Women, wild & Wonderful! Canadian soprano Barbara Fris with Laura Newland, storyteller

Canada. (SANEPR.com) September 16, 2007 -- Praised by the Edmonton Journal for her singing “… with sensuous warmth, great reserves of power and emotional expressiveness”, Barbara Fris one of Canada's most versatile lyrico-spinto sopranos returns to grace the stage of Heliconian Hall for an unprecedented eleventh song recital along with story-teller, Laura Newland and pianist, Jane Blackstone.

Following her debut in 1984 with the Calgary Opera, the Canadian soprano has had a luminous career, captivating audiences with her evocative portrayals of opera heroines, her concert performances and recitals -- always to critical and audience acclaim. Her personal charisma and voice continue to endear her to audiences.

As soloist, Fris has appeared on many of the major opera stages throughout Canada, including the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Opera, and Manitoba Opera among many others. She has also performed with orchestras across Canada, Europe and the US in a wide array of oratorio and concert repertoire and frequently in recital on concert stages in Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Halifax, New York, Philadelphia, Siena and Toronto among other cities.

The Chronicle Herald (Halifax) has written, “Barbara Fris is a songstress that marries her expressive and silvery lyricism with exemplary diction and compelling acting.” “She possesses a gorgeous vocal instrument with illuminating beauty of tone and a voice full of vocal colours well matched to intensely subjective moods -- evocative and breath-taking!” (Halifax Mailstar). “Ms. Fris brings to the stage personal charisma, an unflagging musical imagination and genuine passion.” (Globe & Mail).

Familiar opera arias for soprano voice, including Cilea's "Io sono l’umile ancella" (Adriana Lecouvreur), Dvorák's "Mesicku Na Nebi Hlubokem" (Rusalka's Song to the Moon) and Gounod’s, The Jewel Song ("Ah, je ris de me voir") (Faust) will be presented. Miss Newland, known throughout Canada for her storytelling, will weave tales of intrigue and folklore throughout the song recital.

All proceeds will benefit the Toronto Heliconian Club's "Centennial Scholarship Fund". The Toronto Heliconian Club, a meeting place for professional women in the Arts and Letters, is the oldest association of its kind in Canada. Founded in 1909 to give women in the arts and letters an opportunity to meet socially and intellectually, the Club holds to its original purpose while responding to the changes of contemporary life. The Scholarship Fund was established in 2007, it's sole purpose to nurture and support young women beginning their careers and professional lives.

"I take great pleasure in supporting the work of the Toronto Heliconian Club and its valuable contribution to the cultural life of women and the community at large." -- Barbara Fris, Opera Singer

The Recital takes place on Friday, Oct 26, 2007 8:00 PM at Heliconian Hall (35 Hazelton Avenue,Yorkville). Tickets ($25 & $20) can be purchased on-line at www.barbarafris.com and go on sale on Mon Sep 10, 2007. For more information, contact the Box Office at: 647-241-3043 or by e-mail at: lanbar@barbarafris.com.