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Toronto-born Mary Lou Fallis made her operatic debut at 15 years of age as the Second Spirit in a CBC-TV production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. She earned a Master’s degree in Performance and Literature from the Faculty of Music, U. of T., and has gone on to a rich and varied career encompassing performances of major oratorios and choral works with leading orchestras, as well as opera. Her roles have ranged from Despina in Cosi fan tutte to Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. In addition to her North American engagements, Mary Lou had extensively toured the U.K., appearing in London’s West End, Covent Garden International Festival, the Wexford Opera Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival. In recent years, she is probably best known as the creator of five one-woman shows: Primadonna, based on her own life as a singer (which won an ACTRA award) and its sequel Primadonna’s First Farewell Tour; Emma, Queen of Song about the real-life Canadian diva, Emma Albani; The Mrs. Bach Show hosted by Anna Magdalena, the wife of J.S. Bach; and Ms. Mozart, the story of Nannerl (sister of the more famous Wolfgang). Ms. Fallis CD entitled Primadonna on a Moose was recorded with members of the Toronto Symphony. It contains little-known and often uproarious Canadian heritage material from 1840 to 1925. . . hits include: Oh What a Difference since the Hydro Came, Take Your Girl to the Ring, and Paddle Your Own Canoe! She is heard often on CBC, was a member of the COC, performed at Stratford and is featured on numerous recordings. While frequently appearing in revivals of her comedic shows, Ms Fallis also maintains a presence as a serious singer. She has taught privately and at York, Queen’s, the Royal Hamilton College of Music and Western. She is one of Canada’s national treasures. Peter Tiefenbach (accompanist) enjoys a multifaceted career as a performer, composer and broadcaster. He and Mary Lou Fallis first performed together in 1997. Highlights of their collaboration include successful Toronto runs of her shows Primadonna and Primadonna Does Shakespeare (2002). A familiar presence on CBC Radio, Mr. Tiefenbach is the former host of the Radio Two programs The Arts Tonight and Radio Concert Hall. He can be heard frequently on a variety of programs as a guest host. Mr. Tiefenbach’s accomplishments include: orchestrating and conducting concerts for CBC Radio and TV, acting – “Gerhard Krachmann” in the play Simpl, giving recitals, serving as music director for the Calgary Opera’s production of Seven Deadly Sins, composing and recording. He has recently joined forces with pianist, Robert Kortgaard to create an impressive new ensemble. They have been thrilling concert and broadcast audiences across the country for many seasons, both as individual artists and in collaboration with some of Canada’s finest musicians. They now lend their unique gifts to the large and varied body of repertoire for two pianos, four hands.
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