Keywords Mezzo Sopranos

Gabrielle Lavigne has performed as soloist with many orchestras, including the McGill Chamber Orchestra (1971, 1972, 1984), the MSO (L'Enfance du Christ, 1972; La Vida Breve, 1976; Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, 1977 and 1982; Mahler's Symphony No. 8, 1984), the Quebec Symphony Orchestra (Verdi's Requiem, 1973), the TS (Le Roi David, 1974; Mercure's Cantate pour une joie, 1978; Bach's St. Matthew Passion, 1981; 9th Symphony performed in New York's Carnegie Hall with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, 1984), the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (1971), the Hamilton Philharmonic (1971, 1972, 1990), and the NACO (1971, 1973, 1984). 'An excellent musician, she brings the greatest artistic care to all she touches,' wrote Gilles Potvin (Montreal Le Devoir, 11 May 1978), following her performance with the MSO of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. Lavigne has given many recitals on the CBC, and in the series 'Les Grands Concerts' she revealed herself as a sensitive interpreter of French art songs and Lieder. She was a member 1974-6 of the Ensemble cantabile de Montréal. She has performed frequently at the Opéra de Montréal, including the roles of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte (1981), Charlotte in Werther (1982), Adalgisa in Norma (1982) and Tisbe in La Cenerentola (1987). She also sang Leoncavallo's Zazà at the New Jersey State Opera (1986). In 1985 she took part in the second International Festival des Açores with the New Orchestra of Boston, and in 1990 at the Festival international de Lanaudière. With the pianist Denise Massé, she recorded Rodolphe Mathieu's 'Larmes,' 'Un peu d'ombre,' 'Les Yeux noirs,' and Deux Poèmes' (4-ACM 32 released in 1988). She began to teach at the Cultural Centre in Joliette in 1985 and also teaches privately.

Author Anik Larose, Stephen Willis

Bibliography

Mercer, Ruby. 'Gabrielle Lavigne. Some Exciting Firsts for a Montreal Mezzo,' OpCan, vol 17, Feb 1976