Soprano Virginia Hatfield is known for her luminous voice and widely varied repertoire. A native of Campbellford, Ontario, critics have raved about Virginia's "clear, bell-like tone" (Opera Canada) and "warmth and radiance combined with commanding coloratura" (Halifax Herald).
At the Westben Arts Festival Theatre in 2016, Virginia created the role of Daisy Ball in the world premiere of the new Canadian opera The Pencil Salesman, by composer Brian Finley. She was praised for her “gleaming soprano” in this "role with a considerable dramatic/emotional range" (Musical Toronto).
Other opera roles for this captivating artist include Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Marzelline (Fidelio), both with the Canadian Opera Company, as well as Italian Singer with Pacific Opera Victoria (Capriccio) and Leila (The Pearl Fishers) with Opera Hamilton. Virginia starred as Angelica in Handel's Orlando with Voicebox:Opera in Concert, and sang Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Saskatoon Opera. As a member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, she performed the roles of Pamina (The Magic Flute), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Frasquita (Carmen), Fifth Maid (Elektra), and Laura (Luisa Miller).
Virginia was thrilled to join Queen of Puddings Music Theatre on their European tour as Zora in Svadba (Wedding), and reprised the role with Opera Philadelphia in 2013. In 2014, she sang Naiade with Pacific Opera Victoria in their acclaimed production of Ariadne auf Naxos.
She has performed with the Canadian Art Song Project and premiered new Canadian works with Soundstreams Canada in Guanajuato, Mexico. She is also featured on the upcoming Ukrainian Art Song Project recording.
She appeared several times with Canada's foremost recital presenters, The Aldeburgh Connection, including their farewell concert in May of 2013. Her singing of Britten in this concert was described as "spellbinding" (The Globe and Mail).
A highly-sought after soloist with many of Canada's leading ensembles, Virginia has appeared with the Guelph Chamber Choir in Bach's Mass in B Minor, Christmas Oratorio with the Kingston Symphony, and Haydn's Creation with the Vancouver Bach Choir as well as performances of Messiah with the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Thunder Bay Symphony and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
Recent concert performances for this versatile soprano range from Christmas Oratorio with Symphony Nova Scotia and Poulenc's Gloria with the Karen Schuessler Singers, to American standards, baroque cantatas, and contemporary Canadian works with Toronto's Talisker Players.
This season, Virginia looks forward to her debut with the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Handel's Dixit Dominus and Mozart's Mass in C Minor with conductor Mark Vuorinen, and to concerts in Toronto with Joni Henson and Megan Latham, performing excerpts from the trio's recent holiday album, Christmas with Casa Diva.
Virginia is featured on John McDermott's newest Christmas album, Traditional Christmas, available on iTunes.