Jean Stilwell, hailed on three continents for her complex portrayal of Carmen, is at the forefront of this generation's mezzo-sopranos.  In Keith Warner's daring production of CARMEN for Minnesota Opera and Opera Ontario, Ms. Stilwell's "riveting" performance of the title role was praised for "mesmerizing stage presence and her dangerous sounding, husky mezzo ... vocally rich and powerful."  Since first assuming the role in Vancouver, Bizet's fascinating gypsy has opened many doors for Ms. Stilwell and she has appeared with the Buxton Festival, New York City Opera, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, Opera Zuid of Holland, Connecticut Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and all the opera companies of Canada. The striking mezzo-soprano has appeared for Vancouver Opera as Amneris in AIDA, Marie in WOZZECK for Pacific Opera Victoria and starred in the world premiere of FACING SOUTH with Tapestry New Opera Works.   On the summer circuit she appeared for the Festival of the Sound in Schönberg’s version of Mahler’s DAS LIED VON DER ERDE and for Festival Vancouver appeared as Genevieve in PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE. Recent seasons have also included Katisha in MIKADO for the Arizona Opera, the Beggar Woman in SWEENEY TODD for Calgary Opera, Jenny in THE THREEPENNY OPERA for Vancouver Opera and Santuzza in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA for Manitoba Opera.

Ms. Stilwell is internationally renowned for the variety of her repertoire with engagements ranging from DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES for Calgary Opera to DIE FLEDERMAUS for Kentucky Opera and Opera Saskatchewan. Selected career highlights include Beethoven’s SYMPHONY No. 9 with the Toronto Symphony, ZIGEUNERBARON at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Dido in DIDO AND AENEAS with Opera Atelier in Singapore and the Berio FOLK SONGS at the Avanti Festival in Finland conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste.  Ms. Stilwell has also performed Mahler's 'Symphony of a Thousand' in Edmonton and Vancouver and Schafer's ADIEU, ROBERT SCHUMANN for L’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec. The Toronto resident is in demand for a unique array of operatic starring roles including Penelope in IL RITORNO D’ULISSE IN PATRIA, Lucretia in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA, Charlotte in WERTHER, and the title role in XERXES.

She is frequently heard on CBC broadcasts and her discography includes the music of Berio, Weill, Poulenc, Somers and Spohr on the CBC and CMC labels.  Ms. Stilwell is the official spokesperson for the ALS Society of Canada.