Albert Krywolt, pianist, is one of Canada’s foremost opera musicians. His extensive knowledge of operatic literature is grounded in a professional career spanning some 35 years and more than 100 operas. As collaborative pianist, he has worked with many internationally renowned singers, including Joan Sutherland, José Carreras, Elisabeth Söderstrom, Thomas Stewart, Renata Scotto, Louis Quilico, Ben Heppner, Russell Braun, and Isabel Bayrakdarian, among others. As chief coach for the Canadian Opera Company for the past 22 years, Albert has worked closely with the COC’s current general director, Richard Bradshaw, and with many leading directors, among them Lotfi Mansouri, Stephen Wadsworth, Robert LePage, Nicholas Lehnhof and François Girard. Albert has a special affinity for contemporary repertoire, and has helped launch the world premieres of several Canadian operas, including Nosferatu and The Golden Ass by Randolph Peters, and Mario and the Magician by Harry Somers. Leading up to the COC’s inaugural season in the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in 2006/07, Albert is serving as head coach for all four productions in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, directed by Atom Egoyan, François Girard, Tim Albery and Michael Levine, and conducted by Richard Bradshaw.