IRENA WELHASCH BAERG (Carlotta Giudicelli) has received critical acclaim for her concert and vivid operatic portrayals in Canada the U.S. and Europe, Born in Winnipeg, she began her career at the Manitoba Opera, the Winnipeg Symphony and the Canadian Opera Company. Her talent was quickly recognized in such major roles as Liu in Turandot, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, and a National Arts Centre debut in the title role of The Merry Widow. She has sung with every major Canadian opera company from Montreal to Victoria. Her stirring interpretation as Blanche in Les Dialogues des Carmelites, recorded for national broadcast on CBC TV, established her prominence in the Lyric French repertoire. This success was followed by acclaimed performances as Melisande in L'Opera de Nice's production of Pelleas et Melisande. Her portrayal of Musetta in San Diego's La Boheme led the San Diego Tribune to state that she "...sang Musetta perhaps better than anyone in recent memory." Frequently recorded for CBC Radio, her wide concert repertoire has taken her across North America in a variety of oratorio, recital and popular programs. Ms. Welhasch is married to baritone Theodore Baerg, and they have two sons.