Featured images and reviews
It was a pleasure to hear countertenor Daniel Cabena's gentle, elegant singing, supported by an especially fine sensitivity to the text.
Natasha Gauthier, Ottawa CitizenDaniel Cabena is a countertenor of the highest quality: a rich, vibrant higher register with the depth of the lower registers...
Oliver Munar, Schmopera
Bio
Both profoundly touching and utterly compelling...his vocal poise and theatrical aplomb constantly rewarding.
Richard Turp, Opera Canada
Canadian countertenor Daniel Cabena is highly regarded in both Canada and Europe for prize-winning performances ranging from baroque to contemporary repertoire.
As Lydie-Anne in the world premiere of Les Feluettes (March/Bouchard) with Opera de Montreal, critic Richard Turp declared his performance “both profoundly touching and utterly compelling, his vocal poise and theatrical aplomb constantly rewarding”. Daniel reprised his role with Pacific Opera Victoria in May 2017.
Daniel begins his 2017/18 season in Montreal with “A Sanctuary in Song”, a captivating recital of 20th Century English and Canadian song with pianist Stephen Runge, and debuts with Edmonton Opera as Lydie-Anne in their production of Les Feluettes. Upcoming concert highlights for Daniel include Messiah with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and his 2018 debut as a soloist at National Arts Centre with Les Violons du Roy, in a programme of Handel and Bach with Bernard Labadie, Conductor.
European engagements for this exceptional artist include performances with Musica Fiorita, Ensemble Diapsalma, Le Concert Spirituel and the Schlossmediale Festival. In Canada, Daniel has appeared as a soloist with Guelph Chamber Choir, Nota Bene Period Orchestra, Lameque Baroque Festival and Prince Edward Island’s Indian River Festival. Recent oratorio performances for Daniel include his debut with Newfoundland Symphony in Handel’s Messiah, and Handel’s Dixit Dominus with Grand Philharmonic Choir, as well as Messiah with Victoria Symphony.
At the forefront of Canada’s contemporary music scene, Daniel premiered “L’horreur de constater qu’on nous oubliera”, a song cycle for countertenor and orchestra (Stacey Brown/Bertrand Laverdure) with l’Orchestre de la Francophonie, and in 2016 starred in Air India:Name Redacted with Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble, based on the poetry of Renee Sarojini Saklikar, with Irish composer Jurgen Simpson.
Daniel holds an Honours Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Doctorate of Music from l’Université de Montreá l. He was the 2012 recipient of the Virginia Parker Prize by the Canada Council for the Arts and recently completed a Master in Specialized Early Music Performance at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Switzerland.
Calendar
24Oct 2018
K-W Symphony Orchestra
Baroque and Beyond: “The Dark Side of Love”
- Composers:
- Handel, Mozart and Rossini
- Dates:
- October 24, 26, 27, 2018
Kitchener, Canada
More Information02Nov 2018
Wild Writers Festival
Workshop and Panel Discussion
- Dates:
- November 2-4, 2018
Waterloo, Canada
More Information25Nov 2018
Spiritus Ensemble
"The Glory of Christmas"
- Dates:
- November 25, 2018
Kitchener, Canada
More Information07Dec 2018
Vancouver Chamber Choir
Handel's Messiah
- Conductor:
- Jon Washburn
- Dates:
- December 7, 2018
Vancouver, Canada
More Information20Mar 2019
Ottawa Choral Society
Johannes Passion
- Dates:
- March 20-24, 2019
Ottawa, Canada
More Information03Apr 2019
Camerata Nova
"Red Priest" (solo recital)
- Dates:
- April 3-6, 2019
Toronto, Canada
More Information04May 2019
Camerata Nova
"Death by Chocolate: The Life of Henry Purcell"
- Conductor:
- John Wiens
- Dates:
- May 4-5, 2019
Winnipeg, Canada
More Information
Past performances:
14Sep 2018
Turning Point Ensemble
The Mute Canary
- Role:
- Ochre
- Composer:
- Rudolf Komorous
- Librettist:
- Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes
- Translator:
- Christopher Butterfield
- Conductor:
- Owen Underhill
- Dates:
- September 14, 15, 16, 2018
Vancouver, Canada
More Information21Jul 2018
Elora Festival
“Bernstein: A Choral Tribute”
- Conductor:
- Mark Vuorinen
- Dates:
- July 21, 2018
Elora, Canada
More Information28Jun 2018
Ostrava Center for New Music
The Mute Canary
- Role:
- Ochre
- Composer:
- Rudolf Komorous
- Librettist:
- Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes
- Translator:
- Christopher Butterfield
- Conductor:
- Owen Underhill
- Directors:
- Jan Horák, Michal Pěchouček
- Dates:
- June 28, 2018
Ostrava, Czech Republic
More Information07Mar 2018
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Bach Lutheran Masses
- Conductor:
- Bernard Labadie
- Dates:
- March 7, 8, 2018
Ottawa, Canada
More Information14Jan 2018
Spiritus Ensemble
Hauptmusik: the Cantata Project
- Conductor:
- Kenneth Hull
- Dates:
- January 14, 28, 2018
Kitchener, Canada
More Information14Dec 2017
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
Handel's Messiah
- Conductor:
- Ivars Taurins
- Dates:
- December 14-17, 2017
Toronto, Canada
More Information21Oct 2017
Edmonton Opera
Les Feluettes
- Role:
- Lydie-Anne de Rozier
- Composer:
- Kevin March
- Librettist:
- Michel Marc Bouchard
- Conductor:
- Giuseppe Pietraroia
- Director:
- Jacques Lemay
- Dates:
- October 21, 24, 27, 2017
Edmonton, Canada
More Information20Apr 2017
Pacific Opera Victoria
Les Feluettes
- Role:
- Lydie-Anne de Rozier
- Composer:
- Kevin March
- Librettist:
- Michel Marc Bouchard
- Conductor:
- Timothy Vernon
- Director:
- Serge Denoncourt
- Dates:
- April 20, 22, 28, 30, 2017
Victoria, Canada
More Information14Dec 2016
Victoria Symphony Orchestra
Handel's Messiah
- Conductor:
- Tania Miller
- Dates:
- December 14, 16, 2016
Victoria, Canada
More Information21May 2016
Opéra de Montréal
Les Feluettes
- Role:
- Lydie-Anne de Rozier
- Composer:
- Kevin March
- Librettist:
- Michel Marc Bouchard
- Conductor:
- Timothy Vernon
- Director:
- Serge Denoncourt
- Dates:
- May 21, 24, 26, 28, 2016
Montréal, Canada
More Information14Mar 14, 2016
eye-eye-eye
Chants dérobés
- Role:
- Countertenor
- Dates:
- March 14, 2016
Montréal, Canada
More Information07Oct 2015
Turning Point Ensemble
Air India [Redacted]
- Role:
- Countertenor
- Composer:
- J. Simpson
- Conductor:
- Owen Underhill
- Director:
- Tom Creed
- Dates:
- October 7-11, 2015
Vancouver, Canada
More Information
News
Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble presents THE MUTE CANARY this September
Turning Point Ensemble (TPE), the innovative chamber ensemble, is excited to be kicking off its season with the world premiere production of The Mute Canary, a new opera by 86-year-old Rudolf Komorous, one of the most fascinating contemporary composers of his generation. Owen Underhill conducts the one act opera featuring the stunning voices of Daniel Cabena, Alexander Dobson and Anne Grimm and expands the concert to include a retrospective of definitive Komorous compositions...
Broadway WorldNew work inspired by Bach a unique musical experiment
The Cantata Project engages a contemporary composer and a contemporary poet in a process that recreates Bach's way of doing things. The cantatas are substantial works that average 20 minutes or so in length usually based on texts created by local poets that were produced quickly, often at a rate of about one a week. It was Daniel Cabena, a Guelph-based, WLU-trained counter-tenor who performs internationally, who came up with the idea of commissioning a new work inspired by Bach and following his methods and stylistic elements...
The RecordTafelmusik's Messiah emphasizes drama and authenticity in a stunning performance
This is the week of all the Messiah’s happening around the country. It’s a tradition that goes back to Handel’s own time when it was more of an Easter tradition than the Christmas tradition it has become. This year, we elected to attend one of four performances by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir led by Choir Director Ivars Taurins at Koerner Hall...
Toronto Concert Reviews
Media
Recordings
Audio recording
A Sanctuary in Song: A Recital for Voice and Piano, with pianist, Stephen Runge
self-produced, studio recording, pending release
Recorded by Chestnut Hall Music, Earl McCluskie, at Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, Dec. 2017.
More information
Audio recording (Pan Classics)
Missa Vestiva i colli (Baldassare Vialardo)
Musica Fiorita, Basel, Daniela Dolci
Besides the aforesaid composers the recording focuses on the premiere recording of a Mass by Baldassare Vialardo (d. after 1620), Maestro di Cappella active in Milan. It is a late example of a parody on 'Vestiva i colli': an ideal recapitulation of the different genres and styles on this CD, in an intense musical experimentation.
More information
Audio recording (Pan Classics)
Motets (J.M. Gletle)
Musica Fiorita, Basel, Daniela Dolci
Ulrike Hofbauer (soprano), Susanne Rydén (soprano), Hans-Jörg Mammel (tenor), Daniel Cabena (counter-tenor), Raitis Grigalis (bass), Gabriele Hierdeis (soprano), Agnieszka Kowalczyk (soprano), Jessica Jans (soprano), Denis Lakey (counter-tenor), Ulrich Messthaler (bass).
More information
Contact
General Management
Contact
Domoney Artists Management
Kathy J. Domoney
Phone
416.892.4382Domoney Artists Management
23 Northview Ave.
Toronto, ON, Canada
M1N 1V9
Studio & Teaching
Daniel is part of the teaching staff at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Daniel also maintains a home studio.