Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Juno and Dora award winning mezzo soprano Andrea Ludwig is an artist of tremendous depth, musicality and scope. Her charm, warmth and easy sense of humour are perfect for the stage and her vibrant musicality makes her a favourite to all her audiences. Her versatility and ability to interpret many styles are impeccable.
Hailed by Halifax Chronicle Herald critic Stephen Pedersen as having “tones of silver and gold,” Andrea has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company in numerous roles including Nireno in Handel’s Julius Ceasar, the Second Niece in Britten’s Peter Grimes, Flora in The Turn of the Screw, Moira in Paul Ruder’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and Liesgen in Bach’s Coffee Cantata.
Very much in demand for contemporary opera, Andrea has been involved in many of Tapestry New Opera’s projects including their LibLab and Opera Briefs, as well as the world premiere of Juliet Palmer’s Shelter at Edmonton Opera in 2012 and Toronto in June 2014. Andrea was Nada in the multi Dora-nominated Queen of Puddings’ production of Ana Sokolovic’s Svadba (The Wedding) that had it’s world premiere in Toronto in June 2011. She reprised the role of Nada in France, Serbia and Ireland in 2012; at Edmonton Opera and Philadelphia Opera in 2013; and at the prestigious Festival D’Aix en Provence in 2015.
Ms. Ludwig’s commitment to concert performance remains a strong focus. She has sung with Symphony Nova Scotia, Symphony New Brunswick, Shanghai New Music Festival, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, Against the Grain Theatre, Toronto Masque Theatre, Soundstreams, Off Centre Music Salon, the TSO Chamber Soloists and Echo Chamber Toronto.
Recordings include the ECMA-nominated Schubert Orchestrations with Symphony Nova Scotia, Responsio, by Peter Anthony Togni, Galicians II with The Ukrainian Art Song Project, ATMA label recording of Ana Sokolovic’s Sirens, and the UK Chandos recording of Thais: Grand Opera in Concert, with the TSO and TMC, under the direction of Sir Andrew Davis.
Andrea is also in demand as a vocal coach and clinician. August 2024 will be her third summer as vocal coach with the Ukrainian Art Song Project Summer Institute. She has given masterclasses at Luther College High School in Regina and to the Opera Division of the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University. Andrea also accompanies and coaches student choirs in group settings.
“Ludwig, with her warm voice and unpretentious musicality, neither over dramatic nor inexpressive, but intuitive and brimming with her complete mastery of meaning, born of a profound understanding of the text, overwhelmed us with astonishment.”
– Stephen Pedersen, Halifax Chronicle
“Ms. Ludwig found her own way into these powerful, moving words….She took possession of them. She was beautiful in her inhabiting of the spirit and meaning of these songs.”
– Sandra Barry, poet