More about Barbara
Canadian mezzo-soprano Barbara King is no stranger to the stage, having won a Québec Provincial Gymnastics Championship to dazzling audiences with her "exquisite vocal command of a three octave range" in roles such as Carmen, Dalilah, Princess de Bouillon and Octavian.
In January 2024, Barbara's role debut with Alberta Vocal Arts allowed her to showcase her gymnastics abilities as Prince Orlofsky in Strauss' Die Fledermaus. She then returned to Manitoba Opera as Carmen's friend Mercédès, where she "showcased her hugely powerful and affecting voice".
As Artistic Director of Calgary Concert Opera, Barbara recently brought Verdi's Nabucco, Opera in Concert, to life in collaboration with Opera by Request and the Foothillls Philharmonic Opera Chorus, and looks forward to performing in CHRISTMAS AND NEUJAHRSKONZERT WITH THE DIVAS with Calgary Civic Symphony on Dec 8th at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Ms. King launched 2023 by reprising her role as Sara, Duchess of Nottingham in CLM's production of Donizetti's Roberto Devereux, followed by a concert series with Summer on 17th Ave. Barbara finished 2023 performing the demanding role of Princess de Bouillon in Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur with CCOC and Opera by Request, as well as singing some favourite Verdi arias and duets with Alberta Symphony Orchestra in Verdi-ssimo.
In 2022, Barbara made her debut as a guest soloist with Straight Up Opera in Verdiana! and in "Sur un air d'opéra au CAVA". Other performances that year included Sara Duchess of Nottingham in Donizetti's Roberto Devereux with Opera by Request and CCOC in Calgary and Toronto, multiple outdoor concerts with "Summer on 17th Ave", Bella Italia with Divas Opera and ended with the Calgary Civic Symphony in "A Divas Christmas".
Ms. King made her debut as a soloist singing in two Music in the Air concerts with the Alberta Symphony Orchestra in 2021, and organized and performed in the Opening Act for Pierrot Lunaire. Divas Opera returned to the stage where Barbara helped produce and perform in Encore! Divas Opera Live!, Favourite Opera Arias & Duets and ended the year performing in 'A Divas Opera Christmas' presented by Rise Up Weekends!. Calgary Concert Opera celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary on September 25th, 2021 at the Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts.
In light of the pandemic, Barbara went virtual in 2020 where Divas Opera released six "Physically Distant" duets, performed in a live stream concert (#bandtogetherproject) and pre-taped concert for Spruce Meadows Canada Day celebration with Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, produced and performed in one of the only live performances with an audience in September 2020 (The Show Must Go On) and in August 2021 (Encore!) Divas Opera Live), and released seven online Christmas duets. Calgary Concert Opera Company was featured in an RPAC@ Home Concert Series Virtual Christmas Concert. In 2019/2020, Barbara sang the role of Dalila (Samson et Dalila) with Opera by Request and made her debut as a principle soloist with Calgary Civic Symphony (Sunday Afternoon at the Opera).
In 2018 Ms. King sang the title role of Carmen with Opera Kelowna, was an Alumni Mentor with Opera NUOVA and sang as Flora in Manitoba Opera’s new production of La Traviata.
Previous performance highlights include Olga (The Merry Widow) and The Confidante (Elektra) with Edmonton Opera; Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier) with Opera by Request; Dritte Dame (The Magic Flute) with Opera Kelowna and Cowtown Opera; Flora (La Traviata) with Mercury Opera; La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica) and Romeo (I Capuleti ed I Montecchi) with Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy; Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) with Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy; Mistress Quickly (Falstaff) with Opera NUOVA; Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto) with Calgary Opera; Laura (La Gioconda), Dorabella (Cosí Fan Tutte), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Charlotte (Werther), Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Frugola (Il tabarro) with Opera by Request and CCOC, and as a soloist with Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra.
Other performances include concerts at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall, New York); Felton Fleet Academy (Surrey, England); Opera Institute of California (San Jose); Neil Semer Vocal Institute, (Coesfeld, Germany); Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (Montréal); Fiamma and Alley Oop with Mercury Opera, and in an Opera/Oratorio called Expert Witness by Dean Burry at the Banff Centre for the Arts.
Barbara is also a certified Professional Personal Trainer, B.A.B.S King Training, an ambassador with the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, was an Inspired Albertan during the week of Dec 10th, 2014, and an Opera NUOVA Alumni Mentor.
Reviews
"I was impressed by the very fine Octavian of Mezzo Soprano Barbara King, singing with a big, rich sound. Octavian is very long and very high but she was fully up to the task ... Danielle Dudycha (Sophie), together with King, sang a really beautiful Presentation of the Rose .. Wonderful singing by all the principles, with top honours to Barbara King as Octavian"
Joseph So, Musical Toronto
"I was struck by the outset of Barbara's musicianship, interpretive ability and her exquisite vocal command of a three octave range ... She possesses a warm, agile mezzo soprano voice, capable of handling the technical demands of the bel canto, as well as the stylistic and dramatic demands of a wide-ranging repertoire, from the Baroque to the contemporary"
William Shookhoff, Opera by Request
"Barbara King's Dorabella, particularly her early Act 1 aria "Smanie Implacabile" made an instant impact, and worked spledidly well in establishing the production's tone. Ms. King brought a well-heeled dramatic quality to her self absorbed hissy fit over her lover's sudden departure. Im grateful for the intense harmonic command Ms. King brought to her singing too. And her acting was consistently appropriate throughout every line of the opera"
Stephen Bonfield, Musicologist, Calgary Herald
"Barbara King's opening night performance as Carmen was, by all accounts, the highlight of the Colours of Music Festival. Beautifully sung, displaying a powerful low register and a glorious top, dramatically convincing and emotionally riveting, hers was a truly memorable performance which has audience members praising throughout the Festival and beyond"
William Shookhoff, Opera by Request