Geneva Halverson is a local mezzo-soprano who, musically, knows no bounds.
Lieder, operetta, country western, musical theatre... it’s all fair game to the 2022 WMC McLellan Finalist, who has performed alongside the WSO and the Winnipeg Pops Orchestra and in Manitoba Underground Opera and Little Opera productions.
This week, they will be singing alongside pianist Michael Oike in a solo recital inspired by the messier side of our emotions.
“We kind of have the lightness and the darkness in us all,” says Halverson.
Declaring “let there be angst!” the program features music by Clara Schumann, Antonio Vivaldi, Pauline Viardot, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and more.
Gender parity was also a priority for Halverson in selecting composers to perform.
Maintaining a busy private studio, Halverson was struck by the lack of female composers represented at a recent festival run they attended with their students.
“Out of the hundred or so songs I heard, one person sang Amy Beach,” recounts Halverson.
“It became a challenge to me,” they say. “I’ve got to have half this program be female composers.”
The pay-what-you-can concert takes place at Eva Clare Hall at the University of Manitoba, Thursday, May 16 beginning at 7 p.m.
For more details, visit: www.geneva-mezzo.ca
