NUMUS 2004-2005 SERIES

Michael Donovan

Canadian baritone Michael Donovan's rich sound and expressive abilities make him a distinguished interpreter of song, oratorio and opera. A native of Montréal, Donovan was born into a family of musicians, and initiated his musical studies at a very young age. His early education included studies at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, the Tanglewood Center and the Banff School of Fine Arts.

A graduate of McGill University in Montréal, where he studied with Joanne Bentley, Donovan was drawn to Europe in 1989 to pursue his studies with the renowned mezzo soprano Brigitte Fassbaender at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, Germany. In the third year of his apprenticeship, Donovan began a year-long association with the great baritone Dietrich Fischer Dieskau at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, selected as one of the very few members of Dieskau's prestigious post-graduate Lieder class.

Donovan then began an active and successful career as a performer of lead roles in opera houses in Germany and Switzerland. Already, he has performed over 20 roles with companies such as the Munich State Opera, the Stuttgart State Opera and the Bern State Opera. Roles include Figaro(Rossini), Gugliemo(Cosi Fan Tutte), Harlekin(Ariadne auf Naxos), and Figaro(Mozart).

Since returning to Canada in 1997, Donovan has performed throughout Canada. Engagements include Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, Opera Ontario, Quebec Symphonie, Symphonie Nova-Scotia, Queen of Puddings, Prairie Debut, Array Music.

In January 2005, Donovan will be performing a new work by Tim Brady for Baritone and Chamber ensemble entitled “Three Cities in the Life of Norman Bethune” for New Music Concerts in Toronto. A world tour is planned for the fall of 2005 with performances in China, Australia, and Europe.

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts which last year invested $41.7 million in the arts in Ontario. Nous remercions de son soutien le Conseil des Arts du Canada, qui a investi 41,7 millions de dollars l'an dernier dans les arts en Ontario.