About
Known for her uniquely clear and agile voice, coloratura soprano Marie-Claire Fafard-Blais has sung in Canada and Europe both in operas and recitals. Since relocating to Montreal in 2012, she has been active on the lyric scene. Her repertoire includes the roles of Lakmé (Delibes), the Queen of the Night (Mozart), and Véronique (Messager).
Quite passionate about French melodies, she’s been regularly performing recitals in Montréal, Gatineau, and Laval since 2013. As a versatile artist, Marie-Claire Fafard-Blais is also in demand as a soloist in sacred works, including Fauré's Requiem (Projet Choral) and Saint-Saëns' Oratorio de Noël (Choeur classique de l'Outaouais), under the bâton of Tiphaine Legrand, and Mozart's Requiem (Choeur classique de l'Outaouais), under the bâton of Robert Filion.
Marie-Claire Fafard-Blais holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Université de Montréal and a Master's degree from the University of Ottawa. During the 2010-2011 season, she was a member of Opera Lyra Ottawa Opera Studio. In March 2011, she successfully sang in the Opera Studio annual competition, winning the Opera Studio Award and the Audience's Favorite Award. In 2016, in France, she was a semi-finalist in French Melodies at the Concours international de chant de Marmande. In 2015, she received a scholarship from Théâtre d'art lyrique for her performance of the title-role in Messager's Véronique.
In Novembre 2018, Ms. Fafard-Blais released Noël Piano-Voix, a Christmas Album with pianist Lisandre Sévigny di Quinzio. In November, she sang with Chœur de la Société de Concerts de Montréal. During spring 2019, she performed the role of Fleurette/Princess Hermia in Offenbach’s Barbe-Bleue with Théâtre Lyrique de la Montérégie and appeared as a guest soloist in Chœur classique de l’Outaouais’ Spring concert “Orphée”. In December 2019, after a creation residency at Maison de la culture Plateau-Mont-Royal with Jérome Bérubé, storyteller, and Lisandre Sévigny Di Quizio, pianist, Marie-Claire presented Rafale, a Christmas Story.
Review
“ Timbre clair bien projeté, aigus aisés, diction impeccable, elle a tout pour incarner pleinement Lakmé. Elle triomphe des difficultés de l’air des clochettes et parvient même à émouvoir dans ses deux autres solos.”
News
Singing Telegrams
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A Christmas Album
With pianist Lisandre Sévigny Di Quinzio, I released the Christmas album Noël piano-voix. It was released on November 16th, 2018 at Café d’art vocal, in Montreal. We are proud to announce that it is playing on Radio-Classique 99,5 in Montreal and 92,7 in Québec.
Journalist at La Scena Musicale
Since November 2017, you can read my articles in pdf format at La Scena Musicale.