Eleanor Calbes

Calbes, Eleanor

Eleanor Calbes. Soprano, b Aparri, Cagayan, the Philippines, 20 Feb 1944, naturalized Canadian 1967; teacher's diploma (Philippines) 1961. She was a singer and dancer with the touring Bayanihan Dance Company when Nicholas Goldschmidt heard her and arranged two scholarships at the Royal Cons Opera School (University of Toronto Opera Division), where she studied with Irene Jessner. She sang various roles 1963-7 with the COC and appeared 1965-70 in musical theatre on Broadway, including Liat in South Pacific at New York City Center in 1965, and on the recording (1967, Col OS-3100). She sang in opera in Germany and Austria, 1972-5, and has appeared at the Stratford and Guelph festivals, on CBC radio and TV, and with the TS and the Hamilton Philharmonic. She was invited to perform in the Great Hall of China in 1979, and returned to the Philippines in 1982 and 1983 for solo recitals and again in 1985 to sing the leading role in the premiere of Francisco Feliciano's opera La Loba Negra (The Black Wolf) in Manila.

In 1983 Calbes made her debut as a stage director (The King and I for the Brampton Musical Society), and in 1985 she became the founding artistic director of Mississauga City Centre Opera. She has directed many concert and staged performances of lyric theatre for MCCO, including a gala performance of Die Fledermaus in 1990 starring Mark DuBois and conducted by John Barnum. She sang the title role in MCCO's 1991 production of Madama Butterly. In January 1990 she opened a voice studio in Mississauga. Calbes was named Mississauga's musician of the year in 1986.