Marie-Nicole Lemieux, C.M., C.Q. (born June 26, 1975) is a Canadian coloratura

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typica ...

. In 2000, she became the first Canadian to win first prize at the Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. Lemieux has continued to perform classical music, appearing with various orchestras and opera companies. Lemieux possesses an unusually flexible

voice lacking the heaviness that is often associated with her particular

voice type A voice type is a group of voices with similar vocal ranges, capable of singing in a similar tessitura, and with similar vocal transition points ('' passaggi''). Voice classification is most strongly associated with European classical music, ...

. Lemieux frequently performs Baroque opera including operas of Handel and

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widesprea ...

. Her voice is admired for its richness, warmth and resonance and for its expressiveness and use of many different tone colors. Lemieux is also praised by critics for her stage presence and communicative power.Quebec Contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux Makes a Brilliant Ontario Debut
/ref>

Biography

Marie-Nicole Lemieux was born in 1975 in

Dolbeau-Mistassini Dolbeau-Mistassini is a town in northern Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Mistassibi River, Riviere aux Rats and the Mistassini River, on Lac Saint-Jean. Dolbeau-Mistassini is in the Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality and i ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

. In 1994, Lemieux entered the Chicoutimi Conservatoire de musique and began studying voice with Rosaire Simard. After graduating with a degree in voice in 1998, Lemieux continued with graduate studies at the

Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (CMQM) is a music conservatory located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In addition to the Montreal region, the school takes in students from nearby cities, including Granby, Joliette, St-Jean, S ...

with noted teacher Marie Daveluy. Lemieux graduated with a Masters in voice in 2000. In the span of three weeks, Lemieux won first prize at both the Jeunesse Musicale du Canada's Joseph Rouleau Competition in Montreal and the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition for opera in Brussels in 2000. Lemieux also took second prize in the separate competition for Lieder at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition. Lemieux's success was immediately followed with invitations to perform and/or audition with many of the world's finest orchestras and opera companies. Lemieux has done concert and recital work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,

Montreal Symphony Orchestra The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (french: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, or OSM) is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The orchestra’s home is the Montreal Symphony House at Place des Arts. It is the only orch ...

Orchestre National de France The Orchestre national de France (ONF; literal translation, ''National Orchestra of France'') is a French symphony orchestra based in Paris, founded in 1934. Placed under the administration of the French national radio (named Radio France sinc ...

Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse is a French orchestra based in Toulouse. It acts as both a symphony orchestra whose main residence is Toulouse's Halle aux Grains, and the permanent orchestra of the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. ...

, Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie,

Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France is a French radio orchestra, affiliated with Radio France. The orchestra performs principally at the auditorium of the Maison de la Radio in Paris, along with several concerts at the Philharmonie de Pa ...

The Academy of Ancient Music The Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) is a British period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after an 18th-century organisation of the same name (originally the Ac ...

, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra,

Les Musiciens du Louvre Les Musiciens du Louvre (literally ''The Musicians of the Louvre'') is a French period instrument ensemble, formed in 1982. Originally based in Paris, since 1996 it has been based in the Couvent des Minimes in Grenoble. ''The Guardian'' considers ...

, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the

Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO) is a German broadcast orchestra based in Berlin. The orchestra performs its concerts principally in the Philharmonie Berlin. The orchestra is administratively based at the ''Rundfunk Berlin-Branden ...

, Ensemble Matheus, Les Violons du Roy,

Ensemble orchestral de Paris The Orchestre de chambre de Paris (OCP) is a French chamber orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs throughout Paris with concerts at the Philharmonie de Paris, where it is a resident ensemble, and also at such venues as the Théâtre de ...

Modo Antiquo Modo Antiquo is an Italian instrumental ensemble dedicated to the performance of Baroque, Renaissance, and Medieval music. It was founded in 1984 by Federico Maria Sardelli. Twice nominated for a Grammy award, the ensemble has an extensive discog ...

, the

Singapore Symphony Orchestra The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a symphony orchestra based in Singapore. Its principal concert venue is the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The orchestra also gives concerts at the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and performs abou ...

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra The Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (russian: Симфонический оркестр Санкт-Петербургской филармонии, ''Symphonic Orchestra of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia'') is a Russian orchestra based ...

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal The Montreal Symphony Orchestra (french: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, or OSM) is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The orchestra’s home is the Maison symphonique de Montréal, Montreal Symphony House at Plac ...

, The

National Arts Centre Orchestra The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC Orchestra) is a Canadian orchestra based in Ottawa, Ontario led by music director Alexander Shelley. The NAC Orchestra's primary concert venue is Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. Since its incepti ...

in Ottawa, the

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (also known simply as Tafelmusik) is a Canadian Baroque orchestra specializing in early music and based in Toronto. They often perform with choir and play period instruments. The orchestra was founded in 1979 by ob ...

, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the

Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toronto ...

and the

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to cou ...

among others. She has sung with many of the world's best conductors including: Richard Bradshaw,

Franz-Paul Decker Franz-Paul Decker (June 26, 1923 – May 19, 2014) was a German-born conductor. Life Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst. He made his conducting debut at the ...

, Charles Dutoit,

Paul Goodwin Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

, Bernard Labadie, Sir

Neville Marriner Sir Neville Marriner, (15 April 1924 – 2 October 2016) was an English violinist and "one of the world's greatest conductors". Gramophone lists Marriner as one of the 50 greatest conductors and another compilation ranks Marriner #14 of the ...

Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (18 July 1927 – 19 December 2015) was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus O ...

, Marc Minkowski,

Kent Nagano Kent George Nagano GOQ, MSM (born November 22, 1951) is an American conductor and opera administrator. Since 2015, he has been Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera and was Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 2006 to 202 ...

, John Nelson,

Gianandrea Noseda Gianandrea Noseda (born 23 April 1964, Sesto San Giovanni, Italy) is an Italian conductor. Biography Noseda studied piano and composition in Milan. He began conducting studies at age 27. He furthered his conducting studies with Donato Renzet ...

Peter Oundjian Peter Oundjian (born 21 December 1955) is a Canadian-American violinist and conductor. Early life Born in Toronto, Ontario, as the youngest of five children from an Armenian father and English mother, Oundjian also claims Scottish ancestry throu ...

Michel Plasson Michel Plasson (born 2 October 1933, Paris, France) is a French conductor. Plasson was a student of Lazare Lévy at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1962, he was a prize-winner at the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors. ...

Federico Maria Sardelli Federico Maria Sardelli (born 1963) is an Italian conductor, historicist, composer, musicologist, comic artist, and flautist. He founded the medieval ensemble Modo Antiquo in 1984. In 1987, Modo Antiquo also became a baroque orchestra, debuti ...

, Michael Schonwandt,

Marc Soustrot Marc Soustrot (born 15 April 1949) is a French classical conductor. He was the music director of the Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire from 1976 to 1994, and from 1995 to 2003 GMD of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn which plays in both opera ...

Yoav Talmi Yoav Talmi ( he, יואב תלמי; born April 28, 1943, is an Israeli conductor and composer. Biography Yoav Talmi was born in Kibbutz Merhavia He studied composition and orchestral direction first in Israel, at the Rubin Academy of Music ...

Ilan Volkov Ilan Volkov ( he, אילן וולקוב; born September 8, 1976, Tel Aviv) is an Israeli orchestral conductor. Biography Volkov's father, Alexander Volkov, was a concert pianist. He studied with the conductor Mendi Rodan at the Rubin Academy in ...

and

Pinchas Zukerman Pinchas Zukerman ( he, פנחס צוקרמן, born 16 July 1948) is an Israeli-American violinist, violist and conductor. Life and career Zukerman was born in Tel Aviv, to Jewish parents and Holocaust survivors Yehuda and Miriam Lieberman Zuk ...

among others. In 2001, she won the Canada Council Virginia Parker Prize. In 2002, Lemieux made her professional operatic debut in the role of Cornelia in Handel's ''

Giulio Cesare ''Giulio Cesare in Egitto'' (; , HWV 17), commonly known as ''Giulio Cesare'', is a dramma per musica (''opera seria'') in three acts composed by George Frideric Handel for the Royal Academy of Music in 1724. The libretto was written by Nic ...

'' with the

Canadian Opera Company The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and one of the largest producers of opera in North America. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Cent ...

. An auspicious debut as the other cast members in that production included such opera greats as Daniel Taylor,

Ewa Podleś Ewa Podleś (; born April 26, 1952) is a Polish coloratura contralto singer who has had an active international career both on the opera stage and in recital. She is known for the agility of her voice and a vocal range which spans more than three ...

Isabel Bayrakdarian Isabel Bayrakdarian ( arm, Իզապէլ Պայրագտարեան; born February 1, 1974) is a Lebanese-born Canadian operatic soprano of Armenian descent who now resides and works in the United States. Early life Born in Zahlé, Lebanon, into an ...

and

Brian Asawa Brian Asawa (October 1, 1966 – April 18, 2016) was a Japanese American opera singer who sang as a countertenor. About Asawa, ''Opera News'' stated: "In his prime, Asawa was an electric performer, his fearless performing style supported by a voice ...

. In 2003, she participated in a Jeunesses Musicales Canada tour in Quebec In 2005, she made her debut with the Staatsoper Berlin, performing in

Monteverdi Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (baptized 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, choirmaster and string player. A composer of both secular and sacred music, and a pioneer in the development of opera, he is consider ...

's '' Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria'' under the baton of

René Jacobs René Jacobs (born 30 October 1946) is a Belgian musician. He came to fame as a countertenor, but later in his career he became known as a conductor of baroque and classical opera. Biography Countertenor Born in Ghent, Jacobs began his music ...

. Later that same year, she performed the role of Mitrena in the world premiere of

's ''

Motezuma ''Motezuma'', RV 723, is an opera in three acts by Antonio Vivaldi with an Italian libretto by Alvise Giusti. The libretto is very loosely based on the life of the Aztec ruler Montezuma who died in 1520. The first performance was given in the ...

'' at the De Doelen Centre in Rotterdam.Marie-Nicole Lemieux
/ref> In 2006, Lemieux appeared as Alisa in

Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian composer, best known for his almost 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the ''bel canto'' opera style duri ...

's ''

Lucia di Lammermoor ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' () is a (tragic opera) in three acts by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's 1819 historical novel '' The Bride of Lammermoo ...

'' with Opéra de Orange and Anna in Berlioz's '' Les Troyens'' with Strasbourg Opera. In 2007, she made her debut with Opéra de Nancy in the title role of Handel's ''

'', her debut with Opéra de Genève as Polinesso in Handel's ''

Ariodante ''Ariodante'' ( HWV 33) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The anonymous Italian libretto was based on a work by Antonio Salvi, which in turn was adapted from Canti 4, 5 and 6 of Ludovico Ariosto's ''Orlando Furioso''. E ...

'', and her debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées as Genevieve in

Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

's '' Pelléas et Mélisande'', under the baton of

Bernard Haitink Bernard Johan Herman Haitink (; 4 March 1929 – 21 October 2021) was a Dutch conductor and violinist. He was the principal conductor of several international orchestras, beginning with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1961. He moved to Lon ...

. She also performed the title role in

's '' Orlando furioso'' at the

Edinburgh Festival __NOTOC__ This is a list of arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fe ...

. In 2008, Lemieux sang the title role in Albert Roussel's ''Padmavati'' at the

Théâtre du Châtelet The Théâtre du Châtelet () is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. One of two theatres (the other being the Théâtre de la Ville) built on the site of a ''châtelet'', a ...

, Genevieve in

's '' Pelléas et Mélisande'' at the

Berlin State Opera The (), also known as the Berlin State Opera (german: Staatsoper Berlin), is a listed building on Unter den Linden boulevard in the historic center of Berlin, Germany. The opera house was built by order of Prussian king Frederick the Great from ...

, the title role in Handel's ''

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...

'' at

De Nederlandse Opera The Dutch National Opera (DNO; formerly De Nederlandse Opera, now De Nationale Opera in Dutch) is a Dutch opera company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its present home base is the Dutch National Opera & Ballet housed in the Stopera building, a m ...

, Mistress Quickly in

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

's ''

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays '' Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

'' at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and Marthe in

Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

's ''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroa ...

'' at the Opéra de Orange. In 2009, Lemieux sang Geneviève in '' Pelléas et Mélisande'' at the

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prima ...

, Mistress Quickly at the

Bavarian State Opera The Bayerische Staatsoper is a German opera company based in Munich. Its main venue is the Nationaltheater München, and its orchestra the Bayerische Staatsorchester. History The parent ensemble of the company was founded in 1653, under Ele ...

and the

Glyndebourne Festival Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an annual opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England. History Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, e ...

, and Zita in ''

Gianni Schicchi () is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, composed in 1917–18. The libretto is based on an incident mentioned in Dante's ''Divine Comedy''. The work is the third and final part of Pucci ...

'' at the Opéra de Montréal among other engagements. In summer 2010, she performed in

recital A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety ...

in Spain and in the title role of

's '' Orlando Furioso''. In 2015, Lemieux was appointed a member of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

. In July 2022, Lemieux performed ''Saint-Saëns, Massenet'' with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC) at the Prince’s Palace, Monaco. In September 2022, she performed ''Mahler: Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”'' with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Recordings

* 2020 – Mer(s) - Elgar, Chausson, Joncières, Erato / Warner Classics (France) * 2017 — Berlioz: ''Les Troyens,'' Erato Warner classics * 2014 – Chansons perpétuelles, Naïve Classique (France) * 2008 – Schumann: Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Naïve Classique (France) * 2008 – Vivaldi: Nisi Dominus, Stabat Mater, Naïve Classique (France) * 2006 – Vivaldi : ''Griselda'', Naïve Classique (France) * 2005 – L'heure exquise, Naïve Classique (France) * 2004 – Brahms : ''Lieder'', Analekta (Canada) * 2004 – Händel : ''Rodelinda'', Deutsche Grammophon (Germany) * 2004 – Vivaldi : ''Orlando Furioso'', Naïve Classique (France) * 2003 – Scarlatti : ''Salve Regina'' – Vivaldi : ''Stabat Mater & Concerti Per Archi'', Analekta (Canada) * 2002 – Händel : ''Cantates italiennes et autres oeuvres'', Analekta (Canada) * 2001 – Mozart : ''Requiem (version Levine)'', Dorian Recordings (U.S.A.) * 2000 – Recording of the laureates of the ''International Queen Elisabeth Competition'', Cyprès (Belgium) * 2000 – Berlioz, Mahler et Wagner, Cyprès (Belgium)

Awards

* 2008 – Opus Award, ''Concert of the Year'' (for « Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Encountering a Voice ») * 2007 – Opus Award, ''Expansion Overseas'' (Canada) * 2006 – George Solti Prize, ''Excellence of a Young Discographic Career'' (France) * 2006 – Belgian Press Association, ''Young Soloist of the Year'' (Belgium) * 2005 – Opus Award, ''Recording of the Year – Classical Musique, romantic, postromantic et impressionist'' (Canada) * 2005 – Victoires de la musique classique in Paris, ''Best Recording of the Year de l'année'' (France) * 2003 - Opus Award, ''Concert of the Year 2003 in Medieval, Renaissance et Baroque music'' (Canada) * 2003 – Juno Award, ''For the album « Le Requiem de Mozart »'' (Canada) * 2001 – Opus Award, ''Discovery of the Year'' (Canada) * 2001 – '' La Presse'', ''Personality of the Year'' leased by the Montreal newspaper. (Canada) * 2001 – Virginia-Parker Prize, ''Granted by the Canada Council for the Arts'' (Canada) * 2000 – Queen Elisabeth Competition : ''First prize'', ''Queen Fabiola's prize'' and ''Special prize of the Lied'' (Belgium) * 2000 – Joseph-Rouleau Prize, (Premier Prix)''Concours national des Jeunesses musicales du Canada'' (Canada)

References

External links

Official Website

Boulev'Art Artist Management

* ttp://theclassicalreview.com/cds-dvds/2011/01/marie-nicole-lemieux-ne-me-refuse-pas/ Ne me refuse pas - CD reviewbr>Marie-Nicole Lemieux

Operabase Operabase is an online database of opera performances, opera houses and companies, and performers themselves as well as their agents. Found at operabase.com, it was created in 1996 by English software engineer and opera lover Mike Gibb.Edward Sc ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemieux, Marie-Nicole 1975 births Living people People from Dolbeau-Mistassini Singers from Quebec French Quebecers 21st-century Canadian women opera singers Operatic contraltos Canadian contraltos Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal alumni Members of the Order of Canada Prize-winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Knights of the National Order of Quebec Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Vocal or Choral Performance winners