Richard Margison's Daughter Lauren Manages Classical And Crossover

The 23-year old daughter of famed opera tenor Richard Margison is now emerging into the world of classical music as a strong contender to continue his musical legacy. Not only has the soprano proven that she has the chops to make it on the classical side, she also sings pop, jazz, Broadway, and folk music with equal panache. Her mother, Valerie Kuinka, is a stage director and violist. While pregnant with Lauren, she played in the orchestra for the opera in Toronto. Lauren joined the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus at age seven and was quickly promoted to the principal chorus. Richard’s own upbringing was a musical one. His mother was a piano teacher and his father was an amateur singer with a strong baritone voice, who also played viola with the Victoria Symphony early on. Lauren has performed at events like the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and shared stages with Gordon Lightfoot, Rufus Wainwright and more. Experience two videos of Lauren Margison after the jump to hear the diversity of this young singer. [Source]

Richard Margison Appears in Verismo After 22-Year Absence

"The celebrated Canadian tenor headlined Edmonton Opera's season opener of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, a classic double bill with musical riffs familiar to even the most uneducated opera ear. Opera fans here have been patient. Margison last appeared with this company 22 years ago in 1989 (though he did perform at the Winspear's grand opening in 1997). Edmonton won't want to wait so long again, especially now they've witnessed his brilliance as the legendary sad clown in Pagliacci, Leoncavallo's genius play-withinan-opera. Margison owned the role, killed it - quickly, without thought, a crime of

passion. Like Canio's betrayers, the audience didn't have a chance...Luckily, we got Margison in both operas; he's so good as a cold-hearted Turiddu, the jerk who dumps his pregnant girlfriend for an old flame. I felt some pangs of sympathy during 'Mamma, quel vino e generoso,' the famed aria where Turiddu asks mother for one last kiss, but that was the blinding light from Margison's lungs. Frankly, Turiddu deserves it." [Source]

(Photos: John Lucas/Edmonton Journal)