_{Artist of the Week} 20 Qs for Karine White

by Máiri Demings | Oct 13, 2025 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

The Artist of the Week is Canadian soprano Karine White. She will be singing the role of Papagena in Mozart‘s The Magic Flute with Opera Atelier from October 15th to 19th (tickets and info here).

Karine is a Dora Award–nominated artist and performing and visual arts educator. Career highlights include touring with Opera Atelier to the Royal Opera House at the Palace of Versailles and performing Sister Constance in Dialogue des Carmélites, Musetta in La bohème, Despina in Così fan tutte and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro in Italy.

This week, Karine shares who inspired her to sing, her favourite fall film and the best thing about being an opera artist. Read on to find out more.

When was your first singing lesson (and with whom)?
I took my first singing lesson when I was six years old with Irene Ilic. She taught me to love the process of learning and performing music accurately and quickly, across all genres and languages, for over ten years. I am very grateful to her!

What/who inspired you to sing?
Natalie Dessay. The first opera I ever saw was Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment during a MET live in HD broadcast. Her comedic timing and athleticism were incredible, paired with her vocal agility. I still think about it to this day.

Favourite city that you’ve worked in?

Versailles, France… no Milan, Italy… both!

If you weren’t a singer, you’d be..?

A teacher. I’m honoured to be on Faculty at St. Anne’s School in Aurora as a Music and Visual Arts teacher for grades 5-9. These amazing girls inspire me everyday. Go Cygnets!

Top 3 favourite operas?

Don’t do this to me… today it’s La bohème, Le nozze di Figaro and The Magic Flute. Ask me again tomorrow.

Who is a singer you admire that is currently working?

Diana Damrau. I deeply admire the way she can make an audience laugh and cry within the same aria, a real master in dramatic and vocal control.

What’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?

Let’s just say it involved a faulty skirt clasp during an outdoor theatre-in-the-round performance (audience members sitting around all sides of the stage)… good thing that opera was a comedy!

What’s your favourite thing about singing with an orchestra?

The power of it. There is nothing quite like a full orchestra propelling the drama, the story, and your voice forward, all at once. It’s quite humbling.

What’s something most people don’t know about opera life?

Opera is unamplified! No microphones anywhere. This is why, unlike musical theatre with eight shows per week, operas are typically performed two to three times per week in order for the singers to rest their instruments in between performances.

Coffee or tea?
Both! Coffee in the morning, tea at night!

What’s your ancestry?

Irish and French.

What’s your favourite mind-calming practice?

Prayer. Giving thanks for the joy of being able to do what I love always helps me relax and focus on having a great time on stage.

What’s your favourite movie?

You’ve Got Mail, with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Show me a better feel-good fall-flavoured film. I’ll wait.

Where did you go to school?

I received both my Bachelor and Master of Music as Western University, and then went to the opera school at the University of Toronto, where I also received a Master of Teaching (OISE).

What’s the luckiest thing that has ever happened to you?

I was asked to step into a lead role the day of a performance because the soprano was sick. I wasn’t even a cover! That experience opened doors to many other wonderful opportunities in my career.

What’s the best thing about being an opera artist?

Working with such inspiring people. My fellow artists challenge me to be the very best I can be at what I do, and I hope to do the same for them. Opera is a team sport!

Which actress/actor would be cast as you in a film about your life?

Emma Stone.

What is the ultimate goal of opera?

To transport people, to make them feel.

Does performing in different locations impact your performance?

Absolutely! I’m so thankful to have had the chance to perform in different parts of the world and for audiences in different countries. It’s an amazing thing to bring an opera in Italian to an Italian audience for example, because you understand each other so clearly! It also keeps you on your toes for accurate language pronunciation. (Thank you to our amazing diction coaches!)

Are you a perfectionist?

Yes, and I’m working on that. Practice makes p-

LEARN MORE ABOUT KARINE WHITE
VISIT HER WEBSITE

© Bruce Zinger
In Medea with Opera Atelier

© Helen Tansey

© Bruce Zinger
In David et Jonathas with Opera Atelier

The Magic Flute
Opera Atelier

October 15 – 19

TAMINO: Colin Ainsworth
PAMINA: Meghan Lindsay
PAPAGENO: Douglas Williams
PAPAGENA: Karine White
FIRST LADY: Carla Huhtanen
SECOND LADY: Danielle Macmillan
THIRD LADY: Laura Pudwell
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT: Rainelle Krause
SARSASTRO: Stephen Hegedus
MONOSTATOS: Blaise Rantoanina
SPIRIT 1: Katie Lair
SPIRIT 2: Alison Beckwith
SPIRIT 3: Cynthia Smithers
1ST ARMED MAN: Alexander Capallazzo
2ND ARMED MAN/SPEAKER: Olivier Laquerre
SUPER DRAGON: Jeremy Nasmith

Sung in Andrew Porter’s delightful English translation, Opera Atelier’s production of The Magic Flute is a joyous tribute to Mozart’s vision of an accessible, comic masterpiece. Redesigned with magic and wonder by Gerard Gauci in 2013, this enchanting production brings to life dragons, flying machines, and dazzling 18th-century special effects that create a truly fairy-tale atmosphere.

Join Prince Tamino and the charming bird-man Papageno on their thrilling quest to rescue Princess Pamina from the mysterious Queen of the Night. This family-friendly opera is perfect for families looking for cultural events in Toronto.

The Magic Flute stars many of Opera Atelier’s audience favourites, including tenor Colin Ainsworth as Tamino, soprano Meghan Lindsay making her role debut as Pamina, and bass baritone Douglas Williams debuting as the lovable Papageno.

Also featured is an impressive cast with bass-baritone Stephen Hegedus as Sarastro, tenor Blaise Rantoanina as Monastatos, and soprano Karine White as Papagena. The Three Ladies are brought to life by soprano Carla Huhtanen, mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan, and mezzo-soprano Laura Pudwell. Opera Atelier is thrilled to welcome soprano Rainelle Krause in her highly anticipated company debut as the dazzling Queen of the Night — a role that has won her international acclaim.

TICKETS & INFORMATION

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