A VETERAN ENSEMBLE SINGER, TENOR OLIVER MUNAR IS IN INCREASING DEMAND AS A CONCERT AND OPERATIC SOLOIST.
Oliver was celebrated in an unexpected, “remarkable” debut as the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and for “considerable vocal gifts” as a soloist in Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine with Early Music Voices (Calgary) and Rosa Barocca. Other recent roles included Gastone in Verdi's La traviata with both Mercury Opera and Calgary Concert Opera Company, the title role of Britten’s Albert Herring with University of Alberta Opera (2017), and the role of Abel in the Alberta premiere of the oratorio Caïn by Canadian composer Alexis Contant (2016).
(2019) Pinch-hitting as the prophet Elijah in Mendelssohn’s oratorio of the same name with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, alongside Leslie Ann Bradley (soprano), Allyson McHardy (mezzo-soprano), and Benjamin Butterfield (tenor). Photo by Graham Fast.
Following years of high-calibre choral singing with Alberta chamber choirs Pro Coro Canada, Luminous Voices, Spiritus Chamber Choir and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, Oliver completed a Master of Music performance degree with operatic tenor John Tessier and vocal coach Shannon Hiebert, with both of whom he continues to train. He also studied at the prestigious Franz-Schubert-Institut (Austria) where he worked with some of the world's leading interpreters of German art song including Elly Ameling, Helmut Deutsch, Robert Holl, Julius Drake, Andreas Schmidt, Roger Vignoles, Birgid Steinberger, and the late Deen Larsen.
In addition to singing, Oliver is a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, conductor, clinician and composer/arranger.
(2018) As Gastone whooping it up Paris-style with Ian Fundytus (baritone) and Cindy MacDonald (soprano) in a production of Verdi’s La Traviata for Calgary Concert Opera Company.
(2017) As the title character in a production of Britten’s Albert Herring with the University of Alberta opera program.
(2019) Conducting in a Calgary Concert Opera Company performance of Saint-Saens’ Samson et Dalila.
2021-2022 SEASON
Oliver started his season with Pro Coro Canada in a production of the choral masterwork Path of Miracles by Joby Talbot. He is scheduled to appear as a featured singer in the 10th anniversary concert for Calgary Concert Opera on September 25, 2021. He’ll be featured in opera scenes as Le Remandado (Bizet’s Carmen), Ferrando (Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte) and Gastone (Verdi’s La traviata).
Oliver will also be featured in To the Stars and Back: A Classical Gala with Contemporary Dancers, a coproduction with Rise Up Weekends (an initiative by Tourism Calgary). The concert is Sunday, October 17 at the state-of-the-art Bella Concert Hall on the Mount Royal University campus in southwest Calgary. I’ll be joined by pianists Cody Obst and Rolf Bertsch, singers Julie Harris and Paul Grindlay, and some brilliant dancers from the University of Calgary and the broader community.
With the opera season delayed until 2022, Oliver is pleased to return to the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir for the fall of 2021. The choir will perform on Sunday, November 28 @ 3 pm MT at Knox United Church.
Stay tuned to this space for more announcements!
2020-2021 SEASON
A global pandemic couldn’t stop the music! In addition to three choral appearances, Oliver lent his voice to the Musical Solidarity Project in a performance of the famous ‘Va, pensiero’ chorus from Verdi’s Nabucco (look for him at 1:49). He also played the role of Ferrando from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in a project for Pixel Opera Media. He has signed on with the Centre for Opera Studies & Appreciation (COSA Canada) to perform in three of its productions: The Shop Girl (Ross, Caryll, & Monckton), Endymion’s Dream (Samuel Coleridge Taylor and C.R.B. Barrett), and the premiere of The Art of Love (Norbert Palej).
2019-2020 SEASON
Oliver appeared as the Philistine Messenger in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila with Calgary Concert Opera Company while also serving as chorus conductor. He also debuted as soloist with the Foothills Philharmonic Society in a production of Handel's The Messiah, and was featured in an Afternoon at the Opera in February 2020 with the Calgary Civic Symphony, Calgary Concert Opera Company, and the Foothills Philharmonic Chorus. He also appeared in Calgary Opera productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti) and Norma (Bellini).
(2020) With the Calgary Opera Chorus in a production of Bellini’s Norma. Photo courtesy of Trudie Lee Photography.
2018-2019 SEASON
The 2018-19 season was Oliver’s first as a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus, in which he appeared in productions of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Verdi’s Rigoletto, and the Canadian premiere of the visceral Everest by Joby Talbot. He also portrayed the role of Gastone in Verdi’s La traviata in one of his first productions with Calgary Concert Opera Company.
Oliver was also a featured soloist in a number of concert productions, including Mozart’s Requiem with the award-winning Edmonton chamber choir Da Camera Singers, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore (with Edmonton-based choirs Vocal Alchemy and Chronos Vocal Ensemble), Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine (Early Music Voices and Rosa Barocca), and J.S. Bach’s St John Passion (Rosa Barocca and Luminous Voices). He also stepped in mid-performance as the eponymous prophet of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.