Vivien Illion

Soprano

Soprano Vivien Illion combines sensitive musical interpretation with a fervent interest in the languages and histories of the vocal repertoire. She is passionate about performing a wide range of repertoire, and believes that a commitment to new music is vital for musicians today. In Summer 2021 she prepared an outdoor, COVID-safe performance of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to performing the role of Cherubino, she is co-directed the production, which received a Matchmaker MicroGrant from the Mississauga Arts Council.
Vivien recently completed her third year at the Royal Conservatory of Music Glenn Gould School, where she was the recipient of numerous scholarships, pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Voice Performance. She studies with soprano Monica Whicher and coaches with Peter Tiefenbach. During her time at GGS she has performed in masterclasses for artists such as Adrianne Pieczoka, Lynne Dawson, and John Hess. In the winter of 2019, she prepared to appear as Suor Dolcina in the Glenn Gould School’s Spring Opera, Suor Angelica, in Koerner Hall, conducted by Nicolas Ellis and directed by Michael Cavanaugh, although this performance was ultimately cancelled in March of 2020.
Growing up, Vivien sang in the Toronto Children’s Chorus (TCC). In 2016, she was part of an ensemble of TCC choristers selected to perform the treble voices in the chorus of Opera Atelier’s production of Dido and Aeneas. As a result of this experience, she developed a particular interest in early music, along with a love of opera that inspired her to pursue a post-secondary education in voice. Vivien is currently knitting a purple sweater with a scalloped hemline, and looks forward to completing its final sleeve soon.

Anjelique Croteau

Mezzo-Soprano

Anjelique Croteau is a French-Canadian mezzo-soprano based in London, Ontario, originally trained as a stage actor. She has most recently enjoyed the roles of Third Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute and Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff, both with Western University. She has also performed the role of Diana in Dean Burry’s Pandora’s Locker with Can of Soup in London, Ontario, as well as Valetto in Opera Nuova’s production of Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea. Her concert work includes In Pacem, as a soloist with the Stratford Concert Choir, performing selections of Haydn. In addition, she has enjoyed spearheading local outreach concerts with the Canadian Club and London Club. Anjelique greatly values her education and is proud to be a Dean’s List Graduate from Western University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and a minor in Italian. Anjelique is currently studying for her Masters of Music in Voice Performance and Literature at Western University. Apart from her studies, she is a choral scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and enjoys being a spokesperson for body-positivity within her writing and on social media. Storytelling is one of her greatest passions whether it be under the heat of the lights or ink of a pen, Anjelique truly enjoys sinking her teeth into each character’s story splayed before her. Anjelique’s love of music, poetry, and languages combined lead her to find opera. She is passionate about the healing capabilities of the arts and hopes that in her performances she can help at least one audience member to feel something special. She asks that you follow with an open heart the journey that music takes all of us on.

Alexander Cappellazzo

Tenor

Singing with “clarity and richness of voice” (Opera Canada), “force and strength” (National Capital Opera Society) and “easy delivery and fearless command of his upper register” (Barcza Blog), Torontonian tenor Alexander Cappellazzo’s performing career of 32 different roles includes Tamino, Lensky, Acis, Don Ottavio, and Oronte to name a few. Alexander sings with companies across Canada including: VOICEBOX: Opera In Concert, Toronto City Opera, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera By Request, OperOttawa, and the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, as well as choirs including the Trinity Bach Project, Jubilate Singers, Brott Festival, and Metropolitan United Church.

In 2022, Alexander founded Apocryphonia and Diapente Vocal Quintet, dedicated to live performances of rare and underperformed classical music such as Renaissance Mexican Christmas music, Azerbaijani opera arias, and Norfolk sailor songs.

Alex holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Opera from Montreal’s McGill University and is a member of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society.

Austin Larusson

Baritone/bass

Praised for his “fine baritone voice” (The Brooklyn Eagle), “Austin Larusson sang beautifully”, “offering us luxury vocals” (barczablog.com), “Austin Larusson’s Crespel was a very effective and even touching foil” (John Gilks operarambling.blog), Austin’s previous concert appearances include the bass soloist in the Messiah, the baritone soloist in the Brahms Requiem, and the baritone soloist in the Faure Requiem. Recent appearances include both Ariodate and Elviro in Xerxes with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Carretero/Corregidor in El huésped del Sevillano with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Noodler in Peter Pan and the Wendy Lady and Tales of the Grotesque as Hugo with White Mills Theatre, Morales and covering Escamillo in Carmen, Elder McLean in Susannah, Die Fledermaus as Frank, Don Giovanni as Masetto and Tosca as the Sacristan and covering Scarpia with Toronto City Opera, and Conte Ceprano in Rigoletto with Opera York. Instagram: @austinlarusson YouTube: @ilcontealmaviva1