Soprano Virginia Hatfield is known to audiences for her performances with companies across Canada, including Symphony Nova Scotia, Vancouver Bach Choir, Voicebox: Opera in Concert, Opera Hamilton, Ensemble Caprice, Pacific Opera Victoria, Festival of the Sound, Queen of Puddings, Saskatoon Opera, the Aldeburgh Connection and the Canadian Opera Company. Born in Belleville and raised on a dairy farm near Campbellford, she has lived in Toronto for 16 years and is pretty much a city girl now.
1. What are we interrupting (i.e. what music-related activity are we taking you away from to write this)?
Between sips of coffee and folding laundry (Thursday, May 23), I am running through words for “Tiny's Song” from Britten's Paul Bunyan, for the Aldeburgh Connection's final concert this week. I will try to hold it together during this concert but I make no promises. Stephen Ralls and Bruce Ubukata gave me and many, many young singers opportunities that otherwise were not available. I first sang with them while still in my undergrad at U of T, performing a recital with baritone Matthew Leigh. It is an extra-special treat to sing on their final concert.
2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7?
Cannot wait to hear Shannon Mercer and Karina Gauvin perform Handel's L'Allegro, il Moderato ed il Penseroso with Jane Glover at Luminato in June. Of course I know that it's being performed as a dance work – but it's a glorious score – in English – and should be heard in North America much more often than it is. I sang it several years ago in Aldeburgh, with a delightful group of young artists that included the fantastic countertenor Iestyn Davies. I hope Toronto audiences love it as much as I do. Yes, I am unabashedly a Handel soprano nerd.
3. How about as a music maker/player?
Looking forward to singing Burns’ songs (so straightforward - and yet utterly heartbreaking!) with the dashing Ben Covey on June 7, and am very excited to return to the Westben Festival in late July for a series of concerts with Brett Polegato, James Levesque and Brian Finley. Westben is in my hometown of Campbellford, so it's always a joy to sing there and to perform with artistic director Brian Finley. Brian was my piano teacher and coach and his co-director (and spouse) Donna Bennett was my first singing teacher. I owe a great deal to their guidance, mentorship and of course their talent – a huge inspiration to me.
4. What are you already preparing for musically beyond the summer? And (how) do your summer plans tie in with these longer term plans?
As the summer winds down, I'll be drumming Ana Sokolovic's Svadba back into my brain, for performances in Philadelphia in October and November, and will be preparing my first Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos for Pacific Opera Victoria. And, of course, auditions auditions auditions. 'Twas ever thus!
TWITTER
@gingerhat
VIDEO
L'allegro:
Leslie Kinton of the acclaimed Anagnoson & Kinton piano duo has performed with orchestras and in recitals across North America, Europe, China and Russia. The duo has nine acclaimed recordings including a special release titled Stages, which celebrated their milestone 30th season. 
