“Elisabeth wins prizes and competitions everywhere. In our eyes, she is undoubtedly one of the Quebec singers who will stand out in the coming years,” indicated Pierre-David Rodrigue, general and artistic director of the Théâtre de Lac-Brome (TLB).
The CV of the 28-year-old artist has continued to improve since 2022. She notably made her European debut at the Berlin Opera Academy, before being placed among the “Révélation Radio-Canada 2023-2024” and winning the prestigious European prize.
The most precious distinction in his eyes, however, remains the Wirth Vocal Prize, which brought him notoriety and a crucial financial boost in the development of his career. Resident of the region, Elizabeth Wirth will also be present at the TLB on Friday.
“(The prize) allowed me to realize that I stand out in the industry, and also to cover coaching, training and travel expenses. That was kind of the start of it all. […] I owe a lot to Ms. Wirth, a woman who helped me a lot,” confirmed Elisabeth St-Gelais in an interview with The Voice of the East.
Proud Innu
The soprano from Pessamit was able to contribute to the influence of the Innu community during her recent appearance on the show Good evening! She also takes her position as administrator at the Conseil québécois de la musique, which she has held since April 2023, very seriously.
“I give my voice as a native of Quebec and a representative of the First Nations. I am very proud of it and I take it as a great responsibility. It’s important for me to do it well,” said the holder of a master’s degree in measurement from McGill University.
His roots will also be felt at TNB on Friday. A piece by Barbara Assiginaak was included in an eclectic repertoire, ranging from Brahms to French melodies. All in collaboration on the piano with Louise Pelletier, who has already played under the direction of the great conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
“We are in the era of reconciliation and even if it may seem niche, there are composers from my community in classical music. So it’s a great way to connect my music and my culture.”
A free talk
The concert will be preceded, at 7 p.m., by a free talk given by Pierre Vachon, who often collaborates with the Opéra de Montréal.
“Pierre is a very accessible, warm and charming musicologist. He is a professional popularizer, so he will be able to offer us certain keys before Elisabeth’s show,” explained Pierre-David Rodrigue.
“The spectators are generally there, so we want to offer more classical music and lyrical art in the coming years.”
