Margaret Maye

Mezzo-soprano
Actress

“Experienced Polish-born mezzo-soprano Margaret Maye has a rich, easy, plumy tones and deserves a bigger career in her adopted country.”
- Paula Citron, arts reviewer Classical 96.3 FM, November 2, 2004.

“Mezzo Margaret Maye was in excellent voice as a colorful gypsy leading an appealing children’s choir”
- Geoff Chapman, music critic, Toronto Star, November 2004.

“Mezzo Margaret Maye as the jealous Lyubasha has a lush voice and dramatic delivery”
-Paula Citron, arts reviewer at Classical 96.3 FM, February 2, 2004.

“Mezzo Margaret Maye, trained in Poland, was very strong, notably in her Act 1 a capella aria”
- Geoff Chapman, music critic, Toronto Star, February 2, 2022

“Among the worthy cast, one to watch is mezzo-soprano Margaret Maye, who performed both Gretchen and the Grand Duchess. She can both sing and act with verve.”
- Paula Citron, arts reviewer, Opera Canada Magazine, Spring 2002.

In addition to a voice of beautiful sound, great range and flexibility, she brings a commanding stage presence and dramatic ability to all of her performances. This versatile singer and actress established herself as an outstanding performer in various musical genres. Her strongly varied repertoire consists of early and modern music, opera, oratorio, operetta, music theatre, cabaret, jazz.

Born in Poland. Studied singing, drama and dancing at the Music and Drama School of Arts at the Music Theatre in Gdynia, and the Music Academy in Wroclaw, Poland. Now she makes her home in Toronto.

In December 2004, Ms. Maye was presented with the cultural award - the Order of Merit (L’Ordre du “ Merite Culturel” – “Zasluzona na polu szerzenia kultury”) from the Ministry of Culture of The Republic of Poland.

While in Poland she was employed with the Music Theatre in Gdynia and toured with the Baltic Artistic Agency.

She took part in Jeunesse Musical Festival in France singing alto solo in Pergolese’s Stabat Mater.

In Toronto she has held singing and dramatic leads in numerous productions of the Music and Poetry Salon, Polish Canadian Society of Music, Polish Music Theatre in Toronto, Polonia Theatre, Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera in Concert, Opera Mississauga.

For many years she was a member of Musica Antiqua Vocal Ensemble.

She participated as a soloist in many concerts in Canada and United States.

In Singers on Stage concert productions she’s produced and presented her own shows: “Images”- Premier Dance Theater, “On the Wings of Love” - CBC Glenn Gould Studio.

She has sung operatic roles such as:

Idamante in Mozart’s opera “Idomeneo”, Orfeo in Gluck’s “Orfeo and Euridice”,

Sophie in Moniuszko’s opera “Halka”, The Witch in Hamperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretchen”,
Baroness in Samuel Barber’s “Vanessa”, Marguerite in Boiledieu’s “La Dame Blache”, Lyubasha in Rimski-Korsakov’s “Tsar’s Bride”, Gypsy Woman in Pennella’s “El Gato Negro”, Sophie in Kurpinski’s opera “Castle on the Chorshtin Hill”.

Musical theatre roles:
Valencienne in Lehar’s operetta “Merry Widow”, Duchess and Gretchen in S. Romberg’s “The Student Prince”, Kate in Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”, Aurelia in Oscar Strauss’s operetta “The Chocolate Soldier”, Miss Molly in L. Swietochowski’s operetta “Nymph”,
Manja in Kalman’s “Countess Maritza”, Princess Bozena in Kalman’s operetta “Countess Maritza”, Grand Duchess of Plaza Toro in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “Gondoliers” and others.

Oratorio credits include :
Pergolese’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s The Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass, Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Kurpinski’s Te Deum, Bach’s Magnificat and his various Cantatas, Bethoven’s Mass in C Major, Gorczycki’s Completorium, M. Zebrowski’s Magnificat.

margaretmaye@rogers.com