I will begin my graduate degree preparation and making the connections to be able to establish myself within the world opera is extremely important to me. I want all of the education and tools possible to be able to be my best, especially for audition season. I have wanted and dreamed of being a performer since I was little- now it is time to actualize my dreams.
Artist Bio
Anjelique Croteau is a proud mezzo-soprano from London, Ontario. She is currently studying at the University of Western Ontario for her Honours Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance with a minor in Italian, her third language. Croteau has always had a love for both languages and music, which perfectly combine in her love for opera. She has enjoyed roles such as Diana, in the modernist opera “Pandora's Locker”' by Dean Burry, and partial role studies such as Mercedes in Bizet's “Carmen” and Marchesa Melibea in Rossini's “Il Viaggio a Reims”. Apart from opera, Croteau has over ten years of experience performing music theatre, having had lead roles such as Matron Mama Morton in “Chicago”, The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz”, and Ursula in “The Little Mermaid”. She has always enjoyed supporting roles such as in the ensemble of “Les Miserables”, “Urinetown”, “School of Rock”, and “Rent”. Croteau has found her home on the stage no matter where she is or what she is doing. From being a provincial competitor in both music theatre and classical voice, as well as speech drama, to simply singing for the joy of it, she likes to say that she has found herself in the stage lights. She would also like to thank her mother for her unceasing love and support for her since she began singing. Croteau hopes to do both herself, her mother, and the rest of her extended family proud during her time with Opera Nuova this summer.
