"Harandi sang with a beautiful and very well-balanced voice, combining technical mastery with plenty of emotional character. The soprano also demonstrated good dramatic range, accentuating certain passages with bite, cynicism or gentleness."
Frédéric Cardin, PAN M 360
Bahar Harandi, an Iranian Canadian soprano coloratura, boasts a diverse repertoire spanning from baroque to contemporary music. Her musical journey began at the age of seven when she started playing the violin, as singing was prohibited for women in Iran. After earning her bachelor's degree as a violinist, Bahar made a bold decision to pursue a career as a singer in Canada. She has since completed a master’s degree in voice at the University of Victoria under the guidance of Benjamin Butterfield, and another master’s degree "with distinction" at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal in Donna Brown’s studio before going to Vienna, where she earned a Postgraduate Diploma at Die Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien with Angelika Kirchschlager.
Bahar has been recognized for her talent with scholarships such as the Bourse d'Excellence and the Bourse Gabrielle-Lavigne, as well as awards from the Greater Victoria Performing Art Festival. In December 2023, she was a semi-finalist at the Ningbo International Vocal Competition in China.
Bahar has always been eager to learn from singers and musicians all over the world. In addition to studying with Donna Brown, Angelika Kirchschlager, Benjamin Butterfield, Dieter Paier and Olivier Godin, she has also worked with many other great singers and pianist-coaches, including Aline Kutan, Dominique Labelle, Wolfgang Holzmair, Jean-François Lapointe, Lena Hellstrom Farnlof, Richard Turp, Marie-Ange Todorovitch, François Le Roux, Nancy Argenta, Ingrid Attrot, Pierre McLean, Martin Dubé, Liz Upchurch and Michael McMahon through private lessons and the Opéra NUOVA, Domaine Forget and Académie de Lachine programs.
Bahar has had numerous performance opportunities in Canada, collaborating with acclaimed conductors such as Jacques Lacombe, Alain Trudel, Rosemary Thomson, Peter Butterfield, and Timothy Vernon. She has showcased her talent as the lead soprano in various productions, including performing with the Massawippi Vocal Ensemble in the concert "Beethoven à l'Abbaye" and through a recital she organized dedicated to women of Iran at Bourgie Hall. Bahar has also delighted audiences with her performances in works like The Great Mass in C Minor and Vesperæ solennes de confessore with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir, as well as roles in operas such as La fée (Cendrillon) and Dr. Blind (Die Fledermaus) at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. Her repertoire also includes Despina in "Così fan tutte" with Long Reach Opera, Cricket and Frantík in "The Cunning Little Vixen" with Opera NUOVA, and Belinda in "Dido and Aeneas" with the Opera Studio of the Victoria Conservatory, among other recitals and concerts.
- Model ID: GLDA698525