(This news item followed another one about Ottawa mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah.)
Ottawa soprano Shannon Mercer, another former winner of the Brian Law Scholarship and another singer with an already impressive resume, will present an hour-long recital at the National Arts Centre Studio Tuesday as part of the NAC-CBC Debut series.
Accompanied by pianist Steven Philcox, Mercer will perform Purcell's The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation, Schubert's To the Moon on an Autumn Night, three Debussy pieces, Canadian composer Harry Somers' Love-in-Idleness and three Welsh Folk Songs.
Mercer has just finished two years as a member of the Studio Ensemble of the Canadian Opera Company, which offers training for young singers. She has been seen this season with the company as Oscar in Ballo in Maschera and as Elvira in L'Italiana in Algeri. Recently she made her debut for l'Opéra de Québec as First Lady in Mozart's Magic Flute. She will be heard in Ottawa next season in the Ottawa Choral Society's performance of Handel's Saul at the National Arts Centre.
Admission to Tuesday's recital is $2 with proceeds going to the NAC Orchestra Bursary Trust Fund for young student musicians. Additional donations are welcome. The Debut series presents young artists in concerts that are recorded for national broadcast on CBC Radio.