LSM Newswire

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Yoav Talmi on Art & Fine Living with Jona

Conductor Yoav Talmi on Art & Fine Living with Jona March 2009
By Jona Rapoport
Jona Rapoport, Art & Fine Living with Jona
February 27, 2009


Next program will air on March 1st at 7pm and March 3rd at 11pm features an interview with conductor Yoav Talmi.The conductor reflected on this milestone in his career and elaborated on the creation of his composition, Dachau Reflections to be performed on March 18, 2009 in the upcoming Celebrating the Maestro! concert.

Also on the program, music from Ernest Bloch's Avodath Hakodesh, to be presented by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in Montreal on March 30 and 31, 2001.



Segment Sponsors/Closed Captioning by:


a. The Montreal Symphony Orchestra


b. The Opera de Montreal - Starmania


c. The Centaur Theatre Company - Doubt


d. I.D. Foods Corporation


e. Composer Lori Laitman




Cultural Spotlight:


Quebec Symphony Orchestra Celebrating the Maestro!, Pro Musica Prazak Quartet, Arte Musica Foundation - Haydn 2009 , Centaur Theatre Doubt, Montreal symphony Orchestra Adams, Josefowitz concert, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens Celis/Wei, Montreal Symphony Orchestra Bloch Avodath Hakodesh.




Personal Promo: James Ehnes, Eve Tanhelson, Jenny Pozniak, Ben Heppner




Music Selections:


Chandos Classics Ernest Bloch Avodath Hakodesh, Demo: Paul-Andre Bempechat: Beethoven The Final Piano Sonatas, MSR Mainstreet Brass (By Request), Analekta: Karina Gauvin: Proper Records Jelly Roll Morton Doctor Jazz , Atma - Bataclan

click here to go to my radio show:


www.radio-shalom.ca/showemission.php?ID=1015



Guests who appeared on Art & Fine Living with Jona include, among many others, the prolific piano virtuoso Lang Lang, Playwright Vittorio Rossi, Singer Sean Lennon, Violinist Gil Shaham, Actor/Director Maurice Podbrey, Pianist Elena Bashkirova, Soprano Natalie Dessay, Film director Mike Newell, Cellist/Conductor Yuli Turovsky, Poet David Mason,Soprano Measha Brueggergosman, Ritz Chef Paul Little, Actress Caroline Cave, Saxophonist Walter Blanding, Choreographer Peter Quanz, Director Bryna Wasserman, Conductor Yoav Talmi, Saxophonist Bill Prouten, Opera Atelier director, Chantal Lambert, Conductor Jacques Lacombe, Grand Ballets Alain Dancyger, Composer Lori Laitman, Violinist Jonathan Crow, Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Playwright Daniel Lillford, Comedy duo Bowser & Blue, Bassist Alain Caron, Bass Denis Sedov, Soprano Suzie Leblanc, Recital series director Richard Turp, Dancer Callie Robinson, Choreographer Stijn Celis, Director Peter Hinton, Violinist James Ehnes, Choreographer Shen Wei, Tenor Richard Margison, Photographer Varda Pollak-Sahm, Choreographer Ohad Naharin, Composer Ofer Ben-Amots, Director Roy Surette, Tenor Marc Hervieux, Composer Ofer Ben-Amots, Film Producer George Weiss, Cellist Denise Djokic, Dancer/Choreographer Margie Gillis, Conductor Bernard Labadie, Jazz Vocalist Sophie Milman, Artist Boaz Kaizman Tenor Ben Heppner and dozens of other fine artists!

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Cirque and the ESO collaborate to create illuminating feats of artistry - Mar. 20 & 21


Robbins Pops

World-class feats of artistry synchronize with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in

Cirque de la Symphonie

Friday, March 20th, 2009 8:00 pm

Saturday, March 21st, 2009 2:00 pm* & 8:00 pm

(*Saturday matinee added due to popular demand!)

Edmonton, AB Ķ Imagine the dazzling performances of Cirque artists combined with the incredible musical experience of a full symphony. In one of the most anticipated concerts of the ESO season, Cirque de la Symphonie, for the first time, brings the magic of Cirque to the Winspear Centre in this illuminating collaboration of artistry with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO). World-class performers will astound audience members with their flawless execution of astonishing acrobatics, pushing the boundaries of imaginative athleticism. Aerial flyers, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen add a stunning visual enhancement to the sounds of popular contemporary music and classical masterpieces, performed by the ESO and led by Music Director William Eddins.

It will be a stimulating experience for the eyes and ears. Dont miss this incredibly unique synergy of orchestral music and the spectacle of Cirque. Best seats are available for Saturdays matinee performance. Ticket prices for all three performances range from $24 to $79 (agency fees apply). Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office. On Friday evening, the Grant MacEwan Jazz Combo will be performing in the lobby, beginning at approximately 7:15 pm.

The next performance of the Robbins Pops series takes place on May 1st and 2nd, and features guest conductor Jeff Tyzik and vocalist/trumpeter Byron Stripling in Nothin But the Blues.

This series is generously supported by Bill & Mary Jo Robbins.

Fridays evening performance is generously sponsored by Deloitte.

Saturdays matinee performance is generously sponsored by Bennett Jones.

Media Sponsor: The Edmonton Journal

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April at The Royal Conservatory


Mozart's Masterpiece Cos fan tutte
an April Highlight
at The Royal Conservatory

Leading Mozart specialist Mario Bernardi returns to The Royal Conservatory, after successfully launching the 2008/2009 season with a sold out concert in September, to conduct Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's darkly comic opera masterpiece Cos fan tutte. The performances run from April 2-7, and admission is free.

Mario Bernardi's career as a conductor began in 1953 with the Royal Conservatory Opera School and went on become one of the most outstanding Canadian conductors of his generation. He was the first conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, took over the CBC Vancouver Orchestra from John Eliot Gardiner, and became the first music director of the Calgary Philharmonic. Despite his busy schedule he continued to appear as guest conductor, particularly of operas, with such companies as the Canadian Opera Company, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and the English National Opera. Bernardi was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1972, received the Canadian Music Council medal in 1981, and has won two Juno awards.

In sharp contrast to the world premiere of the modern score of Pandora's Locker in December, Cos fan tutte will be an offering in lush classical music. The cast will be in elaborate costumes, generously on loan from Opera Atelier. Stage director Jennifer Parr, who also directed Pandora's Locker, will once again be in charge of this hybrid concert version with some staging around the orchestra, which will be onstage.

The double cast will be made up of The Glenn Gould School Opera Division students and will feature Wallis Giunta (who impressed as Pandora in December) as Dorabella. Other cast members who also appeared in Pandora's Locker include Sean Catheroy as Guglielmo, and Adam Bishop as Ferrando. Taylor Strande and Michelle Danese will be alternating in the role of Despina. The GGS Opera is a distinguished diploma programme that offers superb training in performance to gifted singers from across Canada and from all over the world.

Free events at The RCM continue with Canadian master pianist Anton Kuerti, who will give the last lecture in his 5-part lecture series on Beethoven's Piano Concertos on Friday, April 2, at 2pm, and award-winning composer Brian Current (who conducted Pandora's Locker) will lead The GGS New Music Ensemble in contemporary classical music repertoire on Friday, April 17, at 12pm.

Violinist Atis Bankas and pianist Dianne Werner will together give the last concert of the Great Artists Series on Friday, April 17, at 8pm. This concert will feature Karol Shimanovsky's Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28, Leos Janacek's Ballade, and two of the greatest works written for these instruments: Franck's Sonata for Violin & Piano and Debussy's Sonata for Violin and Piano. Dianne Werner is an exceptional soloist and chamber musician. A member of Grammy-nominated ensemble

ARC (Artists of The Royal Conservatory), she is recognized for her lyrical and poetic style, and also
frequently performs as a duo partner with cellist Bryan Epperson. Atis Bankas has appeared as soloist in the former Soviet Union, Europe, U.S., and Canada, as well as with many distinguished orchestras under Paavo Jrvi, Iona Brown, and Sir Andrew Davis. Both Atis and Dianne are long-standing faculty members of the RCM.

The newly formed Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet will present one of its first concerts as part of the World Music Concerts series on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30pm. Havana-born, Toronto-based, Luis Mario Ochoa is a guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and music producer. In 2007 he was nominated for the Canadian Latin Jazz Artist of the Year. His quintet is comprised of the acclaimed Cuban pianist Hilario Duran, Jorge Torres on congas, and a dynamic rhythm section of bass and two percussionists. This special concert will showcase songs from their latest CD, Momentos Cubanos: classic Latin American songs ranging from rumba to samba, bolero to waltz, son to cha-cha, and a very impassioned vocal interpretation of Ernesto Lecuona's timeless ballad Siboney.

THE ROYAL CONCERT SEASON - April 2009
Cos fan tutte (GGS Ope
MMarioMMarMare
Marehursday, April 2 at 8pm*
Anton Kuerti, piano (GGS Lecture Series): Friday, April 3 at 2pm*
Cos fan tutte (GGS Opera): Friday, April 3 at 8pm*
Cos fan tutte (GGS Opera): Sunday, April 5 at 2pm*
Cos fan tutte (GGS Opera): Tuesday, April 7 at 1pm*
New Music Ensemble (Rising Stars Series): Friday, April 17 at 12pm*
Atis Bankas, violin & Dianne Werner, piano (Great Artists Series): Friday, April 17 at 8pm
Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet (World Music Concerts): Thursday, April 23 at 7:30pm

* FREE EVENT
Tickets $20.00 - $30.00, students $10
Tickets available online at www.rcmusic.ca, by calling 416-408-2824 X321,
or at the door at the RCM, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

All events take place at the Conservatory's new home, the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West.

More information about the 2008-2009 Concert Season is available on The Royal Conservatory website at
www.rcmusic.ca.

The RCM 2008-2009 Concert Season is made possible through the generous support of:
Presentation Sponsors: BMO Financial Group and MasterCard
Performance Supporters: Acuity Funds Ltd.; Mona and Robert Bandeen; D. & T. Davis Charitable Foundation; Margaret and Jim Fleck; Invesco Trimark; Mr. Thomas Logan; Mary Jean and Frank Potter; Meredith and William Saunderson; Janet and Michael Scott; Shiu Pong
The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council and RBC Financial Group

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Poul Ruders 60th Birthday Concert and Celebration

On Thursday, March 26, 2009, at 7:30 pm, the Scandinavia House and Bridge Records will present a concert devoted to the music of the Danish composer, Poul Ruders. The concert will take place at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue at 38th Street. Mr. Ruders will be in attendance and will speak about his music and the works on this program. The program features the world premiere of Pages I-X (2008) performed by guitarist David Starobin, and the US premiere of Serenade on the Shores of the Cosmic Ocean, to be performed by Mikko Luoma, accordion and the iO String Quartet. Also on the program are: Regime (1984) played by the Juilliard Percussion Ensemble, Star Prelude and Love Fugue (1990) performed by Vassily Primakov, piano; and New Rochelle Suite (2005) played by David Starobin, guitar and Daniel Druckman, percussion.

On the eve of his 60th birthday, Poul Ruders is widely acknowledged to be one of the leading composers of his generation. In the last decade Ruders' operas have been acclaimed in productions in England, the USA, Canada, and Denmark, and his orchestral scores have been commissioned and premiered by many of the world's great orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic. The next two years will see the world premiere of his 3rd Symphony Dream Catcher by the Royal Danish Orchestra, and his 4th Symphony An Organ Symphony by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Odense Symphony Orchestra. His latest opera, Dancer in the Dark, will have its first production at the Royal Danish Opera, and premieres of new works are scheduled in locales as far flung as Estonia, Munich and Seattle. New recordings are due for release in 2009 on the DaCapo and Bridge labels.

Poul Ruders was born in Ringsted, Denmark on March 27, 1949. His early studies in piano and organ led eventually to studies in orchestration with the Danish composer Karl Aage Rasmussen. Ruders' first compositions date from the mid-60s. Writing about Ruders, the English critic Stephen Johnson states: "He can be gloriously, explosively extrovert one minute- withdrawn, haunted, intently inward-looking the next. Super-abundant high spirits alternate with pained, almost expressionistic lyricism; simplicity and directness with astringent irony." These extremes have defined the Ruders style, but only begin to touch on the rich variety found in his large catalog. The recent opera Kafka's Trial weaves disparate influences including Klezmer music, into a two-hour tapestry of wildly varying tonal shades; the 9/11-influenced Listening Earth for large orchestra, begins with teeming and optimistic orchestral explosions, only to wind down to a spare and devastatingly desolate conclusion; while the popular Concerto in Pieces riffs on a theme by Henry Purcell, and ends with a triumphant dancing fugue. Though not an "easy" composer, Ruders has managed to find a voice that is communicative, varied, recognizable and profound. More than 40 CDs of his music are currently available including his two grand operas (The Handmaid's Tale and Kafka's Trial), and a 400-plus page study of his work (Acoustical Canvases- The Music of Poul Ruders), published in 2007.
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Tickets for the Ruders Birthday Concert are $15, and $10 for ASF members, please call 212 879 9779 for tickets reservations and sales. For further information contact Becky Starobin, 914 654 9270.

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Serie Intimate Sky, concert au MAI le 13 mars 2009/ Intimate Sky Series, concert at the MAI on March 13, 2009

Srie Intimate Sky de retour le 13 mars au MAI
Send me a piece of your soul
Une performance collective exaltante !
English version will follow

Chapitre 11, Send me a piece of your soul , vendredi 13 mars 2009 20h
Chapitre 12, avec Nomadic Massive, vendredi 10 avril 2009 20h

Montral, le 27 fvrier 2009 - Aprs deux concerts fort apprcis en octobre et en dcembre derniers, la Srie Intimate Sky produite par le trompettiste Jason Blackbird Selman se poursuit au caf du MAI (Montral, arts interculturels) avec un 3me concert accoustique, vendredi le 13 mars 20h. Ce cycle de performances gomtrie variable runissant plusieurs artistes par spectacle et mlangeant jazz, soul, reggae, hip hop et spoken word s'inscrit dans le cadre de la Srie musique Circulation du MAI.

Send me a piece of your soul : voil le thme et la ligne directrice de ce 11me chapitre. Comme pour le spectacle prcdent, le groupe se divise en trios composs de deux chanteurs/chanteuses et d'un musicien. Afin de susciter l'change entre les artistes, chaque chanteur interprte des textes crits par l'autre vocaliste de son trio. La Srie Intimate Sky prsentera son dernier spectacle de la saison le 10 avril 2009 avec une collaboration compltement clate entre des membres de Kalm Unity et du groupe Nomadic Massive.

Le concept de la Srie Intimate Sky repose sur la redcouverte d'artistes, issus notamment du collectif de plus de 70 artistes Kalm Unity, et met en lumire une facette moins connue de leur talent en les regroupant en petites formations. Qu'il s'agisse de thmes musicaux prpars ou improviss, les vertus caches des interprtes sont rvles dans ce contexte particulier, au grand bonheur du public. Ces soires runissent musiciens, chanteurs, rappeurs et potes dans une ambiance cabaret/club de jazz trs chaleureuse. Les artistes y prsentent des titres indits, dans l'intensit du moment prsent : une forme de simplicit, d'honntet.

Jason Selman occupe la scne montralaise depuis 10 ans comme trompettiste, pote et artiste engag. Il est notamment membre du collectif Kalm Unity, du groupe de hip hop Nomadic Massive et anime aussi des ateliers au Black Theater Workshop. Depuis 2005, Jason a commenc produire les soires Intimate Sky, une srie de posie et de musique qui s'inscrit dans le prolongement des activits du collectif Kalm Unity. www.kalmunity.com

On peut se procurer les billets pour ces reprsentations au cot exceptionnel de 12 $ en se prsentant la billetterie du MAI, situe au 3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, en composant le (514) 982-3386 ou en visitant le site http://ticket.boxxo.info/

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The Intimate Sky Series returns to the MAI on March 13
"Send Me a Piece of Your Soul"
A brilliant improvised collective performance

Chapter 11 - "Send me a piece of your soul" - Friday, March 13, 2009 at 8 p.m.
Chapter 12 - Friday, April 10 at 8pm, 2009 with Nomadic Massive

Montreal, February 27 2009 - Following up on its successful debut last October, the Intimate Sky Series, produced by trumpet player Jason "Blackbird" Selman, continues in the caf of the MAI (Montral, arts interculturels) with a second acoustic concert on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. This series of constantly evolving performances, bringing together many different artists merging jazz, soul, reggae, hip hop and spoken word, is part of the MAI's Circulation music series.

"Send me a piece of your soul" is the featured theme of this 11th edition of Intimate Sky. Once again, the group will divide up into trios composed of two singers and a musician. With the aim of creating heightened exchange between the artists on stage, the singers will be exchanging lyrics with the other vocalist in their respective trio. The Intimate Sky series will present its final show of the season on April 10 with an explosive collaboration between members of Kalm Unity and the band Nomadic Massive.

The Intimate Sky Series is rooted in the rediscovery of the members of the 70-artists collective Kalm Unity, and highlights their lesser-known talents by bringing them together in smaller groups. Whether through improvised or composed pieces, the hidden gifts of these artists will be highlighted in this special setting, to the great pleasure of the audience. These events bring together musicians, singers, rappers, and poets in an intimate jazz club/cabaret atmosphere, where artists give fresh, spontaneous performances highlighted by a bare-bones simplicity.

Jason Selman has been part of the Montreal music scene for the last 10 years as trumpeter, poet, and socially engaged artist. He is a member of the collective Kalm Unity, Nomadic Massive, and also leads workshops at Black Theatre Workshop. He produces the Intimate Sky music and poetry series within the framework of Kalm Unity's activities.www.kalmunity.com

Tickets to these performances can be purchased for only 12$ at the MAI's Box Office at 3680 Jeanne-Mance Street, by calling (514) 982-3386 or by visiting this website http://ticket.boxxo.info/

Nathaniel Dett Chorale Celebrates 10 Years of Music


Nathaniel Dett Chorale Celebrates 10 Years of Music


The Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, Attends Event


Toronto The halls of the Glenn Gould Studio were echoing with the joyful sounds of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, one of Canadas most renowned musical groups, for the celebration of its 10th Anniversary year. The February 25th concert, entitled Voices of a Diaspora ... Dett to Africa, marked the close of Black History Month and was a powerful combination of favourite R. Nathaniel Dett compositions and exciting contemporary Afrocentric premires.


Joining the friends and supporters of the Chorale, was the Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture. The Minister spoke about Ontarios vibrant arts community and also noted how the Chorale is using a three-year, $280,500 grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation last year.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has worked hard to bring Afrocentric music to the people of this province. Ontario is delighted to help them expand their work in raising awareness and instilling pride in African heritage, said Culture Minister Aileen Carroll.


The funds are helping to continue to build on the Chorales organizational capacity by expanding on outreach initiatives helping high school students and youth to learn about Afrocentric music. It will also allow the Chorale to engage more volunteers to help build on this program and to further expand website and technological capabilities.


We are very grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their ongoing support, says Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, the founder, Artistic Director and conductor of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. With this assistance we will be able to continue to empower a new generation of singers to demonstrate leadership and mentorship in their home schools, and to seek unity through music and celebration.


The 10th Anniversary of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale is proving to be a memorable one. On January 20th, the Chorale performed at the invitation of the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC to help commemorate the inauguration of US President, Barack Obama. The group was also asked to sing at the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian Out of Many festival concert on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19th.


The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada's first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Mr. Blyden-Taylor founded the chorale in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music.


The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

2009 NAC Gala: a Magical Evening with Yo-Yo Ma and Pinchas Zukerman on Oct. 3


The 2009 NAC Gala offers a Magical Evening with Yo-Yo Ma and the NAC Orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman on Oct. 3

Ottawa, Canada Yo-Yo Ma is the greatest cellist today. Everything he touches he turns to gold...gorgeous, almost voluptuous playing. Boston Herald

The National Arts Centre is delighted to announce that superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the most popular artist in classical music today, will return as special guest for the 2009 NAC Gala on Saturday, October 3. Music Director Pinchas Zukerman will lead the National Arts Centre Orchestra for this Magical Evening with Yo-Yo Ma, presented by TELUS. The fundraising evening benefits the National Youth and Education Trust which provides funds for the NACs wide array of performing arts programming for young artists, young audiences and schools.

Yo-Yo Ma has been a cultural beacon for decades. Young and old flock to his sold-out concerts, coming away moved, thrilled, and inspired. This astonishing artist has performed at the Oscars, the Grammys, the Olympics, and recently before a live audience of over a million at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. He returns to the NAC Orchestra to perform Dvorks beloved Cello Concerto with the NACs own luminary Pinchas Zukerman leading the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Additional programming will be announced at a later date.

There will be a pre-concert reception for all patrons at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 6:30 p.m. Those who purchase Encore Seating will join Gala sponsors at a post-concert reception, followed by dinner on the Southam Hall stage.

Subscribers who sign up for the 2009-2010 National Arts Centre Orchestra season, which will be announced on March 3, will benefit from a priority purchasing period from April 1 to 15 before tickets go on sale to the general public on May 18.

The NAC is honoured once again to have TELUS, Founding Partner of the National Youth and Education Trust, as the Presenting Sponsor of the Gala a commitment that reflects TELUSs continuing support of this primary resource for supporting the artistic development of young Canadians through educational materials, professional training, mentoring programs and young audience performances. The Trust is also supported by Michael Potter and Vronique Dhieux, supporters and patrons of the National Arts Centre Gala, and members of the NAC Foundations Donors Circle.

The NAC is delighted to announce that Janet Yale, TELUS executive vice president, Corporate Affairs, has agreed to chair the Gala Committee for the fourth year.

Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents living in Paris. He began to study the cello with his father at age four and soon came with his family to New York, where he spent most of his formative years. Later, his principal teacher was Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School. He sought out a traditional liberal arts education to expand upon his conservatory training, graduating from Harvard University in 1976. He has received numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards from his discography of over 75 albums, the Avery Fisher Prize (1978), the Glenn Gould Prize (1999), the National Medal of the Arts (2001), and the World Economic Forums Crystal Award (2008). Appointed a CultureConnect Ambassador by the United States Department of State in 2002, Yo-Yo Ma has met with, trained and mentored thousands of students worldwide. In 2006, Secretary General Kofi Annan named him a U.N. Messenger of Peace and in 2007 Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon extended his appointment.

Pinchas Zukerman has been Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 1998, and his genius and prodigious technique have been a marvel to critics and audiences for over four decades. He is equally respected as a violinist, violist, conductor, and chamber musician while his dedication to teaching has been a major catalyst for many of the education initiatives supported by the National Youth and Education Trust. Pinchas Zukerman's discography contains over 100 titles, and has earned him 21 Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards. He was named first-prize winner of the 1969 Leventritt Competition, and, in 1983, President Reagan awarded him a Medal of Arts for his leadership in the musical world. In October 2002, he became the first recipient of the Isaac Stern Award for Artistic Excellence at the National Arts Awards Gala in New York City.

Pinchas Zukerman and the National Arts Centre Orchestra donate their services for the NACs annual Gala.

Concert tickets for the NAC Gala on Saturday, October 3 are priced at $70, $125 and $150 and include the pre-concert reception with wine and canaps at 5:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 6:30 p.m. These go on sale on April 1 to members of the NAC Donors Circle and to subscribers to the National Arts Centre Orchestras 2009-2010 season which goes on sale on March 3. Orders can be made only with a valid order form which will be accepted online, by mail, by fax, or dropped off in person in the NAC Box Office from Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. This priority period lasts until April 15. The Box Office opens to the general public on May 18.

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PSO Welcomes Grammy Award-Winning Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, March 24

PSO Welcomes Grammy Award-Winning Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, March 24

PORTLAND, Maine For a concert featuring Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique," and other celebrated works, the Portland Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor JoAnn Falletta, winner of two 2009 Grammy Awards, and guest violinist Michael Ludwig. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland.

The PSO's Symphony 'Pathetique' concert opens with Robert Schumann's Overture to Manfred, Op. 115. Guest soloist Michael Ludwig joins the PSO for Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, one of the most celebrated works of the violin concerto repertoire.

The program closes with the Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique," by Tchaikovsky. Exquisitely passionate and intensely emotional, with some of the most beautiful music ever written, the composer considered it "the best and most open-hearted" of his works.

Guest conductor JoAnn Falletta, acclaimed by The New York Times as "one of the finest conductors of her generation," serves as the Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. This season, her 10th with the BPO, a recording by the Orchestra received a double Grammy Award for the first time in its history. The world premiere recording of John Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man was honored for Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Both on and off the podium, Maestro Falletta is a vibrant ambassador for music and an inspiring artistic leader.

Violinist Michael Ludwig has been hailed by Strad Magazine for his "effortless, envy-provoking techniqueĶ sweet tone, brilliant expression, and grand style." Ludwig enjoys a multi-faceted career as a recording artist, chamber musician, and as a highly sought-after soloist he has performed on four continents with the likes of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. He is Concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, under Ms. Falletta.

Sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Concert Conversation led by Maestra Falletta at 6:15 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall. A radio broadcast of the performance can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) on April 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets range from $17-$65 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com, and new this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Phone and internet orders are subject to $5-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

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OSM / It's better with Orchestra! : Dress rehearsal open to the public

It's Better with Orchestra! : Dress rehearsal open to the public

Be the first to experience a unique encounter between the worlds of radio and classical music

Tickets at $30 / $15 for 15 to 30 year olds

In light of the strong demand for tickets to the concert It's Better with Orchestra!, the OSM is unusually opening its dress rehearsal to the general public. That rehearsal will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2009, at 10 a.m. in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts. Under the direction of Maestro Kent Nagano, this will be the sole opportunity, for those who have been unable to obtain tickets for the concert itself (taking place that same afternoon), to hear the world premiere of the Concerto for radio host and orchestra.

Inspired by the radio program C'est bien meilleur le matin and its intimate and friendly formula, the work, commissioned by the OSM from composer Simon Leclerc (music of Dracula and of the movie Le dernier continent) will feature three big names from French-language radio: host Ren Homier-Roy along with journalists Catherine Perrin (entertainment) and Marc Laurendeau (press review) from the same program, which has aired on the Premire Chane service of Radio-Canada since 1997. The three guest "soloists" will blend their voices with those of the instruments of the Orchestra in a dialogue, in music and words, on subjects of current interest.

"The first time Kent Nagano talked to me about the project I thought he was joking," confesses composer Simon Leclerc. "Mr. Nagano explained to me that he was fascinated by the virtuosity of the host and by the musicality that the show C'est bien meilleur le matin gave off. He wanted to transpose that world to an original work for symphony orchestra. After thinking about it for a few months, I suggested I compose a concerto for radio host and orchestra, a work inspired both by the concerto grosso and by the symphonic poem. He was excited by the idea." From current affairs to the performing arts by way of sports and the weather, Homier-Roy, Perrin and Laurendeau will guide listeners through a work in which instruments also have "something to say."

"Surprisingly," says host Ren Homier-Roy, "I never thought it was a joke. The Maestro's extreme intensity when he was making those strange remarks that what we were doing was something like music, that the rhythm of the show had a musicality of its own, and likewise our voices his seriousness and the sparkle I saw in his eye led me to believe, right away, that this crazy idea he had in his head was infinitely interesting. And it turns out I was right..."

The stage at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier will be set up like a radio studio with microphones and the traditional half-moon desk, helping bring to life the complete experience of a radio morning show for music lovers. The ninety-minute program will begin with the outstanding violinist Viviane Hagner in a performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto, a composition both spiritual and intense. Rounding off the program will be Ottorino Respighi's remarkable symphonic poem The Pines of Rome, one of the OSM's biggest hits on disc.

Tickets for this dress rehearsal in the Musical Sundays series are available now at a cost of $30. A new feature this year at the OSM: those between the ages of fifteen and thirty can attend all concerts in the regular-season programming for only $15 per concert. To get your tickets and not miss out on this very special rendezvous, contact the box office at (514) 842-9951 or visit our website at www.osm.ca.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

La chance : Nouvel album de Nathalie Renault


La pianiste et chanteuse Nathalie Renault se prpare lancer son tout nouvel opus intitul La chance le jeudi 12 mars 2009 18 h au Salon tudiant du Pavillon Jeanne-de-Valois de l'Universit de Moncton, le vendredi 13 mars 17 h au foyer du Centre culturel de Caraquet et le samedi 14 mars 20 h la Galerie Restigouche de Campbellton, au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Au cours des derniers mois, Nathalie Renault a foul le Sol de la gamme des motions, de la cration et de la production. De note en note, sa route tantt parseme de dfis, de silences et de belles rencontres lui aura ouvert les horizons vers ce qu'elle appelle : Le Tournant Renault : Sa route vers La chance.

Nathalie, qui a travaill ce projet depuis plus d'un an, s'est entour de superbes musiciens tels Coral Egan, Sylvain Provost, Kevin Dean, Richard Gagnon et Charles Papasoff. Ce dernier, qui a remport le Flix du meilleur ralisateur de l'anne l'ADISQ en 2004, s'est galement associ ce projet titre de ralisateur en plus de co-arranger l'album avec Nathalie.

On pourrait qualifier le disque d'un bouquet de vivaces multicolores dont les racines sont faites de pop, de jazz, de swing feutr, de bossa et de ballade , explique l'artiste. Celle que l'on considre comme la perle du paysage musical pop jazz actuel partage toujours sa crativit d'auteure avec d'autres paroliers tels que Jules Boudreau, France Bonneau et Patrick Gonzlez. Quant aux musiques, elles portent toutes la signature Renault.

La chance de Nathalie Renault, c'est un album de 11 nouvelles chansons. Une interprtation marquante de La chanson des vieux amants de Jacques Brel boucle avec inspiration cette suite de dlices auditifs. Saisissez La chance !

La chance sera distribu par Distribution Plages (www.plages.net).

Premier extrait pour les radios

Le premier extrait est la chanson Moi-mme. Les paroles sont de Jules Boudreau et Nathalie Renault et la musique est de Nathalie Renault. C'est une chanson que je pourrais qualifier de girl talk sur l'album... avec bien sr un sourire en coin. Les paroles refltent en quelque sorte la difficult d'tre soi-mme ou de s'accepter rellement comme on est. Je la personnalise bien entendu mais je crois que la majorit des femmes peuvent se l'approprier, s'identifier elle. la fin, a se termine avec le plaisir d'tre totalement soi, belle et fminine jusqu'au bout ! Et c'est tant mieux. Musicalement, c'est rigolo, up tempo et bien envelopp d'harmonies vocales avec un son swing des annes 30 , explique l'artiste.

Oh ! Dis-moi pourquoi // Est-ce si difficile d'tre soi-mme

Toujours ce dsir d'tre plus riche // Plus belle, plus grande, plus mince

Oh ! Dis-moi pourquoi // Est-ce si difficile, d'tre soi !

Notes biographiques de Nathalie Renault

Auteure compositrice et interprte de souche acadienne, Nathalie Renault vous invite aux frontires du jazz, de la pop et de l'enchantement... Titulaire d'un certificat d'tudes universitaires en jazz et d'un baccalaurat et musique, la pianiste-chanteuse originaire de Campbellton au N.-B. a parcouru le Qubec, le Nouveau-Brunswick et l'Europe au cours des dernires annes. Le cur prs du jazz et de la chanson pop, elle prouve de faon concluante, que russir le mariage de diffrents genres musicaux est une question de matrise et de vocation. Et a s'entend: une brillante construction mlodique, une interprtation touchante et une voix exceptionnelle, chaude et puissante. Elle n'a srement pas fini de nous tonner !

Son compagnon insparable, c'est le piano, dont elle semble connatre toutes les subtilits. Dire qu'elle s'accompagne au piano, ce ne serait pas rendre justice cette intimit, cette complicit qui existe entre l'instrument et la voix. Elle interprte ses chansons la voix et au piano. Elle dit d'ailleurs : Je me sers de ma voix comme d'un instrument. C'est tout fait juste; et on pourrait dire tout aussi justement qu'elle se sert du piano comme d'une seconde voix. Elle joue de la voix, chante du piano, mle les deux ensemble en un contrepoint expressif. Autant lorsqu'elle caresse le texte que lorsqu'elle excute un scat, elle sait user des subtilits du phras, des inflexions de timbre, des variations de volume pour enrichir la musicalit de son excution.

Moins de deux ans aprs son album solo Live at the Jazzhaus Freiburg, Germany , Nathalie Renault sort Creuser des Ocans dans lequel elle poursuit son aventure dans le jazz vocal. La chanteuse et musicienne produit et ralise elle-mme ce deuxime album. Pour ce tout nouvel opus, l'artiste a dcid cette fois-ci de s'entourer de Charles Papasoff (Meilleur ralisateur l'ADISQ 2004) afin d'explorer de nouveaux horizonsĶ

Sur disque, Nathalie est superbe, devant un public aussi! On apprcie son talent et la chaleur de son interprtation. Le contact se fait, la communication s'tablit, et chacun des auditeurs a le sentiment qu'elle chante pour lui, ou pour elle. Elle dit nos bonheurs fugitifs, nos angoisses, nos dceptions, nos embches, et elle nous rassure; au bout de tout, il y a la vie. Nathalie Renault est une vivante.

Ce qui rend son interprtation attachante, c'est son apparente fragilit. C'est une fragilit qui cache une volont tenace, une force de caractre peu commune. En scne, elle est belle, d'une beaut resplendissante. C'est peut-tre le grain de sa peau qui est particulirement avantag par la lumire des projecteurs. Ou alors c'est cette belle motion qui rayonne de l'intrieur.

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Vernissage: Galerie Wilder & Davis: Inde & Laos


INDE & LAOS

par

Elizabeth Knox

Vernissage : vendredi 6 mars 18 h 30

du 6 mars au 29 mai 2009

La galerie Wilder & Davis a l'honneur de prsenter les uvres photographiques de Elizabeth Knox du 6 mars au 29 mai 2009. Les photographies prsentes proposent une tonnante reprsentation de l'Inde et du Laos, de leurs terres et habitants magnifiques. Les portraits slectionns, les paysages et les scnes de la vie quotidienne, sont non seulement un kalidoscope de couleurs et de textures, mais se veulent aussi tre tmoins de la dignit et de la fiert des sujets photographis.

Mme si beaucoup vivent dans la misre, Elizabeth Knox a t surprise de trouver au cours de son voyage, des personnes enthousiastes et rceptives l'approche de son objectif. Au-del des diffrences de cultures et de langues, la photographe a saisi de rares et prcieuses occasions d'tablir avec l'indigne un rapport immdiat et intime. En dtournant dlibrment notre attention des conditions de vie atroces de ses sujets, elle produit l'impact visuel.

Ces photographies explorent aussi bien l'ordre et le sacr que le chaos et le profane, et elles nous donnent accs une force inexplicable qui contribue l'quilibre de la vie quotidienne de cette socit. Les images du Laos, au contraire, prsentent un univers relaxant, moins peupl, et principalement rural, o le rythme de vie y est beaucoup plus lent et paisible qu'en Inde. En fait, ces images prenantes amnent rflchir et clbrent la beaut : d'un paysage, d'une personne, d'un rituel ou d'une culture aux fabuleux contrastes.

Le grand public et les mdias sont cordialement invits rencontrer l'artiste l'occasion du vernissage, vendredi 6 mars partir de 18 h 30.


Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter Elizabeth Barbosa, responsable de la galerie (514) 289-0849

Heures d'ouverture: du lundi au samedi de 9 h 30 18 h 00.

Lieu :

Wilder & Davis, 257 rue Rachel Est (entre Henri-Julien et Laval, metro Mont-Royal)

wilder_davis@yahoo.com.

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The COCs 2008/09 Fall and Winter Runs Continue the Trend and Pack the House at 100%


Toronto, Ontario The Canadian Opera Company is proud to announce that the winter run of the 2008/09 season Fidelio and Rusalka has played to 100% capacity. These two operas join Don Giovanni and War and Peace both of which also played to 100% attendance last fall. Since the opening of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in 2006 the COC has sustained a season attendance average of 99%.

Fidelio and Rusalka, which both closed this week, received critical praise. The winter run began with the "well sung and well conducted" (Classical 96.3) Fidelio and continued with Dvok's Rusalka, hailed "absolutely necessary viewing for opera veterans and newbies alike" (National Post). An "electrifying" (Eye Weekly)

Don Giovanni opened the fall season followed by the COC premiere of the "unmissable" (Globe and Mail)

War and Peace.

Continuing the 2008/09 season is Verdi's powerful Simon Boccanegra which opens on April 11, 2009 and runs for eight performances. On April 17, the COC opens its very popular production of La Bohme which runs for 12 performances. The final production of the 2008/09 mainstage season opens May 5 with a luminous new production of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream which runs for eight performances.

Subscriptions for the 2009/10 season went on sale to current subscribers on January 7, 2009 with a renewal deadline of April 30, 2009. Subscriptions go on sale to the general public, May 4, 2009 at 10 a.m.

Single tickets for the spring run go on sale Monday, March 2, 2009 and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office

(145 Queen St. W., Toronto).

Production Sponsor of Don Giovanni: RBC Financial Group

Production Sponsor of Fidelio: National Bank Financial Group

Production Co-sponsors of La Bohme: CIBC World Markets and CIBC Mellon

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The company's new home, the

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canada's first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.

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Canadian Talent Takes Centre Stage in the COC's Enduringly Popular La Bohme


Toronto, Ontario The Canadian Opera Companys spring season continues with a COC revival of one of the worlds most popular operas, Giacomo Puccinis La Bohme. The young and almost entirely Canadian cast is led by COC Ensemble Studio graduates, critically-acclaimed soprano Frdrique Vzina and vibrant lyric tenor David Pomeroy. Sharing the podium and leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus are conductor Julian Kovatchev, who conducted the COCs 2004 production of Rigoletto, and COC resident conductor Derek Bate. Ensemble graduate, Maer Gronsdal Powell, who recently acted as assistant director of RusalkaWar and Peace, directs this operatic favourite. and the triumphant

La Bohme runs for 12 performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, April 17, 19, 25, 30, May 4, 9, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22 and 24, 2009 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLESѢ.

Last performed by the COC in 2005, La Bohme is set in the raucous streets of Pariss Latin Quarter in the 1830s and explores the love and lives of two young bohemians. Qubcoise soprano Frdrique Vzina, who performed at the 2006 Inaugural Celebrations for the Four Seasons Centre, returns to the COC stage to sing the role of the fragile seamstress Mim. Rising star tenor David Pomeroy, who sang title role in Faust and Skuratov in From the House of the Dead, is Mims lover, the poet Rodolfo. New Zealand soprano Anna Leese makes her North American debut as the spirited and flirtatious, Musetta, and recent Ensemble graduate baritone Peter Barrett returns as Musettas lover, the painter Marcello. Former Ensemble baritone Jon-Paul Dcosse is Schaunard, a musician, and last seasons Figaro, former Ensemble bass Robert Gleadow, reprises the role he sang with the company in 2005, the philosopher Colline. Bass-baritone Thomas Goerz sings the roles of Benot, the blustering landlord, and Alcindoro, Musettas elderly admirer.

Although a success with audiences at its Turin premiere in 1896, critically La Bohme was given a cool reception. However, within six months it was considered Puccinis most popular work and has since been regarded as one of the worlds most-loved operas. The sets for the COCs production are designed by

Wolfram Skalicki with costumes by Amrei Skalicki. Stephen Ross creates the romantic Parisian lighting design.

Tickets for La Bohme are available Monday, March 2, 2009 online at www.coc.ca, or by calling

416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for all performances range from $65 to $315. Special young peoples tickets for La Bohme are priced from $34 to $109. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult.

Starting Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 10 a.m., $20 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 through the Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Student group tickets are $20 per student and may be purchased by calling 416-306-2356. Remaining Opera for a New Age tickets will be released as $20 rush seats at 11 a.m. the morning of the performance, subject to availability.

Production Co-sponsors of La Bohme: CIBC World Markets and CIBC Mellon

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLES: Sun Life Financial

Official Automotive Sponsor of the COC at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts:

Jaguar Land Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

The COC Ensemble Studio is Canadas premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Financial Group and other generous donors.

COC ANCILLARY EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 45 minutes prior to every performance.

Bohemian Bite: La Bohme

The Canadian Opera Company and Hilton Torontos Tundra Restaurant present an evening of cultural and culinary arts for patrons under 30 with Bohemian Bite: La Bohme, on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Young patrons can enjoy a prix-fixe dinner inspired by the drama of La Bohme, while learning about Puccinis passionate opera. Following the 5 p.m. dinner, guests will attend a performance of La Bohme at Canadas first purpose-built opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Participants must be under 30 years of age and provide a valid photo ID when purchasing tickets. The dinner and opera package is $70 and can be purchased at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto) or online at www.coc.ca. Tickets for the dinner and performance must be picked up at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office prior to the event.

Canadian Opera Company Podcast Series

The Canadian Opera Company and Universal Music present a FREE podcast series that explores the depths of music in opera. Podcasts are available for downloading or streaming on www.coc.ca or through Universal Music at www.getmusic.ca/classical. La Bohme-themed podcasts will be online starting in March 2009. These are entertaining programs designed to give listeners a chance to learn about opera, COC productions, and hear interviews from the artists and creative team. Throughout the year, listeners can tune in to hear music from the COCs 2008/09 season, discussions with special artists, as well as preview operas in the COCs 2009/10 season. Each podcast is created and hosted by COC personnel.

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The companys new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canadas first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.

Canadian Opera Company Website

The Canadian Opera Company website, at www.coc.ca, contains information on all productions including synopses, historical background, and production photographs.

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Kapilow and Gryphon to Unravel Beethoven

Unraveling Beethoven
Robert Kapilow and Gryphon Trio pair up for special presentation of Beethovens Archduke Trio on March 9

TORONTO Toronto can catch composer/conductor Robert Kapilow, dubbed "classical music's greatest evangelist" (Boston Herald), and the award-winning Gryphon Trio in a musical treasure hunt to explore Beethoven's Archduke Trio. The concert, presented as part of the Chamber Music Series, features Robert Kapilow in his insightful yet entertaining analysis of Beethoven's famous work, followed by a performance by the Gryphon Trio. Widely acclaimed for his knockout presentations that appeal to aficionados and neophytes
alike, Kapilow "commands an audiences attention and offers many useful methods to listen more carefully to great works. (New York Sun). The concert takes place on Monday, March 9 at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall, 80 Queens Park. Tickets ($25 adults and $15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

For more than 15 years, ROBERT KAPILOW has brought the joy and wonder of classical music and unraveled some of its mysteries to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Characterized by his unique ability to create an aha moment for his audiences and collaborators, whatever their level of musical sophistication or naivet, Kapilows work brings music into peoples lives: opening new ears to musical experiences and helping people to listen actively rather than just hear. As the Boston Globe said, Its a cheering thought that this kind of missionary enterprise did not pass from this earth with Leonard Bernstein. Rob Kapilow is awfully good at what he does. We need him.
Kapilows range of activities is astonishingly broad, including his What Makes It Great? presentations (now in their twelfth seasons in New York and Boston), his family compositions and FamilyMusik events, and his Citypieces. The reach of his interactive events and activities is wide, both geographically and culturally: from Native American tribal communities in Montana and inner-city high school students in Louisiana to wine-tasters in the Napa Valley, and from tots barely out of diapers to musicologists long out of Ivy League programs, his audiences are diverse and unexpected, but invariably rapt and keen to come back for more. Kapilows popularity and appeal are reflected in notable invitations and achievements: he appeared on NBCs Today Show in conversation with Katie Couric; he presented a special What Makes It Great? event for broadcast on PBSs Live From Lincoln Center in January 2008; and he has written a book All You Have To Do Is Listen which will be published by the new alliance between Wiley and Lincoln Center on October 1, 2008. A documentary film, named Summer Sun, Winter Moon after Kapilows choral/symphonic work of the same name, will trace the process of that works composition from its conception through to its premiere, and will be broadcast on public television in fall 2008/spring 2009. Website: www.robkapilow.com

"Rob Kapilow leaps into the void dividing music analysis from appreciation and fills it with exhilarating details and sensations. - New York Times

An educator, motivational speaker, and game show host, all rolled up in one ... Rob Kapilows insightful and entertaining programs ... often bring moments of revelation to even the most seasoned aficionados. Boston Globe


Now in their 16th year, the GRYPHON TRIO (Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin, Roman Borys, cello, Jamie Parker, piano) continues to delight audiences around the globe. Their celebrated recordings include works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Lalo, and Shostakovich. With a strong commitment to expanding the piano trio repertoire, the Trio has commissioned and premiered over 50 works. Their 2004 recording, Canadian Premieres, features the work of leading Canadian composers and was awarded a Juno. Their upcoming recording, Tango Nuevo, will represent their tenth CD for the Analekta label. Their complete recording of Schubert's piano trios has garnered a 2009 Juno Award nomination. As Canadas pre-eminent ensemble, the Trio continues to be actively involved in teaching and nurturing future generations of both classical musicians and audiences. All three members of the ensemble teach at the University of Torontos Faculty of Music where Jamie Parker is the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance. Strongly dedicated to pushing the boundaries of chamber music, their most ambitious undertaking has been the groundbreaking multimedia production of Christos Hatzis Constantinople which was presented by the Royal Opera House in the Linbury Studio in March 2007. In 2008, the Gryphon Trio were the Artistic Programming Directors of the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, a position they will resume for the 2009 Festival.

The three instruments join in a balance of rare perfection. - Le Soir, Brussels, Belgium

Ķdynamics of unusual depth and varietyĶ - The Washington Post


The Faculty of Music CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES brings to Walter Hall some of the worlds finest chamber music groups. Recent and upcoming performers include the Miro Quartet, Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, cellist Steven Isserlis, and the Gryphon Trio. For more information on this and other Faculty of Music concert series, please visit our website at www.music.utoronto.ca or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

###

Ticket sales and general inquiries:
Faculty of Music Box Office
Hours: 1 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Phone: 416-978-3744
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queens Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

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PSO Annual Wine Challenge & Auction, March 30


Portland Symphony Orchestra's Annual Wine Dinner Benefit Features Australian Wines and an Unusual Challenge for Chefs, March 30

FREEPORT, Maine The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO)'s eagerly awaited annual Wine Challenge and Auction turns the traditional standard of pairing wines with a particular menu on its head instead of matching wines to the food, chefs prepare each course to complement the wine selections. Held March 30 at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport beginning at 5:00 p.m., this year's benefit will feature Australian wines, world-class Maine chefs and live and silent auctions.

Presented by Acadia Trust, N.A. the Australian Wine Challenge features Peter Lehmann Wines from the Hess Fine Wine Estates. The festive evening begins with wine and hors d'oeuvres during the silent auction at 5:00 p.m. Following the silent auction, guests will begin a carefully-crafted multi-course meal representing Maine finest culinary talents including:
  • Jonathan Cartwright: Executive Chef, White Barn Inn, Kennebunkport
  • Steve Corry: Proprietor & Executive Chef, Five Fifty-Five, Portland
  • Mitchell Kaldrovich: Executive Chef, Inn By the Sea, Cape Elizabeth
  • Gallit Sammon: Chef de Cuisine, Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
  • Melody Wolfertz: Proprietor & Executive Chef, In Good Company, Rockland
Dinner is followed by the live auction and dessert beginning at 8:30 p.m. The live and silent auctions feature diverse and unusual items donated by Maine artists and businesses in support of the PSO. Items include exciting getaways, event tickets, fine dining, unique gifts, accommodations, services, jewelry and more. A highlight of the live auction offerings is a tour of Australian wine country.

All proceeds from the Australian Wine Challenge & Auction benefit the Portland Symphony Orchestra and its education and community outreach programs.

The Wine Challenge sells out quickly, but reservations can be made now by calling (207) 773-6128 x309 or emailing events@portlandsymphony.com. Tickets to the dinner are $150 each. Tables of ten guests may be hosted for $1,500.

For more information about the Portland Symphony Orchestra, its events and activities, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tiny Tots: Magical Melody Train Ride


Vancouver BC The VSO presents Tiny Tots: Magical Melody Train Ride on March 13th at 10:00am, 11:30am and 1:30pm at the Playhouse Theatre in Downtown Vancouver and March 14th at 10:00am and 11:30am at the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam. Dance and sing to music from the New World, focusing on the great classical composer Antonin Dvorak, in these interactive concerts that engage the entire family.

Tiny Tots is a 4-concert series for the little ones, from toddlers to five years of age, held in the intimate performance spaces of the Playhouse Theatre in Downtown Vancouver and the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam. This series features professional music educators and musicians, Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda also known as twin sisters Lisa Allison and Linda Sebenius a pair that is devoted to developing and presenting The Very Best Music for the Very YoungTM. Visit Lisa and Linda at www.musicshinemedia.com.

CONCERT INFO

Tiny Tots Series:

Magical Melody Train Ride

Friday, March 13, 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre

Saturday, March14, 10:00am, 11:30am, Terry Fox Theatre

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Featuring the Music of Dvorak. Dance and sing, by land and sea to music from the New World.

Adult Tickets $15, Child Tickets $7

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Premier Education Partner:

TELUS

Special Thanks:

The VSO's Tiny Tots series has been endowed by a generous gift from Mary and Gordon Christopher

BIOGRAPHIES

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Lisa G. Allison
Artistic Director (M.A. Music Education)
As Artistic Director, Lisa co-ordinates staging, set design, and costuming for live performances. In addition, Lisa is footage coordinator and lead editor for Music Shine Media video productions. When not performing with Let Your Music Shine and editing amazing footage, Lisa is a Voice/Performance Coach and Director of LGMusic Voice Studio and an Elementary Music Specialist for the Lake Washington School District.

Linda Sebenius
Music Director (B.A. Music Theory/Composition)
As Music Director, Linda is the lead orchestrator and arranger for Let Your Music Shine. Whether it is a brass quartet playing Beethoven's Fifth, or a string quartet playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Linda makes the magic of classical music come alive for the youngest listener. As a composer, Linda's original works were featured in the 2003 and 2005 New Works/New Hope concerts to benefit Gilda's Club. Linda also scores music for film and won a 1999 Nell Shipman award for the hilarious short film "Pendemonium."

For more information visit: www.musicshinemedia.com

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March Listings from RTH/MH/GGS


CHRISTOPHER ORILEY, PIANO

Wednesday, March 11 at 8 PM / GLENN GOULD STUDIO / $39.50

416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.roythomson.com

From his groundbreaking transcriptions of Radiohead to his unforgettable interpretations of classic and new repertoire, pianist Christopher O'Riley has redefined the possibilities of classical music. This evening's program features the work of Radiohead, Nick Drake and Elliott Smith.

Sponsored by XM Satellite Radio at Glenn Gould Studio.

COLIN LINDEN

Saturday, March 14, 2009 / GLENN GOULD STUDIO / $39.50

416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.roythomson.com

This concert marks a CD Release for the new album From The Water. A Grammy-nominated, singer/songwriter/guitarist and producer, Colin Linden is one of this countrys national treasures, who spent most of 2008 touring the world as guitarist for Emmylou Harris. He has performed with and produced some of the best in the business, including Colin James, Bruce Cockburn, Keb Mo, Lucinda Williams and continues to somehow find the time to still have a very prolific solo career.

ART GARFUNKEL

Saturday, March 14 at 8 PM / RTH / $89.50 - $39.50

416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.roythomson.com

His signature vocala stunning countertenor, both clear and resonantis instantly recognizable. One half of the iconic pop duo Simon & Garfunkel, his acting, songwriting, and sensitive interpretation of the American songbook, folk and rock & roll standards confirm his status: American icon.

THE CHIEFTAINS ON ST. PATRICKS DAY!

Tuesday, March 17 at 8 PM / RTH / $69.50 - $49.50

416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.roythomson.com

The Chieftains inspired the worldwide love affair with Celtic music over forty years ago and are just as popular today. This evening, celebrate St. Paddys and the Scottish-Irish connection with a trio of renowned Scottish musicians Alyth McCormack, Brian Mcalpine, and Jonny Hardie.

Presented by rbi productions.

THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE WITH YO-YO MA

Thursday, March 19 at 8 PM / RTH

Friday, March 20 at 8 PM / RTH

$149.50-$49.50 / 416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.roythomson.com

Under the leadership of beloved cellist Yo-Yo Ma, The Silk Road Project has been a catalyst for a new kind of conversation, opening avenues of inter-cultural communication and collaborative thinking. Since its inception ten years ago, the Silk Road Ensemble has traveled the globe, reaching new audiences, educating young and old. These concerts feature traditional works of the countries along the Silk Road and newly commissioned works from both established and emerging composers.

Presented in association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

March 19 is sponsored by ENBRIDGE; March 20 is sponsored by LEXUS.

MAVIS STAPLES WITH SPECIAL GUEST JAMES HUNTER

Saturday, March 21 at 8 PM / MH / $69.50 - $49.50

416 872 4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office at King & Simcoe / www.masseyhall.com

Mavis Staples blazes a rhythm & blues trail, without relinquishing her gospel roots. Shes a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, and her remarkable gifts inspire, heal and uplift. Grammy Award nominated James Hunter gets it all rolling with infectious vocal and guitar performances, clever songwriting and a skin-tight band.

RTH: 60 Simcoe Street (corner of King Street & Simcoe Street)

MH: 178 Victoria Street (corner of Shuter Street, just east of Yonge Street)

GGS: 250 Front Street West (at John Street)

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Sandra Le Couteur sur une compilation en Asie


Sandra Le Couteur sur une compilation en Asie

(Moncton, 24 fvrier 2009) La chanson Cest extra de lartiste acadienne Sandra Le Couteur a t choisie pour faire partie dune compilation en Asie via la maison de production Hinote base Taiwan. La sortie de la compilation Parfums de Paris qui regroupe 22 chansons francophones de grandes dames de la chanson est prvue pour lt prochain.

Gina Thai de la maison de production asiatique a trouv la chanson un peu par hasard sur cdbaby, un site qui est affili avec Itunes et qui distribue lalbum de la chanteuse sur le web. Cest mon agent franais Jean-Claude Vasseur qui ma appris la bonne nouvelle et qui ma crit pour me dire que des gens de Taiwan voulaient la chanson Cest extra. Cela reprsente une trs belle opportunit pour moi, car cet album sera distribu en Asie et sur le web. Les gens auront ainsi la chance de me dcouvrir en tant quartiste et qui sait, peut-tre cela mouvrira des portes sur le march asiatique , lance Sandra Le Couteur visiblement emballe par cette belle vitrine sur le continent asiatique.

Un nouveau disque pour lt

Sandra Le Couteur sera en studio pour lenregistrement dun tout nouvel album en mars et avril prochain. Le nouvel album sannonce quelque peu diffrent du premier avec des mlodies plus accessibles et radiophoniques que le premier, mais qui gardera la richesse des textes. De nombreux collaborateurs participeront cet album dont Michel Marin, Catherine Boulanger, Bruno Roy, Yves Savard, Rene Blanchar, Georgette LeBlanc, Carl Philippe Gionet, Diane Roy Friolet et Valry Robichaud. La sortie de lalbum est prvue pour lt prochain.

Spectacles venirĶ

Lhiver se veut tout aussi occup pour Sandra qui se rendra Cornerbrook, Terre-Neuve et Labrador, le 28 fvrier prochain afin de prendre part au Cabaret francophone des ECMA. Elle sera aussi en spectacle le 5 mars prochain au Ghota Lounge Montral avec comme artiste invite le comdien Emmanuel Bilodeau qui interprtera deux chansons de Regianni.

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Shannon Mercer & Skye Consort - Chansons galloises - AN2 9965


Montral, le 24 fvrier 2009 Shannon Mercer, l'une des toiles montantes les plus brillantes de l'univers lyrique canadien, qu'on retrouve notamment sur l'enregistrement Analekta Bach et l'anne liturgique, en nomination pour un Juno 2009, nous propose ici une incursion dans la musique folklorique galloise en compagnie du Skye Consort.

Pour ceux qui connaissent Shannon Mercer comme chanteuse classique, ce choix peut sembler trange. Pourtant, cette culture a model sa vie. Cette musique, cette culture et ce patrimoine gallois sont justement les raisons pour lesquelles je suis devenue chanteuse, explique-t-elle. Mon pre avait toujours dmontr sa passion et son amour de la musique. Il dcouvrit l'Ottawa Welsh Society et commena chanter avec les Gwalia Singers. Petite fille, j'ai pu poursuivre cette tradition et, l'ge de 15 ans, j'ai voyag jusqu' Llangollen, au Pays de Galles pour participer au Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Les chants choisis pour cet enregistrement datent du dbut du XIXe sicle et se veulent un mlange de pages familires et moins connues. Ils transcendent les poques et les genres, mais surtout racontent le priple d'un peuple passionn, travers des thmes de jeunesse innocente et d'amour, de joie et de peine, de naissance et de mort. Ils abordent aussi bien les multiples visages de l'amour comme dans Y Deryn Pur, Fenyw Fwyn ou la clbre berceuse galloise Suo Gn que l'importance des souvenirs dans le folklore gallois comme le dmontrent Y Gydd, dans lequel une vieille femme voque ses preuves que dans le lancinant Dafydd y Gareg Wen. Les arrangements de ces airs, certains conus pour tre chants et d'autres danss, ont t travaills par Sen Dagher afin de redfinir harmonie, contrechant et rythme.

Encense par la critique internationale pour son tonnant talent, Shannon Mercer a t salue comme l'une des plus prometteuses jeunes sopranos au Canada et l'une des Leaders du futur (Maclean's). On a dcrit sa voix comme chatoyante, lumineuse et scintillante ainsi que soulign la finesse, l'esprit et le piquant de son jeu. Au cours de la saison 2008-2009, Shannon a particip plusieurs productions de La Flte enchante Hamilton, Toronto, Victoria et London (Ontario) mais a aussi chant avec le Vancouver Chamber Choir, Symphony Nova Scotia, Les Violons du Roy ainsi qu'en concert lors de la OffCentre Series de Toronto.

Fond en 1999, Skye Consort se produit en tourne, participe des festivals de musique de chambre et des sries de concerts dans l'est du Canada et aux tats-Unis. L'ensemble s'est fix pour but d'insuffler l'esthtique et l'intrt de la musique savante des musiques du monde de diverses traditions.

www.analekta.com

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Shannon Mercer & Skye Consort - Wales, The Land of Song - AN2 9965


Montreal, February 24, 2009 Shannon Mercer, one of Canada's most promising brilliant rising stars, featured recently on the Analekta recording Bach and the Liturgical Year, nominated for a Juno, invites us to discover the Welsh folksong repertoire with the Skye Consort.

To those who know the singer as a classical vocalist, this album may seem odd but this is the culture that shaped her path in life. "This music, this Welsh culture and heritage is the reason I became a singer," she explains. "My father always showed a passion and love for music. He discovered the Ottawa Welsh Society and began to sing with the Gwalia Singers. As a girl, I was able to carry on this inherited tradition when, at the age of 15, I travelled to Llangollen, Wales to sing in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod."

The folksongs presented on this recording, a mix of familiar and not-so-familiar, date back to the 1800s. They transcend time and gender, melding themes of innocent youth and love, joy and sadness, birth and death and tell the journey of an honest and passionate people. Love is a common theme as in Y Deryn Pur, Fenyw Fwyn or the famous Welsh lullaby Suo Gnas memory, as in the old maid who is tediously weaving on the loom as she recalls her hardships in Y Gydd or the tragic and haunting Dafydd y Gareg Wen. Many of these songs, whether song melodies or dance tunes, are very well-known and Sen Dagher spent a great deal of time deciding which elements of previous arrangements (harmony, counter-melody, even rhythm) to keep and which to set aside.

Critically acclaimed by the international press for her musical artistry, Shannon Mercer has been hailed as "one of Canada's most promising young sopranos" and a "Leader of Tomorrow" (Maclean's). The 2008-2009 season features Shannon in multiple productions of The Magic Flute including performances in Hamilton, Toronto, Victoria, and London (Ontario). Season highlights include concerts with the OffCentre Series in Toronto, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Symphony Nova Scotia, and Les Violons du Roy.

Skye Consort was formed in 1999 and since then has toured and participated in music festivals and concert series across eastern Canada and the United States. The group's goal is to bring art-music aesthetic and interest to the music of different world traditions.

www.analekta.com


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Monday, February 23, 2009

Bye Bye Baby (in French), Imago & Monument-National - March 19-28


Bye Bye Baby

By Elyse Gasco, Translated by Maryse Warda

Directed by Clare Schapiro

March 19-28, 2009

"Just give me her name. I won't even look for her. But at least I'll have something real." - Ellie

MONTREAL, February 2009 - Imago Theatre, in association with the Monument-National, is proud to present the French-language translation of Elyse Gasco's acclaimed success, Bye Bye Baby, directed anew by Clare Schapiro. The play first premiered in English in 2004 to critical and audience ovation and was subsequently remounted as part of Centaur Theatre's 2005-06 season. Bye Bye Baby is a dramatic comedy about truth, redemption and forgiveness- not to mention a secret desire to be Joni Mitchell's kin.

Bye Bye Baby follows Ellie, an adopted woman, on her journey through the labyrinth of Quebec's adoption laws (the strictest in Canada) towards the discovery of her birth mother. Her quest is made all the more pivotal by the arrival of her first child. All too aware of the questions of identity that her new baby will present, she is determined to solve the riddle of her life, once and for all.

"If you don't have a birth mother, one will be appointed to you by your imagination."- Playwright

Ellie's magical, metaphorical world collides with her concrete day-to-day experiences. In this contemporary mystery, four "suspects" (the elusive Birth Mother, the chatty imaginary friend, the Adoptive Mother and the orally-fixated social worker) make their intentions clear and argue a justifiable defence for their presence or absence in Ellie's life. Filled with zany humour and theatrical imagination, Bye Bye Baby is funny, witty and moving. Director Clare Schapiro addresses the relevancy of the piece, "The issue of identity is so pertinent to Quebec and a political context far beyond." She continues, "At its heart, Bye Bye Baby is about who we are and our right to information. It is human nature to question our roots."

Speaking to current concerns, playwright Elyse Gasco adds, "For our society as a whole, the issues surrounding adoption will only become more complicated. With all the other peculiar twists surrogate motherhood, anonymous egg and sperm donors it is really an emotional and biological issue whose time has come."

Clare, who is also the artistic director of Imago Theatre, is thrilled to initiate this French language premiere, "Imago has always enjoyed working together with members of the French theatre community. We love the way it influences how we create our work." This French-language production has been recast and redesigned. The lauded cast includes Martine-Marie Lalande as Ellie, Nathalie Claude as her Alter Ego, Dominique Leduc as the Adoptive Mother, Mathilde Monnard as the Imaginary Birthmother and Felicia Shulman reprises her role as social worker Babs DuBois.

Escorting us into Ellie's world with their strong imagistic designs are Yannik Larive (set), Amy Keith (costumes), David Perreault Ninacs (lights) and Isabelle Lussier (music). Luciana Burcheri returns as both the assistant director and stage manager.

Opening night events

Maryse Warda's translation will be published by L'instant mme. The play, inspired by Elyse Gasco's award-winning book of short stories; Can You Wave Bye Bye, Baby?, will be available for purchase at the theatre during the run, as well as in bookstores as of March 19th. The publisher is hosting a cocktail reception on opening night in honour of the book's official launch, inviting all in attendance to stay after the performance to toast this local success story and meet the artists involved.

Imago Theatre won both the MECCA (Montreal English Critics Circle Awards) and AQCT (Association qubcoise des critiques du thtre) Best English Production award last season for The Baroness and The Pig. Representatives from AQCT will be in attendance on opening night to present the award.

"I have to stop myself from remembering a pregnancy I never had." -Adoptive Mother

Bye Bye Baby in French

Imago Thtre

Au Monument-National, Studio Hydro-Qubec

1182, boulevard Saint-Laurent

-ten shows only-

Tuesday to Saturday at 8:30 pm

Matinee: Saturdays at 2pm

Reservations: 514-871-2224

Tickets: $20 regular, $18 students/seniors (tax and service charges apply)

Group rates available: 514-274-3222

www.imagotheatre.ca

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Laudate Singers present VOICE OF THE TANGO

Laudate Singers present

VOICE of the TANGO

with

Douglas Schmidt, bandoneon

Kay Sleking, guitar


Saturday March 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm

St. David's United Church, West Vancouver

and

Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Capilano University Performing Arts Theatre, North Vancouver


Tickets $25 / $20 / Free for ages 17 & under (reservation required)

For March 21st: 604.729.6814 or www.laudatesingers.com



For March 24th: as above, and via Capilano University at 604.990.7810 or boxoffic@capilanou.ca


Laudate Singers and artistic director Lars Kaario invite Vancouver audiences to dance a few steps off the beaten path with Voice of the Tango: a ground-breaking programme of sensuous, alluring choral music from Central and South America, featuring internationally-renowned instrumentalists Douglas Schmidt (on bandoneon, the quintessential instrument of the tango) and Kay Sleking (guitar). The repertoire much of it very seldom performed in Canada to date will include works by Astor Piazzolla, Oscar Escalada, Miguel Matamoros, Gustavo Cuchi Leguizamn, Eduardo Ferraudi, Jorge Cardoso, Carlos Gardel and Hector Stamponi among others, as well as newly commissioned works for choir, bandoneon and guitar by Douglas Schmidt and Laudates composer-in-residence Bruce Sled.


Laudate Singers well known for their high level of technical skill and interpretive flexibility, as well as for consistently presenting repertoire that spans centuries and continents in a relevant and accessible manner are excited about the artistic challenge of performing this dynamic, passionate music. They also look forward to working with and learning from instrumentalists who are internationally recognized experts in Latin and South American music. Mr. Schmidt, a transplanted British Columbian best known in Canada as a member of Tango Paradiso and Montreal's Quartango, comes to Vancouver from Germany. Mr. Sleking is based in Amsterdam, and works extensively in Europe both as a soloist and as a member of several high-profile tango ensembles.


www.laudatesingers.com

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Rare Beethoven Letter

AMHERST, N.HA rare handwritten letter from composer Ludwig van Beethoven has surfaced for auction at RRAuction in Amherst, NH.

The letter was written to Beethovens good friend, composer and publisher Tobias Haslinger. Addressing Haslinger as the best and brightest aide-de-camp
, Beethoven asks, whether you could come and see me tomorrow morning concerning the correction of the symphony. They [the corrections] should be done by then and it is necessary to discuss certain things as there are still several inconsistencies. So I expect you here since I will not be able to come to youĶ.

Beethoven expert Professor Barry Cooper of the University of Manchester in the UK pointed out the significance of the rare document: Correcting proofs was a task Beethoven always found irksome, and occasionally he overlooked mistakes. Here, however, he had spotted several blunders, and was summoning Haslinger to discuss them. Professor Cooper added, the letter was written at a time when Beethoven was too unwell to compose much music at all.

The work to which Beethoven refers was evidently the Eighth Symphony, composed in 1812 and first performed in 1814. The letter itself probably dates to January 1817, at a time when Haslinger assisted Beethoven in preparing the Eighth Symphony for publication.

John Reznikoff of University Archives in Westport, Connecticut believes the Beethoven document will exceed the pre-auction estimate of $20,000, We are lucky to have this offered in the United States as most Beethoven items never leave Europe. The last comparable item fetched nearly $80,000.

The letter was previously purchased at the Berlin auction house Meyer & Ernst in October 1933 and remained in a private collection for nearly seven decades. RRAuction is the first auction house in the United States to offer the item.

Other items of particular interest among the more than 1,500 lots to be offered in the auction include a program from a 1908 aeronautical dinner signed by Wilbur Wright; a remarkable oversized photo inscribed by Marilyn Monroe to her The Prince and the Showgirl screenwriter, Terence Rattigan; and a rare presidential-date document signed by James Garfield.

The auction ends on March 11. For information, visit the RRauction web site at www.rrauction.com, or contact Elizebeth Otto at
elizebeth@rrauction.com.

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America's favorite cowboys bring old time fun to the Winspear Stage in ESO Special Presentation - Mar. 16


ESO Special Presentation

Canadian debut for Riders in the Sky as they ride on into the sunset with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

One Night Only!

Monday, March 16th, 2009 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB Ķ Calling all buckaroos and buckarettes! Come ride the happy trails by the cool water and the tumblin tumbleweeds and indulge in the comical and whimsical world of the singing cowboy. Legendary western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky make their Canadian debut as they gallop into Edmonton for an evening of rib-ticklin, knee-slappin hijinks and hilarity. Guest conductor Steven Reineke joins in on the fun to lead the ESO down The Cowboy Way, as they perform authentic renditions of old classic cowboy songs.

This wacky harmonizing quartet is composed of Ranger Doug (The Idol of American Youth), Too Slim (The Idol of Canadian Elderly), Woody Paul (King of the Cowboy Fiddlers) and Joey (The Cowpolka King). Having written and performed music for major motion pictures, including Toy Story 2s Woodys Roundup, which garnered the Riders their first Grammy Award in 2001 for "Best Musical Album for Children," Riders in the Sky will surely keep the entire family in stitches and provide a laugh-out-loud evening of wholesome skit-and-song entertainment.

Dont miss your chance to tip that cowboy hat, click those roper heels, and yodel along in this ESO special presentation! Tickets for this performance range from $20-$65 (agency fees apply). Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office.

Media Sponsors: 790 CFCW and the Edmonton Journal

Winspear Centre Box Office:

(780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081

www.edmontonsymphony.com

#4 Winston Churchill Square

Biographies

For thirty years, Riders in the Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing Western music. And while remaining true to the integrity of the genre, they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding it with their own legendary wacky humour and way-out Western wit, and all along encouraging buckaroos and buckarettes to live life The Cowboy Way!

Riders In The Sky are stars of the stage, screen, the Grand Ole Opry, National Public Radio, XM Satellite Radio, Saturday morning TV, and are the only exclusively Western artist to have won a Grammy Award. They truly are "America's Favorite Cowboys!"

As a classic cowboy quartet, the trail has led them to heights they could have never predicted. The Riders have chalked up over 5,400 concert appearances in all 50 states and 10 countries, appearing in venues everywhere from the Nashville National Guard Armory to Carnegie Hall, and from county fairs to the Hollywood Bowl. Their cowboy charisma and comedic flair made them naturals for TV, and landed them their own weekly show on TNN, as well as a Saturday morning series on CBS. They have been guests on countless TV specials, documentaries and variety shows, appearing with everyone from Barney to Penn & Teller. And their animated likenesses have shared the screen with Daffy Duck on the Cartoon Network, and the Disney Channels Stanley.

This is Riders in the Skys debut with the ESO, as well as their Canadian debut.


Steven Reineke was recently named Principal Conductor of the New York Pops, succeeding the late Skitch Henderson. He is also Principal Pops Conductor of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and serves as Music Associate and Principal Arranger/Composer of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Recognized as the sound of the Cincinnati Pops, Mr. Reinekes 100+ arrangements for that orchestra have been performed worldwide. Mr. Reineke has also written and arranged for Doc Severinson, Jack Everly and Michael Krajewski. A protg of the legendary pops conductor Erich Kunzel, Steven Reinekes recent guest conducting appearances include the orchestras of Cincinnati, Toronto, Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Edmonton and Windsor.

Mr. Reineke is also an established symphonic composer. His works Celebration Fanfare, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Casey at the Bat are performed frequently in the United States and Canada. Mr. Reinekes numerous wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands around the world. A native of Ohio, Mr. Reineke is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio, receiving two Bachelor of Music Degrees with Honors, in both Trumpet Performance and Music Composition. He resides in Cincinnati.

Mr. Reineke last conducted the ESO in June 2008.

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Esprit presents world premieres by Andrew Staniland and Bruce Mather March 26th


Brand New and Pre-Loved features world premieres by Andrew Staniland and Bruce Mather

On Thursday, March 26, 2009, Esprit Orchestra presents Brand New and Pre-Loved, a concert featuring the world premiere of Andrew Stanilands Big Bang! commissioned for Esprit by CBC Radio Music, the world premiere of Hommage John Hawkins by Bruce Mather, the Canadian premiere of La Belle Chocolatire by Dutch composer Mayke Nas, and Omar Daniels Trope, which was commissioned and premiered by Esprit in 2000.

Conducted by Alex Pauk, Esprits founding music director, the concert features the extraordinary Taiwanese-Canadian percussionist Aiyun Huang in her debut with Esprit Orchestra. An artist who challenges the boundaries of percussion and theatre, Ms. Huang is a founding member of Toca Loca and has performed with distinguished artists including Nexus, Trio le Cercle, Steven Schick, Steve Drury, Rivka Golani, George Russell and others in Canada, the United States, Taiwan, France, The Netherlands and Mexico. Ms. Huang is devoted to the creation of new works for percussion and has commissioned works from numerous composers including Canadians Gary Kulesha, Linda Bouchard, David Jaeger, Inouk Demers, Heather Schmidt, Chris Paul Harman and Alice Ho. Ms. Huang is a graduate of the University of Toronto and currently serves as Chair of Percussion at McGill Universitys Schulich School of Music.

Big Bang!, Andrew Stanilands concerto for percussion and orchestra, celebrates the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and offers listeners the musical equivalent of the incredible density, heat, and exponential expansion of the first moments of the Universe. Staniland is a rapidly becoming one of Canadas most in demand composers with a host of awards to his credit including top prizes in the SOCAN young composers competition, and the 2004 Karen Keiser Prize in Canadian Music. He is currently Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. As finalist in the 2009 CBC Evolution Composers Competition, Staniland will be sequestered in Banff but he will participate in Esprit rehearsals and experience the premiere of Big Bang! via satellite.

Bruce Mather is one of Quebecs preeminent composers and a talented pianist and teacher. His Hommage John Hawkins is an elegant and refined tribute to an important figure in the history of classical music in Canada, the late composer, pianist and educator John Hawkins.

La Belle Chocolatire is a jaunty work by Dutch composer Mayke Nas, named after the famous Droste cocoa tin with the image of a handsome nurse on it holding a tin of cacao powder featuring the same image of a nurse. The repetitive nature of this picture within a picture is referred to as the Droste effect and Mayke Nas applies this effect in her musical work.

With a flurry of awards and honours to his credit, Canadian composer Omar Daniel has created solo, chamber and orchestral works which have been performed extensively around the world. In Trope, Daniel borrows from a traditional medieval chant form, incorporates fragments from some of his earlier pieces, then interpolates, layers, magnifies and embellishes old and new material to create musical excitement.

Concert and Ticket Details

Brand New and Pre-Loved takes place on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 8 p.m. at the Jane Mallett Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (27 Front Street East). A pre-concert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. Tickets to Brand New and Pre-Loved are $15 for students, $24 for seniors and $32 for adults. Group rates (8+ people) are $25. For tickets contact the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 416-366-7723 or www.stlc.com .

About Esprit Orchestra

Esprit Orchestra is Canadas only orchestra devoted exclusively to performing new orchestral music and developing a legacy of Canadian orchestral music. Founded by composer/conductor Alex Pauk in 1983, Esprit Orchestra is comprised of a core of 45 dedicated musicians with the special skills required to perform contemporary orchestral music. Esprit commissions and premieres new works each season and ensures continued public access to these works through encore performances, radio broadcasts, compact disc and film recordings, and national and international tours. For more information visit www.espritorchestra.com.

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Crash Ensemble to celebrate 60th birthday of Kevin Volans

Crash Ensemble celebrates 60th birthday of composer
Kevin Volans with Free State concert

Crash Ensemble | Free State: Kevin Volans | April 9, 2009 | 8pm | Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

"When it comes to music, Crash abandons safety firstĶ its reputation at the cutting edge of contemporary composition has been veritably bulletproof for most of the decade
Sunday Business Post on Free State III


Volans remains one of the planets most distinctive and unpredictable voices.
Kyle Gann - Village Voice (New York)


Committed to showcasing new Irish Music, Crash Ensemble returns to Project Arts Centre to feature a concert of work by the internationally renowned composer Kevin Volans in this years Free State concert.

Having ended 2008 with a concert focusing on new Irish and British music, Crash opens 2009 with another Free State Concert; this time celebrating new Irish music through the renowned composer Kevin Volans, who turns 60 this year.

Crash has had a fruitful relationship with Volans since 2002, premiering works such as 1000 Bars and Joining up the Dots, written especially for Crash Ensemble.

For this very special concert Volans will curate an evening of cutting-edge music featuring young Irish composers alongside his own works. The centrepiece of the concert will be the world premiere of a new Volans composition an important event in new music - and in addition to composing the new work, Kevin will perform Nine Beginnings with the ensemble.

The 2009 FREE STATE concert, curated by Volans, is Crash Ensembles fourth annual showcase of new music from Ireland. This concert is always an adventure of the unexpected and has previously premiered new works by Gerald Barry, Julie Feeney among other unique voices of the new generation of Irish composers.

As with all Crash Ensembles FREE STATE concerts (the last of which was November 2008) works by young Irish composers is paramount. The composers featured this year are Jennifer Walshe, who will be over from New York (after her successful Grupat exhibition in the Project Arts Centre); Jonathan Nangle with a work for cello and viola and Simon OConnor who will be writing a new work especially for the occasion.


FULL PROGRAMME FOR CONCERT

Free State: Kevin Volans | April 9, 2009 | 8pm
| Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Kevin Volans | Nine Beginnings
Kevin Volans
| New Work (world premiere)
Kevin Volans
| Into Darkness
Jonathan Nangle
| my heart skipped a thousand beats
Simon OConnor | New Work (world premiere)
Jennifer Walshe
| work featuring the composer

Running time approx 2hours

BOOKING INFORMATION

Project Arts Centre
39 East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Phone: +353 1 881 9613
| www.projectartscentre.ie

Ticket prices for each concert are Ǩ20/18. Tickets are on sale now from www.projectartscentre.ie . Tickets will also be sold on the door.


MORE INFORMATION

KEVIN VOLANS
Kevin Volans has been described as one of the planets most distinctive and unpredictable voices [Kyle Gann Village Voice 1998]. He was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1949. After completing a B Mus at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg he went on to study in Cologne, principally with Karlheinz Stockhausen, later becoming his teaching assistant. In the mid-70s his work became associated with the Neue Einfachheit (New Simplicity) the beginnings of post-modernism in music.

In 1979 following several field recording trips to Africa, he embarked on a series of pieces based on African compositional techniques which quickly established Volans as a distinctive voice on the European new music circuit. In 1986 Kevin Volans began a productive collaboration with the Kronos Quartet. White Man Sleeps for string quartet (1986), Hunting: Gathering (1987) and The Songlines (1988) were all written for them, and given performances in festivals ranging from the Salzburg Festival to the Montreal Jazz Festival, Berliner Festwoche, Tokyo Inkspot, Adelaide Festival, Next Wave Festival (New York) and New Music America, bringing his work to a very wide audience. The Kronos discs, White Man Sleeps and Pieces of Africa broke all records for string quartet disc sales the latter was number one on the US Classical and world music charts for 26 weeks, outselling all but Pavarotti.

In the 1990s Volans gave increasing attention to writing for dance, collaborating with Siobhan Davies, Jonathan Burrows, Shobana Jeyasingh in Britain as well as numerous other companies around the world. In 1999 the South bank hosted a fiftieth birthday celebration of his work in the Queen Elizabeth Hall. John Allison wrote in The Times :When it comes to composers, only a few today could be called true originals, and Kevin Volans is one of them.

Latterly, he has turned his attention to writing for orchestra and as well as collaborating with visual artists. Recent commissions include a piano concerto for Marc-Andre Hamelin, a trio concerto for the Storioni Trio, new string quartets for the Smith and Vanburgh quartets and a chamber piece for the Crash ensemble. Future projects include a triple ensemble piece for exhibitions of the artist, Juergen Partenheimers work at the IKON Gallery, Birmingham, and the Deutsches Kunstmuseum.

CRASH ENSEMBLE
Crash Ensemble holds an international reputation for its repertoire and interpretations of cutting-edge music. Founded in 1997 by composer Donnacha Dennehy; conductor and pianist Andrew Synott; and clarinettist Michael Seaver, its repertoire features the works of major composers of the 20th and 21st century, including Reich, Stockhausen, Andriessen, Glass, and Cage. The ensemble has worked directly with composers such as Steve Reich, Louis Andriessen, Gavin Bryars, Michael Gordon, Kevin Volans and Arnold Dreyblatt in preparing important premieres and performances. Apart from regular concerts in Ireland, Crash has also performed in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Canada and the USA, and has featured in radio broadcasts in all of those countries. In 2008 Crash featured at the Canberra International Music Festival (where they were broadcast on ABC Radio), the infamous Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City, Electric Picnic in Stradbally and the Musica Viva Lisbon Festival in Portugal. Crash has made an indelible mark on the Irish music scene and beyond. The ensemble believes in a joyous yet absolutely rigorous engagement with the must adventurous music today and the (extremely) recent past. Crash feature in recordings by labels such as NMC (London) and Cantaloupe (New York) released in 2008. Crash Ensemble is supported by the Arts Council.

ALAN PIERSON, conductor
Alan Pierson has been praised as "a young conductor of monstrous skill" by Newsday, "commanding" by the New York Times, and "gifted and electrifying" by the Boston Globe. He is the artistic director and conductor of the acclaimed ensemble Alarm Will Sound which has been called "the future of classical music" by the New York Times and "a sensational force" with "powerful ideas about how to renovate the concert experience" by the New Yorker. In addition to his work with Alarm Will Sound, Mr. Pierson has appeared as a guest conductor with the London Sinfonietta, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the New World Symphony, and The Silk Road Project, among other ensembles. He has collaborated with major composers and perfomers including Yo Yo Ma, Steve Reich, John Adams, Augusta Read Thomas, David Lang, Michael Gordon, La Monte Young, and Wu Man, and choreographers Akram Khan and Elliot Feld. Mr. Pierson has recorded for Nonesuch Records, Cantaloupe Music, Sony Classical, and Sweetspot DVD.

For more details visit www.crashensemble.com

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Friday, February 20, 2009

19th Annual Symphony Lovers' Ball - Most Successful Ever!


The 19th Annual Symphony Lovers Ball

Most Successful Ever!

Vancouver BC The Vancouver Symphony announces that the 19th Annual Symphony Lovers' Ball held on Thursday, February 12th, 2009, in the Pacific Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was the most successful ever, thanks in great part to the critical support of our sponsors in Vancouvers corporate community! We are thrilled to report that this event netted $620,000 to VSO operations.

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Christopher Gaze, Vancouvers very own Bard, more than 400 guests enjoyed an evening inspired by the remarkable achievements of this past year: winning a GRAMMY and a JUNO award, the Raymond James Beethoven Festival (all nine of Beethovens symphonies performed chronologically), the Wall Centre Brahms Festival (all four of Brahms symphonies performed chronologically, as well as all of his concertos), and the VSOs triumphant Asia-Pacific Tour to China, South Korea, and the Special Administrative Region of Macau. Later this season, commencing May 1st, the VSO will also tour Eastern Canada, making stops in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa.

The entire Symphony Lovers Ball Committee is so proud to support the VSO, said Maria Menten, Volunteer Chair of the Lovers Ball Committee. To have raised more than ever before is especially thrilling given todays economic climate. It really speaks to the understanding of the VSOs value as a pillar of our community, and a cultural pillar of our society. We couldnt be happier!

Vancouver Symphony Society Chair, Arthur Willms stated, Thanks to our extraordinary volunteers, dedicated sponsors and generous attendees, this years Symphony Lovers Ball was a particular triumph. Not only did we raise more money than ever before in benefit our communitys cultural cornerstone, but we did it during incredibly tough economic times. This year, over 50,000 children will experience the wonder of the VSO through various educational initiatives and programs, thanks to such thoughtful generosity.

The funds raised at the annual Symphony Lovers Balls support the VSO's performances each season of more than 140 concerts featuring over 60 celebrated guest artists attended by more than 250,000 people in 12 venues throughout the Lower Mainland. It also contributes to VSO education programs that reach more than 50,000 children each year. Since its inception in 1991, the Symphony Lovers' Ball has netted over $5 million in support of the Vancouver Symphony's many projects and continuing operations.

The Vancouver Symphony gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support of the Nineteenth Annual Symphony Lovers Ball:

SUPER SPONSORS

Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Concord Pacific Group Inc.

Deloitte

Ernst & Young LLP

Goldcorp Inc.

HSBC Bank Canada

Pacific Newspaper Group

Wesbild Holdings Ltd.

We would also like to thank the following for their generous support

Chan Foundation of Canada Rix Family Foundation

EVENT SPONSORS

Anthem Properties

Eminata Group

Peter Kiewit Sons Co.

Larco Investments Ltd.

Polygon Homes Ltd.

Raymond James

Rennie Marketing Systems

TELUS

We would also like to thank the following for their generous support

Arthur H. Willms & Mary Ann Clark

MAESTROS CIRCLE

Allied Holdings

CIBC World Markets

Kingwood Capital Corporation

KPMG LLP

Larkspur Foundation

Michael O'Brian Foundation for the Arts

Opus Hotels - Stikeman Elliott

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Spectra Energy

CONCERTMASTERS CIRCLE

Deans Knight - Haywood Securities

Genus Capital Management

Philips, Hager & North

Stikeman Elliott

The James and Kathleen Winton Foundation

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Elliott Sharp Montral en mars


A FRAPPE !
Du pur instantan
avec le duo Elliott Sharp et Antoine Berthiaume et
et le trio dimprovisateurs Philippe Lauzier, Pierre-Yves Martel & Martin Ttreault
CONCERT AVEC LANCEMENT DE DISQUES
Mercredi 25 mars 2009, 20 h30, Sala Rossa
4848, boulevard Saint-laurent, Montral
20$ / 10$
INFOS : www.supermusique.qc.ca


Les Productions SuperMusique, en collaboration avec la maison de disques DAME et S.A.L.A proposent une soire ancre dans limmdiat autour dun dialogue guitaristique entre Elliott Sharp, figure centrale et incontournable de la musique d'avant-garde newyorkaise depuis plus de 30 ans, et Antoine Berthiaume, jeune musicien montralais qui na pas froid aux yeux. La soire souvrira avec un trio dimprovisateurs runis par Philippe Lauzier. En prime, deux disques, mettant en vedettes les musiciens de ce concert, seront lancs au cours de la soire.

SUR SCNE
Dans des improvisations ouvertes et fulminantes, Sharp et Berthiaume, sollicitent limprvu et linou dans la ferveur de linstant et de linstinct. Ici pas dauto censure et lauditeur se fait complice de lchange qui se droule librement devant lui. Imprvisible, le tandem expressionniste fait merger une musique dense qui nen est pas moins cohrente. Faisant corps avec leurs six cordes, les deux comparses frottent, pincent, varient les vitesses, amplifient le volume et mme les parasites lectriques, rinventant leur instrument et faisant deux de vritables trafiquants sonores. Une conversation btons rompus et un tte--tte musical tonnant et dtonnant !

Le trio incandescent compos du saxophoniste et clarinettiste Philippe Lauzier, du violoniste Pierre-Yves Martel et du matre du tourne-disque, Martin Ttreault, voquent quant eux les ambiances sonores dune usine dsaffecte. Des instrumentistes subtils et ingnieux, lapproche bruitiste et potique.

SUR DISQUES
Lancement de deux disques, sous tiquette Ambiances Magntiques et distribus par DAME.
BASE [AM178] - Antoine Berthiaume & Elliot Sharp
http://www.actuellecd.com/fr/cat/am_178/
Premier disque du duo, BASE, propose 11 improvisations qui rappellent les structures et lintensit de Xenakis. BASE se construit, se dconstruit et puis se reconstruit en un mur de sons qui va de lveil, en passant par lexploration et vers un concerto final, une sorte de hurlement en syncope des instruments. Lenfer a de quoi nous inquiter. Soyons sages, tendons loreille. Serge Abiaad

Elliot Sharp
http://www.elliottsharp.com/
Musicien incontournable de la cration musicale daujourdhui, le guitariste Elliott Sharp dirige les projets Orchestra Carbon, Tectonics et Terraplane. Il est un pionnier dans l'application de la gomtrie fractale, de la thorie du chaos et des mtaphores gntiques la composition et l'interaction musicales. Parmi ses collaborateurs passs et prsents figurent lEnsemble Modern, le chanteur Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, le Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, la chanteuse pop Debbie Harry, les lgendaires bluesmen Hubert Sumlin et Pops Staples, les grands jazzmen Jack de Johnette et Sonny Sharrock, le platiniste cratif Christian Marcklay, ainsi que Bachir Attar (leader des Master Musicians of Jahjouka).

Antoine Berthiaume
http://www.actuellecd.com/fr/bio/berthiaume_an/
Membre fondateur du groupe folk/western Rodoscopique et fru de jazz, le guitariste et compositeur Antoine Berthiaume sillustre depuis 10 ans sur les scnes des musiques improvises. Parmi ses collaborateurs, on retrouve Pierre Tanguay, Michel Donato, Fred Frith, Derek Bailey, Takumi Seino et Elliot Sharp. Berthiaume a cinq disques son actif.

DISPARITION DE LUSINE PHMRE [ AM 181] Philippe Lauzier, Pierre-Yves Martel, Kim Myhr, Martin Ttreault
http://www.actuellecd.com/fr/cat/am_181/
Premire parution de ce quatuor qui regroupe des improvisateurs qubcois et norvgien de premier plan. En combinant instruments nouveaux et anciens, le groupe voque avec posie l'univers sonore d'une usine dcatie et abandonne. Un orchestre polyphonique o tuyaux, pompes, roues, objets, cloches et moteurs se font entendre pour crer une grande machine de sons acoustiques et lectroniques.


PROCHAINS CONCERTS DE LA 29e SAISON DE PSM
Mercredi 29 et jeudi 30 avril 2009, 20 h 30 - Studio 01 de la Galerie OBORO
Natura Sonoris
Une Carte Blanche offerte Magali Babin autour dune uvre multimdia, runissant autour de la bricoleuse de sons, la musicienne Mylna Bergeron, les concepteurs du duo lil de verre ainsi que le cinaste Karl Lemieux.

Mardi 12 mai 2009, 20 h 30 - Sala Rossa
Soire bnfice - Coup de chapeau Diane Labrosse
Une activit de financement pour le Fonds de cration cr par PSM pour soutenir la recherche et linnovation musicale par loctroi de bourses des artistes de la scne de la musique actuelle. Une soire ddie la musicienne Diane Labrosse qui a t, pendant 25 ans, codirectrice artistique de PSM. Au programme, performances, encan et tirage.

PROUCTIONS SUPERMUSIQUE
www.supermusique.com http://www.supermusique.com
Cr en 1979, Productions SuperMusique est entirement ddi la musique actuelle, limprovisation et lexprimentation sonore et axe ses activits sur la cration, la production, la programmation de concerts Montral et propose des ateliers de cration sonore destins de jeunes publics.
PSM assure lorganisation des tournes internationales de plusieurs ensembles dont le trio Les Poules, le duo Nous perons les oreilles et lEnsemble SuperMusique.
SuperMusique est membre de Le Vivier, un regroupement de 22 ensembles et organismes qui uvre dans le secteur des musiques nouvelles et qui sest donn comme objectif premier, dtablir un lieu de diffusion, de cration, dchange et de formation au cur de Montral.

DAME - Pour les mordus de musique actuelle et les oreilles curieuses,
www.actuellecd.com http://www.actuellecd.com
Maison de disques cre en 1991 par la musicienne et productrice Joane Htu, DAME reprsente principalement le courant des musiques actuelles au Qubec. Avec un catalogue de plus de 350 titres, DAME regroupe des tiquettes indpendantes qubcoises dynamiques dont Ambiances Magntiques, Ambiances Magntiques Jazz, Malasartes Musique, Monsieur Fauteux mentendez-vous?, ainsi que la Collection QB. DAME offre une distribution tant au Canada qu linternational et occupe une place unique dans lindustrie musicale et dans lchiquier de la distribution indpendante.

SuperMusique remercie ses subventionneurs : Conseil des arts et des lettres du Qubec, Conseil des Arts du Canada, Conseil des arts de Montral, Patrimoine canadien, ses donateurs, les Amis de SuperMusique et ses partenaires DAME et S.AL.A.

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Tribute to my Mom


Special Tribute to Fanny Milstein on Art & Fine Living with Jona Feb 22 , 25, 2009
By Jona Rapoport


Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls: the most impressive characters are seared with scars...
Khalil Gibran


A special tribute to my late mother,Fanny Milstein on the 35th anniversary of her passing,will air on Art & Fine Living with Jona on Radio Shalom on February 22, 25, 2009. It is currently on the archive page of the program and can be heard on your computer anywhere in the world: http://www.radio-shalom.ca/showemission.php?ID=1015

My mother's memory and extraordinary life are celebrated in this hour, with stories and poetry, and music she loved, heard and was inspired by throughout her life.

Featured guest: My grandmother, Zina Milstein.

The program will air on February 22nd at 7pm and on the 25th at 3pm.

Music : Philips - Galina Gorchakova (Tchaikovsky); Naxos - Milken Archive (Great Songs of the Yiddish Stage); DG - Violin Concerti (Nathan Milstein); Proper - Edith Piaf; Hataklit - Israel Songs; Analekta - Red Army Chorus; Delos - Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Where are you, my brothers?); Lori Laitman - My Garden (unpublished).

You can tune in to the show on the radio; livestream; archives: http://www.radio-shalom.ca/showemission.php?ID=1015


Jona Rapoport
Producer & Host
Art & Fine Living with Jona

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Canadian Oboe Quartets: New CD

The Gallery Players of Niagara
CANADIAN OBOE QUARTETS

Debut CD Features Works by Canadian Composers

John Abram Peter Hatch Michael Oesterle James Rolfe

The Gallery Players of Niagara proudly announce the release of their first CD, CANADIAN OBOE QUARTETS, featuring four original works by renowned Canadian composers James Rolfe, Michael Oesterle, Peter Hatch and John Abram. Violinist Julie Baumgartel, violist Patrick Jordan, cellist Margaret Gay and James Mason, one of Canadas finest oboe players have generated a small but hopefully meaningful addition to the repertoire for this slightly under-represented grouping of instruments.

The four pieces collected on this CD are in some ways obviously disparate and perhaps more closely connected than is immediately apparent, comments Margaret Gay, artistic director of the Gallery Players of Niagara. Three of the works, Michael Oesterles Sunspot Letters, James Rolfes Oboe Quartet and Peter Hatchs Wiki Mozart, all composed in 2006, were commissioned by the Gallery Players in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Mozarts birth. Our request to the composers was to revisit and respond as literally or as figuratively as they chose to Mozarts Oboe Quartet in F Major K.370. John Abrams Oboe Quartet, composed in 2002 for the same group of players, is a revisiting of an earlier piece of his own composition. The results of these collaborations have been enormously gratifying to the Gallery Players and our audiences, adds Ms. Gay.

The Gallery Players of Niagara - a collective of musicians that presents chamber music in the Niagara Region - has committed itself to the commissioning and performance of new Canadian works since the group was formed in 1993. The groups goal is to present these new works as part of both traditional concert settings as well as in novel situations, making the works available to wider audiences.

Canadian Oboe Quartets was recorded in May 2008 at Humbercrest United Church in Toronto (Keith Horner, producer; Ron Searles, engineer).

The CD is available through www.galleryplayers.ca, Centredics.ca, CD Baby and iTunes

The performers on this CD are core members of The Gallery Players of Niagara.

James Mason is recognized as one of Canadas finest oboe players. He has been principal oboe with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony since 1979. He has recorded for broadcast much of the chamber and solo repertoire for his instrument. Mr. Mason is on the faculty of Wilfrid Laurier University. Julie Baumgartel (violin) performs with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Nota Bene Period Orchestra. Other activities include appearances with the Gallery Players, and at the Festival of the Sound (Parry Sound, ON) and the Elora Festival. She conducts the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Youth Sinfonia, and teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Patrick Jordan (viola) is a member of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Gallery Players and the Eybler Quartet. He is principal viola of the Carmel Bach Festival in Carmel, California, and has served as principal viola in The Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra. He appears regularly with the Toronto Consort and Opera Atelier. Margaret Gay (cello) performs regularly with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, Opera Atelier, the Eybler Quartet, and Ensemble Polaris, a group exploring the traditional music of various Nordic countries. She is Artistic Director of the Gallery Players of Niagara.

Theres no greater tribute to the musicianship of these four players than that they were able to hold the audiences attention securely and solidly - The Globe and Mail

Since scouring the Niagara peninsula for excellence in the professional performing-arts scene for almost a year, I have never had such a satisfying outing - James Wegg Review www.jamesweggreview.org

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New publication in French classical music/Nouvelle partition du rpertoire classique franais

New publication: Concerto for Harpsichord in C, Op. 12 by J F Edelmann

The full score of the Concerto for harpsichord in C, Op 12 by J F Edelmann, just published by the Editions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles in the Orchestre series continues CMBV's journey discovering French classical music.

A composer born in Alsace in 1749, Jean-Frdric Edelmann is one of the first French keyboard soloists. Sensitive to the spirit of the French Revolution, he was committed to a Jacobin club. He died under the guillotine, leaving a pregnant widow.

This concerto is an excellent example of his work: sometimes brilliant, notably in the fast movements, sometimes expressive in the slow section, he is at the mid-point between the Galant style and early Romanticism. Ideal for a concert, it could also be used to teach the concerted style, played as a sonata, and can also be performed on a forte piano. The score and parts are available online, or from music shop partners Theodore Front Musical Literature (Van Nuys, California, USA), or Jacks Pipes and Hammers, Early Music Publisher and Stockists (Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom).


For further information, see http://editions.cmbv.fr/achat/new.php?langue=en


Nouvelle parution : Concerto pour clavecin en ut majeur op. 12 de J.F. Edelmann

La partition du Concerto pour le clavecin en ut majeur, op. XII de J.-F. Edelmann, qui vient d'tre publie par les ditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles dans la collection Orchestre, poursuit la dcouverte du rpertoire classique franais. Compositeur alsacien n en 1749, Edelmann est l'un des tout premier soliste au clavier. Anim par l'esprit de la Rvolution, c'est un Jacobin engag : il finit guillotin en 1794, laissant une veuve enceinte. Ce concerto pour clavecin est un bel exemple de son uvre : tantt brillant, notamment dans les mouvements rapides, tantt expressif dans les sections lentes, il se situe mi-chemin entre le style galant et le prromantisme. Il peut tre utilis pour enseigner le style concertant, jou la manire d'une sonate et s'adapte galement au pianoforte.



Concerto pour le clavecin en ut majeur, op. XII de J.-F. Edelmann, transcription cmbv

Collection Orchestre, 2008, 36 pages, 21x29,7 cm, conducteur broch,
ISMN M-56016-180-8. Avec introduction (franais).

cah-180 Concerto pour le clavecin en ut majeur, op. XII, conducteur......................................................... 13,00 Ǩ
cah-180-rc Concerto pour le clavecin en ut majeur, op. XII, partie de clavecin.................................................. 7,80 Ǩ
cah-180-mo Concerto pour le clavecin, op. XII, materiel en vente (Hb, Cor, Clav, Vn1, Vn2, Basses).................. 40,50 Ǩ



Les publications des ditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles peuvent tre commandes sur leur boutique en ligne (http://editions.cmbv.fr) et sont en stock dans le rseau des librairies partenaires (liste disponible : http://editions.cmbv.fr/lire/index.php?rubid=1). Elles peuvent par ailleurs tre commander dans toute librairie musicale.
Pour en savoir plus : http://editions.cmbv.fr/achat/produit_details.php?id=861

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

Two orchestrasand 100 musicians perform together as Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

Halifax, NS Two orchestras. Three masterpieces. And more than a hundred musicians! Symphony Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra join forces for their biggest concert of the year on Sunday, March 1 at 7:30 pm at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

This performance is a unique opportunity for young musicians to perform alongside their teachers and mentors in the Symphony. Its also an exciting opportunity for audiences to hear an orchestra this large right here at home.

One of my personal highlights each year is this concert, says Symphony Nova Scotia Maestro Bernhard Gueller.

The young musicians always rise to the occasion of playing with their professional colleagues and it gives us the chance to program really sensational works that give every section a chance to shine.

Audiences will hear Strausss Death and Transfiguration, Bruchs Violin Concerto in g minor, and Berliozs evocative Symphony fantastique. These works arent often heard in Nova Scotia this will be Symphony Nova Scotias first time ever performing the full version of Symphonie fantastique.

Symphonie fantastique is an extreme piece you can hear the composer describing events like the Witch's Sabbath, says Gueller. Then, the tone poem Death and Transfiguration takes us through the reflections of a man at the end of his life in the most wondrously bright orchestral colours. Finally, Dorothy Ro will give us Bruchs Violin Concerto, one of the all-time greats, and I have high expectations of this talented young lady's performance.

There is such an interesting 'dreams' parallel between the Berlioz and the Strauss, adds Dinuk Wijeratne, music director of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and former resident conductor with Symphony Nova Scotia.

The former is about an impulsive young man's romantic visions; the latter about an old man alone with his memories. Both are masterpieces.

Dont miss this rare opportunity to hear some of the Romantic eras most compelling music, performed in all its dramatic splendour.

Get your tickets now! Prices range from $23-33.50 (HST included), or you can pick up a subscription and save up to 30%. Student and group discounts are also available. Call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

About the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1977. For 32 years, the NSYO has provided students with educational opportunities not available at any university, public school, or conservatory in the province. The Orchestra has been described by renowned professional conductors and musicians as one of the finest in Canada, and 85% of our 1000 alumni have gone on to careers in music-related fields. Past music directors include Robert Raines, Stan Fisher, Georg Tintner, and Gregory Burton. Our current music director is Dinuk Wijeratne.

About Symphony Nova Scotia
Expect the Unexpected with Symphony Nova Scotia from Baroque to Berlioz to bluegrass! Each year the 37-member ensemble performs for more than 40,000 audience members (including 14,000 young music lovers) in communities across Nova Scotia. Under the inspirational leadership of Bernhard Gueller, Symphony Nova Scotia is recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the country. Join the orchestra in celebrating its 25th anniversary this season!

This concert is generously sponsored by Scotia Private Client Group and the Chronicle Herald.

Symphony Nova Scotia is grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture, and Heritage, and the Halifax Regional Municipality for their continued support.

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The Royal Conservatory Launches Second Phase of Capital Camapaign


Announces $10 million in new donations

TORONTO The Royal Conservatory will announce $10 million in new donations at an event officially launching the second phase of its Building National Dreams capital campaign. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, it will be held at the Conservatorys Toronto headquarters in the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.

The second phase of the Conservatorys capital campaign will raise an additional $50 million to complete construction of its expanded facilities and to accommodate the ongoing growth of its diverse national programs. This new campaign follows the successful completion of an initial $60 million campaign in 2006.

In addition to the $10 million in donations that has already been secured, proposals totalling more than $20 million are currently under review. Campaign Co-Chairs Mr. Tony Comper and Mrs. Elizabeth Comper indicated that formal acknowledgement of individual gifts will be made in the weeks and months ahead in special ways.

The launch event will also provide the first-ever opportunity to meet the Conservatorys Campaign Cabinet, led by Mr. and Mrs. Comper. This 59-member team is made up of a diverse cadre of Canadian business and civic leaders, all of whom share a deep commitment to the mission and values of the Conservatory. We are delighted to have the support of such a strong Campaign Cabinet and to be part of this exciting new chapter in the evolution of the Conservatory, affirmed the Compers.

Event guests will be able to take a sneak peek at the 1,140-seat Koerner Hall, the centrepiece of the second phase of the campaign. Invitees can view the progress of the halls construction through a self-guided tour of an area that is currently closed to the public. This acoustically excellent performance venue will be one of the countrys premiere concert halls when it opens in September.

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Renee Fleming with the PSO

Rene Fleming Benefit Concert with Robert Moody and Portland Symphony Orchestra Merrill's Highest Grossing Show in History
In the wake of financial hardship at the PSO, concert brings record sales

PORTLAND, Maine Some much-needed good news for the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the arts community in Maine: last night's once-in-a-lifetime endowment benefit concert featuring superstar soprano Rene Fleming in her Maine debut was the highest grossing show in the history of Merrill Auditorium.

The concert sold out a week in advance and will contribute over $50,000 to the PSO's battered Endowment Fund. This is the first time in the almost 85-year history of the PSO that the organization has held an endowment benefit concert.

Rene Fleming charmed audiences at Merrill with her performances from both the classical and popular repertoire including: Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs, "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady, "Summertime" from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and more.

The PSO's endowment provides financial security for the PSO's concert and education activities, and acts as a safety net especially during fluctuations in the economic climate. "This concert was a positive step in the right direction for the PSO during this time of increasing financial hardship," said PSO Executive Director Ari Solotoff. Solotoff added, "Rene Fleming was a smashing success with the PSO it was a thrill to have her perform, and a coup for our city, the Symphony, and the community members who had the opportunity to see Ms. Fleming in this unprecedented concert opportunity."

Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in the state. With new musical leadership, critically acclaimed performances, and broad community engagement, the PSO is among the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Hot Trumpet Nights with Allen Vizzutti!

Vancouver BC Allen Vizzutti brought the house down in his last visit to the Orpheum, in what many said was one of the best Pops concerts in years. He makes his eagerly-anticipated return on March 6th and 7th at 8pm with the VSO and Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik. Vizzutti will perform Big Band classics such as Easy Livin', In a Sentimental Mood, Take the 'A' Train and King Porter Stomp and a special bonus: the Canadian premiere of his own exciting Concierto Mexicano for Trumpet and Orchestra.

Jeff Tyzik and Allen Vizzutti have been long-time friends since working together on a trumpet concerto for Doc Severinsen, the leader of the Tonight Show band, during the early 1980's. This initial partnership would lead to a life-long collaboration on projects such as The Carnival of Venus and High Class Brass recordings.

Last year, Yamaha launched Allen Vizzutti's own trumpet model, the YTR 9335VS. His idea was to design a trumpet that "could sing more openly above high 'C', have some classical weight to the sound, project when you lean on it and have a moderate amount of resistance, not to mention good intonation and never miss a note." Vizzutti jokes, "Well, you can't have everything. I got all except the 'never miss a note' partĶ"

Concierto Mexicano for Trumpet and Orchestra is a five-movement work by Allen Vizzutti which premiered this past season with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra. Vizzutti says about the piece: "I desired in Concierto Mexicano, to capture elements of Mexican folk melody and harmony, as well as present a piece with some exciting 'Vizzutti' flair. Mexican culture is as steeped in tradition and richness as any culture on earth. I found, altered and orchestrated three existing pieces and wrote two original ones to complete a set of five." The piece is sure to be a smashing success and the VSO is proud to present its Canadian premiere.

CONCERT INFO

London Drugs VSO Pops Series:

Allen Vizzutti with the VSO

Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Jeff Tyzik, conductor

Allen Vizzutti, trumpet

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: London Drugs

Radio Sponsor: CHQM-FM

BIOGRAPHIES

Jeff Tyzik, conductor

Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America's most innovative pops conductors. Described by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle as "among the best pops conductors in America," Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. During the 2008/09 season, Tyzik celebrates his 15th season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Also this season, he begins a new role as Principal Pops Conductor of the Oregon Symphony and continues to serve as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

In his fifteen years with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), where his contract was recently extended to 2011, Tyzik has developed an incredible relationship with devoted Rochester audiences who appreciate his creative pops programming. Over the course of his tenure, he has written over 160 works for the orchestra. A consummate musician, Tyzik is so appreciated in Rochester that the RPO has taken the unusual step of inviting their principal pops conductor to appear as a guest conductor in the orchestra's classical subscription series calendar on a regular basis. On his classical series concerts, Tyzik has performed works by some of the greatest American composers to critical acclaim. He also conducted the premiere of his own Trombone Concerto, which was funded by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and subsequently performed at Carnegie Hall. In May 2007, the Harmonia Mundi label released his recording of works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the RPO which by the summer had reached No. 3 on the Billboard classical chart. Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker, called it "one of the snappiest Gershwin discs in years".

"His concert is the kind of thing that's likely to give classical music a good name, perhaps even make it seem, dare I say, relevant," writes John Pitcher of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (February 3, 2006). "What's great about Tyzik is his way of making any concert (classical or pops) seem contemporary and approachable without sugarcoating anything, without dumbing down the musical experience."

Highly sought after as a guest conductor, Tyzik has recently appeared with orchestras such as the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the New York Pops, the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his commitments in Rochester, Oregon and Vancouver, during the 2008/09 season he continues his annual appearance with the Toronto Symphony and performs with orchestras across North America including Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and New Jersey, as well as The Florida Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, among others.

A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music at nine years of age, when he first picked up a cornet. He studied both classical and jazz throughout high school, and went on to earn both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall's Ray Wright and jazz studies with the great band leader Chuck Mangione, both of whom profoundly impacted him as a musician.

Tyzik spent the next few years working with Mangione, soaking in every part of the music business. He became a skilled record producer, while continuing to be active as a performer and arranger (which included composing and arranging music for the Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman Orchestras). These experiences led Tyzik to one of the great early opportunities of his career; the chance to co-compose a trumpet concerto with friend and virtuoso trumpeter Allen Vizzutti to be recorded by pops legend Doc Severinsen.

After that first recording project, Tyzik worked closely with Severinsen on many projects including orchestrating many of the great band leader's symphony orchestra programs, and producing a GRAMMY Award-winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. To this day, he credits Severinsen as his greatest musical and professional inspiration.

As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Summit Brass, and his arrangements have been recorded by groups including Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the RPO, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O'Connor, Doc Severinsen, John Pizzarelli, Billy Taylor and Lou Rawls, and has created original programs that include the greatest music from jazz and classical to Motown and swing.

Actively sharing his passion for music with others, Tyzik has been recognized for his community service and educational work by Rotary International, the Monroe County Music Educators, and the Rochester Philharmonic League. He is also the recipient of the Arts & Cultural Council of Greater Rochester's 2002 Performing Artist award.

Tyzik currently serves on the Board of Managers of the Eastman School of Music, and as a board member of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance. He lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife Jill. For more information about Tyzik, please visit www.jefftyzik.com.

Allen Vizzutti, trumpet

"BeautifulĶlyricalĶstunningĶstupifying."
"Trumpet player supreme." -- Syracuse Post Standard

"Finely tuned wind, easy control, polyharmonic wit, orchestral penmanship, punctuated spiritual warmthĶrarely do so many qualities find themselves in one musician." --Chick Corea

Equally at home in a multitude of musical idioms, Allen Vizzutti has visited 40 countries and every state in the union to perform with a rainbow of artists and ensembles including Chick Corea, 'Doc' Severinsen, the NBC Tonight Show Band, the Airmen Of Note, the Army Blues and Army Symphony Orchestra, Chuck Mangione, Woody Herman, Japan's NHK Orchestra and the New Tokyo Philharmonic, the Budapest Radio Orchestra, , the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Leipzig Wind Symphony and the Kosie Wind Orchestra. Performing as a classical and a jazz artist, often in the same evening, he has appeared as guest soloist with symphony orchestras in Tokyo, Germany, St. Louis, Seattle, Rochester N.Y., Syracuse, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Phoenix, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg to name a few. Music lovers in Germany, Poland, England, Sweden, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Australia and the United States have heard his brilliant sound over the airwaves of national television. Allen's status as an artist has led to solo performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, Banff Center for the Performing Arts, Montreaux Jazz Festival, the Teton, Vail, Aspen and Brechenridge Music Festivals, the Charles Ives Center and Lincoln Center in New York City.

From his home in Seattle Washington, Allen's current career activities embody an impressive schedule of recitals, concerts, recording and composing. His continued commitment to music education and the value of music in everyday life results in an extensive schedule of guest appearances at universities throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Australia.

Allen's solo jazz recordings include CDs such as "Trumpet Summit" and "Skyrocket" from Summit Records. Classical CDs currently available from DeHaske Music Publishing Recordings are "The Emerald Concerto and Other Gems", with the Budapest Radio Orchestra, "Vizzutti Plays Vizzutti" and "Vizzutti and Soli On Tour". His "High Class Brass", (also DeHaske Recordings), is a wonderfully unique classical and jazz blend co-produced, co-written and performed with fellow trumpet artist, composer and conductor, Jeff Tyzik along with a 90 piece studio orchestra. Also of interest are "Baroque and Beyond", from Sony, "The Carnival of Venus", (Summit Records), and "A Trumpeter's Dream, (Ludwig Music Publishing).

As Artist in Residence, Allen has taught at the Eastman School of Music, the Banff Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas State University, Ohio State University, West Texas State University, the Skidmore Jazz Institute, and the Trompeten Akademie of Bremen Germany. He is currently 'Artist In Residence' at the University of Washington. His extensive treatise, "The Allen Vizzutti Trumpet Method" and his "New Concepts for Trumpet", (Alfred Music Publishing), have become standards works for trumpet study world wide. Many more of Allen's jazz and classical books, play along recordings, and student and recital compositions are published by DeHaske/Hal Leonard, Southern Music, and Ars Nova. His writing includes solo pieces for flute, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, tuba, and harp, chamber groups, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and symphony orchestra.

Allen's love of expression through composition has led to premier performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Budapest Radio Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic of London, the Nuremberg Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, London Symphony, the renowned Summit Brass and others. After the world premier of his "Emerald Concerto" with the Syracuse Symphony Allen's writing was described in review: "The Emerald Concerto sparkles!...a vivacious treatment which speaks well for both his dramatic instinct and technical prowess as a composer."

While growing up in Montana, Allen was taught by his father, a self taught musician and trumpet player, until he left home to attend the Eastman School of Music on full scholarship. There he earned the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, a Performer's Certificate, a chair in the Eastman Brass Quintet faculty ensemble, and the only Artist's Diploma ever awarded a wind player in Eastman's 85 year history.

While living in Los Angeles during the 80's, Allen performed on over 100 motion picture sound tracks, (such as Back To The Future and Star Trek), as well as countless TV shows, commercials and recordings with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Chick Corea, the Commodores and Prince. His soaring sounds can be heard on projects including the movies "40 Days and 40 Nights", "Unfaithfully Yours", Gridiron Gang", "Scary Movie Four", and the "Medal of Honor" and "Halo II" video games.

ALLEN VIZZUTTI IS A YAMAHA PERFORMING ARTIST

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Art & Fine Lliving with Jona Partners with OSM Bloch Concert March 30-31

Art & Fine Living with Jona Partners Nagano OSM in Bloch's Avodath Hakodesh
By Jona Rapoport
Jona Rapoport Artist Management/Radio Host
February 16, 2009


The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kent Nagano, will perform Ernest Bloch's magnificent oratorio, Avodath Hakodesh (Sacred Service), on March 30th and 31st at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts in Montreal.

This rarely performed work of soaring beauty and subdued lyricism brings together world-famous baritone Dwayne Croft, narrator Sherill Milnes and the OSM Chorus for an exceptional celebration of Jewish liturgy.Brahms Second Piano Concerto is also on the program, with Yefim Bronfman a soloist.

Jona Rapoport is honoured to partner with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for this presentation. Her radio show, Art & Fine Living with Jona, is currently the media partner of The Centaur Theatre Company and The Opera de Montreal.

The concert will receive extensive coverage on Jona Rapoport's radio show throughout the months of February and March.

Don't miss this extraordinary event call 514-842-9951 or visit www.osm.ca for tickets and information.

Find Art & Fine Living with Jona on www.radio-shalom.ca.

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Art & Fine Living with Jona Partners with OSM Bloch Concert March 30-31

Art & Fine Living with Jona Partners Nagano OSM in Bloch's Avodath Hakodesh
By Jona Rapoport
Jona Rapoport Artist Management/Radio Host


The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kent Nagano, will perform Ernest Bloch's magnificent oratorio, Avodath Hakodesh (Sacred Service), on March 30th and 31st at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts in Montreal.

This rarely performed work of soaring beauty and subdued lyricism brings together world-famous baritone Dwayne Croft, narrator Sherill Milnes and the OSM Chorus for an exceptional celebration of Jewish liturgy.Brahms Second Piano Concerto is also on the program, with Yefim Bronfman a soloist.

Jona Rapoport is honoured to partner with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for this presentation. Her radio show, Art & Fine Living with Jona, is currently the media partner of The Centaur Theatre Company and The Opera de Montreal.

The concert will receive extensive coverage on Jona Rapoport's radio show throughout the months of February and March.

Don't miss this extraordinary event call 514-842-9951 or visit www.osm.ca for tickets and information.

Find Art & Fine Living with Jona on www.radio-shalom.ca.

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Dlices italiens en compagnie de Pentadre !


Pentadre prsente :

Rossini, opra
et autres dlices italiens

Le quintette vent Pentadre
Sandra Murray, piano
M Traiteur - Jean-Franois Vachon, chef


Samedi 7 mars 2009, 14 h

Espace DellArte
40, rue Jean-Talon Est (Mtro Jean-Talon / De Castelnau)
Billets : 30 $
Renseignements et billetterie : 514-490-9613 #101
www.pentaedre.com http://www.pentaedre.com

Montral, 17 fvrier 2009 - Pentadre vous invite un rcital autour de la musique de La Cenerentola et de diverses fantaisies dopra, servis avec vins et bouches litalienne.

Ce sont les sonorits colores et parfois moqueuses des musiciens de Pentadre qui donneront vie aux rires et aux mchancets de lhorrible belle-famille de Cendrillon lors du prochain concert de lensemble. Cest au moyen dune transcription par le clarinettiste allemand Ulf-Guido Schfer de lopra de Rossini La Cenerentola que les membres de Pentadre prendront plaisir personnifier les colors personnages du clbre conte en usurpant les envoles lyriques normalement rserves des chanteurs dans quatre extraits de ce chef-duvre de lopra italien.

Pour ouvrir avec brio cet aprs-midi de musique opratique, Pentadre propose trois fantaisies mettant en vedette trois des membres de lensemble, accompagns au piano de Sandra Murray,
ainsi quune excution du virtuose et irrsistible Quintuor op.124 de Briccialdi.

Cest un rendez-vous pour un aprs-midi de plaisir musical et gustatif !


Au programme :
L. Bassi Fantaisie sur I Puritani
A. Pasculli Fantaisie sur La Favorita
P.-A. Genin Fantaisie sur La Traviata
B. Briccialdi Quintuor op.124
G. Rossini/U.-G. Schfer Extraits de La Cenerentola



***

Depuis ses dbuts en 1985, Pentadre se consacre la dcouverte d'un rpertoire de musique de chambre vari, original et souvent moins connu. Compos de cinq musiciens talentueux, dont la technique et la prcision de jeu sont unanimement reconnues, Pentadre effectue des tournes au Qubec, au Canada, aux tats-Unis et en Europe. Rcipiendaire du Prix OPUS 2002 du Meilleur concert de lanne, musique actuelle, contemporaine, lectroacoustique, Pentadre collabore avec des artistes de renom et participe des crations audacieuses, dont rcemment lopra comique A Chair in Love ou LAmour est un opra muet avec les mimes Omnibus. Son enregistrement rcent du Winterreise de Schubert (version de chambre de Normand Forget), avec le tnor Christoph Prgardien, sest attir des loges de la critique internationale.

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The Pearl Fishers: A Special Presentation by the Edmonton Opera


Bizet's

The Pearl Fishers

An intimate and unique opera experience


Journey to an exotic island in the Indian Ocean as Edmonton Opera presents a tale of love and passion, friendship and betrayal, jealousy and sacrifice. A special production of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers (Les pcheurs de perles) plays for two nights only, March 12 and 14, in the intimacy of the Winspear Centre. Tickets are on sale now at the Edmonton Opera Box Office: call (780) 429-1000 or visit www.edmontonopera.com. The Pearl Fishers is performed in French, with English surtitles projected above the stage.

A life-long friendship between two men, Nadir and Zurga, once nearly destroyed by their love for the same woman, survived thanks only to their vow to never see her again. When a mysterious priestess arrives on their island, Nadir recognizes her as the woman he and Zurga once loved, and, overcome by his passion, he must choose between the love of his friend and that of his Leila.

The most famous men's duet in all of opera, "Au fond du temple saint," is only one of the unforgettable musical moments in a haunting and beautiful tragic opera. Edmonton Opera is proud to welcome Amy Hansen, who sang Lakm in 2005, as Leila. She is joined by Colin Ainsworth, who sang Tonio in Daughter of the Regiment, Edmonton favourite Gregory Dahl, and bass Andrew Stewart in his Edmonton Opera debut. Director Brian Deedrick and Conductor Robert Dean lead the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Opera Chorus in this innovative production.

"The extraordinary success of Lakm in the intimate acoustical splendour of the Winspear Centre has been the inspiration for The Pearl Fishers," says Deedrick. "We've spent four years looking for the project that could provide Edmonton audiences with an equally powerful and moving operatic experience. We are so pleased that CGI, The Pearl Fishers' presenting sponsor, is making this production possible."

Both performances of The Pearl Fishers begin at 7:30pm and run at the Winpear Centre. Tickets, which range from $24 to $110, are available at the Edmonton Opera Box Office, call (780) 429-1000 or visit www.edmontonopera.com.

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MATA at Geordie

Geordie Productions
Geordie Productions presents Mata on the Mainstage!

MONTREAL - Geordie Productions is proud to present Mata, by Esther Beauchemin, produced by the Thtre de la Vieille 17 and the Thtre de Sable in collaboration with the Thtre Franaise at the National Arts Centre. Mata is presented in an English translation by Henry Gauthier at the D.B. Clarke Theatre from March 13 to 22, 2009. Directed by Robert Bellefeuille, this poetic marionette production about freedom and hope is appropriate for adults and children age 7 & up.

ABOUT THE PLAY | Originally produced in 2000, Mata comes to Geordie after an extensive tour in three different languages that has brought it across Quebec, Canada, to the United States and even Mexico. The production was last seen in Montreal in 2002 for an extremely successful French-language run at La Maison Thtre. Esther Beauchemin won the Christine-Dumitriu-Van-Saanen Prize at Toronto French Book Fair for the script, and the production was a finalist at the 2003 Soire des Masques for best production for young audiences, sound conception and original text.

THE STORY | Mata, the daughter of a puppet maker, is sent by her father to work in a factory in order to pay off family debts. Before leaving his 8-year-old daughter, he bestows upon her Issane, a precious puppet on which Mata's mother has sewn 1461 pearls, one for each day until her father will come for her. Since she knows how to read and write, Mata becomes indispensable to Wunan, the factory foreman. Mata works hard, but when night falls she recounts the tale of Issane - The Princess of Light - through shadow puppetry to the other children, and counts the days until she will finally gain her freedom.

GEORDIE'S VOW OF SILENCE | In honour of the true events that inspired this play, Geordie will be participating in Free the Children's "Vow of Silence" campaign. Free The Children is a Canadian charity and the world's largest network of children helping children through education, with youth involved in its innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Beginning at 3pm on March 5, 2009 Geordie will join people around the world in remaining silent in support of those who are unable to speak up themselves. For more details, please visit www.iamsilent.com


Mata | Written by Esther Beauchemin | Produced by Thtre de la Vieille 17 and the Thtre de Sable and in collaboration with the French Theatre of the National Arts Centre

STARRING: Esther Beauchemin, Roch Castonguay, Henry Gauthier, Marie-Th Morin, Nathalie Poir; STAGE DIRECTION: Robert Bellefeuille; PUPPET DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: Jose Campanale; STAGE MANAGEMENT & LIGHTING: Jean Hazel

PERFORMANCES: March 13 - 22, 2009| Opening night: March 13 at 7:00pm |

Weekend Family Performances: Mar. 14 & 15 at 3pm; Mar. 21 & 22 at 1pm & 3pm | School Matines: Mar. 17 - 20, 10am & 12pm

VENUE: D.B. Clarke Theatre, Concordia University Hall Building | 1455 de Maisonneuve W.

TICKETS:(ON SALE NOW): $13.50 children, $16 adults; $15 seniors; all prices include tax

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Children age 7+ and adults of all ages | 60 minutes

BOX OFFICE and INFORMATION: (514) 845-9810 or www.geordie.ca

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LotusLand Project crosses musical style and space

Upcoming shows in Montreal and Almonte on February 27 and 28





MONTREAL, February 17th, 2009. Next week offers a cross-continent and cross-style musical experience brought to Montreal and Ottawa by four of Canada's most prolific jazz musicians. In the LotusLand Project, Newfoundland-born violinist Mark Fewer from Montral and pianist John Novacek from Los Angeles join Vancouver-based jazz musicians Jodi Proznik on double-bass and Brad Turner on trumpet and drums. Their successful hybrid show features a mix of 20th century classical and jazz music, ranging from Fritz Kreisler to George Antheil, from Charlie Chaplin to Stuff Smith and Phil Dwyer.





The LotusLand Project started in 2005 with a live broadcast commissioned by the CBC. Since then, LotusLand has continued to expand, with new works being written by jazz musicians and classical composers across the continent.



Its director Mark Fewer is a versatile virtuoso with a talent for moving between styles. 2009 has already seen him perform with a brass band, a percussion ensemble, and a string orchestra; his current projects feature a baroque orchestra, a string quartet, a piano trio, and a jazz quartet.



John Novacek, pianist of LotusLand, is a sought-after collaborative artist and arranger who gained a Grammy nomination in 2004.



Bassist Judi Proznik was recently nominated Bassist of the Year at the 2008 National Jazz Awards.



Trumpet player Brad Turner has won several Juno and multiple jazz awards and is one of Canada's most prominent jazz musicians of our day.





Show dates:



Feb 27, 2009: 5 pm St. James United Church, Montral, 463 rue Sainte-Catherine West (Metro McGill)



Feb 28, 2009: 8 pm Almonte Old Town Hall, 14 Bridge St, Almonte, Ontario

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Verdi's Simon Boccanegra returns to the Canadian Opera Company after 30 years


Toronto, Ontario Last performed by the COC in 1979, Giuseppe Verdis Simon Boccanegra returns to the Canadian Opera Company opening its spring season. Leading the cast are Grammy-nominated baritone Paolo Gavanelli and American soprano Tamara Wilson, both making their COC debuts. Bringing Verdis powerful score to life is Marco Guidarini, music director of Opra de Nice, who makes his COC debut leading the COC Orchestra and Chorus. Renowned stage director Ian Judge also makes his company debut remounting this production he originally directed for Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Simon Boccanegra runs April 11, 14, 18, 22, 24, 28, May 3, 7, 2009 and is sung in Italian with English SURTITLESѢ.

Set amidst the political turmoil of medieval Italy and loosely based on the life of the first Doge of Genoa, Simon Boccanegra is a story of a man of the people whose rise to power results in the loss of all he holds dear. Italian baritone Paolo Gavanelli, a law student before turning to singing, has sung with some of the worlds great opera companies in London, Tokyo, Paris, and New York. Soprano Tamara Wilson, a bona fide Verdi soprano (Houston Chronicle), sings Amelia, Simons long-lost daughter, who after a 25-year absence, unknowingly exposes shifting political alliances and conspiracies that threaten her father and the city. Amelias devoted lover Gabriele is sung by COC favourite, tenor Mikhail Agafonov, who received rave reviews for his role as Pierre in this falls triumphant production of War and Peace. Canadian bass Phillip Ens, Wurm in the COCs Luisa Miller, also returns to menace Simon as Fiesco, and baritone Daniel Sutin, Orest in Elektra, is Boccanegras doomed political ally, Paolo. Rounding out the cast are former Ensemble Studio bass Alain Coulombe as Pietro, current Ensemble tenor Michael Barrett as a Captain, and Ensemble mezzo-soprano Erin Fisher as Amelias Maidservant. Set designer John Gunter and costume designer Deirdre Clancy make their COC debuts, and Nigel Levings returns to light this strikingly rich production.

Based on the play by Antonio Garca Gutirrez with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, Verdis Simon Boccanegra premiered unsuccessfully at La Fenice in Venice in 1857. More than two decades later, Verdi and librettist Antonio Boito revised the opera which opened in 1881 at La Scala in Milan to rave reviews. The COC performs this second version which has become part of the standard operatic repertoire.

Tickets for Simon Boccanegra are available Monday, March 2, 2009 online at www.coc.ca, or by calling 416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Ticket prices for all performances range from $60 to $290. Special young peoples tickets for all performances throughout the season are priced from $30 to $98. These ticket prices apply to those who are 15 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult.

Starting Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 10 a.m., $20 tickets are available for patrons between the ages

of 16 and 29 through the Opera for a New Age program presented by TD Bank Financial Group

and may be purchased online at www.coc.ca or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office

(145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Student group tickets are $20 per student and may be purchased by calling 416-306-2356. Remaining Opera for a New Age tickets will be released as $20 rush seats at 11 a.m. the morning of the performance, subject to availability.

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLES: Sun Life Financial

Official Automotive Sponsor of the COC at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts:

Jaguar Land Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

The COC Ensemble Studio is Canadas premier training program for young opera professionals and provides advanced instruction, hands-on experience, and career development opportunities. The Ensemble Studio is supported by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, RBC Financial Group, and other generous donors.

COC ANCILLARY EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

The COC offers free 20-minute introductions to the opera and its theme in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 45 minutes prior to every performance.

Canadian Opera Company Podcast Series

The Canadian Opera Company and Universal Music present a FREE podcast series that explores the depths of music in opera. Podcasts are available for downloading or streaming on www.coc.ca or through Universal Music at www.getmusic.ca/classical. Simon Boccanegra-themed podcasts will be online starting in March 2009. These are entertaining programs designed to give listeners a chance to learn about opera, COC productions, and hear interviews from the artists and creative team. Throughout the year, listeners can tune in to hear music from the COCs 2008/09 season, discussions with special artists, as well as preview operas in the COCs 2009/10 season. Each podcast is created and hosted by COC personnel.

About the Canadian Opera Company

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. The COC currently enjoys a remarkable 99% attendance rate for its mainstage season. The companys new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. and is Canadas first purpose-built opera house. The contemporary expression of a traditional five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium was specifically designed for opera with the highest level of acoustics and provides unparalleled intimacy between the audience and the stage. Acclaimed as one of the best opera houses in the world, the Four Seasons Centre is also the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada.

Canadian Opera Company Website

The Canadian Opera Companys new website, at www.coc.ca, contains information on all productions including synopses, historical background, and production photographs.

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Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame opens 2009 on a high note


EMP|SFM opens 2009 on a high note

High attendance at free and low cost events and steady paid admissions, make for a promising start to 2009

SEATTLEExperience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM) has opened the new year on a high note with a promising start to 2009. In January, EMP|SFM welcomed 3,300 guests to its public programs, including an All Access Night on New Years Day, three Oral History Live! events with David Bryan, Jim Sherraden and Al Kooper; an Exposed: Inside Film screening of Pi and EMP|SFMs annual Jazz in January programming.

Excellent attendance during these January events put January 2009s overall attendance numbers seven percent over January 2008s attendance numbers. In total, just over 18,000 people came through the museums doors via paid museum admission or to enjoy EMP|SFMs public programs. Yearly overall attendance for 2008 was up three percent over 2007.

EMP|SFM will continue to provide free and low cost programming in 2009 with programs such as Oral History Live!, Exposed: Inside Film, Pop Conference and its Sound Off! underage battle of the bands competition.

EMP|SFM is proud to host the West Coast premiere of Jim Hensons Fantastic World. This highly anticipated exhibition, organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and the Smithsonian Institution will be on view this spring and summer in the science fiction galleries at the museum.

Exhibitions opening in 2009

empsfm.org/exhibitions

Jim Hensons Fantastic World

May 23-August 16, 2009
Jim Henson (1936-1990)artist, puppeteer, film director and producercreated elaborate imaginary worlds filled with unique characters, objects, environments and even languages and cultures. His work is enjoyed in dozens of languages in more than 100 countries. Jim Henson's Fantastic World offers a rare peek into the imagination and creative genius of this multitalented innovator and creator of Kermit the Frog, Big Bird and other beloved characters.

The exhibition features 100 original artworks, including drawings, cartoons and storyboards that illustrate Hensons talent as a storyteller and visionary. Among the variety of exhibition objects are puppets, television and movie props, photographs of Henson and his collaborators at work and original video productions, including excerpts from Hensons early career and experimental films.

Jim Henson's Fantastic World was organized by The Jim Henson Legacy and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in cooperation with the Henson family, The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets Studio, LLC, and Sesame Workshop.
This exhibition is made possible by The Biography Channel. Additional support has been provided by The Jane Henson Foundation and Cheryl Henson.

Spaced Out: The Final Frontier in Album Covers

August 15, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010

Organized by EMP|SFM, Spaced Out: The Final Frontier in Album Covers presents 117 spaced-themed record album covers released between the 1940s and 1969the dawn of the space age. In the post-war years, humanity seemed on the verge of taking a giant leap into space. Futuristic themes filled popular culture. Space was the place, and everyone wanted to be there. Musicians thronged to the fad, and space themes invaded album covers of every genre including pop, jazz, folk and classical.

These album covers embody the fantasy and mystery of spacewhat we imagined it to be, what we hoped it would be.

Programs

empsfm.org/programs

Sweet Deal Sundays

Sundays in February, EMP|SFM visitors can park for free in the new Seattle Center Garage on 5th Ave. N and Harrison St. Visitors can bring their parking stub with them to an admission desk, and EMP|SFM will deduct their $7 parking fee from a regular paid admission.

All Access Nights

In January 2007, EMP|SFM began offering free admission and live music from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Since its inception, the museum has welcomed more than 42,000 visitors during All Access Nights. All Access Nights are sponsored by The Boeing Company.

Family Days

EMP|SFM hosts Family Days on the third Saturday of every month. Family Day activities can include interactive art projects, live music from local bands, free instrument workshops and more. Family Days are sponsored by IKEA.

Oral History Program

EMP|SFM is proud to have an oral history archive of more than 800 interviews filled with tales from musicians, producers, authors, filmmakers and artists who have shaped American popular music and science fiction. More than a hundred of these interviews are featured in the Sound and Vision: Artists Tell Their Stories exhibition currently on display at the museum. In addition, the Oral History Live! series at EMP|SFM features intimate interviews before a live audience. Recent guests have included, Al Kooper, Krist Novoselic, Billy Cox and Clive Barker. Oral History Live! is sponsored by Wells Fargo and The Boeing Company. Upcoming Oral History Live! events include: Stockpiling Star Wars: Inside Gus and Duncans Comprehensive Guide to Star Was Collectibles Feb. 23 and Perspectives in Poster Design March 11.

Exposed: Inside Film

Through its Exposed: Inside Film series, EMP|SFM screens cult favorites and classic sci-fi films. Each screening is followed by a behind-the-scenes look through an interactive discussion with local filmmakers and experts in the subject matter, or with actors, directors or screenwriters associated with the film. Upcoming films include: Outlander Feb. 17 and Of All the Things April 21.

Sound Off! 2009

Sound Off! is the Pacific Northwests largest battle of the bands. A launching pad for musical careers, Sound Off! has enjoyed hosting many young up-and-coming bands over the years including Schoolyard Heroes, Idiot Pilot, Mon Frere, The Lonely H, Dyme Def, The Lonely Forest, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head and New Faces.

Early last year, EMP|SFM crowned New Faces as winners of Sound Off! 2008, since then, theyve been propelled into Seattles music scene. Just a few months after their win, they were signed by Loveless Records, released their first album, Two Yearswhich was just named top local release of 2008 by Three Imaginary Girls, and played to adoring fans at Bumbershoot.

This years semifinalists include Dearboy, Dyno Jamz, Love Trucker, Schoolboy Gutbuster, Brier Rose, Free City Collective, Makeup Monsters, The Mission Orange, Cyrus Fell Down, Kids Get Hit by Buses, Razpy & The Vigilantes and Sol. Upcoming semifinal concerts are held Feb. 21 and 28, 2009 and the finals are held March 7, 2009.

Sound Off! 2009 is sponsored by IKEA, ShureThe Official Microphone of EMP|SFM, 107.7 The End, KEXP 90.3, KORG USA, Epiphone, Bumbershoot, The Stranger, NoStankYou.com, Orbit Audio, Glenn Sound Studio, London Bridge Studio, Northwest Folklife, The Vera Project and Redmond's Old Firehouse Teen Center.

Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival

EMP|SFM, in partnership with SIFF, presented the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival Feb. 7, 2009 at the Seattle Cinerama Theater. The annual festival brings together industry professionals in filmmaking and the genres of science fiction and fantasy to encourage and support new, creative additions to science fiction and fantasy cinema arts.

After Hours

EMP|SFM is proud to partner with the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) to present After Hours, a new all-ages event at EMP|SFM designed by teens for teens. After Hours is an exciting, new all-ages event that takes place three times throughout the year. The evening features a dance party with a local DJ in Sky Church and can include access to gallery spaces, live music by local bands and film previews from student filmmakers. The next After Hours event is March 27.

Education

empsfm.org/education

Experience: The Band

Experience: The Band began in fall 2007 as a partnership between EMP|SFM and the Berklee College of Musics City Music Network.

This year-long, innovative, full scholarship program integrates instrumental and vocal instruction in rock and jazz, ensemble performance and musicianship classes with state-of-the-art online learning materials.

Experience: The Band rehearses together every Saturday from late September to early June, with several public performances scheduled throughout the year. Band members are also eligible to be considered for scholarships to Berklee College of Musics five-week summer performance program, as well as full tuition scholarships to Berklee College of Music. Experience: The Bands next showcase is March 21 at 1 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Experience: The Band is supported by JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Puget Sound Energy Foundation.

Pop Conference

The Pop Conference at EMP|SFM, now in its eighth year, joins academics, critics, performers and writers of all kinds to discuss popular music. This years conference topic is Dance Music Sex Romance: Pop and the Body Politic. The conference runs April 16-19, 2009.

Lessons & Workshops

Lessons & Workshops at EMP|SFM are weekend and evening classes for adults and teens 16 and older. This series provides in-depth, hands-on training on a specific music or science fiction-related topic. Lessons & Workshops are added throughout the year. Guitar 102 begins Feb. 18 and Stayin' Alive: Rock Band for Adults begins April 27.

Camps and Teen Artist Workshops

EMP|SFMs Camps and Teen Artist Workshops take youth on a journey of artistic exploration and self-discovery during their spring and summer breaks. Visit empsfm.org/education for a complete list of 2009 camps and workshops offered by EMP|SFM and partners Pacific Science Center and Seattle Childrens Theater.

2008 Wallace Excellence Award

In November, EMP|SFM was granted a 2008 Wallace Excellence Award. EMP|SFM was among eight other Seattle arts organizations to receive the prestigious award, including On The Boards, One Reel, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Opera, Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Youth Symphony and SIFF. EMP|SFM is thrilled to be among this impressive list of local arts organizations and to be honored by The Wallace Foundation.

EMP|SFM received a $585,000 grant to expand and enhance youth-driven programming that leverages the museums unique collections and offerings to generate online content for the public. The museum will announce its specific plan to implement the grant later this year.

###

Museum Hours:

EMP|SFM is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 2, 2008 through May 21, 2009 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 22, 2009 through September 7, 2009.

Museum Admission:

General adult admission to both Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM) is $15. Admission for seniors, youth, military and students (w/ID) is $12, and admission for children under 5 is free. One ticket gives access to both museums.

Web site:

empsfm.org

Address:

325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109

Box office:

206-770-2702


Current exhibitions include:

American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print
October 11, 2008 July 16, 2009
American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print illustrates the fascinating fusion of art with popular culture and music history. Featuring the work of one of the nation's oldest operating printing shopsNashville, Tennessee's Hatch Show Printthe exhibition highlights the uniquely American posters produced to advertise everything from vaudeville shows, state fairs and stock car races to the Grand Ole Opry, Elvis Presley and Herbie Hancock.

Founded in 1879 in Nashville, Tenn., Hatch Show Print is still a working letterpress and design shop, creating posters today using the same letterpress methods as yesterday. American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print features historical and contemporary posters and original wooden print blockssome never before seen by the public.

The exhibition, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, is supported by America's Jazz Heritage, a Partnership of The Wallace Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition is supported locally by 4Culture.

Robots: A Designer's Collection of Miniature Mechanical Marvels
May 16, 2008 April 19, 2009

Robots: A Designer's Collection of Miniature Mechanical Marvels celebrates our long fascination with humankind's technological version of itself. This exhibition draws from a one-of-a-kind assemblage of toy robots, which noted designer Tom Geismar has been collecting for decades. Inspired by antique tin and wooden toys, samurai warriors and mid-20th century Japanese film characters, these intricately detailed and beautifully designed miniatures are set against EMP|SFM's backdrop of life-sized robots, androids and cyborgs from the world of science-fiction film and television.

Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound
April 26, 2008 April 11, 2010
Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound illustrates Hendrix's musical evolution from his early days in Seattle, to his time as a journeyman musician touring the southern "chitlin' circuit" and in New York City, to his explosion on the popular music scene in London and beyond. The exhibition and the visitor experience weave together the various musical styles and cultures that Hendrix soaked up throughout his all-too-short journey.

About the EMP|SFM Building
Since EMP opened in 2000 and SFM in 2004, EMP|SFM has welcomed more than 4.3 million visitors through its doors. From its museum planning stages in 1998 through 2007, EMP|SFM has been a key economic driver among Seattle nonprofit arts and culture organizations, with combined EMP|SFM institutional expenditures and EMP|SFM audience-member spending resulting in $580 million dollars of local economic impact. EMP|SFM is housed in a 140,000 square foot Frank O. Gehry-designed building. This spectacular, prominently visible structure has the presence of a monumental sculpture set amid the backdrop of the Seattle Center.

About Experience Music Project
Experience Music Project (EMP) is dedicated to the exploration of creativity and innovation in popular music. By blending interpretative, interactive exhibitions with cutting-edge technology, EMP captures and reflects the essence of rock n roll, its roots in jazz, soul, gospel, country and the blues, as well as rocks influence on hip-hop, punk and other recent genres. Visitors can view rare artifacts and memorabilia and experience the creative process by listening to musicians tell their own stories.

About Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (SFM) is the world's first museum devoted to the thought-provoking ideas and experiences of science fiction. SFMs exhibitions promote awareness and appreciation of science fiction literature and media while encouraging visitors to envision new futures for humanity. In the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, the museum pays homage to the most respected of science fiction practitionerswriters, artists, publishers and filmmakers.

Experience Music Project

Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame

t: (206) 262-3245 f: (206) 770-2727

330 Sixth Avenue North Suite 200 Seattle WA 98109

target="_blank"empsfm.org


Current Exhibitions

American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print

October 11, 2008 July 16, 2009

Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound

April 26, 2008 April 11, 2010

Robots: A Designer's Collection of Miniature Mechanical Marvels

May 16, 2008 April 19, 2009

Upcoming Exhibition

Jim Hensons Fantastic World

May 23 August 16, 2009

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Le Nouvel Opra en rsidence au Conservatoire de musique de Montral

Le Nouvel Opra en rsidence au Conservatoire

Montral, le 9 fvrier 2009 Le Nouvel Opra joint ses activits celles du Conservatoire de musique de Montral et prend rsidence au 4750, avenue Henri-Julien, Montral. Le Conservatoire, qui dsire pousser plus loin son enseignement et son implication dans la promotion et la recherche en musique baroque et en art lyrique, est particulirement heureux de cette collaboration, qui permettra de mettre contribution son expertise et ses installations et denrichir tant la formation que lexprience de ses lves.

Le Nouvel Opra, un ensemble cr il y a quelques annes, dabord sous le nom de L'Acadmie baroque de Montral, sest donn pour mission de rapprocher contemporain et baroque, dans des spectacles et des ateliers o le respect des uvres rime aussi avec crativit, entremlant diffrents arts de la scne tels le chant, la danse, le thtre, la gestuelle et bien sr, la musique. Il rassemble des artistes interdisciplinaires de renomme internationale dont la soprano Suzie LeBlanc, directrice artistique, le claveciniste Alexander Weimann, directeur musical, le contre-tnor Matthew White, directeur administratif, ainsi que la comdienne, danseuse et chorgraphe spcialiste de la gestuelle Marie-Nathalie Lacoursire.

Pour Suzie LeBlanc jumeler les activits du Nouvel Opra celles du Conservatoire de musique de Montral nous donnera la chance dapporter notre enthousiasme, notre connaissance et notre dsir de crer au Conservatoire, qui nous ouvre toutes grandes les portes de ses nouveaux espaces magnifiquement rnovs.

Raffi Armenian, directeur du Conservatoire de musique de Montral, se flicite de larrive du Nouvel Opra dans ses murs, ds septembre 2009, cest le dbut de notre institut baroque, cest--dire que je veux que le Conservatoire devienne un lieu de convergence o des ensembles de qualit et des artistes de grande renomme, qui se passionnent pour la musique baroque nous transmettent leur passion.

Maintenant quil a son pied--terre, le Nouvel Opra convie le public un premier atelier sur les opras de Purcell et sur la musique profane, au Conservatoire de musique de Montral, du 20 au 23 juin 2009.

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Monday, February 16, 2009

The VSO's March Concert Listings


The VSOs March Concert Listings

Vancouver BC March begins with the magnificent violinist Kyoko Takezawa and acclaimed conductor Andrew Litton in an epic concert of Elgar, Rachmaninoff and Walton. This Masterworks Gold concert features a pre-concert talk at 7:05pm with VSO bassoonist Sophie Dansereau.

The month continues with Musical Tales from Vienna, a Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets concert led by Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell, hosted by Christopher Gaze, and featuring eleven year-old pianist Tristan Teo. Much of the worlds most famous and popular classical music came from Vienna, the Musical City this concert highlights music from the Strauss family, Lehar, Mozart and Von Suppe.

Next up, the VSOs popular London Drugs Pops Series presents world-renowned trumpeter Allen Vizzutti who brought down the house in his last visit to the Orpheum. He makes his return performing Big Band classics such as In a Sentimental Mood, Take the A Train, King Porter Stomp, and the Canadian premiere of his own piece Concierto Mexicano for Trumpet and Orchestra. The VSOs Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik conducts.

There is also a special concert for toddlers Tiny Tots: Magical Melody Train Ride featuring the lovely music of Dvorak. Dance and sing with entertainers and professional educators Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda.

Next, famed guest conductor Kenneth Slowik wields his baton for a concert devoted to the magnificent music of Bach and Haydn. These concerts are performed at the Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC and Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver.

We continue the month with the rebel, a co-presentation with the talented Kokoro Dance. This concert also features Canadian saxophonist Wallace Halladay and takes place in the modern and intimate settings of the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.

The month wraps up with some Fine French Fantasies. Renowned violinist Mikhail Simonyan is recognized as one of the great talents of his generation. Fairy tales, poems and fantasies come to life when Simonyan plays the legendary pieces by Ravel and Chausson, and Evan Mitchell leads the orchestra in beautiful works by Berlioz and Dukas.

March marks the beginning of spring and another great month of VSO concerts!

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Gold Series:

Epic Elgar and Rachmaninoff, with Kyoko Takezawa

Saturday & Monday, February 28 & March 2, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Andrew Litton, conductor

Kyoko Takezawa, violin

Walton Crown Imperial

Elgar Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61

Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44

Celebrated conductor Andrew Litton takes the reins in a concert featuring exciting violinist Kyoko Takezawa, and a rarely performed Romantic gem by Rachmaninoff.

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets Series:

Musical Tales from Vienna

Thursday, March 5, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Tristan Teo, piano*

Mozart The Magic Flute: Overture

Strauss Tales from the Vienna Woods

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466 (first movement)

Lehar Gold and Silver Waltz

Von Suppe Light Cavalry: Overture

Strauss Blue Danube Waltz

Strauss Radetzky March

Much of the worlds most famous and popular music came from the Musical City you will hear from the Strauss family, Lehar, Mozart and von Suppe in a magical afternoon of waltz and song.

Tickets $36 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: Pacific Arbour

London Drugs VSO Pops Series:

Allen Vizzutti with the VSO

Friday & Saturday, March 6 & 7, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Jeff Tyzik, conductor

Allen Vizzutti, trumpet

Allen Vizzutti brought the house down in his last visit to the Orpheum, in what many said was one of the best Pops concerts in many years. He makes his return with the Canadian premiere of his own exciting Concierto Mexicano for Trumpet and Orchestra.

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: London Drugs

Radio Sponsor: CHQM-FM

Tiny Tots Series:

Magical Melody Train Ride

Friday, March 13, 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre

Saturday, March14, 10:00am, 11:30am, Terry Fox Theatre

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Featuring the Music of Dvorak. Dance and sing, by land and sea to music from the New World.

Adult Tickets $15, Child Tickets $7

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Premier Education Partner:

TELUS

Bach & Beyond Series:

The Magnificent Music of Bach and Haydn

Friday & Saturday, March 20 & 21, 8pm, Chan Centre

Kenneth Slowik, conductor

JS Bach Suite No.1

CPE Bach Harpsichord Concerto in G Major

JS Bach Harpsichord Concerto No. 7

Haydn Symphony No.96 in D Major, The Miracle

Baroque specialist Kenneth Slowik leads the orchestra in a performance that epitomizes the Bach & Beyond series: both Bachs, and one of Papa Haydns most popular symphonies.

Tickets $35 to $59 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available ONLY through Ticketmaster outlets, Charge-by-Phone at 604.280.3311 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

The VSOs Bach & Beyond Series Endowed By

The Chan Foundation of Canada

The presentation of this series is made possible in part through the generous assistance of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts of the University of British Columbia.

Radio Sponsor:

CHQM-FM

The Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Roundhouse Series:

the rebel

Co-presentation with Kokoro Dance

Friday, March 20, 8pm

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Wallace Halladay, saxophone

Neil Miskey, viola

Brent Akins, violin

Kokoro Dance, dancers

Gareth Farr the Pagan Prayer

Scott Good Babbitt-Concerto for Saxophone(s)

Arvo Part Tabula Rasa

Tickets $27 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: The Vancouver Sun

Financial Support By: SOCAN Foundation

North Shore Classics Series:

The Magnificent Music of Bach and Haydn

Monday, March 23, 8pm, Centennial Theatre

Kenneth Slowik, conductor

JS Bach Suite No. 1

CPE Bach Harpsichord Concerto in G Major

JS Bach Harpsichord Concerto No. 7 in G minor

Haydn Symphony No. 96, The Miracle

Baroque specialist Kenneth Slowik leads the orchestra in a performance that epitomizes the Bach & Beyond series: both Bachs, and one of Papa Haydns most popular symphonies.

Tickets $37 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available ONLY through Ticketmaster outlets, Charge-by-Phone at 604.280.3311 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca

Musically Speaking Series:

Fine French Fantasies: Simonyan Plays Ravel and Chausson

Saturday, March 28, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Mikhail Simonyan, violin

Berlioz Le corsair, Op. 21

Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chausson Poeme, Op. 25

Ravel Tzigane

Dukas The Sorcerers Apprentice

Fairy tales, poems and fantasies come to life under the baton of VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell. At only twenty-two years of age, Russian violinist Mikhail Simonyan is recognized as one of the great talents of his generation.

Tickets $20 to $56 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

Video screen presentations created and produced by students and staff of digital video productions at Columbia Academy.

Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Fine French Fantasies: Simonyan Plays Ravel and Chausson

Sunday, March 29, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Mikhail Simonyon, violin

Berlioz Le corsair, Op. 21

Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chausson Poeme, Op. 25

Ravel Tzigane

Dukas The Sorcerers Apprentice

Fairy tales, poems and fantasies come to life under the baton of VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell. At only twenty-two years of age, Russian violinist Mikhail Simonyan is recognized as one of the great talents of his generation.

Tickets $20 to $56 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: Beltone

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National Arts Centre appoints Michael Blackie as its new Executive Chef


National Arts Centre appoints Michael Blackie as its new Executive Chef

Ottawa (Canada) The National Arts Centre (NAC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Blackie as its new Executive Chef.

Chef Blackie is the highly successful culinary mastermind behind Perspectives Restaurant at the Brookstreet resort in Kanata, Ontario. After only three months under his leadership, Perspectives was awarded the coveted CAA/AAA four-diamond rating, which it has since maintained, becoming one of the top restaurants in Canada.

Chef Blackie begins his new role at the NAC on March 9.

Michael Blackie is a creative force in the culinary world, said NAC President and CEO Peter Herrndorf. We are so pleased he is bringing his enormous talents to help build on the foundation of culinary excellence of Le Caf and the NACs Restaurants and Catering departments established by Kurt Waldele. I have no doubt that our patrons will be delighted with their dining experience. Michael will leave them dreaming about their next visit and another taste of his incredible creations.

Im over the moon and absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity to be able to work with such an incredible artistic team on the world stage at the National Arts Centre, said Chef Blackie. This is just massive for me.

Michael was born in Leicestershire, England and raised in Montreal. Following his apprenticeship, he worked as chef with Jamie Kennedy at the Founders Club, a private food establishment at Torontos SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre). Mr. Blackie also held positions as Sous Chef at Torontos Westin Harbour Castle; Executive Chef at the Pierre Marques in Mexico; Executive Sous Chef at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, which was voted Best Hotel in Hong Kong by Asiamoney Magazine and won both the Gold List Award and Best Hotel in Asia awards by Cond Nast; and Executive Chef at the Oberoi in Bali, Indonesiaa five-star hotel that was given the highest overall score in the Leading Hotels of the World Quality Awards in 2002.

Michael visited Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau in April 2008 as Guest Chef on the Canadian Asian Cuisine Tour, and was a Host Chef on the Exposing Canadian Cuisine tour to Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Zurich, sponsored by Ontario Tourism and Air Canada in February 2008. In January 2007 Michael won the Silver Medal in the Canadian Culinary Championship in Whistler, B.C.

NAC Culinary Director Kurt Waldele is thrilled to welcome Chef Blackie as part of his team. Chef Waldele has made and continues to make an enormous contribution to the NAC. Known for his sumptuous and creative meals for both Le Caf and catering clients, for over three decades Waldele has orchestrated many prestigious events, such as exceptional dinners for over 700 guests on the Southam Hall stage, beautiful summer garden parties for the Prime Ministers office, and a reception on Parliament Hill for 900 to celebrate the inauguration of Canadas new Governor General.

Chef Blackie will participate in a cooking demonstration and tasting event as part of BC Scene on April 23 at 7 p.m. The event, called Whats Left in the Deep Blue Sea, will also feature Robert Clark, Executive Chef of Vancouvers award-winning C Restaurant. Tickets are $60 and will be on sale starting February 24th at the NAC Box Office, through Ticketmaster at 613.755.1111 or online at www.bcscene.ca. The demonstration will be followed by tasting plates and accompanied by B.C. wines.

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The Assumption of Empire, Unwashed Grape at MainLine Theatre- March 3-22

Unwashed Grape presents

The Assumption of Empire

A new play by Ann Lambert

Directed by Paul Hawkins

March 3-22, 2009

"Isn't it amazing how many lives we have?" -Sophie

Montreal, February 2009- Unwashed Grape is mounting Ann Lambert's most ambitious play, The Assumption of Empire, at MainLine Theatre March 3-22, directed by Paul Hawkins. Former head of the National Theatre School's playwriting program, Ann Lambert returned to writing for the stage two years ago in Unwashed Grape's acclaimed double-bill of Two Short Women and The Wall. She is collaborating with them once again, exploring where the political and the personal intersect in a world rocked by violence and dizzying changethe shifting of tectonic platessometimes all too close to home.

Lambert is excited about her ongoing exploration of this theme: "Over the past 25 years as a writer, I have examined this intersection of political and personal and whether the two can even be separated. I am interested in how people's lives change in ways they could never have anticipated, and how they face those changes."

The Assumption of Empire takes place in and around Montreal from 1978 to 2008, spanning the Revolution in Iran, the 1st referendum for independence in Quebec, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Dawson shooting. These events form the backdrop for the life of Sophie Wiseman, who is taken back in time when she learns of the mysterious death of her ex-husband's wife.

Sophie Wiseman, married to Steve, is haunted by her first marriage to Ivan. What happened to her dream of love and changing the world? How did she settle for the daily compromises that erode her? How does she come to terms with growing older and the struggle to feel like her life has added up to something? Lambert stresses however that more than anything, this play is a love story: "Although the backdrop of the play reflects some world events, this is really a love story about the many forms love can take in one lifetime- a love from the past that haunts the present, a married love that can feel like a limited substitute for the real thing, a love for a child that is a constant source of joy and torment and the passionate need to find meaning in a world that has changed so overwhelmingly in just 30 years."

"Ann Lambert has her finger on the pulse of the moment," notes director Hawkins, "but as well, she explores the choices that define Sophie's journey from her past to her present." He continues, "The Assumption of Empire is in search of lost time as Sophie is in search of meaning and orientation now. When Lambert writes about the past, it is with an uncanny and prophetic anticipation of the present world and its problems. Her topical situations unfold with surprise, humour and sometimes horror."

The Assumption of Empire marks Lambert's second collaboration with director Paul Hawkins and her fourth collaboration with leading actor Laura Mitchell, playing Sophie (a writer and actor, Laura has co-written and performed four theatre cabarets with TITTERS, co-wrote a feature film and co-produced, co-wrote and narrated Unbuckling My Bible Belt, which premiered at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema). Spanning the years with Mitchell are veteran performers Bill Croft as Steve (recently seen in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Segal Centre) and Tim Hine as Ivan (seen in Fallen Angels at the Segal Centre), and newcomer Alice Abracen in her first professional production as Sophie's daughter Eliot. Ann is especially thrilled to be working with Alice, her real-life daughter.

Rounding out the team is set and costume designer Louise Arsenault, a playwright with a love of design; lighting designer Steve Schon, currently technical director at Dawson College, Black Theatre Workshop and the Just for Laughs Festival; original music and soundscape composer Eduardo Pipman who has performed and recorded with various jazz and contemporary improvisational musicians and won the prestigious award for the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2000 and stage manager Anton Golikov, in his final semester studying Cinema & Communications.

The Assumption of Empire

Unwashed Grape

At MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St Laurent

Reservations: 514-849-3378 or www.mainlinetheatre.ca

Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 pm

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm

Tickets: $20 regular, $17 student/senior, group rates available

$10 shows: Tuesdays (Mar. 3, 10, 17); Wed. preview Mar. 4; Sat. matinee, Mar. 7 at 2pm

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Canadian powerhouse quartet joins the ESO for one night only - May 4

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents vocal sensations and powerhouse quartet The Canadian Tenors

One Night Only!

Monday, May 4, 2009 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is thrilled to present one of Canadas national treasures, The Canadian Tenors, live on-stage, for one night only! Having captivated audiences from coast to coast, and around the world, now is your opportunity to experience the incredibly powerful vocals, undeniable charm and dazzling blend of crowd-pleasing repertoire that will take your breath away. It will be a concert event unlike any other, featuring an eclectic mix of classical and contemporary pop ballads and operatic arias, performed in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Tickets are on sale now! Ticket prices range from $20 - $65 (agency fees apply) and are available by calling the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414.

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Music For All Seasons | Marni Nixon-Nancy Shear Conversation | 9 March 09

MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS' "CONVERSATIONS" SERIES FEATURES RENOWNED SINGER MARNI NIXON, "THE VOICE OF HOLLYWOOD," IN CONVERSATION WITH NANCY SHEAR

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE

2009 SEASON INCLUDES

THE JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET

Singer Marni Nixon, the legendary "Voice of Hollywood," will be the next guest on Music For All Seasons' popular "Conversations" series. She will share her thoughts on life, art, and her extraordinary career, on Monday, March 9, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the New York Society for Ethical Culture. The event is co-sponsored by MFAS and NYSEC.

Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed "Conversations" series is an innovative program that has a devoted and enthusiastic following. Guests who have appeared on the series include Barbara Cook, Richard Stoltzman, Andr Previn, Lorin Maazel, Andr Watts, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Richard Stoltzman and Peter Schickele.

Each evening's program includes a question-and-answer session and a Meet-the-Artist reception with drinks and substantial hors d'oeuvres for all members of the audience.

The conversations, led by distinguished writer and broadcaster Nancy Shear, provide rare insights into the careers and lives of the guests and offer a behind-the-scenes look into the music world. The interviews benefit Music For All Seasons, an organization that brings the healing power of live musical performances to residential institutions. MFAS has received support from the NEA, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and donations and grants from corporations, foundations and individuals.

In addition to the program with Marni Nixon on Monday, March 9, 2009, the series will feature the renowned Juilliard String Quartet on April 20. The event will feature the entire quartet, including Nick Eanet, who will join the quartet as first violinist beginning in July of 2009. Each event is held in an interesting, unusual venue in New York City. Current and past locations include Steinway Hall, Bond #9, Bsendorfer New York, and BMI.

Tickets to the Marni Nixon event are $75 ($30 tax deductible). Discounted tickets are available for two or more events, and for students with ID. Seating is limited. For information and reservations, please call MFAS at 908-322-6300, or toll-free at 1-866-524-(MFAS).

Additional Information

MARNI NIXON

Best known as the singing voice of Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn in the classics The King and I, An Affair to Remember, West Side Story and My Fair Lady, Emmy Award-winning soprano Marni Nixon's career includes both opera and Broadway. Her recordings include the works of Boulez, Villa-Lobos, Ives, Schonberg, Stravinsky and Copland. In addition to such major Broadway productions as Cabaret and Sondheim's Follies, she has appeared as an actress in Shakespeare and on television in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Mothers-in-Law, The Merv Griffin Show, the Today Show and the Tonight Show. Her children's program, Boomerang, has been in rerun for twenty-five years and has garnered twenty-six Emmy Awards and four personal Emmys for Best Actress. Her autobiography, I Could Have Sung All Night, was published in hardcover in 2006.

A much-sought-after judge of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, National Association of Teachers and Singing, and other prestigious competitions, Ms. Nixon also presents master classes in colleges and universities and teaches privately throughout the USA.

NANCY SHEAR

Nancy Shear is well-known as writer, lecturer, producer, broadcaster and director of a performing arts production and public relations company. She has lectured for the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Caramoor Festival; has hosted broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Frick Collection series and Naumburg Foundation; had her own interview programs on WNYC; and has been a commentator for the American Public Radio Network. Her articles have appeared in major publications such as Musical America, Ovation, the New York Times, Lincoln Center Stagebill and Symphony Magazine. Ms. Shear has taught at New York University's School of Continuing Education, NYU's Vernon Center for Foreign Affairs and The New School. She has hosted special events including benefits at the Rainbow Room and, with Andr Previn, co-hosted a gala at the Caramoor Music Festival. Her rich background includes almost two decades as orchestra librarian, for The Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute, and privately for Leopold Stokowski and other major figures of the current and recent past generations. Ms. Shear has also lectured on the life and work of Eleanor Roosevelt and on various travel subjects.

MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS

Music For All Seasons, now celebrating its 17th season, is active in five states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California. By bringing live musical performances to a wide range of institutions including children's hospitals, retirement facilities, shelters for victims of domestic violence, juvenile detention centers, nursing homes, medical centers, halfway houses and hospices, MFAS aids the physical, mental and spiritual healing processes. MFAS brings together a wide variety of people and styles of music, provides opportunities for young professional artists to serve special audiences, and creates volunteer opportunities that serve local communities.

NEW YORK SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE:

Ethical Culture is a Humanist and Ethical movement inspired by the ideal that the supreme aim of our lives is to create a more humane society. The NYSEC stands for separation of church and state, and believes that acting morally does not require a belief in God. Ethical Culture places its faith in the demonstrated capacity of people to do wonderful things. The Ethical Culture community believes that all people are part of something that transcends the individual experience.

FOR LISTINGS

MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS CONVERSATIONS 2009 SERIES

Monday, March 9, 2009 Marni Nixon in Conversation with Nancy Shear

6:30-8:30 p.m.

New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street, New York City

Tickets $75 each ($30 tax-deductible). Meet-the-Artist Reception included.

Music For All Seasons. http://www.musicforallseasons.org/ Toll-free-1 866-524 MFAS (6327)

Monday, April 20, 2009 Juilliard String Quartet in Conversation with Nancy Shear

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Steinway Hall, 109 West 57th Street, New York City

Tickets $75 each ($30 tax-deductible). Meet-the-Artist Reception included.

Music For All Seasons. http://www.musicforallseasons.org/ Toll-free-1 866-524 MFAS (6327)

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Hold the dates- Bye Bye Baby (in French)

Hold the dates!

the French language premiere of

Bye Bye Baby

By Elyse Gasco

Translated by Maryse Warda

Directed by Clare Schapiro

Mark these dates in your winter calendar

Thursday, March 19 to Saturday, March 28, 2009

Imago Theatre, winner of last season's MECCA and AQCT Best English Production award for The Baroness and the Pig, is thrilled to present the French language translation of its acclaimed hit Bye Bye Baby.

Bye Bye Baby follows an adopted woman's journey through the labyrinth of Quebec's adoption laws towards the discovery of her birth mother. As she struggles to make sense of her own life and identity, her search is made all the more pivotal by the arrival of her first child. With Nathalie Claude, Martine-Marie Lalande, Dominique Leduc, Mathilde Monnard and Felicia Shulman.

Bye Bye Baby returns to the Monument-National's Studio Hydro-Qubec where it first premiered in November 2004 to critical and public acclaim. After a remount as part of Centaur Theatre's 2005-06 season, the buzz from critics, the theatre community and the general public surrounding the original English play was such that a French translation became inevitable. Recast, redesigned and re-imagined, this is a rare occasion to see a local English show reinvent itself in quest of new horizons.

Rares sont les productions montralaises d'expression anglaise de cette tenue.

Il serait triste que le secret de cette russite demeure trop bien gard.- Herv Guay, Le Devoir, 5 mai 2006

Bye Bye Baby in French

Imago Thtre

Au Monument-National, Studio Hydro-Qubec

1182, boulevard Saint-Laurent

Tuesday to Saturday at 8 :30pm

Matinee : Saturday at 2pm

Reservations: 514-871-2224

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CCOC Open House

Canadian Children's Opera Company
IN ACTION!
CCOC holds an Open House
with all five divisions of choruses performing


The Canadian Children's Opera Company (CCOC) will be holding an Open House, where all five divisions of choruses can be seen "in action", on Saturday, March 7, 2009, between 1:00pm and 5:00pm, at the First Unitarian Church in Toronto.

The 2008/09 season has already been a busy one for the CCOC. Preceding the Christmas holidays, the CCOC presented a tremendously successful run of A Dickens of a Christmas at the Enwave Theatre, they sang at the Ontario Legislature in Lights Across Canada, appeared with the Hannaford Street Silver Band in a Christmas Joy concert, and were the chorus of choice for The Canadian Tenors.

The CCOC also participated in three Toronto Symphony Orchestra concerts this year, The Snowman, A Very Merry Christmas Pops and the concert version of Mozart's The Magic Flute. On February 20th a CCOC chorus will sing at the Bohemian Ball, a benefit for the Sick Kids Foundation, and on April 9th, all 200 kids will sing the national anthem at a Blue Jays Game.

It is a busy life for a CCOC chorister! The junior division practices once a week; the Principal Chorus rehearse for two hours twice a week and, when preparing for a specific production, they add staging rehearsals to the mix! This is an enormous commitment for a young singer, but it illustrates the professional commitment by the members and why the CCOC is held in such high regard in the music community.

The Open House is a unique opportunity to meet the energetic and remarkable CCOC Artistic Director, Ann Cooper Gay, and all 200 children that make up the current chorus. Observe the CCOC staff conductors in action as they run an informal performance and rehearsal demonstration with each division of the CCOC.

In addition, there will be guest workshops, props making and drama classes, a Make-an-Opera workshop, as well as a bake sale, displays, merchandise, and audition information.

Composer Dean Burry (Pandora's Locker) leads the Make-an-Opera workshop demonstrating how to create an opera with nothing but imagination. Sophia Perlman, Co-ordinator of OPERAtion KIDS, will lead a workshop with the junior divisions.

And for all aspiring opera singers -- information, application forms and audition registration will be readily available.


Canadian Children's Opera Company
IN ACTION!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Ages 5-10: 1:00pm until 3:30pm; Ages 10-19: 2:30pm until 5:00pm
First Unitarian Church
175 St. Clair Avenue West (at Avenue Rd), Toronto
For more information call 416.366.0467

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Jamie Parker and Friends - Feb 27

Jamie Parker and Friends
Faculty artist concert showcases the music of Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck Schumann

TORONTO A founder of the award-winning Gryphon Trio, pianist James Parker and his colleagues will present a concert dedicated to the music of Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Clara Wieck Schumann. The concert takes place on Friday, February 27
at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall as part of the Faculty Artist Series. Tickets $25 ($15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the Faculty of Music box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744. Walter Hall is located in the Edward Johnson Building at 80 Queen's Park, accessible by subway (Museum stop).

PROGRAM
Johannes Brahms: Romanze in F, Op. 118 No. 5
Clara Wieck Schumann: Romance: Andante con sentimento, from Quatre pices caractristiques, Op. 5 No. 3
Robert Schumann: Trumerei from Kinderscenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15
Robert Schumann: Piano Trio No. 2, in F, Op. 80 (with Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin, and Roman Borys, cello)
Clara Wieck Schumann: Three Romances for violin and piano, Op. 22 (with Annalee Patipatanakoon)
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 3, in C minor, Op. 101 (with Annalee Patipatanakoon and Roman Borys)

A two-time JUNO Award winner and founder of the Gryphon Trio, pianist James Parker is one of Canada's most renowned artists. Whether in solo, chamber and orchestral concerts, he has appeared across Canada, US and Europe. Celebrated by critics, he has performed with every major Canadian orchestra including Montral, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Qubec City and National Arts Centre orchestras, to name a few. James Parker studied at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia with Kum Sing Lee, and then went on to study with Adele Marcus at The Juilliard School in New York. In September 2004, Dr. Parker was appointed as the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.

Featuring music faculty members, the Faculty Artist Series has a long tradition of presenting some of Canadas most celebrated artists and is considered one of the finest recital series in Toronto. For more information on this or other Faculty of Music concert series, please visit our website at www.music.utoronto.ca or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

###

Ticket sales and general inquiries:
Faculty of Music Box Office
Hours: 1 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Phone: 416-978-3744
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queens Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

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Wind and Brass Workshop

CAMMAC

Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateurs du Canada

Toronto Region

21 Dale Avenue #346 Toronto Ontario M4W 1K3

Phone: 416-925-6182

President: Kathy Gallyas

E-mail: gallyas@sympatico.ca or

Treasurer: Marion Wilk

marion@wilk.tv


CAMMAC presents a Wind and Brass Workshop


Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:30-4 p.m. ., CAMMAC, Canadian Amateur Musicians-Musiciens Amateurs du Canada will present Fran Harvey, Music and Education degrees from the University of Toronto. At the University of Toronto, she studied trumpet with Larry Weeks, James Spragg, Stephen Chennette, Robert Nagel and Armando Ghitalla and conducting with Victor Feldbrill, Stephen Chennette and Diana Brault.


The Winds and Brass Workshop will help players focus on sight-reading and performance skills. The workshop will focus on key performance skills such as dynamics, articulation, balance and blend, in an engaging hands-on learning experience. Tips and tools for great playing will be discussed and worked on through a variety of original works and arrangements for band. The Wind Band workshop welcomes all woodwind, brass and percussion players.


Fee: Non-members $20. Group fee: member rate (note, qualify 5 or more from the same group must apply: use separate forms please). Registration deadline: April 20, 2009.


For further information call 416-421-0779 or Toronto@cammac.ca.

www.cammac.ca

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Les Gitans DHOAD du Rajasthan - EN EXCLUSIVIT AU QUBEC!


www.dhoad.com

www.myspace/dhoad

Le samedi 21 fvrier 20h le Thtre Centennial accueillera les Gitans du Rajasthan, DHOAD en exclusivit au Qubec. Ce groupe de 8 artistes incluant musiciens, chanteurs, danseuse et cracheur de feu - reprsentant les principales castes des musiciens du Rajasthan vous sduiront par leur beaut et leur lgance, reflets de la majest du Rajasthan. Voir communiqu pour les dtails.

EXTRAITS VIDOS

ENTREVUES : LE FONDATEUR ET PERCUSSIONISTE RAHIS BHARTI EST DISPONIBLE POUR DES ENTREVUES TLPHONIQUES. (SON FRANAIS EST EXCELLENT).

VEUILLEZ COMMUNIQUEZ AVEC SONIA PATENAUDE 819-822-9692 POSTE 2617

Sonia Patenaude

Agente de dveloppement / Development Officer

Thtre Centennial Theatre

Billetterie / Box Office: 819-822-9692

SAISON 2008-2009 SEASON: www.centennialtheatre.ca

Universit Bishop's University

2600, rue Collge

Sherbrooke (Qubec) J1M 1Z7

Tlphone/ Phone: 819-822-9600 #2617

Tlcopieur / Fax: 819-822-9703

sonia.patenaude@ubishops.ca


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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Solti Foundation US increases number of grants awarded to young American conductors

The Solti Foundation U.S.

Increases Number Of Substantial Grants Awarded To Young American Conductors

Solti Fellow of $25,000 to be given in fall 2009

New Grant of $10,000 to be awarded in 2010

New Career Assistance Awards to be given yearly beginning in 2009


Evanston, Illinois Dedicated exclusively to assisting young American conductors in the early stages of their professional careers, The Solti Foundation U.S. today announced its intent to award $25,000 to a young American conductor for the second time in its history this coming fall 2009. The Foundation also announced a new $10,000 grant to be awarded in 2010, in addition to its current $5,000 grant, and new, smaller Career Assistance awards to be given annually.


Among the largest grants given to American conductors in the formative years of their careers, The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, also known as the Solti Fellow, is a grant of $25,000 that includes introductions to three of Chicagos most prestigious performing organizations: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Opera Theater.


New, smaller annual Solti U.S. Career Assistance Awards, which vary in amount and number granted, will be introduced in 2009.


Beginning in 2010, the Foundation introduces The Sir Georg Solti Emerging Conductor Award, a grant of $10,000. The $5,000 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Development Award, last given in 2008 to Joseph Young, Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony, will also be given in 2010.


In announcing the new grants, Tom McNeill, Solti Foundation U.S. Board Chair, stated It has been very exciting to see how well our recent awardees have done in their careers after being recognized by The Solti Foundation U.S. We hope that our enhanced awards program will attract many outstanding candidates.


Established in 2000 to honor the memory of the legendary conductor Sir Georg Solti by his widow, Lady Valerie Solti, and their two daughters, Gabrielle and Claudia, The Solti Foundation U.S. seeks to lend significant support to talented young American conductors, providing critical assistance to them at the start of their professional careers. In 2004, The Foundation, which began with a more general mission, established its current focus of helping exceptional young U.S. conductors.


In 2007, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the passing of Sir Georg, the Solti Foundation U.S. awarded its first $25,000 Solti Fellow to Anthony Barrese, who is rapidly establishing himself in the conducting arena. Mr. Barrese was appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Southwest beginning this 2008-09 season. As a result of receiving the Solti Fellow, Mr. Barrese has been hired as a cover conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for three different weeks. His con-ducting credits include the Dallas Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Sarasota Opera and Teatro Ventidio Basso (Italy), among others. Earlier in 2009, Mr. Barrese made his debut with Opera De Massy in France, conducting Turnadot. Upcoming 2009 conducting engagements include Don Giovanni with the Boston Lyric Opera, and La cenerentola with Opera Southwest.


The Solti Fellow, given to a promising young American conductor, is dispersed over a 24-month period and may be used for career training and activities that will further develop and enhance the recipients talent and experience. Beginning in 2009, the Solti Fellow will be awarded biennially to a single individual.


Career Assistance Awards will be given annually. These awards, of which the number and amount(s) are determined at the discretion of the Artistic and Awards Committee, may be used for a variety of career development needs, including transportation expenses, language studies, the creation of demonstration DVDs and other worthy projects.


The Sir Georg Solti Emerging Conductor Award, a new one-year grant of $10,000, will be given for the first time in 2010. The Foundation also bestows The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Development Award, a one-year grant of $5,000. The awarding of these two grants is rotated biennially with the Solti Fellow.


The Solti Foundation U.S. endeavors to seek out those musicians who have chosen to follow a path similar to that followed by Sir Georg himself. In keeping with the spirit of Sir Georgs active approach to his career, young conductors must apply to be considered for the awards. Applications for the grants are available to be downloaded through the Foundations website, www.soltifoundation.us. Citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are career-ready artists in the field of conducting are eligible to apply.


Applicants for all Solti Foundation U.S. awards must be able to demonstrate that he/she is developing a career as a symphonic/operatic conductor. Applicants for the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award (to be next awarded in fall 2009; application deadline is May 15, 2009) must be no more than 38 years of age by May 15th of the year the grant will be awarded. Applicants for The Sir Georg Solti Emerging Conductor Award (to be next awarded in fall 2010) must be no more than 35 years of age by May 15th of the year the grant will be awarded. Applicants for The Solti Foundation U.S. Career Development Award (to be next awarded in fall 2010) must be no more than 32 years of age by January 1st of the year the grant will be awarded. All applications from the above award categories are considered for a Solti U.S. Career Assistance Award (given annually). Applications are reviewed by an awards committee comprised of a panel of professionals with broad musical and conducting experience. The Foundation reserves the right to withhold a grant in any given year if the Awards Committee does not agree upon a suitable applicant.


The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award (Solti Fellow) will be awarded in a gala event in Chicago this coming fall 2009.


Further details about The Solti Foundation U.S., grant applications, biographies and photos of the Foundations past awardees and information about contributing to the Foundation can be found at www.soltifoundation.us.


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Kyoko Takezawa with the VSO!


The VSO Presents exciting violinist Kyoko Takezawa

performing Elgars Violin Concerto, in an epic concert

conducted by Andrew Litton

Vancouver BC The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents world-renowned violinist Kyoko Takezawa with Music Director of the Bergen Philharmonic Andrew Litton on February 28 and March 2, 8pm, at the Orpheum Theatre. Kyoko Takezawa will perform Elgars epic Violin Concerto in B minor while Andrew Litton will lead the orchestra in Waltons Crown Imperial and Rachmaninoffs rare gem Symphony No. 3 in A minor.

Kyoko Takezawa is an operatic diva of the violinĶ

- The Star Ledger

[Andrew Litton is]Ķa leading conductor of his generation.

- Gramophone

Kyoko Takezawa began her training in Japan as part of the Suzuki Method Association and later moved to the United States to continue her studies at the Julliard School under Dorothy DeLay. Ms. Takezawa graduated from Julliard in 1989 and went on to win the gold medal in the International Violin Competition in Indianapolis. Ms. Takezawa is always a favourite of Vancouver audiences.

Andrew Littons love of conducting began when he was ten years old, after attending a (Leonard Bernstein) New York Philharmonic Young Peoples Concert. Litton studied music and conducting at both The Fieldston School and Julliard. He served as the Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra from 1988 to 1994; Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 2006; and Music Director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway since 2003. A celebrated conductor, Litton was awarded Yale Universitys Sanford Medal in 2003, the BBC Critics Award in 2005, and the Elgar Medal in 2007. He was recently praised for his collaboration with the Bergen International Festival, the National Theatre in Bergen and Grieg Hall, Opera Vest, and Den Nye Operas in their joint production of Carmen.

Edward Elgars Violin Concerto in B minor has been described by David Dubal, author of The Essential Canon of Classical Music, as the greatest English contribution to the treasury of Romantic violin concertos. It was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1909, when Elgar was at the height of his fame. He dedicated the piece to Austrian virtuoso Fritz Kreisler who was the soloist at its first performance.

CONCERT INFO

Masterworks Gold Series:

Epic Elgar and Rachmaninoff, with Kyoko Takezawa

Saturday & Monday, February 28 & March 2, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Andrew Litton, conductor

Kyoko Takezawa, violin

Walton Crown Imperial

Elgar Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61

Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44

Celebrated conductor Andrew Litton takes the reins in a concert featuring exciting violinist Kyoko Takezawa, and a rarely performed Romantic gem by Rachmaninoff.

Pre-Concert Talk with VSO bassoonist Sophie Dansereau at 7:05pm, FREE to ticketholders. Pre-concert talks take place in the auditorium, on the orchestra level.

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

BIOGRAPHIES

Andrew Litton, conductor

Andrew Litton is currently in his fifth season as the first American Music Director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra of Norway and this summer, Litton brought the orchestra to Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, made the Norwegian orchestra's long awaited debut at the London BBC Proms, returned for his fifth season as Artistic Director of the Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest, and appeared again with the Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival, before launching into an intensive fall guest conducting schedule throughout North America, Europe, and Japan. In November, Litton takes the Bergen Philharmonic on an 18 day, 12 concert American tour commemorating the Centenary of Grieg's death (Grieg was one of Litton's predecessors as head of the 242-year-old orchestra). The orchestra's first return to America in 41 years is capped with a Carnegie Hall appearance on November 6.

An orchestra builder, Litton in 2005 concluded an acclaimed 12-year tenure as Music Director of the Dallas Symphony, during which he produced 27 new recordings (one of the largest outputs of any American orchestras in the period), 6 nationally televised concerts (including an "Amazing Music" series in use in American schools), made 4 Carnegie Hall appearances and 3 major European tours, and raised the orchestra endowment from $17 million to $100 million. Now Dallas Music Director Emeritus, Litton returns regularly to conduct his former orchestra. At Minnesota's Sommerfest, where Litton performs as conductor, piano soloist, and chamber musician, he enjoys a close collegial relationship with musicians and staff, with ever increasing audiences. In 2006 Litton spearheaded Norwegian initiatives to create the New Bergen Opera company, premiering with a triumphant "Tosca". This season, Litton and the New Bergen Opera perform the David McVicar / Glyndebourne production of Bizet's "Carmen".

Recent additions to Litton's discography of over 75 CD's include a Deutsche Grammophon CD of new works for Violin and Orchestra by John Tavener featuring Nicola Benedetti and the London Philharmonic, and a complete opera recording of Ambroise Thomas' "La Cour de Climne" with the Philharmonia Orchestra for Opera Rara. Litton and the Bergen Philharmonic record for Swedens BIS label and Britains Hyperion label. BIS' releases of Prokofieff's Romeo and Juliet and unusual contemporary works by Aho are garnering rave reviews. A BIS complete Mendelssohn Symphony cycle shortly will follow. A disc of the piano concerti by Sinding and Alnaes for Hyperion was number 2 on the Gramophone Magazine best seller list.

Last season Litton made debuts with Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Vienna Tonkunstler at the Musikverein, and with Finlands Lahti Symphony. Highlights of the current season include return appearances with the London Philharmonic (Elgar's 150 Birthday celebrations), the English Chamber Orchestra, the Utah Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Bournemouth Symphony (where he continues as Conductor Laureate), the BBC Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra (regular season), Canadas National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony, Japan. Litton makes debuts with the MDR Radio Symphony, Leipzig and the Orchestre National de Lille.

Long devoted to the development of young talent, Litton the past season conducted the Juilliard Symphony at Avery Fisher Hall, led a glorious Berlioz Requiem with Boston University students at Boston's Symphony Hall, and worked with students of the Royal College of Music in London.

In recognition of Litton's advocacy of Elgar's work, Britain's Elgar Society presented him its 2007 Award. Yale University previously awarded Litton its Sanford Medal on the occasion of his Walton Centennial performance of Walton's "Belshazzar's Feast", a work that had earned Litton a Grammy Award for a performance with Bryn Terfel and the Bournemouth Symphony.

Litton received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bournemouth and many civic awards from the city of Dallas, including keys to the city, presented for his devotion to his adopted city during his Dallas Symphony tenure. He is a graduate of the Fieldston School, New York and holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the Juilliard School. Litton, born in New York, began piano studies at age five and at ten decided to become a conductor. The youngest-ever winner of the BBC International Conductors' Competition, he served as assistant conductor at La Scala and Exxon/Arts Endowment Assistant Conductor for the Washington, DC National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich.

Kyoko Takezawa, violin

Emotional power, musical sensitivity, flawless technique, and a tone remarkable for its singular beauty are the qualities that have established Kyoko Takezawa as one of today's foremost violinists. Ms. Takezawa's interpretive insight and virtuosity have made her a sought-after soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras. Ms. Takezawa has performed as soloist with such prominent ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Cleveland, Baltimore, Saint Louis, Houston, Toronto, Dallas, Montreal, Detroit and Cincinnati. Abroad, she has been heard with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the London Symphony, the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Dresden Staatskapelle, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the NHK Symphony and the New Japan Philharmonic. She has collaborated with many distinguished conductors, including Seiji Ozawa, Sir Colin Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Kurt Masur, Sir Neville Marriner, Leonard Slatkin, Charles Dutoit, Marek Janowski and Sir Andrew Davis. She has performed at major venues around the world, notably Carnegie Hall in New York; the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; London's BBC Proms; Musikverain in Vienna and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

Highlights of Ms. Takezawa's 2006/2007 season included performances in North America with the St.Louis, North Carolina Symphonies. She toured in Australia with the Queensland and Melbourn Symphonies, and in Asia she performed with the Singapore, NHK, and Kyoto Symphonies, China Philharmonic and Guangzhou Symphony, and gave a recital tour throughout Japan.. She performed at festivals in La Jolla, Busan Music Festival and Great Mountain Music Festival in Korea. In past seasons she performed in North America with the Vancouver, Tucson and Jacksonville, Charlotte, Toronto and Seattle Symphonies. She also performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Japan Philharmonic, Singapore, Nagoya and Osaka Symphony in Asia, and with Denmark's Aarhus Symphony, France's Orchestre National de Lille, and Manchester's Halle Orchestra. She also appeared as the feature soloist on the Hamburg NDR Symphony tour of Japan.

A highly accomplished chamber music performer, Ms. Takezawa has participated in the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and La Jolla Music Festivals. Ms. Takezawa's chamber music performances have drawn high praise, and as co-director of the Suntory Festival Soloists of Suntory Hall in Tokyo, she has collaborated with the late Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Joseph Suk and many other distinguished artists. In recent seasons, she has performed at the Aspen Festival and at the first Taipei International Chamber Music Festival with Cho-Liang Lin. A former winner of the Indianapolis Violin Competition, Ms. Takezawa was also recently invited to serve as a juror at the competition.

A prolific recording artist, Ms. Takezawa can be heard on BMG's RCA Victor Red Seal label. Her most recent recording is a performance of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14, by Samuel Barber with Leonard Slatkin and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Her other recordings include the Elgar Violin Concerto with Sir Colin Davis and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra; the Violin Concerto No. 2 by Bartk with Michael Tilson Thomas and the London Symphony; and the Mendelssohn Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 with Klaus Peter Flor and the Bamberg Symphony. Ms. Takezawa's CD of French violin sonatas was selected as one of the best recordings of 1993 by Stereo Review.

Ms. Takezawa began violin studies at the age of 3 and at 7 toured the United States, Canada and Switzerland as a member of the Suzuki Method Association. In 1982 she placed first in the 51st Annual Japan Music Competition, and at 17 she entered the Aspen Music School to study with Dorothy DeLay, with whom Ms. Takezawa continued to study at The Juilliard School until graduating in 1989. In 1986 she was awarded the Gold Medal at the Second Quadrennial International Violin Competition in Indianapolis and, most recently, she received the prestigious Idemitsu Award for outstanding musicianship. Ms.Takezawa who performs on the Antonio Stradivarius"Camposelice"(1710), generously provided by the Nippon Music Foundation, lives in New York with her husband and daughter.


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Les boeufs envahissent Paris! / Oxen invade Paris!


Les bufs envahissent Paris!
le 25 fvrier 2009
20 h
au Thtre Maisonneuve de la Place des Arts


Montral, le 10 fvrier 2009 La 25e saison dI Musici de Montral se poursuit sur ses notes festives. Maestro Yuli Turovsky accueille avec humour larrive du Buf de la nouvelle anne chinoise. Flamboyante soire prsente en collaboration avec le Festival MONTRAL EN LUMIRE, Les bufs envahissent Paris! samnent avec clat dans un dploiement musical tincelant. Tout dabord, la divine Symphonie Paris de Mozart, puis la Suite Carmen de Shchedrin qui nen sera que plus percutante avec LEnsemble percussion Sixtrum. Et en finale, Le Buf sur le toit de Milhaud un spectacle surraliste originalement conu par Jean Cocteau sera cette fois-ci mis en scne par Alexandre Marine. Plonge circassienne dans lunivers dun bordel parisien, Marine nous promet une adaptation des plus dbrides. Situations absurdes ou burlesques, Marine jongle avec drision des scnes quotidiennes peu banales. Pour cette bouffonne aventure, le metteur en scne sentoure de deux comdiens de sa compagnie, Vitali Makarov et Maria Monakhova, et de huit tudiants et finissants de lcole nationale de cirque. Fantaisie, virtuosit et espiglerie seront au rendez-vous pour cette escapade parisienne du 25 fvrier prochain.

Le Buf sur le toit : de la Prohibition au lupanar
Compos par Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), Le Buf sur le toit se distingue par son exubrance, ses airs de music-hall et sa musique brsilienne. Milhaud envisageait cette ptillante partition pour un film muet de Charlie Chaplin. Mais cest plutt Jean Cocteau qui la imagin en un ballet-pantomime avec les clowns du cirque Mdrano les Fratellini et situant laction dans un bar amricain lpoque de la Prohibition. Alexandre Marine, lun des fondateurs du Thtre Deuxime Ralit, (T2R) signe avec Le Buf sa cinquime mise en scne pour I Musici. Contrairement la mise en scne originale, il campe plutt Le Buf dans un autre lieu.
(Ķ) Notre adaptation de cette collaboration entre Milhaud et Cocteau nous mnera plutt dans un bordel de Paris o se croisent prostitues et clients. Univers de sexe et de drogue avec tout ce que cela suppose, au son de l'tincelante musique de Milhaud inspir par des airs brsiliens. Un vrai carrefour culturel, comme l'est le Paris d'aujourd'hui. Et Maestro Turovsky de rajouter : (Ķ) que Milhaud ait song Charlie Chaplin ne nous a pas chapp puisque notre adaptation est avant tout une comdie! Chasss-croiss de personnages hauts en couleurs et interprts par les acteurs Maria Monakhova (Madame, au bordel) et Vitali Makarov (grant du bar).

La distribution comprend galement des tudiants de lcole nationale de cirque : Kaelyn Schmitt (prostitue 1 qui rve de devenir pilote), Vanessa Vollering (prostitue 2, mre monoparentale), Bridie Hooper (prostitue 3, prostitue-ne), Gregory Arsenal R. (videur 1), Yannick Thomas (videur 2), Giulio Lanzafame (client timide), Joachim Ciocca (drogu et tte brle) et Matthew Holsbeke (policier malchanceux). En guise de dcor, une toile monumentale conue par lartiste-peintre Natasha Turovsky, violoniste dI Musici et fille du Maestro.

Suite Carmen ou la danse des percussions
N en 1932, Rodion Shchedrin est considr comme lun des compositeurs russes les plus clbres de sa gnration. Compose lintention de son pouse, la danseuse toile Maya Plisetskaya, sa Suite Carmen se dploie en 13 numros. De luvre originale de Bizet, Rodion Shchedrin dcida de conserver uniquement la section des cordes et dajouter plusieurs percussions. La section rythmique sera brillamment reprsente par Sixtrum, un sextuor de percussionnistes chevronns qui semploie faire dcouvrir les classiques du rpertoire de percussion (Cage, Kagel, Xenakis). Cr en 2007, Sixtrum regroupe des percussionnistes D'Arcy Philip Gray, Julien Grgoire, Philip Hornsey, Kristie Ibrahim, Robert Leroux et Fabrice Marandola parmi les plus actifs de la scne montralaise.

Symphonie Paris de Mozart
Mozart (1756-1791) a crit sa Symphonie Paris en exploitant le got franais de lpoque. Plusieurs critiques ont mme soulign quil sagissait plutt dune parodie. Quoiquil en soit avec cette Symphonie, le compositeur autrichien stait assur quil plairait son auditoire. Lhistoire lui donna raison puisque le public accueillit cette uvre dans un dbordement de joie et deffervescence.

PROGRAMME
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphonie no 31 en r majeur, K. 297 (300 a) (Paris)
Rodion Shchedrin
Suite Carmen
Darius Milhaud
Le Buf sur le toit, opus 58

Les bufs envahissent Paris! une escapade au cirque et en musique avec I Musici de Montral. Premier concert de deux sur un thme parisien, le deuxime concert, Mangez, buvez et faites la fte! avec GARGANTUA et Edgar Fruitier se tiendra la Salle Pollack, le 11 mars 2009. Renseignements et billetterie : 514 982-6038 ou info@imusici.com Pour en savoir davantage sur notre 25e saison : www.imusici.com



LogoThtre Deuxime Ralit

Oxen invade Paris!
February 25, 2009
at 8:00 pm
Thtre Maisonneuve of the Place des Arts


Montral, February 10, 2009 With its 25th season I Musici de Montral continues its celebrations. Maestro Yuli Turovsky welcomes with humour the arrival of Oxen for the new Chinese year! This flamboyant presentation of Oxen invade Paris! is produced in collaboration with the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS FESTIVAL. But to start with, we will hear the beautiful Paris Symphony by Mozart followed by the Carmen Suite in its treatment by Shchedrin of Bizets immortal work here with the participation of the LEnsemble percussion Sixtrum. And then finally, Le Buf sur le toit by Milhaud a surrealist spectacle originally conceived by Jean Cocteau this time directed by Alexandre Marine. Plunged into the circus atmosphere of a Parisian bordello, Marine promises us an unrestrained adaptation that juggles the banal daily scenes of a house of ill repute. For this buffoonery, the director has invited two actors from his company Vitali Makarov and Maria Monakhova and eight students from lcole nationale de cirque. Fantasy, virtuosity and mischief will be the order of the day for this Parisian escapade on February 25.

Le Buf sur le toit : from Prohibition to a brothel
Composed by Darius Milhaud (1892-1974), Le Buf sur le toit is distinguished by its exuberance, its music hall atmosphere and its Brazilian melodies. Milhaud envisaged this sparkling score for a silent film by Charlie Chaplin. But its was finally Jean Cocteau who imagined it as a ballet-pantomime with clowns from the Mdrano Circus the Fratellini and placed the action in an American bar in the era of Prohibition. Alexandre Marine, one of the founding members of the Thtre Deuxime Ralit (T2R), directs our version of Le Buf. It is his fifth stage direction for I Musici.

Contrary to the original stage setting, Alexandre Marine places Le Buf in another place. ĶOur adaptation of this collaboration between Cocteau and Milhaud will shift focus and take us back to Paris, to a brothel with prostitutes, and the characters that frequent them. A world of sex and drugs, and everything in between. All set to Milhaud's brilliant Brazilian variations and arrangements. A true cultural intersection, like present-day Paris. And Maestro Turovsky adds, ĶI think that Milhaud's thinking of Charlie Chaplin wasn't left unnoticed in our version at least as far as the humor is concerned.

A great mix of very colourful characters will be interpreted by Maria Monakhova (the Madame of the bordello) and Vitali Makarov (Manager). The cast also includes students from lcole nationale de cirque: Kaelyn Schmitt (Prostitute 1 - with a dream of becoming a pilot), Vanessa Vollering (Prostitute 2, single mother), Bridie Hooper (Prostitute 3 - prostitute by nature), Gregory Arsenal R. (Bouncer 1), Yannick Thomas (Bouncer 2), Giulio Lanzafame (Timide Client), Joachim Ciocca (Junkie Crackhead) and Matthew Holsbeke (Unfortunate Policeman). In the way of dcor, a huge canvas conceived by artist and I Musici violinist and daughter of the Maestro Natasha Turovsky.

Carmen Suite or dancing percussion
Born in 1932, Rodion Shchedrin is considered as one of the most celebrated composers of his generation. Written for his wife, the star dancer, Maya Plisetskaya, his Carmen Suite consists of 13 episodes. From the original work by Bizet, Rodion Shchedrin decided to conserve uniquely the string section and then add several percussion instruments. The rhythmic component will be brilliantly executed by Sixtrum, a sextet of well-known percussionists whose main goal is bring to audiences the classics of percussion repertoire (Cage, Kagel, Xenakis). Created in 2007, Sixtrum is composed of DArcy Philip Gray, Julien Grgoire, Philip Hornsey, Kristie Ibrahim, Robert Leroux and Fabrice Marandola some of the most active percussionists in the Montreal scene.

Paris Symphony by Mozart
Mozart (1756-1791) wrote his Paris Symphony exploiting the French taste of the period. Some critics have even stated that it is perhaps a parody. Whatever its intention, the Austrian composer made sure to delight his audience. History has proven him right as the public has always enjoyed its overflowing joy and effervescence.

PROGRAM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony no. 31 in D major, K. 297 (300 a) (Paris)
Rodion Shchedrin
Suite Carmen
Darius Milhaud
Le Buf sur le toit, op. 58

Oxen invade Paris! a circus escapade with I Musici de Montral. First concert of two with a Parisian theme, the second concert, Eat, drink and be merry! featuring GARGANTUA and narrator Edgar Fruitier will be held in Pollack Hall on March 11, 2009. Information and tickets: 514 982-6038 or info@imusici.com and to learn everything about our 25th season: imusici.com


Partenaires de la Saison - Season Partners

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Le Violon d'or attribu une violoncelliste de l'cole Schulich

Le Violon dor attribu une violoncelliste de lcole Schulich

Chlo Dominguez reoit la plus haute distinction pour musicien cordes de McGill

Chlo Dominguez a commenc le violoncelle alors quelle tait en quatrime anne lcole Le Plateau Montreal.

Aujourdhui, inscrite en quatrime anne de doctorat lUniversit McGill, elle vient de recevoir la plus importante bourse dtudes prive du Canada en musique : le Violon dor de lcole de musique Schulich.

Chlo Dominguez est le troisime laurat de cette bourse de 20 000 dollars dcerne chaque anne un musicien cordes de McGill au talent exceptionnel, sur le point de terminer ses tudes et vou une prometteuse carrire dinterprte.

Lannonce officielle sera faite ce soir (10 fvrier) dans le cadre de lvnement Bravo qui rend hommage aux chercheurs ayant remport des prix au cours de la dernire anne.

Mlle Dominguez succde au violoniste Emmanuel Vukovich et laltiste Lambert Chen, et se produira en trio avec eux loccasion de lvnement Bravo.

Chlo est depuis sept ans une source dinspiration extraordinaire pour les musiciens cordes de lcole Schulich , dclare Don McLean, doyen de lcole de musique. Avant dentreprendre des tudes de doctorat, elle a obtenu un diplme dartiste et une matrise en interprtation musicale.

Il se passe des choses extraordinaires sur la scne musicale du Qubec , affirme Chlo Dominguez, dont la recherche de doctorat porte sur lvolution de la musique pour violoncelle dans la province. Elle est la premire musicienne ne au Qubec recevoir cette distinction.

Membre du Quatuor cordes Schulich, Chlo se produit trs souvent avec les meilleurs formations musicales de Montral. En 2007, elle a t soliste pour lEnsemble Contemporain de Montral, loccasion de sa tourne en Europe.

Membre du Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en musique, mdias et technologie, elle a particip plusieurs projets de recherche et notamment au projet dorchestre numrique.

Elle compte terminer sa thse de doctorat cet t et entend poursuivre sa carrire dinterprte et de professeur.

Le prix Violon dor a t cr en 2006 par lhomme daffaires et philanthrope Seymour Schulich, un an aprs que ce dernier eut vers un don de 20 millions de dollars lcole de musique de McGill.

cole de musique Schulich
Fonde en 1904, lcole de musique Schulich de lUniversit McGill incarne les plus hauts standards internationaux dexcellence en formation professionnelle et en recherche. Elle est rpute pour ses programmes en formation orchestrale et opratique, en jazz, en musique ancienne et contemporaine. Son statut de chef de file en enregistrement sonore et technologie de la musique lui permet duniques possibilits de collaboration avec le milieu musical. Reconnue aujourdhui comme lune des coles les plus importantes dAmrique du Nord, la rputation de ses 240 professeurs, les quelque 600 concerts et vnements prsents par anne ainsi que ses programmes de recherche en technologies attirent chaque anne plus de 850 tudiants du Qubec, du Canada et de ltranger.

Sur le web : http://francais.mcgill.ca/music/

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L'artiste malgache MIKEA reoit la Bourse MMM-UNESCO-Aschberg 2009

MMMVertical


L'artiste malgache MIKEA

reoit la Bourse MMM-UNESCO-Aschberg 2009

Montral, le 10 fvrier 2009 Musique Multi-Montral (MMM) dvoile le nouveau rcipiendaire de la Bourse MMM-UNESCO-Aschberg pour l'anne 2009 : l'artiste malgache Thodore Rakotovao NOMENJANAHARY, dit MIKEA. ce titre, le musicien passera trois mois en rsidence de cration Montral, du 15 fvrier au 15 mai 2009. Durant son sjour, il aura la chance de travailler avec diffrents musiciens montralais issus des communauts culturelles. Le rsultat de ce travail sera dvoil lors du 19e Festival MMM Musiques ET Monde, du 17 au 25 avril 2009. La programmation sera disponible ds le 26 mars.

Auteur-compositeur-interprte natif de l'le de Madagascar, Tho Rakotovao fonde en 2003 le groupe MIKEA, du nom d'une tribu de sa rgion (il se l'appropriera ensuite comme pseudonyme). MIKEA a trs tt compos son propre rpertoire. Il utilise la technique du beko, chant traditionnel malgache a capella, laquelle il apporte une touche personnelle caractrise par une harmonisation et un traitement rythmique aux saveurs de blues. Dot d'une voix chaleureuse et saisissante, il joue galement de la guitare acoustique et du cabosse, instrument traditionnel. Ses compositions voquent la dforestation dont l'le souffre actuellement, le dpeuplement, les pillages ou encore l'amour. Son deuxime album, Taholy, lui a permis de figurer en octobre 2008 parmi les trois finalistes du Prix dcouverte RFI de Radio France International. Au cours de l'anne 2009, MIKEA sera en concert dans plusieurs festivals en France (Festival Musiques Mtisses d'Angoulme, Festival de Jazz de Coutances), et en tourne travers l'Afrique.

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Dcerne pour la 6e anne par Musique Multi-Montral, la Bourse MMM-UNESCO-Aschberg rcompense de jeunes artistes des pays en dveloppement en leur permettant d'changer avec des artistes montralais issus de toutes les cultures. Elle rsulte d'une entente conclue entre Musique Multi-Montral et l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'ducation, la science et la culture (UNESCO), et bnficie du soutien prcieux du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Qubec.

Les prcdents laurats de la Bourse MMM-UNESCO-Aschberg sont Hassan Boussou, du Maroc (2007); Lucho Quequezana, du Prou (2006); Mamadou Fofana, du Mali (2005); Luis Fernandes, du Portugal (2004); et Lucin Hovhannissian, d'Armnie (2003).

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Depuis bientt vingt ans, Musique Multi-Montral contribue au dveloppement et au rayonnement des musiques du monde au Qubec. Sa mission est de faire connatre les artistes d'ici de toutes origines, dans une dmarche de rapprochement et de convergence des cultures.

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Analia Llugdar wins 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music

Analia Llugdar wins 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music

Ottawa, February 10, 2009 The Canada Council for the Arts announced today that the work Que sommesnous by composer Analia Llugdar is the winner of the 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music. The work was commissioned by Radio-Canada and was premiered by the Ensemble contemporain de Montral+, under the baton of Vronique Lacroix, in May 2008.

This annual award is a partnership between the Canada Council, Canadian Music Centre and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Socit Radio-Canada. The prize is designed to encourage the creation of new Canadian chamber music and to foster its performance by Canadian chamber groups. The $7,500 prize was established in 1978 by the Right Honourable Jules Lger, then Governor General of Canada.

The competition for the prize is administered by the Canadian Music Centre. The Canada Council funds the award, selects the peer assessment committee and organizes the prize presentation ceremony. Every year, the winning work is broadcast nationally by CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique, Radio-Canada's music network. Que sommes-nous will be broadcast by CBC Radio 2 on June 14 and 16 between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on The Signal, with hosts Pat Carrabr and Laurie Brown, and on Espace musique on May 14 during the Soires classiques between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., hosted by Michel Keable.

The members of the peer assessment committee for the 2008 Jules Lger Prize were composer and pianist John Burge (Kingston, ON), composer John Oliver (New Westminster, BC) and composer Isabelle Panneton (Montreal). The committee was a "blind jury" which evaluated the works without knowing the names of the composers.

Of Que sommes-nous the jury said, "This piece displays virtuosic instrumental writing of the highest order, scored with a deftness that energizes the texture to masterfully combine transparency and density. This work is also characterized by a huge release of breath that supports it as it unfolds in an unforeseeable and always captivating way."

The jury made a special mention of two other works submitted for the Jules Lger Prize. Icebergs et soleil de minuit Quatuor en blanc by Simon Martin, which was premiered by Quatuor Bozzini in April 2007, and Big City, Little City by Michael Oesterle, which was premiered by Steven Dann and the Soundstreams Canada Chamber Ensemble in October 2007.

An image of Ms. Llugdar can be downloaded from the Canada Council image gallery at: www.canadacouncil.ca/news/imagegallery.

Analia Llugdar
Born in Argentina in 1972, Analia Llugdar studied piano and composition at Crdoba National University, Argentina. She continued her composition studies at University de Montral, where she completed a master with Jos Evangelista and a PhD in Music composition with Denis Gougeon.

She has received several awards for her work, including First Prize in the Composition Competition of the Orchestre de l'Universit de Montral, the Canada Council for the Arts Grand Prize for the CBC Young Composers Competition (2002), and the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada Award. She has also received the Qubec-Flandres Prize 2007 and a special mention for Le chne et le roseau in the 2006 Jules Lger Prize competition.

Her music has been performed by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, the Ensemble Contemporain de Montral+, the Trio Fibonacci, Prmices duet, the Laval Symphony Orchestra (Quebec), the Enfants Terribles, the ensemble S:I.C., the Ensemble de fltes Aliz and the ensemble I solisti del vento.

Le chne et le roseau represented Canada at the 52nd International Rostrum of composers. Several of her works were performed at festivals including the Montral Nouvelle Musique (MNM), the Conference of Contemporary Music (Brussel), the International Society of Contemporary Music Concerts (Flandres), the Biennale Musiques en Scne 2008 (Lyon), the Voix Nouvelles festival (Royaumont, France), Domaine Forget (Quebec), the 2008 Cornerstone Festival (Liverpool) and the Huddersfield New Music Festival (Huddersfield, UK).

General information
In addition to its principal role of promoting and fostering the arts, the Canada Council for the Arts administers and awards many prizes and fellowships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural and health sciences, engineering, and arts management. These prizes and fellowships recognize the achievements of outstanding Canadian artists, scholars, and administrators. The Canada Council for the Arts is committed to raising public awareness and celebration of these exceptional people and organizations on both a national and international level.

Please visit our website (www.canadacouncil.ca) for a complete listing of these awards.

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Infinithtre evenement theatrale

La premire mondiale de BLESSED ARE THEY examine une grande question : O est Dieu ?

MONTRAL, fvrier 2009 - Infinithtre termine sa saison 2008-09, Love, Hope, Faith , avec la premire mondiale de l'uvre de Bruce M. Smith, BLESSED ARE THEY, l'glise unie de St-James du 17 fvrier au 8 mars 2009. (Les prvues auront lieu les 17 et 18 fvrier 2009.)

Une confrontation entre deux personnages : un ministre dont la foi est incertaine, un nouveau paroissien retrouv dans la grce de Dieu. Situ dans une petite communaut qubcoise, les deux personnages, l'un est bas sur l'aptre Paul, l'autre sur l'aptre Pierre, tente de dfinir la relle nature de la foi.

Une mise en scne de Guy Sprung, la pice met en vedette Andreas Apergis, Emily Bamforth, Eric Davis, Joanna Noyes, Juno London, Igor Ovadis et Vlasta Vrana. La scnographie et les costumes sont d'Elli Bunton, clairages de Sarah Yaffe et la rgie par Kathryn Cleveland, assiste de Danielle-Ariel Caddell-Malenfant et Kyla Miller.


Dates et heures : Du 17 fvrier au 8 mars

Du mardi au samedi 20 h

Matines les dimanches 14 h

Billets :

Admission gnrale 20,00 $

tudiants, Ans 15,00 $

Tarif de groupe (16ou plus) 10,00 $

Lieu :

St. James United Church

463, rue Ste-Catherine ouest

Billetterie :

514-987 1774 ext. 104

box-office@infinitheatre.com

Sites Web :

www.infinitheatre.com

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Infinithtre Calendar event

World Premire of BLESSED ARE THEY Explores the Question "Where Is God?"

MONTRAL, February 2009 - Infinithtre tops off their season of "love, hope and faith" with Bruce M. Smith's world premire, BLESSED ARE THEY, at the St. James United Church from February 19th to March 8th, (with previews on February 17th and 18th).

A minister, his beliefs riddled with doubt and uncertainty, is confronted by a charismatic new member of the congregation whose life has been saved by his renewed faith in Christ. Set in a small rural community in contemporary Qubec, the two figures, one based upon Apostle Paul, the other on Apostle Peter, struggle to define true faith.

Directed by Guy Sprung, the play stars Andreas Apergis, Emily Bamforth, Eric Davis, Joanna Noyes, Juno London, Igor Ovadis and Vlasta Vrana with set and costume design by Elli Bunton, lighting by Sarah Yaffe and stage management by Kathryn Cleveland, assisted by Danielle-Ariel Caddell-Malenfant and Kyla Miller.


DATES & TIMES: FEB. 17 MAR. 8

Tues. through Sat. 8:00 PM

Sunday Matines 2:00 PM

VENUE:

St. James United Church

463 St. Catherine Street West

TICKETS:

General Admission $20.00

Students and Seniors $15.00

Group Rates (6+) $10.00

BOX OFFICE:

514-987 1774 ext. 104

box-office@infinitheatre.com

Web Site:

www.infinitheatre.com

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Eddins and Kulesha conduct invigorating repertoire in Masters Series concerts - Feb. 20 and Feb. 21


Classic Landmarks Masters

William Eddins and Gary Kulesha both at the forefront in virtuosic evening of Bach and Beethoven

Friday, February 20th 7:30 pm; Saturday, February 21st 8:00 pm

Edmonton, AB Ķ In a rare gesture, Canadian composer Gary Kulesha takes the baton to lead the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) in his own composition, Symphony No. 3. William Eddins will also command the role of conductor, but from the harpsichord, in Bachs Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. Also featured in this treasured Baroque masterpiece are ESO Concertmaster Martin Riseley, and Principal Flute Elizabeth Koch. Pianist Jon Kimura Parker takes the solo role in the evenings concluding work, Beethovens First Piano Concerto, a remarkable work marked with the bold strokes and propulsive energy of an emerging titan.

Ticket prices for this performance range from $20-$69 (agency fees apply). Student and senior $20 rush tickets are on sale, subject to availability, two hours prior to performance time. Afterthoughts, following Fridays performance, will feature conductors William Eddins and Gary Kulesha. Saturday evenings 7:15 pm Symphony Prelude features Allan Gilliland and Gary Kulesha.

Special $10 Friday morning ESO/Eddins concert on February 20th 10:00 am

In addition to the Friday and Saturday night concert events, the ESO invites you to explore The Shapes and Shades of Music on Friday, February 20th at 10:00 am. During this highly interactive concert, host William Eddins, Gary Kulesha and Jon Kimura Parker will delve deep into live excerpts of musical works, enlightening audience members through discussion of tuneful aspects underlying the music. The excerpts from Bach, Beethoven, and Kulesha to be presented at the morning demonstration will be performed in their entirety both Friday and Saturday evenings. Dont miss this unique symphonic opportunity! Tickets for The Shapes and Shades of Music are only $10 (agency fee applies) and are available by calling the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414.

The next performance of The Masters takes place on March 7th and 8th, with conductor William Eddins and cellist Pieter Wispelwey in Music that Changed the World, featuring Beethovens 5th Symphony, arguably the most well-known composition of classical music.

This series is generously supported by Classic Landmarks Master Builder.

Media Sponsor: CKUA Radio Network and the Edmonton Journal

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Media contact:

Pamela Pecush, Publicist

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Office: (780) 401-2532; Cell: (780) 952-2532

Pamela.Pecush@winspearcentre.com

Winspear Centre Box Office:

(780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081

www.edmontonsymphony.com

#4 Winston Churchill Square

Biographies

William Eddins is Music Director of the Edmonton SymphonyBuffalo, N.Y., he currently resides in Minneapolis with his lovely wife Jen, a clarinetist, and their two boys Raef and Riley. Orchestra. A native of

Bill has been playing piano since he was five when his parents bought a Wurlitzer Grand piano at a garage sale. He started conducting during his sophomore year at the Eastman School of Music, and most of the '80s were spent trying to decide whether to pursue a career in conducting or piano. In 1989, Bill decided to study conducting with Dan Lewis at the University of Southern California, from whence he managed to land assistant conductor posts with the Chicago Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra in 1992.

Bill is committed to bringing classical music to the greater public. He has started a podcast Classical Connections which is dedicated to exploring the history of classical music and highlights live chamber music performances in which Bill has taken part. He has also produced a solo piano CD Bad Boys, Volume I which features Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata and Albright's Nightmare Fantasy Rag.

Although principally a composer, Gary Kulesha is active as both a pianist and a conductor, and as a teacher. His music has been commissioned, performed, and recorded by musicians and ensembles all over the world. Mr. Kulesha's first opera, Red Emma, was included in Opera America's book of "Operas which should be performed more often", beside works by Copland, Bernstein, and Weill.

In 1988 to 1992, Gary Kulesha was Composer in Residence with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. He was Composer in Residence with the Canadian Opera Company from 1993 to 1995. In September 1995, he was appointed Composer-Advisor to The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where his duties include composing, conducting, and advising on repertoire. In February 1998, the TSO premiered his Symphony for two conductors and orchestra, with Jukka Pekka Saraste and Gary Kulesha conducting. Symphony was awarded a prize at the Winnipeg Symphony New Music Festival in 2001 as Best Canadian Orchestra Composition of the 1990s. In March of 2005, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra premiered Second Symphony. In November of 2006, Shauna Rolston premiered Concerto for Cello and Orchestra with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In May of 2007, the National Arts Centre Orchestra premiered Third Symphony, the work which the ESO will perform at these concerts.

In 1990, Mr. Kulesha was nominated for a Juno award for his Third Chamber Concerto. He was nominated again in 2000 for The Book of Mirrors. In 1986, he was named Composer of the Year by PROCanada, the youngest composer ever so honoured. His conducting activities are extensive, and he has premiered literally hundreds of works. He has guest conducted frequently with several major orchestras throughout Canada, and has recorded for radio and CD. Mr. Kulesha is on the fulltime faculty of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. He lives in Toronto with his wife, composer Larysa Kuzmenko.

This is Mr. Kuleshas debut as a conductor of the ESO. Previous compositions by Mr. Kulesha performed by the ESO are Dreams (October 1989) and Essay for Orchestra No. 2 (April 1986).

Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker's extraordinary career has taken him from Carnegie Hall and London's Royal Festival Hall to Baffin Island and Zimbabwe. A true Canadian ambassador of music, Mr. Parker has given two command performances for Queen Elizabeth II, special performances for the United States Supreme Court, and has performed for the Prime Ministers of Canada and Japan. He is an Officer of The Order of Canada. He has performed as guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the NHK Tokyo Orchestra, and with major orchestra in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Montral, San Diego, Salt Lake City, and Toronto.

Jon Kimura Parker is Professor of Piano at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston. Mr. Parker is the E. Stephen Purdom Distinguished Visiting Artist at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, as well as Honorary Co-Chair of the Piano Pedagogy Research Laboratory at the University of Ottawa. "Jackie" Parker received all of his early education in Canada, training with his uncle, Edward Parker and his mother, Keiko Parker. He studied with Lee Kum-Sing at the Vancouver Academy of Music and U.B.C., Marek Jablonski at The Banff Centre, and with renowned pedagogue Adele Marcus at The Juilliard School, where he received his doctorate. He won the Gold Medal at the 1984 Leeds International Piano Competition. Mr. Parker has recorded for Telarc with Yoel Levi, Andre Previn and Peter Schickele. He was born, raised, and educated in Vancouver. He lives in Houston with his wife, violinist Aloysia Friedmann and their daughter Sophie. www.kimura.com

Mr. Parker last appeared with the ESO in March 2007.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Elizabeth Koch has been Principal Flute with the ESO since 1987. She studied at the New School of Music in Philadelphia, the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Blossom Festival School (summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra). Her teachers include David Cramer (Assistant Principal Flute, Philadelphia Orchestra), Jeffrey Khaner (Principal Flute, Philadelphia Orchestra) and Adeline Tomasone (Principal Flute, Philadelphia Opera). In the summer of 1987, Elizabeth was the only American flutist to play in the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orkester under Leonard Bernstein.

Since arriving in Edmonton, Elizabeth Koch has been in demand as a soloist with the ESO, the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, ECHO and the Arden Ensemble. Elizabeth was a founding member of the woodwind trio Take 3 which was heard regularly on CBC Radio from 1992-1998. She is on faculty at King's University College and maintains a private studio. She is married to ESO violinist Murray Vaasjo. They have one son - and several cats.

A native of New Zealand, Martin Riseley began violin studies at the age of six, and gave his first solo concert when he was ten. After several years of study with the English violinist Carl Pini, he entered the University of Canterbury School of Music in 1986. In 1988 he won the Television New Zealand Young Musicians Competition and Australian Guarantee Corporation Young Achievers Award. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree he went to the Juilliard School in 1989 where he studied with Dorothy DeLay and Piotr Milewski, and was coached in chamber music by Samuel Rhodes and Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard Quartet, and by Felix Galimir. Riseley graduated from Juilliard in 1996 with his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree.

Mr. Riseley assisted Dorothy DeLay as a teaching fellow in the Pre-College Division of Juilliard while in New York, and taught at the 92nd Street 'Y'. He was also soloist and concertmaster with the Chamber Players of the Juilliard School in their Merkin Hall debut, and in Alice Tully Hall as part of the Mozart Bicentennial celebrations at Lincoln Center.

Martin Riseley has been Concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since 1994, and his solo and chamber concerts have appeared on CBC radio. He gave the North American premiere of the violin concerto "The Bulls of Bashan" by Gavin Bryars, and played the Chaconne from The Red Violin by John Corigliano at the ESO's Enbridge Symphony Under the Sky festival. He also premiered a concerto by the ESO's Composer in Residence, Allan Gilliland in 2002.

He served as Interim Associate Concertmaster of the National Arts Center Orchestra for the 2002-2003 season, and was guest concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra during 2003.

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Analia Llugdar wins 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music

Analia Llugdar wins 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music

Ottawa, February 10, 2009 The Canada Council for the Arts announced today that the work Que sommes nous by composer Analia Llugdar is the winner of the 2008 Jules Lger Prize for New Chamber Music. The work was commissioned by Radio-Canada and was premiered by the Ensemble contemporain de Montral+, under the baton of Vronique Lacroix, in May 2008.

This annual award is a partnership between the Canada Council, Canadian Music Centre and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Socit Radio-Canada. The prize is designed to encourage the creation of new Canadian chamber music and to foster its performance by Canadian chamber groups. The $7,500 prize was established in 1978 by the Right Honourable Jules Lger, then Governor General of Canada.

The competition for the prize is administered by the Canadian Music Centre. The Canada Council funds the award, selects the peer assessment committee and organizes the prize presentation ceremony. Every year, the winning work is broadcast nationally by CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique, Radio-Canadas music network. Que sommes-nous will be broadcast by CBC Radio 2 on June 14 and 16 between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on The Signal, with hosts Pat Carrabr and Laurie Brown, and on Espace musique on May 14 during the Soires classiques between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., hosted by Michel Keable.

The members of the peer assessment committee for the 2008 Jules Lger Prize were composer and pianist John Burge (Kingston, ON), composer John Oliver (New Westminster, BC) and composer Isabelle Panneton (Montreal). The committee was a blind jury which evaluated the works without knowing the names of the composers.

Of Que sommes-nous the jury said, This piece displays virtuosic instrumental writing of the highest order, scored with a deftness that energizes the texture to masterfully combine transparency and density. This work is also characterized by a huge release of breath that supports it as it unfolds in an unforeseeable and always captivating way.

The jury made a special mention of two other works submitted for the Jules Lger Prize. Icebergs et soleil de minuit Quatuor en blanc by Simon Martin, which was premiered by Quatuor Bozzini in April 2007, and Big City, Little City by Michael Oesterle, which was premiered by Steven Dann and the Soundstreams Canada Chamber Ensemble in October 2007.

An image of Ms. Llugdar can be downloaded from the Canada Council image gallery at: www.canadacouncil.ca/news/imagegallery.

Analia Llugdar

Born in Argentina in 1972, Analia Llugdar studied piano and composition at Crdoba National University, Argentina. She continued her composition studies at University de Montral, where she completed a master with Jos Evangelista and a PhD in Music composition with Denis Gougeon.

She has received several awards for her work, including First Prize in the Composition Competition of the Orchestre de lUniversit de Montral, the Canada Council for the Arts Grand Prize for the CBC Young Composers Competition (2002), and the Jeunesses Musicales du Canada Award. She has also received the Qubec-Flandres Prize 2007 and a special mention for Le chne et le roseau in the 2006 Jules Lger Prize competition.

Her music has been performed by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, the Ensemble Contemporain de Montral+, the Trio Fibonacci, Prmices duet, the Laval Symphony Orchestra (Quebec), the Enfants Terribles, the ensemble S:I.C., the Ensemble de fltes Aliz and the ensemble I solisti del vento.

Le chne et le roseau represented Canada at the 52nd International Rostrum of composers. Several of her works were performed at festivals including the Montral Nouvelle Musique (MNM), the Conference of Contemporary Music (Brussel), the International Society of Contemporary Music Concerts (Flandres), the Biennale Musiques en Scne 2008 (Lyon), the Voix Nouvelles festival (Royaumont, France), Domaine Forget (Quebec), the 2008 Cornerstone Festival (Liverpool) and the Huddersfield New Music Festival (Huddersfield, UK).

General information

In addition to its principal role of promoting and fostering the arts, the Canada Council for the Arts administers and awards many prizes and fellowships in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural and health sciences, engineering, and arts management. These prizes and fellowships recognize the achievements of outstanding Canadian artists, scholars, and administrators. The Canada Council for the Arts is committed to raising public awareness and celebration of these exceptional people and organizations on both a national and international level.

Please visit our website (www.canadacouncil.ca) for a complete listing of these awards.

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NACO, Feb. 18-19: Grammy-winner James Ehnes performs Korngold Concerto


Violinist James Ehnes performs the Korngold Violin Concerto for which he won a 2008 Grammy Award. These NAC Orchestra concerts on Feb. 18-19 led by David Lockington include the world premiere of The Kiss, an NAC-commission from composer Scott Good

Ottawa (Canada) James Ehnes, the violin virtuoso from Brandon, Manitoba, who is widely considered one of classical musics brightest talents, took the Triple Crown of music last year winning, a GRAMOPHONE AWARD, a JUNO and a GRAMMY, the latter two for his recording of the Korngold Violin Concerto. He will perform this romantic masterpiece with the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by British conductor David Lockington on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19 at 8 p.m. in the NACs Southam Hall. These Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concerts include the world premiere of The Kiss, a work commissioned by the NAC from Canadian composer Scott Good, a former participant in the NAC Summer Music Institutes Composers Program. Maestro Lockington completes the evening with Elgars Enigma Variations fourteen charming portraits of the composer and his friends based on a theme, the identity of which is one of historys greatest musical mysteries.

Korngold was the first composer of international stature to hold a contract with a movie studio, and in the Golden Age of Hollywood he turned out lush, romantic, heroic, swashbuckling scores enjoyed by millions in such classics as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Of Human Bondage, Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk, among many others. Korngolds Violin Concerto draws most of its principal themes from his film scores, and it is pure romanticism all the way, with the soloist seldom out of the spotlight. It was premiered by none other than Jascha Heifetz.

James Ehnes won the 2008 GRAMMY and JUNO Awards for Best Classical Album of the year for his recording of the Korngold, Barber and Walton Concertos with the Vancouver Symphony. He also won the 2008 Gramophone Award for Best Concerto Recording of the Year for Elgars Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra (London). And the honours keep coming! He recently received his 13th JUNO nomination for Homage, an extraordinary project featuring performances on 12 of the greatest string instruments ever made by master craftsmen Stradivari, the Guarneri family, Guadagnini and others, all belonging to the unique Fulton Collection. Ehnes performs 21 musical selections all carefully chosen to showcase each individual instrument. James Ehnes has performed in over 20 countries on five continents with many of the worlds most renowned orchestras and conductors. He first performed at the NAC in recital on the NAC Debut Series in 1993 at age 16 and a few months later made his NAC Orchestra debut at the CBC Young Performers Competition which he won. He has returned regularly since both with the NAC Orchestra and in recital.

Composer Scott Goods association with the National Arts Centre began in 2005 when he became a member of the Orchestras Composers program. He wrote a string quartet (Sun-Moon) and a work for chamber orchestra (Variations), both of which were performed at the NAC. His orchestral work Cry was also performed at the NAC by the Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne in 2007, at which time the NAC Orchestra commissioned him to write a new work which will now have its world premiere. Scott Good explains how he was inspired by the sculptures of renowned French artist Auguste Rodin. The Kiss had a particularly profound impact on me with its sense of proportion and physical sensuality. The bodies are in perfect balance, neither dominating the other. The impression was so strong that I hoped somehow to pay tribute this work. The commission to write a new piece for the National Arts Centre Orchestra provided the appropriate opportunity.

Tickets for these Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concerts with violinist James Ehnes, conductor David Lockington and the NAC Orchestra on Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19 at 8 p.m. are on sale now at $19.00, $39.00, $49.00, $59.00, $69.00 and $86.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NACs website at www.nac-cna.ca.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $11 at the NAC Box Office from 2 p.m. the day before the concert to 6 p.m. the day of, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.


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Monday, February 9, 2009

Fundraiser- Tshepang, March 3 and 4 at La Chapelle


Maurice Podbrey and Mopo Productions present

TWO FUNDRAISING EVENINGS

Tshepang

Written and directed by Lara Foot Newton

Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4

Proceeds from these two performances go towards the development of a new generation of South African theatrical talent one that will help bring purpose and hope to that country.

Tshepang's producer, Maurice Podbrey, has been initiating cultural development work in South Africa for the past 9 years since returning there from Montreal. Over 25 major projects have been completed in that time covering the whole field of training, development and production.

This compelling evening will also offer a reception with some excellent South African wines from the Cape Town area. Lara Foot Newton, playwright and director, will be present for the fundraisers and the audience is invited to meet the cast, Lara and Maurice to discuss the play and related subjects.

In Tshepang, Ruth, the mother of baby Tshepang, has not uttered a word in three years. Simon comes forward to protect her, and from the ashes of tragedy a most unusual tale of hope and love emerges. A powerful story told with humour and heartbreak. This highly successful play has toured South Africa and internationally to six countries, to overwhelming response. It is probably South Africa's most significant theatre piece of the past decade.

A fundraising evening featuring the play, Tshepang

Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4, 2009

8:00 PM

La Chapelle, 3700 Rue Saint-Dominique

Tickets are $150, with tax receipts for $100 issued

Please call Maurice at (514) 509-6909, mpodbrey@iafrica.com

All proceeds go towards Mopo Productions

-----------------------------------

Tshepang will be presented by La Chapelle from February 24th to March 7th.

Reservations: 514-843-7738 or www.lachapelle.org


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Carnaval de la lumire au KOLA NOTE le 21 Fv

CarnavaL de la Lumire 2009

Le carnaval brsilien de Montral


Montral, le 8 janvier 2009- Pour la troisime anne de suite, le Carnaval de la Lumire est de retour et se tiendra le 21 fvrier 2009, au Kola Note Montral. Le Carnaval de la Lumire, cest le carnaval brsilien classique dans tous ces excs et dans toute sa folie. Organis par Esta߈o da Luz, cole de percussion brsilienne dirige par Vov, matre tambourinaire de Bahia, cette orgie de musique fera battre les coeurs et rchauffera les mes.


Cette anne, Esta߈o da Luz a invit ses grands amis : Paulo Ramos, Mnica Freire, Niko Beki, Andiara, chanteuse de Salvador de Bahia et Peninha, matre de lquipe Capoeira Brasileira, avec ses lves, pour venir faire trembler le sol.


Le Carnaval de la Lumire, cest plus de 3 heures de musique live avec un orchestre enflamm de 12 percussionnistes accompagnant tous les chants populaires du Brsil daujourdhui et dhier. Paulo Ramos tiendra la barre harmonique la guitare, tout en chantant, bien entendu. Le Carnaval de la Lumire, cest le carnaval de tous les brsiliens pour le monde entier.


Chaque anne, le Kola Note est plein craquer et le public sempare de la piste de danse de 22h 3h du matin pour danser la Samba, le Frevo et la Marcha. Sur la piste de danse, la transe est au rendez-vous. Surtout que les danseuses et les danseurs professionnels se mlent la foule car ils raffolent de la cuisine , de la cozinha, dEsta߈o da Luz qui mijote lanne longue.


Pour animer la soire, Hamilton Cidade, de radio centre-ville, sera lhte qui saura faire saliver la foule.


Esta߈o da Luz est une cole traditionnelle de samba brsilienne. Les lves sentrainent toute lanne afin battre le tambour sa juste valeur. Le terme cole rfre la tradition des grandes coles de samba du Brsil, diriges par de grands matres.


Esta߈o da Luz a t forme en 2005 dans le but de recrer lambiance de ces coles brsiliennes qui sont en fait, de grands centres communautaires axs sur le rythme et ses bienfaits.


Cest le temps de lcher prise.

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Rservez ces dates: Bye Bye Baby (en franais)- Imago Theatre et Monument-National, du 19 au 28 mars

Rservez ces dates!

en co-diffusion avec le

prsente

Bye Bye Baby


Texte de Elyse Gasco

Traduction de Maryse Warda

Mise en scne par Clare Schapiro


Marquez ces dates sur votre calendrier d'hiver

Du jeudi 19 au samedi 28 mars 2009


Imago Thtre, la compagnie qui vient tout juste de se voir attribuer le prix de l'Association qubcoise des critiques de thtre pour sa production anglophone The Baroness and the Pig, offre cette fois au public francophone son grand succs, Bye Bye Baby.


Bye Bye Baby se veut une tragi-comdie, qui raconte le priple d'une jeune femme enceinte la recherche de sa mre biologique et ses tribulations travers le labyrinthe bureaucratique de l'adoption au Qubec. La pice runit sur scne les comdiennes Nathalie Claude, Martine-Marie Lalande, Dominique Leduc, Mathilde Monnard et Felicia Shulman.


Bye Bye Baby fut d'abord cre en anglais et prsente au mme Studio Hydro-Qubec du Monument-National en novembre 2004, faisant salle comble la suite de critiques logieuses et d'un bouche--oreille fulgurant (Prix MECCA: Best New Play 2004-05) si bien que Bye Bye Baby fut choisie par le Thtre Centaur pour la clture de sa saison 2005-06. Tant le grand public, que la critique et le milieu thtral taient d'accord quant la pertinence d'offrir cette production au public francophone. C'est un rendez-vous ne pas manquer!


Rares sont les productions montralaises d'expression anglaise de cette tenue.

Il serait triste que le secret de cette russite demeure trop bien gard.- Herv Guay, Le Devoir, 5 mai 2006


Bye Bye Baby en franais

Imago Thtre

Au Monument-National, Studio Hydro-Qubec

1182, boulevard Saint-Laurent



Du mardi au samedi 20 h 30

Matine: samedi 14 h

Billetterie: 514-871-2224



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Olivier Laroche / Club Balattou 10 fv. 20H / musique festive !!!


OLIVIER LAROCHE AU CLUB BALATTOU


Montral, le 9 fvrier 2009 Olivier Laroche et sa bande vous invitent au Club Balattou - 4372 boul. Saint-Laurent, coin Marie-Anne - le mardi 10 fvrier 20 h. Olivier prsentera les nouvelles compositions originales qu'il peaufine en vue d'un premier album prvu en 2009.


Avant de prendre le devant de la scne en tant qu'auteur-compositeur-interprte, Olivier Laroche a collabor avec plusieurs artistes qubcois dont Mario Peluso, Sara Rnlik, Jean Leloup et Ginette Reno. Il se consacre l'criture de son propre matriel depuis bientt trois ans et a commenc se faire connatre du public, tant Montral qu'en rgion, au cours des deux dernires annes. En 2007, il obtient le Prix Roseq du festival Le Tremplin de Dgelis et il est couronn grand gagnant de la 16e dition du Festival de la Chanson de Saint-Ambroise dans la catgorie ACI. Rcemment, il s'est produit sur la scne de l'Espace Dell'Arte Montral dans le cadre de la 28e dition de l'vnement ZOOM sur la relve.


Passionn de la langue franaise, ses crations empruntent l'esprit des Brassens, Renaud, Leloup et Charlebois. Pour lui, aucun sujet n'est tabou. Des textes colors, d'une grivoiserie lgrement sale, le tout sur une musique entranante et festive, nous rvlent l'honntet d'un artiste charismatique qui propose un univers o l'humour et la joie de vivre ctoient l'introspection et la drision autobiographique. www.myspace.com/olivierlaroche


Venez donc vous rchauffer et festoyer avec Olivier Laroche au Club Balattou - 4372 boul. St-Laurent, coin Marie-Anne - le mardi 10 fvrier 20 h.


Billets en prvente 6 $ et la porte 8 $.

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The Nathaniel Dett Chorale Commemorates 10th Anniversary Season With Culturally Rich Concert Series


The Nathaniel Dett Chorale

commeMOrateS 10th anniversary season

Founder, Artistic Director Brainerd Blyden-Taylor


For Immediate Release, Monday, February 9, 2009 - 2009 is a landmark year for Torontos Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Their triumphant Washington-based performances during the recent US Presidential Inauguration were heralded as Canadas gift to the American public a sentiment that brought the Chorale congratulations and accolades from coast to coast. On Wednesday, February 25th and Saturday, February 28th, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale will celebrate yet another milestone as they commemorate their 10th Anniversary Season with Voices of the Diaspora, a musical evening which will reunite a host of Chorale members at the the acoustically dazzling Glenn Gould Studio in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre.


A powerful program, Voices of the Diaspora pays tribute to Africas cultural, artistic and creative impact by featuring favourite R. Nathaniel Dett works alongside several contemporary Afrocentric compositions including the Canadian premiere of The Angel Spoke" by Robert L. Norris; the Ontario premiere of Africa by Brian Tate a work commissioned for the National Youth Choir and containing a combination of Ghanaian and Latin sacred texts; as well as an encore performance of Go Down Death by Canadian composer Stewart Goodyear.


Named for the celebrated African-Canadian composer, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada's first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. The Chorale is comprised of classically trained, multi-faceted vocalists whose work stretches beyond the traditional repertoire of a classical chamber choir, challenging audiences to broaden their vision to include all genres of music appropriate to the traditions of the African diaspora. The thrilling 21-voice Chorale is directed by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor and has performed its jubilant repertoire extensively throughout North America, sharing the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy, opera star Kathleen Battle, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. During its 10-year history, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has showcased a remarkable spectrum of talent with alumni that include soprano Measha Bruggergosman, impresario Andrew Craig, and Alana Bridgewater, star of the hit musical We Will Rock You.



Share the Music, an arts and education outreach program presented by the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall with the purpose of enriching the lives of young people through exposure to world-class performers and related educational activities, has purchased 30 tickets for underserved youth to attend The Nathaniel Dett Chorales February 28th performance. The young guests will also attend an intimate pre-concert chat by Artistic Director Brainerd -Blyden Taylor.


Tickets for the Glenn Gould Studio series available in person at the Roy Thomson Hall box office, 60 Simcoe St., by calling 416.872.4255 or online at www.roythomson.com.


For more information please visit www.nathanieldettchorale.org.

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Communiqu Dcs Claude Girardin


Dcs de

Claude Girardin

Interprte, animateur, relationniste et promoteur

N le 19 juillet 1931 Montral / Dcd le 5 fvrier 2009

Sa carrire professionnelle, Claude Girardin la dbute en vendant de l'assurance-vie. Sa sur Marielle, qui fait partie des Disciples de Massenet, l'encourage fortement dans cette voie, tout en lui inculquant le got de la musique.

De 1953 1956, Claude devient responsable de la promotion et de la publicit aux Publications Pierre Pladeau inc. Aujourd'hui connues sous le nom de Qubcor.

Ironie du sort, c'est en venant faire approuver des preuves d'annonces publicitaires que Claude rencontre nuls autres que Roger Mollet et Michle Sandry, propritaires du cabaret la Cave . L'animateur du spectacle, Fernand Robidoux est absent et on lui cherche un remplaant. Sans hsitation, Claude dcide de relever le dfi. Il tiendra le rle pendant plusieurs semaines. Un soir, Roger Miron l'entend chanter et lui propose d'entrer en studio pour enregistrer J'ai rv dans tes bras , sa nouvelle carrire vient de commencer et l'artiste part la conqute des cabarets du Qubec.

De 1956 1968, Claude Girardin enregistre plus d'une vingtaine de 45 tours et cinq albums. Plusieurs de ses chansons sont reprises en chur par le public qui les entend frquemment sur les ondes : Tu resteras dans mon cur, Un p'tit bcot, Sans ton amour, L'tranger d'un jour, Mon cur qui bat Aprs avoir connu, dit-il, le trac des planches, le stress des studios, la fivre du public, la russite, les checs, la popularit, j'ai senti que je devais passer autre chose de plus scurisant Tous ces succs lui ont permis de travailler Las Vegas et d'tre l'artiste invit de la premire partie du spectacle de Frank Sinatra au Sand's Hotel en 1964.

Claude Girardin entre alors l'emploi de CKVL comme directeur de la promotion et des relations publiques. De 1968 1972, il contribue largement garder la station en tte des cotes d'coute.

Il fonde Les productions Claude Girardin inc. - Producteur d'vnements mdiatiques tant politique qu'artistique jusqu'en 1993. Claude a du gnie et il dcroche d'importants contrats de publicit pour des entreprises et des organismes prestigieuse comme les Alouettes, Pepsi Cola, Hydro-Qubec et McDonalds Rose souvenir lors de la visite du Pape et autres.

Il fonde le Centre de Formation en communications (cole de formation, animateurs radio-tlvision et DJ.

Le producteur qu'il est devenu accorde la priorit au monde du spectacle et des arts qu'il connat sur le bout des doigts. Il fait valoir ses talents de communicateur dans les lancements de disques, de livres et de magazines. Il agit comme agent de presse de Ren Simard, Ginette Reno, de Gilles Latulippe, de Raymond Berthiaume, de Daniel Htu et des peintres Gilles Gingras et Jacques Chevalier. A CKLM, o il anime l'mission Show-biz 90 (son pouse, Marie-France, en est la recherchiste) il prend plaisir recevoir les artistes et promouvoir de toutes ses forces la chanson qubcoise.

Aprs avoir uvr au sein de socits intimement lies au milieu de la tlvision et de la radio, on lui offre de devenir membre du conseil d'administration du Chez-nous des artistes, une rsidence pour les retraits de la scne. En 1993, il en devient directeur gnral, poste qu'il occupera jusqu' la fin de 1998.

Pendant plusieurs annes, Claude a habit Mascouche avec son pouse Marie-France Tremblay, qui le seconde admirablement bien dans tout ce qu'il entreprend. En mai 1998, Claude reprend les planches, Marie-France est dans les coulisses du Thtre de Marieville 2000 pour lui apporter son soutien moral. Claude donne un tour de chant comme au bon vieux temps des cabarets, un temps qui n'est finalement pas si lointain. A l'occasion, l'oiseau de nuit devenu sage aime bien reprendre contact avec le public qui ne l'oublie pas.

Claude Girardin sera prsent dans plusieurs spectacles de Roger Sylvain de 1998 2006 o il dcide vritablement de se retirer.

Paisiblement install Montral, il partage sa vie avec la femme qu'il aime depuis 23 ans, Marie-France Tremblay. Elle aura pous l'homme de sa vie et lui aura apport joie et rconfort jusqu'au dernier moment.

Si l'Amour ne meurt pasĶil en sera ainsi de Claude Girardin et Marie-France Tremblay.

(Extrait du texte de Marcel Brouillard)

La famille vous accueillera au Complexe Funraire Magnus Poirier 6825 rue Sherbrooke Est Montral (tel 514.727.2847) les lundi et mardi, 9 et 10 fvrier, de 14h 17h et de 19h 22h et le mercredi ds 11h. Les funrailles seront clbres le mercredi 11 fvrier 13h00 l'glise St-Lonard (5525 Jarry Est, St-Lonard) et de l au Cimetire Le Repos St-Franois d'Assise.

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Prochain concert du Club musical de Qubec: le pianiste Arnaldo Cohen, le 23 fvrier



La dcouvert de la saison,
le pianiste Arnaldo Cohen
au Club musical de Qubec, le 23 fvrier,


Le CLUB MUSICAL DE QUBEC prsente un grand pianiste mconnu : Arnaldo Cohen, le lundi 23 fvrier 20 heures, la Salle Louis-Frchette du Grand Thtre de Qubec.
Ce concert est enregistr par Espace musique, la radio musicale de Radio-Canada 95,3 FM.

On rpte du Brsilien Arnaldo Cohen qu'il est considr comme le plus grand des pianistes mconnus. Tout au long de cette carrire mi-obscure, n'importe o dans le monde, chacune de ses apparitions suscite une admiration sans borne. Une exceptionnelle dcouverte comme seul le Club musical sait en rserver!

Au programme :
BACH, Partita no 1 en si bmol, BWV 825
BEETHOVEN, Sonate en do mineur, op. 13, Pathtique
BACH-BUSONI, Chaconne
LISZT, Sonate en si mineur

Encore cette saison, les plus GRANDS se succdent au Club musical de Qubec, avec le pianiste Arnaldo Cohen, le lundi 23 fvrier, la Salle Louis-Frchette du Grand Thtre de Qubec.

Il reste encore de trs bonnes places pour ce concert. Les billets sont en vente la billetterie du Grand Thtre de Qubec, en composant le 643-8131 ou 1-877-643-8131 ou encore dans le rseau BILLETECH (billetech.com).


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Opera Atelier announces 2009-2010 Season


Opera Ateliers 2009/10 Season delivers a one-two knock-out punch!

Toronto, ON (February 9, 2009)Ķ Today, Opera Atelier announced the details of its 2009/10 season featuring the two most revolutionary operas of the 18th century.

The season begins in October with a revival of Christoph Willibald Glucks great reform opera, Iphignie en Tauride, which tells the story of Iphignie, the Greek princess who is abandoned on the island of Tauride for the duration of the Trojan War. Miraculously reunited with her brother Oreste following the murder of their mother (Clytemnestra), Iphignies courage and self-sacrifice ensures their safe return to Greece.

The opera attacked the very core of French operatic tradition and caused a sensation when it premiered at the Paris Opera in 1779, and again when Opera Atelier first staged it in 2003. Hailed as a work of genius by ecstatic critics, Iphignie en Tauride is considered the greatest triumph of Glucks career.

American soprano Peggy Kriha Dye, a favourite with OA audiences, returns next season as Iphignie. Croatian tenor Kresimir Spicer, who sang the title role in last seasons Idomeneo, returns as her brother Oreste. Swedish tenor Rickard Sderberg makes his Canadian operatic debut as Pylade, lifelong friend of Oreste. Thoas, King of Tauride, is sung by bass-baritone Olivier Laquerre, and bass-baritone Curtis Sullivan returns in the role of Le Ministre. Esteemed British conductor Andrew Parrott returns to lead the Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir and the full corps of Artists of Atelier Ballet. This production is directed by Marshall Pynkoski and choreographed by Jeannette Lajeunesse-Zingg with set designs by Gerard Gauci, costumes by Dora Rust DEye, and lighting by Kevin Fraser. Iphignie en Tauride runs October 31, November 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7, 2009 and is sung in French with English SURTITLESTM.

The season continues in the spring with a new production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts popular The Marriage of Figaro. Based on the shocking Beaumarchais play, Mozarts racy tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness is a hilarious and subversive social commentary about a world on the brink of revolution.

This marks the third new Mozart production of Opera Ateliers ambitious Mozart Six plan which to date includes Idomeneo (2007) and The Abduction from the Seraglio (2008). Costume designer Martha Mann, winner of six Gemini awards, makes her company debut. Ms. Manns credits include Anne of Green Gables, Road to Avonlea, Glory Enough for All, Aida (Boston Lyric Opera), Intermezzo (New York City Opera), and The Mikado (Glimmerglass Opera).


The creative team also includes director Marshall Pynkoski, choreographer Jeannette Lajeunesse-Zingg, set designer Gerard Gauci, and lighting designer Bonnie Beecher. David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik Orchestra.

Bass-baritone Olivier Laquerre brings his comedic talents to his debut performance as Figaro, wily manservant to Count Almaviva. Soprano Carla Huhtanen is his fiance Susanna. Acclaimed Canadian baritone Philip Addis makes his OA debut as Count Almaviva, and soprano Peggy Kriha Dye appears as Countess Almaviva. Bass-baritone Curtis Sullivan sings the role of Dr. Bartolo and mezzo-soprano Laura Pudwell is his housekeeper, Marcellina. Mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta makes her main stage debut with Opera Atelier as the young love-struck page Cherubino. The Marriage of Figaro will be sung in English with English SURTITLESTM and runs April 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, and May 1, 2010.

Performances for Opera Ateliers 2009/10 season will take place at the Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) in Toronto. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinee performances begin at 3:00 p.m.

Subscriptions for Opera Ateliers 2009/10 season are on sale now and may be purchased by calling 416-703-3767 ext. 22. Single tickets for Iphignie en Tauride go on sale August 17, 2009. For more information visit www.operaatelier.com .

Opera Atelier also gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, the Metcalf Foundation, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Creative Trust.

2009/10 Season Sponsor: Sun Life Financial

2009/10 Major Sponsors: BMO Financial Group, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust Music, The Dominion of Canada General Assurance Company

Opera Atelier is Canadas premier baroque theatre company, producing opera, ballet and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries. While drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, Opera Atelier goes beyond reconstruction and infuses each production with an inventive theatricality that resonates with modern audiences. Over the past two decades, lead by founding director Marshall Pynkoski and founding choreographer Jeannette Lajeunesse-Zingg, Opera Atelier has garnered acclaim for its performances at home as well as in the United States, Europe and Asia.

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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Evenement theatrale


Une premire mondiale clbre le 100e anniversaire du pote canadien, A. M. Klein

Le Thtre Tableau D'Hte est fier de prsenter en premire mondiale Haunted House au Centre Segal des arts de la scne. La pice, crite par le pote et dramaturge Endre Farkas, explore la vie d'A. M. Klein, l'un des plus importants potes canadiens dont on clbrera le centime anniversaire de naissance en fvrier. Farkas russit crer une pice vocatrice et multidimensionnelle sur les ralits dans lesquelles Klein a vcu et s'est enlis, celles qu'il a tudies et dont il n'a jamais pu s'extirper.

mise en scne par Liz Valdez avec

dcor par Lara Kaluza Eric Hausknost

clairage et costumes Nomi Poulin Audrey Finkelstein

son Lucie Monsarrat Paula Jean Hixson

rgie Paul Brian Imperial Nem Jevtovic

assistante rgie Amy Steinman Christopher Moore

Saro Saroyan


DATES ET HEURES : DU 18 FVRIER AU 5 MARS

Du mardi au dimanche 20 h

Matine du dimanche 14 h

NOTE : 21 & 25 Fvrier COMPLET

BILLETS :

Admission gnrale 22,00 $

tudiants, Ans et

Membres de la CAEA 15,00 $

Tarif de groupe (10 ou plus) 14,00 $

LIEU :

Le Studio

Centre Segal des arts de la scne

5170, chemin de la Cte-Sainte-Catherine

BILLETTERIE :

(514) 848-9696

tickets@tableaudhotetheatre.com

http://www.cshow.ca

SITES WEB :

www.tableaudhotetheatre.com

http://endrefarkas.com/


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Theatre event

World Premiere Celebrates 100th Birthday of Canadian Poet A. M. Klein

Tableau D'Hte Theatre proudly brings the world premire of Haunted House to the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. The play, written by poet and playwright, Endre Farkas, explores the life of A.M. Klein. Seamlessly weaving his own text with Klein's poems, fiction, journals, and editorials, Farkas succeeds in creating an evocative, multi-layered play about the "realities" Klein lived in, explored, became entangled in, and never exited.

directed by LIZ VALDEZ with

set design by LARA KALUZA ERIC HAUSKNOST

costume design by NOMI POULIN AUDREY FINKELSTEIN

sound design by LUCIE MONSARRAT PAULA JEAN HIXSON

stage manager PAUL BRIAN IMPERIAL NEM JEVTOVIC

assistant stg. mgr. AMY STEINMAN CHRISTOPHER MOORE

SARO SAROYAN


Dates & Times Feb. 18 Mar. 5


Tues. through Sun. 8:00 PM

Sunday Matinees 2:00 PM

Mondays & Fridays DARK

Feb. 21 & 25 SOLD OUT

Tickets:

General Admission $22.00

Students, Seniors & CAEA $15.00

Group Rates (10 or more) $14.00

Venue:

The Studio

Segal Centre for Performing Arts

5170, ch. de la Cte-Ste-Catherine

http://www.segalcentre.org/

Box Office:

514-848-9696

tickets@tableaudhotetheatre.com

http://www.cshow.ca/

Web Sites:

http://www.tableaudhotetheatre.com/

http://endrefarkas.com/

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Leading Irish ensemble Fidelio Trio lead Ricordi celebration


RICORDI- Beyond 200

Celebrating 200 years of publishing new music. Curated by Ricordi London

A showcase of works by internationally acclaimed Ricordi, Durand and Salabert composers Messiaen, Sciarrino, Dusapin, Etvs - plus newer composers Dai Fujikura and Rolf Hind, performed by leading Irish contemporary music ensemble the Fidelio Trio. This concert also includes the London premiere of Fujikuras moromoro for piano and DVD.

The Fidelio Trio (Darragh Morgan, violin, Robin Michael, cello and Mary Dullea, piano) perform extremely diverse repertoire throughout Europe, Asia and South Africa and frequently broadcast for BBC Radio 3. Since their South Bank debut they have appeared at FuseLeeds, Reggello Festival and Contemporaneamente Festival, Lodi (Italy), West Cork Music, Belfast Festival at Queens, Royal Opera House, London, Corsham Festival, Musica Viva (Portugal) and Composers Choice Series, National Concert Hall, Dublin.

They have worked closely with many leading composers including Michael Nyman, Toshio Hosokawa and Howard Skempton and have premiered music by Salvatore Sciarrino, Edison Denisov, Beat Furrer and Toru Takemitsu. They are Music Network artists and the recipients of awards from PRS Foundation and the Arts Council of Ireland.

In 2009 they will undertake a concert tour of China and make their Wigmore Hall debut. CD releases in 2008 include Bulb on NMC D147 featuring trios by Kevin Volans, Donnacha Dennehy, Deirdre Gribbin and Ed Bennett, Metamorphoses, the chamber music of Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson, on Delphian Records DCD34059, and Bartlebooth, the music of Joe Cutler, on NMC D134.

PROGRAMME

Sciarrino Piano Trio No. 1

Dai Fujikura (for piano, electronics and video)

Peter Etvs Two poems to Polly (Solo speaking cellist)

Rolf Hind the thing is (piano trio)

Messiaen Fantaisie (for violin and piano)

Dusapin Trio Rombach (piano trio)

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'Cellissimo!' - Denise Djokic Plays Saint-Saens


'CELLISSIMO!' - DENISE DJOKIC PLAYS SAINT-SAENS


Sinfonia Toronto will present a Masterpiece Series concert on Friday, March 6, at 8 pm at Grace Church on-the-Hill (300 Lonsdale Road). Titled 'Cellissimo!' the concert will feature the brilliant Canadian cello sensation Denise Djokic. Orchestra's Music Director Nurhan Arman will conduct.

The soaring melodies of Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto in A Minor and Shostakovich's Sinfonia op. 73 will be heard, along with Sonatina and Partita Danzante by Czech composer Jan Slimacek.

One of the most captivating young artists of her generation, cellist Denise Djokic has thrilled audiences and critics worldwide with the passion, vigor, and sensitivity of her playing. Already one of North America's most sought after soloists, she has performed as guest soloist with every leading orchestra in Canada, including the orchestras of Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. She has also appeared with many orchestras in the United States and in Mexico.

As a recitalist and chamber musician, Denise performs throughout North America and Europe. She has performed in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Cologne, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, at Chicago's Dame Myra Hess Series, at Bargemusic and with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players in New York, in addition to all major Canadian centers. Her avid involvement in chamber music brings her to many festivals yearly, including the chamber festivals of Caramoor, Ottawa, Vancouver, Park City, Parry Sound, Domaine Forget, and Ravinia.

Denise has toured Canada extensively, during which she was featured as the subject of the documentary film "Seven Days, Seven Nights", which aired on Bravo TV and was screened at the Atlantic Film Festival. She was also named by MacLean's magazine as one of "25 Young Canadians who are changing our World", and by ELLE magazine as one of "Canada's 30 most Powerful Women".

Denise's debut recording was released in 2002 on the Sony Classical label to great critical acclaim, and won her an East Coast Music Award for "Best Classical Recording of the Year". During the same year, Denise was a featured performer at the 2002 Grammy Awards. She recently released her second recording, entitled "Folklore", on the Allegro/Endeavor label, which was featured on NPR's renowned "All Things Considered" program.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, into a large musical family, Denise began her studies with Olive Shaw and Shimon Walt. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music's "Young Artist Program", where she was a student of Richard Aaron, and later continued her studies in Boston with Paul Katz and Laurence Lesser.

There will be a free post-concert reception, giving audience members a chance to meet the orchestra members, conductor and soloist.

Online discount tickets are $35 adult, $27 senior, $7 student (16-29) and can be purchased at www.sinfoniatoronto.com
or at regular price by phone 416-499-0403 or at the door.
__________________________
Buy tickets and CDs at
www.sinfoniatoronto.com
www.myspace.com/sinfoniatoronto
Sinfonia Toronto
3901 Don Mills Road, Box 5
Toronto, ON M2H 2S7
Tel/Fax: 416.499.0403


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Concert bnfice pour La Scena Musicale

Concert de la Saint-Valentin par trois grands choeurs montralais en appui La Scena Musicale

Montral, le dimanche 8 fvrier 2009- Le milieu choral de Montral salue Wah Keung Chan, fondateur et diteur de la revue de musique classique La Scena Musicale, par un concert bnfice donn au profit de la publication. L'vnement aura lieu le 14 fvrier 20 h la salle Pollack de la facult de musique de l'Universit McGill. Il runira trois des meilleurs churs de la mtropole: Concerto Della Donna, Musica Orbium et le Studio de Musique ancienne de Montral, dirigs respectivement par les piliers de la musique chorale Montral que sont Iwan Edwards, Patrick Wedd and Christopher Jackson. Au programme, des chants d'amour de toutes les poques, depuis Gabrieli et Palestrina jusqu' Copland et Gershwin. Ayant excut chacun une portion du programme, les trois ensembles uniront leurs voix pour le grand finale.

Iwan Edwards, directeur artistique de la soire et membre de l'Ordre du Canada (1995), explique: Patrick Wedd, Christopher Jackson et moi avons runi nos choeurs deux fois dj, pour des concerts du matin de Pques la radio de CBC. Je suis ravi que mes minents collgues acceptent de renouveler l'exprience. Ce concert de gala est une occasion pour nous d'exprimer la profonde admiration que nous portons Wah Keung Chan pour l'incomparable apport la vie musicale qu'est La Scena Musicale.

L'aventure de La Scena Musicale commenait en 1996, lorsque Wah Keung Chan publiait un calendrier musical sur deux pages des concerts prsents Montral; avec le temps, le petit bulletin s'est transform en revue nationale des arts de la scne et de la musique avec articles de fond, critiques de disques et guides de l'enseignement de la musique ; plus rcemment, La Scena Musicale s'est porte la dfense de la musique et des arts. En assistant cette soire, dit l'diteur, les amateurs de musique feront plus que s'offrir un magnifique concert, ils participeront avec La Scena Musicale la promotion de la belle et grande musique partout au pays.

Billets:

30 $ - rguliers

20 $ - tudiants et ans (se les procurer La Scena Musicale, au guichet de la facult de musique de McGill ou aux points de vente Admission).

130 $ - les meilleurs siges et rception pr-concert en compagnie des trois chefs de chur (s'adresser directement La Scena Musicale)

La Scena Musicale
Tl. : 514-948-2520
Courriel : gala2009@scena.org
(cartes VISA, MasterCard et AMEX)

Guichet de McGill:
Tl. : 514-398-4547.
(cartes VISA et MasterCard)

Points de vente Admission. Frais de service.

514-790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595

Info: Dawna Coleman, 514-948-2520, dawnacoleman@scena.org

Programme :

Le programme

Concerto Della Donna
Directeur: Iwan Edwards
directrice ajointe: Amy Henderson

Minnelied (Op. 4 Heft 1) ĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶ.......Johannes Brahms

Embraceable you...ĶĶĶ.....Ira and George Gershwin, arr. Arne Dagsvik

Autumn of love (Seasons of love, No. 3) ĶĶĶĶĶ......Eleanor Daley

Dacw 'nghariad I lawr yn y berllan ĶĶĶĶ............. arr. Grace Williams

Bonjour, mon cur.....ĶĶ...........Orlando di Lasso, arr. Norman Greyson

It was a lover and his lass........ĶĶ..Ķ..ĶĶĶĶĶĶ..........Ward Swingle

Musica Orbium

Patrick Wedd, directeur artistique

Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare .................................George Shearing

Live with me and be my love
When daffodils begin to peer
It was a lover and his lass
Spring
Who is Sylvia?
Fie on sinful fantasy
Hey, ho, the wind and the rain

----------------------------------------------------- Entracte -----------------------------------------------------------

Studio de musique ancienne de Montral
Directeur artistique: Christopher Jackson

Cantique des cantiques.......................................Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Introduxit me rex

Vox dilecti mei

Surge, propera, amica mea

Vidi speciosamĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶTomas Luis de Victoria

Trois churs

Tous unis en chanson ĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶ......Paul Halley
Lieto godea sedendo ĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶ.......Giovanni Gabrieli
Las agachadas ĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶĶ................Aaron Copland

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MusiMars - du 2 au 7 mars


L'cole de musique Schulich de l'Universit McGill prsente le programme de la 5e dition du festival MusiMars qui se droulera du lundi 2 au samedi 7 mars 2009.

Le thme de cette anne, tel qu'annonc par Denys Bouliane, directeur artistique du festival, est Temps long temps court, Bruckner Webern : Ombres portes .

Ce festival s'intressera la perception du temps chronologique et du temps psychologique grce l'exploration d'uvres se distinguant soit par leur brivet, soit par leur longueur.

Important de consulter ce lien pour avoir l'horaire dtaill du Festival ainsi que les programmes.

http://www.music.mcgill.ca/musimars/mm2009/theme.html

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Friday, February 6, 2009

Christipher O'Riley - March 11

ROY THOMSON HALL PRESENTS

Classical pianist CHRISTOPHER ORILEY

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 8 PM / Glenn Gould Studio

$39.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or online at www.roythomson.com

or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

Hes charming, articulate, and a different kind of classical pianist. From his groundbreaking transcriptions of Radiohead to his powerful interpretations of repertoire classic and contemporary, pianist Christopher ORiley has redefined the possibilities of classical music. He has taken his unique vision to both traditional classical music venues and symphonic settings, as well as to entirely new audiences on the radio, at universities and even clubs. As host of the most popular classical music radio show on the air today, National Public Radios From the Top, Mr. ORiley works and performs with the next generation of brilliant young musicians, demonstrating to audiences, with humour and lack of pretense, that these young artists are as diverse in their personal lives as they are in their music-making. In 2007, From the Top was filmed for public television in Zankel Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall and debuted on PBS in the spring. The series is now airing its third season.

Performances in the 2008-2009 season include tours with James Galway and cellist Carter Brey, recitals at the University of Colorado, Duke University, and orchestral engagements with the Baltimore Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, and Atlantic Classical Orchestra. At the Miller Theatre in New York City, Mr. ORiley will showcase his own arrangements alongside classical repertoire in three programs juxtaposing works of Shostakovich (Preludes and Fugues) with Radiohead, Debussy (Images and Estampes) with Nick Drake, and Schumann (Arabeske and Kreisleriana) with Elliott Smith. This season also finds ORiley playing recitals in Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Berlin, Salzburg and Vienna.

His first recording of Radiohead transcriptions, True Love Waits (Sony/Odyssey) received 4 stars from Rolling Stone and was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. His second set of music from the British alt-pop outfit, entitled Hold Me to This: Christopher ORiley plays the music of Radiohead, was released on World Village/Harmonia Mundi to a similarly enthusiastic response. In April 2006, his third set of transcriptions was released on the same label. Entitled Home to Oblivion; An Elliott Smith Tribute, Mr. ORiley tackled the deeply emotional and complex work from the troubled singer/songwriter who died prematurely in 2003. His most recent recording, released in April 2007 and entitled Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake, is a disc of transcriptions of the music by the British folk singer. Nick Drake died in 1974 after releasing just 3 albums, yet influenced two generations of songwriters in his wake.

In 2004, Mr. ORiley toured the US with the world-famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Orchestra visiting 10 cities in 2 weeks, playing Bach, Mozart and Liszt concerti. He has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Minnesota Orchestra, the symphonies of Pittsburgh, Detroit, Colorado, Atlanta and Baltimore. The illustrious group of conductors with whom he has collaborated includes Marin Alsop, David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, John Williams, Neeme Jrvi, Bobby McFerrin, Hans Graf, Yoel Levi, Hugh Wolff and Andrew Litton. An enthusiastic advocate of new music, Mr. ORiley has twice participated in the annual Absolute Concerto concerts at Avery Fisher Hall, a brainchild of ORileys fan in the 80s, Andy Warhol, premiering works by Richard Danielpour and Michael Torke. In 1999-2000 he performed Michael Daughertys Le Tombeau de Liberace with the Detroit Symphony and with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, both in St. Paul and on tour. He has also recently given premieres of works by Aaron Jay Kernis, including his piano quartet, Still Movement with Hymn, (also recorded for Deccas Argo label) and the Superstar Etude No. 1, inspired by the pianism of Jerry Lee Lewis. His radio and TV show can be found on-line at http://www.fromthetop.org/. His personal website is at http://www.christopheroriley.com/.

Sponsored by XM Satellite Radio at Glenn Gould Studio.

CHRISTOPHER ORILEY, pianist

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 8 pm / Glenn Gould Studio

250 Front Street West, Toronto

Tickets $39.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

www.roythomson.com

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Eric Whitacre to Conduct World Premiere of His Latest Commissioned Work, 3/15,2009, 2 PM, Avery Fisher Hall

Eric Whitacre to Conduct World Premiere of His Latest Commissioned Work, and Others of His Works, Avery Fisher Hall, March 15, 2009

Concert Features Whitacres New Choral Piece, Animal Crackers II, A DCINY Premiere Projects Commission, Based on Poetry of Ogden Nash

Olathe East Symphonic Winds, Eric Griffin, Director, Guest Ensemble

Personal appearance by the composer

Distinguished Concerts International will present an evening of music largely by classical-music phenomenon Eric Whitacre, conducted by the composer, at Lincoln Centers Avery Fisher Hall, March 15, 2009, at 2:00 PM. Mr. Whitacre will be leading the Distinguished Singers International, consisting of ensembles from all over the United States. The repertoire will include: Animal Crackers I, Animal Crackers II (world premiere), Five Hebrew Love Songs, Leonardo, Lux Arumque, Three Flower Songs, Seal Lullaby, and Sleep. Mr. Whitacre will also conduct his composition Cloudburst, from his Grammy Award-nominated release of the same name, with the Olathe East Symphonic Winds (KS), the evenings guest ensemble.

Popular appeal, critical acclaim, numerous awards

An accomplished composer, conductor and lecturer, Eric Whitacre has quickly become one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los Angeles Times has praised his compositions as "works of unearthly beauty and imagination, (with) electric, chilling harmonies"; while the BBC raves that "what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer belief that passes any pretension.

Though he had received no formal training before the age of 18, he completed his first concert work, Go, Lovely, Rose, at the age of 21. Mr. Whitacre earned his Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Pulitzer- and Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano.

He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.


Most recently, Whitacre has received acclaim for Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, a cutting
-edge musical combining trance, ambient and techno electronica with choral, cinematic, and operatic traditions. Winner of the ASCAP Harold Arlen award, this musical also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for Most Promising Musical Theater Composer. Following its sold-out run, the most recent production earned 10 nominations at the 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical.

Guest ensemble

Eric Griffin holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in Music Education from Missouri State University and the University of Kansas. Under his direction, the bands at Olathe East have toured Florida twice, and in 2006, were the first performing group from the Olathe District Schools to perform in the Hawaiian islands. The Olathe East Bands have also performed at the prestigious Kansas Music Educators Association Convention four times since 2003. In 2007, Mr. Griffin was honored to be the Olathe District Schools nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year. The symphonic winds will perform music by Beethoven, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Mackey, and Dr. Andrew Boysen, Jr.

Distinguished Singers International

Distinguished Singers International is comprised of the Sprague High School Concert Choir (OR, Director Russell Christensen), the Capital High School Chamber Singers (MT, Director Darcy Schulz), the Cedar Hill High School Choir (TX, Director Christopher Rhodes), and young womens vocal group Canta Filia (MO, affiliated with the University of Missouri Kansas City, Director Jennifer Benjamin).

Tickets

To obtain tickets or further information regarding this event, please visit the Distinguished Concerts web site, www.DCINY.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the DCINY box office, 212.707.8566, x 307 or directly from the concert venue.

Premiere works; four-time Grammy Award nominees

In just two short years, DCINY has joined the ranks of major classical music production companies in America, nearly doubling its roster of participating ensembles and attracting talent from all over the globe. Among the events DCINY is honored to present this season are: one world and two US premiere performances of major new works by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, which was presented this past January 19, and Charles Bruffy, conducting the four-time Grammy Award-nominated Phoenix Chorale and Kansas City Chorale. Please visit www.DCINY.org for details regarding other highlights of DCINYs 2009/2010 Season.

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LMMC - communiqu de presse pour le concert du 22 fvrier avec Hilary Hahn (2 formats)


Rosemary Neville
Secretary-treasurer / Secrtaire-trsorire
Ladies' Morning Musical Club
1410 Guy Street / 1410, rue Guy
Suite 12 / bureau 12
Montral, QC H3H 2L7
Tel.: 514-932-6796
Fax: 514-932-0510

e-mail / courriel: lmmc@qc.aibn.com
site: http://www.lmmc.ca
Office hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 to 1:00
Heures de bureau: du lundi au vendredi 10h 13h

Les billets de la srie de Concerts LMMC sont disponibles par tlphone ou par courriel jusqu'a 13h le vendredi prcdant chaque concert, et en personne au guichet de la Salle Pollack une heure avant le concert. Le cot des billets est 35$ (15$ pour tudiants ayant moins que 26 ans avec carte d'tudiant), taxes incluses. Seulement l'argent comptant est accept au guichet. Les billets sont non-remboursables.

Tickets to the LMMC concert series can be purchased by telephone or by e-mail until Friday at 1 p.m. prior to each concert, and in person at the Pollack Hall Box Office, one hour prior to each concert. Tickets are $35 ($15 for students under 26 years of age with student I.D.), tax inclusive. Only cash is accepted at the box office. All purchases are non-refundable.

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k.d. lang Cancels - TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival

k.d. lang Concert Cancelled


Toronto The k.d. lang concert previously announced for Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Canon Theatre, as part of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, has been cancelled.

"It is with deep disappointment that we announce the cancellation of the k.d. lang show", states Patrick Taylor, Executive Producer of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival. "A sudden personal commitment has forced k.d. lang to withdraw her participation in our 23rd anniversary Festival. We look forward to presenting a great lineup with our previously announced headliners, Sonny Rollins and Gary Burton Quartet Revisited with special guest Pat Metheny."

Full details of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival will be announced on Monday, April 6, 2009.

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Hold the dates: The Assumption of Empire, Unwashed Grape at Mainline Theatre- March 3-22

Hold the dates!

Unwashed Grape presents

The Assumption of Empire

A new play by Ann Lambert

Directed by Paul Hawkins

Mark these dates in your winter calendar

Tuesday, March 3 Sunday, March 22, 2009

Unwashed Grape (Dating Jesus; Two Short Women and the Wall; Biss-ous; Cuthbert's Last Stand-UNCUT!) is pleased to present its upcoming show, The Assumption of Empire, by Ann Lambert.

The Assumption of Empire is 'in search of lost time', exploring where the political and the personal intersect in a world rocked by violence and dizzying change, sometimes all too close to home. Taking place in and around Montreal from 1978 to 2008, The Assumption of Empire spans the Revolution in Iran, the 1st referendum for independence in Quebec, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Dawson shooting and the election of Obama. These events form the backdrop for the life of Sophie Wiseman, who is taken back in time when she learns of the mysterious death of her ex-husband's wife.

With Laura Mitchell, Tim Hine, Bill Croft and Alice Abracen.

The Assumption of Empire

Unwashed Grape

At MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St Laurent

Reservations: 514-849-3378 or www.mainlinetheatre.ca

Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 pm

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm

Tickets: $20 regular, $17 student/senior

$10 shows: Tuesdays (Mar. 3, 10, 17); Wed. preview Mar. 4; Saturday matinee, Mar. 7 at 2pm

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Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral - Communiqu de presse - Press Release - Le Chant de la Terre, 22 fvrier 2009 - The Song of the Earth, february 22nd 2009

DAS LIED VON DER ERDE / Le Chant de la Terre

Montral, le 6 fvrier 2009 Le quatrime concert de la saison de l'Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral est un concert bnfice sous la prsidence d'honneur de Mme Sophie Desmarais.

Au programme : La Symphonie no100 de Joseph Haydn et Das Lied von der Erde de Gustav Mahler sous la direction de notre Maestro de rputation internationale Yannick Nzet-Sguin.

Das Lied von der Erde met en vedette Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano et John Mac Master, tnor. Ce cycle de six lieder est conu comme une symphonie sans mouvements, comme le compositeur lui-mme l'a prcis. Les textes allemands sont des adaptations de pomes chinois tirs d'un recueil du VIIIe sicle. Les thmes qui y sont abords et le traitement musical du compositeur font du Chant de la Terre un chef-d'uvre absolu qui bouleverse l'auditeur. L'Orchestre interprtera auparavant la ptillante Symphonie no 100, dite Militaire , de Haydn. Elle doit son surnom aux instruments de percussion utiliss dans les deuxime et quatrime mouvements, voquant la musique militaire.

Ce concert aura lieu le dimanche 22 fvrier 2009 16 heures, la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts. Les reprsentants des mdias sont pris de contacter l'Orchestre pour confirmer leur prsence. Le cocktail dnatoire qui suit le concert est rserv aux donateurs seulement.

Voir le communiqu joint ce courriel. Pour plus d'information ou pour confirmer votre prsence, veuillez communiquer avec Hlne Wermenlinger.

Hlne Wermenlinger (514)598-0870 poste 26

helenew@orchestremetropolitain.com

DAS LIED VON DER ERDE / The Song of the Earth

Montreal, February 6, 2009 For its fourth concert of the season, the Orchestre Mtropolitain du Grand Montral presents Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth). This benefit event will take place under the honorary presidency of Ms. Sophie Desmarais.

This concert, under the direction of world-renowned Maestro Yannick Nzet-Sguin, will feature mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn and tenor John Mac Master. The Song of the Earth, a cycle of six lieder is cast as a symphony without movements, as Mahler himself pointed out. The texts of this work are taken from a collection of Chinese poems from the eighth century, in a German adaptation. The themes of these poems and the musical settings provided by the composer combine to create an absolute masterpiece that overwhelms the listener. The Orchestra will begin the concert with Haydn's sparkling Symphony No. 100, also referred to as "Military", due to the percussion instruments used in the second and fourth movements, evoking martial music.

Das Lied von der Erde will be performed on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 4 p.m., in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts. Representatives from the media are asked to kindly contact the Orchestra to confirm their presence at the event.

Please see the attached press release. For more information or to confirm your presence, please contact Hlne Wermenlinger.

Hlne Wermenlinger (514)598-0870 extension 26

helenew@orchestremetropolitain.com

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Major Music Dealers to Attend Summit at Conn-Selmer

Conn-Selmer Inc. is pleased to announce that major music dealers from across the country are to attend a First Annual Dealer Summit at the corporate headquarters located in Elkhart, Indiana, February 17-18, 2009. Twelve influential music business partners are to participate in this meeting, which will be hosted by John Stoner, CEO Conn-Selmer, Inc., and Dana Messina, CEO Steinway Musical Instruments.

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Holton Donates Historic "Holtonphone" to National Music Museum

The 110th anniversary of the founding of the Holton Company was marked during the summer of 2008 with the donation of a historic Holtonphone, along with 368 other musical instruments, to the National Music Museum on the campus of The University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, by Conn-Selmer, Inc., a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Miami Art Space presents an exhibition by H. Allen Benowitz

Miami Art Space presents an exhibition by H. Allen Benowitz
Thursday, February 12th, 2009. 7:00 p.m.


Opening reception
: Thursday, February 12th, 2009. 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Location: Miami Art Space. 244 NW 35th Street. Miami FL 33127

Dates: From February 12th through March 27th, 2009

Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment

Admission: Free

Life in Cuba: Old Havana before the Hurricanes
A stunning exhibition of original photographs from Mr.
Benowitzs recent trip to Cuba, reflecting on the culture, poverty, occupations and history of this island nations people under Castro's rule, and the barrios and neighborhoods of Old Havana. The Exhibit features photographs taken shortly before Hurricanes Gustav and Ike wreaked their havoc on the people of Cuba, and Benowitzs pre-storm photographs beautifully preserve the impoverished state of this beautiful little island on film.

About the artist
Mr.
Benowitz has received numerous honors and awards. His highly acclaimed photo, Behind the Wall, received national recognition at Holland & Knight Charitable Foundations Holocaust Remembrance Project Awards Dinner in Washington, D. C.

Recognition for
Benowitzs photography include a Judges Award at the UM Lowe Art Museums Beaux Arts Festival; honorable mention in the International Kodak Contest; award winner B/W photography, One Ear Society; juried exhibition at the Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Art Festival. His work has appeared in the Beaux Arts Festival and Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL. Among numerous publications in which he has been featured and appeared are the ARTnews, Miami Monthly Magazine, The Andrews Journal, the Cherokee Scout, The Journal of Court Reporting, Miami Snow Ski Club Magazine, and Coastal Elegance & Wealth Magazine. His photo subjects include Landscape, Wildlife, People, and Adventure Travel.

Mr.
Benowitzs exhibitions in North Carolina this past year were at The Design Gallery in Burnsville, on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Altapass Orchard in Little Switzerland, and the Andrews Art Museum in Cherokee County.

About Miami Art Space
Miami Art Space (MAS) is a contemporary and innovative art space located in the heart of the Wynwood Art District that has hosted exhibits featuring renowned local and international artists for more than a year. Designed as a multi-use venue, Miami Art Space also welcomes/hosts private events such as corporate and private parties.

For more information please contact:
Alexis McClean of Miami Art Space
305.438.9002
244 NW 35th Street Miami FL 33127
info@miamiartspace.com
www.miamiartspace.com

For more information about local openings and events, please visit
www.miamiartguide.com



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Mark Fewer performs Lou Harrisons violin concerto


MONTREAL, February 5, 2009. The next concert of the CBC/McGill series sees Montreal-based violinist Mark Fewer perform one of the most unique violin concertos of the 20th century: Lou Harrison's concerto for violin and percussion. The concert takes place on February 12th, 2009, at 8 pm at Pollack Hall.





Only a few days after his critically acclaimed appearance with the Foden's Brass Band in Manchester, Mark Fewer once again joins forces with an ensemble that is no standard choice for a classical violinist. In Lou Harrison's concerto for violin and percussion, the violin is accompanied not only by drums and cymbals, but also by flowerpots and plumber pipes. What you'd think might be an ear-deafening experience is indeed a lyrical piece full of subtleties and exploration of sound.





Lou Harrison, a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg and Charles Ives, was interested in the music of Asia and the native peoples of America and included many at that time foreign instruments and sounds in his music. Despite many exoticisms, his work is deeply American, based on Western European tradition, but at the same time exploring the diversity of cultures and sounds.





Violinist Mark Fewer has often proved his talent to switch roles and to move around styles. He has a strong reputation as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral leader, jazz musician, and artistic programmer. Mr. Fewer was concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra from 2004 to 2008, and he is the artistic director of the Scotia Festival of chamber music and the SweetWater Music Weekend in Owen Sound, Ontario. He teaches violin, chamber music, and string improvisation at the McGill University.





Mr. Fewer has just come back from Manchester, where he performed Bramwell Tovey's "Nine Daies Wonder" that had been specifically written for him. In this piece, Mr. Fewer follows the nine-day publicity stunt of Shakespeare's comedian William Kempe from London to Norwich in the 1600s, by singing, dancing, playing, and reciting Shakespeare texts.

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WSO Supports Heart Month- Tchaikovsky 6

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The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra


Tchaikovsky 6
Friday, February 13 at 8pm
Centennial Concert Hall
Saturday, February 14 at 8pm
Centennial Concert Hall
Sunday, February 15 at 3pm
Brandon Western Manitoba Auditorium

Featuring -
Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Gwen Hoebig, violin

February 5, 2009 -- To commemorate Heart Month, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra will give back to the Heart and Stroke Foundation on Valentines Day with Dinner and a Symphony, a stunning concert package featuring WSO Concertmaster Gwen Hoebig as our featured soloist and Tchaikovskys 6th and final symphony.


As part of the package, concertgoers can enjoy a three-course dinner (beef or vegetarian menu options) at the Concert Hall prior to the concert. A portion of the proceeds from the dinner will be given to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.


The concert features Gwen Hoebig performing Hungarian composer Bla Bartks optimistic Violin Concerto No. 2, a piece with which Gwen has a very personal history. In 1992, she studied the concerto with Zoltn Szkely, a friend of musical collaborator of Bartks and the violin virtuoso who commissioned and premiered the work.


In the concerts second half, the WSO performs Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 6 (Pathtique). Premiering just nine days before his death, Tchaikovsky was convinced this was his greatest masterpiece, writing without exaggeration, I have put my whole soul into this work.


Tchaikovsky 6 takes place on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14 at 8pm at the Centennial Concert Hall and Sunday, January 15 at 3pm at the Western Manitoba Auditorium in Brandon. Concert tickets range from $26.25 to $61.00 and are available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.mb.ca or at any Ticketmaster outlet. The Valentines Day dinner (February 14) begins at 5:30pm - tickets for the Dinner and a Symphony package start at $75.00 per person and the deadline for booking is Tuesday, February 10.


Rehearsals
Wednesday, February 11 1:30 to 4pm
Thursday, February 12 10am to 12:30pm
For additional information, photos or to schedule interviews please contact

Sheena Stemler
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
(204) 949-3970
(204) 290-7484
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is the celebrated hub of Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 25,000 students annually and tours outside the city reaching out to communities across Manitoba.


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NACO, Feb. 14: Family Adventures with Boris the Explorer, Daniel Cook and Oliver Jones


TD Canada Trust Family Adventures features famed kid-show host Daniel Cook and jazz legend Oliver Jones together with Boris the Explorer in a Valentine celebration on Feb. 14

Ottawa (Canada) The series of TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra continues on Saturday, February 14 with Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott taking the podium in his persona of Boris the Explorer for a special Valentines Day celebration. Boriss co-host is kid sensation Daniel Cook from the hit childrens TV show This is Daniel Cook, and more recently guest host of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Boris and Daniel will lead their young audience on an exploration to uncover musical friendships behind great classical and jazz works. They will be helped along the way by jazz legend Oliver Jones, by 11 and 14-year-old Ottawa virtuosos Kerson (violin) and Stanley (cello) Leong, by NAC Orchestra principal horn Lawrence Vine, and by the Cantiamo Girls Choir. For extra fun, dress the kids (and yourself!) up in red. These bilingual TD Canada Trust Family Adventures, perfect for kids 5 and up and their grown-up friends, are at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon

The concert ticket includes TuneTown, pre-concert activities in the NAC Foyer organized by Friends of the NAC Orchestra 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 p.m. for the first concert and 2:45 p.m. for the second concert. In keeping with the Valentines Day theme, there will be a craft station where children can make their own Valentines and send them to the musicians of the Orchestra, and there will be additional Valentines Day activities by Music for Young Children. There will also be information stations by the Ottawa Public Library, by the Cantiamo Girls Choir of Ottawa, and by the Canadian Aviation Museum (a model of the Silver Dart aircraft to celebrate the centennial this month of Canadas first powered flight). The Musicians from The Regimental Band of the Governor Generals Foot Guards will host a woodwind instrumental petting zoo. Daniel Cook will come out to meet the audience and sign autographs after both concerts.

The six-decade career of pianist Oliver Jones mirrors the proud history of jazz in his native Montreal, the city that also produced Oscar Peterson, Olivers lifelong friend and continuing inspiration. Though semi-retired from public performance, Jones recorded an album with singer Ranee Lee, Just You, Just Me, which won the Toronto Urban Music Award for Best Jazz Recording in November 2005. With the NAC Orchestra he will perform Fulford Street and Wonderful World and will offer jazz improvisations including one on the theme from Daniel Cooks TV show.

This is Daniel Cook is a spontaneous, live-action, on-location original series that followed its host Daniel Cook who started at age 6 and hosted until he was 8 as he explored the world from his perspective. The hit show for pre-schoolers aired on Treehouse and TVO in Canada, Disney in the US has been seen in 85 countries in 14 languages. He recently appeared as special correspondent on The Oprah Winfrey Show hosting the Amazing Kids episodes.

Daniel will help Boris find musical friendships in such music as Schumanns Allegro performed by NACO principal horn Lawrence Vine, Brahms Lullaby, Vivaldis Concerto for Violin and Cello performed by Kerson (violin) and Stanley (cello) Leung, and Ravels Beauty and the Beast from Mother Goose, as well as the theme from the Disney version of that famous fairy tale. Oscar Petersons Hymn to Freedom with Oliver Jones, the Orchestra and the Cantiamo Girls Choir brings the celebrations to a close.

All TD Canada Trust Family Adventures feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra.

Tickets for Boris the Explorer: Be My Valentine on Saturday, February 14 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., including TuneTown Pre-Concert Activities, are $12.00 for children and $20.00 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable) and are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Visit the National Arts Centres web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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Attendance increase of more than 15 per cent at the National Arts Centre in 2007-08


Attendance increase of more than 15 per cent at

the National Arts Centre in 2007-08

Annual Report highlights also include a ninth surplus in 10 years

Ottawa (Canada) The National Arts Centre (NAC) announced today that paid attendance for performances and events had increased by more than 15 per cent in 2007-2008 compared to the previous year. The NAC also announced it had ended its 39th season with a surplus of $204,000 the Centres ninth surplus in the past 10 years.

The increase in paid attendance and the surplus are some of the highlights of Voices of Canada, the NACs 2007-2008 Annual Report, which was tabled in Parliament yesterday by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Over the last decade, the National Arts Centre has strengthened its reputation as a catalyst for the performing arts across Canada, said Julia E. Foster, Chair of the National Arts Centres Board of Trustees. The NACs pursuit of artistic excellence is solidly grounded in its commitment to sound and efficient financial management.

The Annual Report which covers the period from September 1, 2007, to August 31, 2008 highlights the NACs progress against its strategic goals: artistic expansion and innovation, an increased emphasis on the NACs national role, greater commitment to youth and educational activities and an increase in earned revenues.

Highlights of the 2007-2008 Annual Report include:

  • Paid attendance for performances and events at the NAC in 2007-2008 was 554,534 an increase of 88,108 (or more than 15 per cent) compared to the previous year.

  • The NAC collaborated with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the United Kingdom to bring Margaret Atwoods novel The Penelopiad to the stages of both organizations.

  • The NAC Orchestra presented a tribute to Canadian composing legend R. Murray Schafer on his 75th birthday for its second annual, week-long eXpressions new music festival.

  • Renowned playwright, director and actor Wajdi Mouawad began his tenure as Artistic Director of the NAC French Theatre.

  • Ninety exceptionally talented young musicians, composers and conductors from Canada and 14 other countries around the world were invited to participate in the
    10th annual NAC Summer Music Institute.

  • World-renowned choreographer of contemporary dance-theatre Pina Bausch and her company Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal brought Nefs, an homage to Istanbul, to the NAC in an exclusive Canadian engagement.

  • The NAC undertook extensive consultations with artists, arts organizations, arts educators and public funders in communities across Canada to help create the NACs new Strategic Plan.

  • The National Arts Centres total revenues were $69,894,000, an increase of $263,000 from the previous year.

  • The National Arts Centre again received significant support from individual donors and corporate sponsors. The National Arts Centre Foundation raised
    $8.3 million this past year $6.6 million of which were transferred to the National Arts Centre.

  • Revenues from the NACs commercial operations such as the Le Caf restaurant and hall rentals were up significantly.

  • The 2007-2008 surplus of $204,000 brings the NACs accumulated surplus to $675,000.

The full text of the annual report is available on the NACs website at
http://www.nac-cna.ca/ar.

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HSBC Bank Canada Joins the National Arts Centre as a Supporting Partner of BC Scene


HSBC Bank Canada Joins the National Arts Centre as a Supporting Partner of BC Scene

OTTAWA The National Arts Centre today announced that HSBC Bank Canada has become a sponsor of BC Scene, the largest gathering of British Columbian artists ever assembled outside the province. HSBC Bank Canada is contributing $25,000 to support the event.

The NACs regional festival is taking place in the nations capital from April 21-May 3 and will showcase 600 BC artists from disciplines as varied as music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, literature and culinary arts in more than 30 venues around the National Capital Region.

We are thrilled to partner once again with HSBC Bank Canada, a company with a tremendous commitment to and understanding of the importance of supporting Canadian arts and culture, said Jane Moore, Interim CEO of the NAC Foundation. It is truly wonderful that HSBC Bank Canada is supporting B.C. artists as they prepare to step on a national stage.

HSBC is proud to be sponsoring BC Scene, an exciting cultural festival that will showcase some of British Columbias most talented artists, said Matt Bosrock, Deputy CEO, HSBC Bank Canada. As our Canadian headquarters is in Vancouver we are especially delighted that our support will help artists from B.C. gain national and international profile.

A ceremony held at HSBC Bank Canadas Vancouver offices marked the occasion when Mr. Bosrock presented a cheque in the amount of $25,000 to Ms. Moore.

BC Scene is the fourth in a series of national festivals produced by the NAC that began with Atlantic Scene (2003), Alberta Scene (2005) and Quebec Scene (2007). All three Scenes were major successes that exposed artists to new audiences, national and international presenters, and drew unprecedented media coverage for the participating artists and arts organizations.

The NAC is Canadas leading centre for performance, creation and learning. Today, the NAC works with thousands of artists from across Canada and around the world and collaborates with dozens of arts organizations across the country. The NAC is strongly committed to being a leader and innovator in each of the performing arts fields in which it worksclassical music, English theatre, French theatre, dance, variety and community programming. It is also at the forefront of youth and education activities, supporting programs for young and emerging artists, presenting programs for young audiences, and producing resources and study materials for teachers and students. The NAC is the only multidisciplinary, bilingual performing arts centre in North America and one of the largest in the world.

For more information about BC Scene, please visit www.bcscene.ca.

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Rue Saint-Jean, rue carnavalesque

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RUE SAINT-JEAN, RUE CARNAVALESQUE
AUX FRONTIRES DES CARNAVALS DE QUBEC ET DE VENISE

Qubec, le 5 fvrier 2009 - L'Association des gens d'affaires de la rue Saint-Jean du Vieux-Qubec (AGA), en collaboration avec le Carnaval de Qubec, la Ville de Qubec et le CLD de Qubec, propose sa seconde et dernire journe d'activits gratuites pour toute la famille le dimanche 8 fvrier 2009, de 11h30 16h, sur la rue Saint-Jean (entre les rues d'Auteuil et cte du Palais) qui sera alors ferme la circulation. La premire journe, qui s'est droule le 1er fvrier, a t couronne de succs : des centaines de personnes enjoues et merveilles ont particip aux nombreuses activits.



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Waterloo region emerging as leading centre for contemporary art. Biennial arts festivals poised to attract record numbers in 2009!

WATERLOO REGION

EMERGING AS LEADING CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

Biennial arts festivals poised to attract record numbers in 2009!

For Immediate Release - February 05, 2009 As the world braces for a year fraught with economic uncertainty and an inevitable shift in how we live our lives, one Ontario community is taking bold steps to protect its cultural heartbeat. The Waterloo Region is widely regarded as the Silicon Valley of the North, and a closer look at this vibrant community reveals that the entrepreneurial spirit that is its cornerstone also fuels one of the most unique cultural collectives in the country where internationally recognized, contemporary art flourishes. Through a joint initiative supported by a motivated group of business and arts leaders, the region which encompasses Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge, will host a number of innovative arts events that are expected to draw more than 40,000 arts enthusiasts to the tri-city area over the coming year.


There is tremendous artistic growth in the region, explains Martin de Groot, Executive Director of the Waterloo Regional Arts Council. We are not unlike other communities across the country who are adjusting to the changing economic climate, but we as a community are united in our commitment to foster growth and establish Waterloo Regions reputation as a leading centre where innovative, thought-provoking and significant cultural events take place.


From April 24th through May 3rd, OPEN EARS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND SOUND, a cutting edge biennial music festival, takes to the streets of Waterloo Region with one of its most daring programs to date. A project of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, OPEN EARS is one of Canadas most important new music festivals. Audiences from across North America flock to the region to partake in what has come to be known as an eclectic celebration of listening; with interactive programming such as guided soundwalks, electroacousitc performance art, sound poetry, as well as musical performances staged in concert halls and alternative venues alike. Previous guest composers and performers have included international artists like Brian Eno, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Canadian R. Murray Schafer. This years program will continue to push the boundaries of the art of sound with festival highlights that include rare musical pairings such as Eve Egoyan a and David Rokebys debut of a newly commissioned work for Disklavier and interactive audio and video, as well as Lou Harrison world premiere of A Word for Music. Early-Bird passes for the Open Ears Festival are now on sale, for more information please visit www.openears.ca.


In its 10-year history CAFKA (Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener & Area) has grown from a grassroots festival to a multidisciplinary, tech savvy event featuring groundbreaking visual art offerings from both local and internationally renowned contemporary artists. Solidly supported by local galleries, studios and artist run centres, these dynamic installations are peppered throughout Waterloo Regions public spaces in effort to engage and challenge the arts community and public alike. This year CAFKA calls on the worlds best installation artists to reflect on Veracity, an evocative theme which will feature an epic work by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer housed in the new Waterloo Town Square. CAFKA 2009: Veracity is sponsored by Waterloo-based Christie Digital, a world-leader in digital projection technology whose innovations include the world's brightest true HD video projectors, and who were largely responsible for the breath-taking multi-media presentations at the recent Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. All 2009 CAFKA programs are offered free to the public from September through October 2009. To learn more about CAFKA please visit www.cafka.org.


One of the most exciting elements of each biennial CAFKA presentation is its ability to reach across socio-economic barriers and draw audiences from every spectrum of the community says Artistic Director Rob Ring. Waterloo Regions urban landscape is an ideal setting for a multimedia arts festival of this kind, but it is the overwhelming willingness of our local audiences to embrace new ideas which challenge contemporary ways of thinking and interacting, that gives this homegrown event its unique flavour.


IMPACT, a biennial international theatre festival organized by The MT Space is already making waves in this, its first time launching a full-fledged festival. Built on The MT Spaces notoriety for progressive productions, IMPACT will showcase national and international cultural works that offer less verbal forms of theatrical performance in the form of physical and dance theatre or multimedia spectacles. Artistic Director Majdi Bou-Matars vision is to create a festival that will effectively overcome language barriers and facilitate the communication of cultural, social, philosophical and artistic concepts. IMPACT 09 takes place from September 24th through October 3rd, 2009 and offers a unique opportunity for cultural exchange with a wide network of like-minded events across the globe. Further details can be found by visiting www.mtspace.ca.


Renowned for its educational institutions, and widely regarded as Canadas technology capital, Waterloo Region offers learning opportunities beyond the walls of its institutions, through attendance, engagement and participation in a wide variety of arts and culture events hosted throughout the region. The growth of art and culture within the Waterloo Region continues to be a source of pride and inspiration for many of its citizens. The many cultural events of 2009 mark a new departure to re-imagine the region as an emerging cultural contender whose ambition is matched by its phenomenal success in the technology sector. Through its art, Waterloo Region celebrates the new, the unexpected, the diverse and the subversive and is undoubtedly a forward thinking community poised for transformation.

CAMMAC winds and brass workshop April 25, 2009


CAMMAC presents a Wind and Brass Workshop


Saturday, April 25, 2009 1:30-4 p.m. ., CAMMAC, Canadian Amateur Musicians-Musiciens Amateurs du Canada will present Fran Harvey, Music and Education degrees from the University of Toronto. At the University of Toronto, she studied trumpet with Larry Weeks, James Spragg, Stephen Chennette, Robert Nagel and Armando Ghitalla and conducting with Victor Feldbrill, Stephen Chennette and Diana Brault. The workshop will be held at Northern District Library, 40 Orchard View Boulevard. ( 1 block north of Eglinton and Yonge).


The Winds and Brass Workshop will help players focus on sight-reading and performance skills. The workshop will focus on key performance skills such as dynamics, articulation, balance and blend, in an engaging hands-on learning experience. Tips and tools for great playing will be discussed and worked on through a variety of original works and arrangements for band. The Wind Band workshop welcomes all woodwind, brass and percussion players.


Fee: Non-members $20. Group fee: member rate (note, qualify 5 or more from the same group must apply: use separate forms please. Registration deadline: April 20, 2009.


For further information call 416-421-0779 or Toronto@cammac.ca.

www.cammac.ca

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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Brilliant Canadian pianist Louis Lortie makes his welcome return to Vancouver













The VSO presents distinguished Canadian pianist Louis Lortie, and the exciting music of Liszt and Richard Strauss

Vancouver BC Louis Lortie is praised as one of Canadas most electrifying pianists. He makes a welcome return to Vancouver on February 21 & 23 performing Liszts Totentanz and Fantasy of Motives from Beethovens Ruins of Athens. Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts this concert which also features Beethovens The Ruins of Athens: Overture and Richard Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra.

Charm and dazzle... (Louis Lorties) elegant touch turned the music nearly weightless, even at high volume and high speed.

- Journal Sentinel

Born in Montral, Louis Lortie made his debut with the Montral Symphony at the age of thirteen and the Toronto Symphony three years later. In 1984, he won First Prize in the Busoni Competition and was a prize-winner at the Leeds Competition. In 1992 he was named Officer of the Order of Canada, and received both the Order of Quebec and an honorary doctorate from Laval University. As his schedule permits, he teaches at Italys renowned piano institute at Imola. Mr. Lortie has lived in Berlin since 1997 and also has a home in Canada. Mr. Lortie performs the magnificent music of Franz Liszt, he perhaps the greatest pianist who ever lived.

The late-Romantic composer Richard Strauss followed in the footsteps of Liszt. Though he was a prolific composer of opera, Strausss greatest works were his tone poems, Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra) being prominent among them. The work is based on Nietzsches prose poem, a deep and dramatic treatise featuring the teachings and sayings of Zarathustra, the ancient Iranian prophet and religious poet credited with the founding of Zoroastrianism. Strausss tone poem has become one of the most recognized pieces of music ever written or at least, the first few minutes have, being prominently features in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. The work, in Strausss own words, describes the evolution of humankind: I meant to convey in music an idea of the evolution of the human race from its origin, through the various phases of development, religious as well as scientific, up to Nietzsches idea of the Superman. Strausss extraordinary and unique orchestration speaks for itself, creating a mystic landscape that speaks of high mythology and profound truths. A fascinating musical construct that figures throughout the work is the conflict between the keys of B Major and C Major, the former representing humanity, the latter the universe. Strauss purposefully leaves this conflict unresolved at the end, with neither key dominant the classic debate between free will and determinism continues in Strausss world, a riddle unsolved and unsolvable.

CONCERT INFO

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series:

Fantasies and Odysseys: the Exciting Music of Liszt and Strauss

Saturday & Monday, February 21 & 23, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Louis Lortie, piano

Beethoven The Ruins of Athens: Overture

Liszt Totentanz

Liszt Fantasy on Motives from Beethovens Ruins of Athens

R. Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: PricewaterhouseCoopers

Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

Video screen presentations created and produced by students and staff of digital video productions at Columbia Academy.

CBC Radio 2 will record the concert on February 23 for Sunday Afternoon in Concert

BIOGRAPHIES

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

A musician of striking versatility, Bramwell Tovey is acknowledged around the world for his artistic depth and his warm, charismatic personality on the podium. Toveys career as a conductor is uniquely enhanced by his work as a composer and pianist, lending him a remarkable musical perspective. His tenures as Music Director with the Vancouver Symphony, Luxembourg Philharmonic and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras have been characterized by his expertise in operatic, choral, British and contemporary repertoire.

The 2007-08 season holds many highlights for Tovey. A recent recording with violinist James Ehnes brought a 2007 Grammy Award to the soloist, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Tovey. In his eighth season with Vancouver, Tovey collaborates with guest artists Ben Heppner and Evelyn Glennie and leads the orchestra through an in-depth six-concert Beethoven festival, featuring performances by Lang Lang and Anne-Sophie Mutter. He also appears with orchestras across East Asia, in the spring of 2008, in advance of the orchestras fall 2008 tour of China. Highlights for 2008 in the United States include Toveys appointment as Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. The post, last held by Leonard Slatkin, includes general programming and conducting of Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts in its famed summer venue. Tovey also has been commissioned to write a work for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics respective 2008 summer seasons.

Prior to his music directorship in Vancouver, Tovey spent twelve years as music director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, where he founded its highly regarded New Music Festival. A significant milestone in the ensembles exploration of new music, the festival premiered more than 250 works by diverse international and Canadian composers under Toveys leadership, with every performance broadcast on Canadas CBC Radio.

In 2004, he founded the New York Philharmonics Summertime Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall, and presides annually as its host and conductor. Chief critic of The New York Times Anthony Tommassini has written, The New York Philharmonic values the British conductor Bramwell Tovey as the host of its Summertime Classics series not only because he is a good musician, but also because he brings such a delightfully avuncular sense of humor to the job of introducing the pieces on the program.

During his four years as the music director of the Luxembourg Philharmonic, from 2002 to 2006, Tovey led three successful tours in Europe, the Far East and the eastern United States, traveling to China, Korea, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Holland and Belgium. In 2004, Tovey and the orchestra were awarded the Orphe dOr of the Academie Lyrique Francaise, for their critically praised recording of Jean Cras opera, Polyphme. The following year, in celebration of the opening of Luxembourgs new Philharmonic Hall, Tovey conducted the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Europa Academie Choir in the world premiere of Pendereckis 8th Symphony, composed especially for the occasion.

An esteemed guest conductor, Tovey has worked with orchestras in the UK and Europe including the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Bournemouth, the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, and the North Netherlands Symphony where he will lead the Dutch premiere of Pendereckis 8th Symphony in 2008. In a review of a performance with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra the Scottish Herald wrote Ķ.hes a sophisticated entertainer, a refined malt whiskey of a man.Ķ.(Tovey) produced polished playingĶthat is too rare in performances of this music. In North America, along with his work with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, Tovey has made guest appearances with the orchestras of St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Seattle, Toronto and Montreal. A recent review in The St. Louis Post Dispatch noted Ķthe orchestra played brilliantly, responding to Toveys direction like a well-tuned race car.

With a profound commitment to new music, Tovey has established himself as a formidable composer. He has been commissioned by the Calgary Opera to compose the companys third original full-length opera. Written with librettist John Murrell, this work is based on the extraordinary life of Alexander Sandy Keith, a notorious 19th century con artist and criminal from Halifax, Nova Scotia. An immense undertaking, the piece will premiere in Calgary in January of 2011. Toveys other accomplishments as a composer include receiving the Best Canadian Classical Composition 2003 Juno Award for his Requiem for a Charred Skull, performed and recorded by the Amadeus Choir and the Hannaford Band in Toronto. Tovey has also built a strong reputation as an accomplished jazz pianist with two recordings to his name.

Renowned as a choral conductor, Tovey has performed works ranging from Mahlers Symphony No. 8 to Bachs Mass in B Minor. In opera, his repertoire includes works by Puccini, Strauss, Mozart, Menotti, Poulenc, Britten and Stravinsky. In 2004, he premiered a new opera by John Estacio, jointly commissioned by the Banff Centre and the Calgary Opera, which he reprised for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2005.

Tovey has made memorable appearances on television, including two documentaries with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a 1996 CBC TV broadcast of Victor Davies Revelation, a full-length oratorio based on the Book of Revelation, with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. He has also recorded several DVDs, of works including Holsts The Planets Suite with distinguished guests such as percussionist Evelyn Glennie, among many others.

Awarded numerous honorary degrees, Tovey has received a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music in London, honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba and Kwantlen University College, as well as a Fellowship from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. In 1999, he received the M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, a prestigious Canadian prize awarded to premier artists for outstanding contributions in professional performing arts organizations.

Louis Lortie, piano

Canadian pianist Louis Lortie has been praised for the fresh perspective and individuality he brings to a deliberately broad spectrum of the keyboard canon. He studied in Montral with Yvonne Hubert (a pupil of French pianist, Alfred Cortot), in Vienna with the Beethoven specialist Dieter Weber, and subsequently with Schnabel disciple Leon Fleisher, among others.

Mr. Lortie has performed the complete works of Ravel in London and Montral for the BBC and CBC, and is also known for his interpretation of Chopin. Following a recital of Chopins complete Etudes in Londons Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Financial Times wrote: Better Chopin playing than this is not to be heard, not anywhere. He often performs major contemporary works, recently concentrating on pieces by British composer Thomas Ades.

Also celebrated for his interpretation of works by Beethoven, Mr. Lortie has performed the complete Beethoven sonatas in Londons Wigmore Hall, Torontos Ford Center, Berlin Philharmonie, and the Sala Grande del Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan. In Berlin, Die Welt called his performances possibly the most beautiful Beethoven since the times of Wilhelm Kempff. With the Montreal and Quebec Symphonies, he performed and conducted all five Beethoven Piano Concertos. In the Beethoven Plus Festival, Mr. Lortie performed Beethovens 32 sonatas for piano; plus the complete sonatas and trios with violin and cello. He opened the Bonn Beethoven Festival in 2003 playing Beethovens Fourth Concerto with Kurt Masur conducting, and since then has established a particularly fruitful partnership with Mr. Masur. They performed together with the New York Philharmonic, and in Paris with the Orchestre National de France. Future plans include concerts together with the San Francisco Symphony and ONF concerts in the UK, and in Vienna.

Over several seasons Mr. Lortie plays and conducts the 27 Mozart Piano Concertos (in combination with conducting various symphonic works by other composers) with the Montreal Symphony, culminating with 3 concerts in May, 2008. Last season he began his multi-concert Wagner/Liszt project at Londons Wigmore Hall, and performed it in Berlin, Milan, Domain Forget, the Weimar Festival, Bordeaux and Warsaw. He also performed his third recital on Carnegie Halls Great Artists series. In 2007-2008 Mr. Lortie explores the music of Schumann and Grieg at several summer festivals, both in solo recital and in chamber music concerts. He also performs with the San Francisco Symphony, the City of Birmingham Symphony, the Orchestre National de Paris, the Sydney Symphony, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia. He plays recitals in Philadelphia, Florence, Toronto, Milan, San Francisco, Ottawa and London.

Louis Lortie has performed under the baton of conductors Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Sanderling, Neeme Jarvi, Sir Andrew Davis, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Osmo Vanska. He has also been involved in many chamber music projects, with musicians such as Frank Peter Zimmermann, Leonidas Kavakos, Renaud and Gautier Capucon, Jan Vogler, Augustin Dumay and Gidon Kremer. His regular piano-duo partner is fellow Canadian Helene Mercier, with whom he has made successful recordings on the Chandos label.

Mr. Lortie has made over 30 recordings on the Chandos label, ranging from Mozart to Stravinsky. His recording of Beethovens Eroica Variations won the Edison Award, and his disc of Schumanns Bunte Blatter and other works by Schumann and Brahms was named one of the best CDs of the year by BBC Music Magazine. He has recorded Ravels complete works for piano and has almost completed the 32 Beethoven sonatas. His recording of the complete Chopin Etudes, opp. 10 and 25, has been cited by BBC Music Magazines special Piano Issue as one of 50 Recordings by Superlative Pianists. Mr. Lorties most recent CD release is the final recording in his three-CD series of Liszts complete works for piano and orchestra with the Residentie Orchestra of The Hague. It was immediately named Editors Choice by Gramophone Magazine. In addition to the current Liszt recordings, other recent releases include To the Distant Beloved, with works by Beethoven, Schumann and Liszt, and Francks Symphonic Variations with the BBC Symphony.

Born in Montral, Louis Lortie made his debut with the Montral Symphony at the age of thirteen and the Toronto Symphony three years later, which as a result engaged him for a historic tour of the Peoples Republic of China and Japan. In 1984, he won First Prize in the Busoni Competition and was a prize-winner at the Leeds Competition. In 1992 he was named Officer of the Order of Canada, and received both the Order of Quebec and an honorary doctorate from Laval University. As his schedule permits, he teaches at Italys renowned piano institute at Imola. Mr. Lortie has lived in Berlin since 1997 and also has a home in Canada.


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Rascals and Numskulls


ARTWORD THEATRE PRESENTS RASCALS AND NUMSKULLS

Written and Directed by Ronald Weihs
Music by Gary Santucci
Design by Judith Sandiford

Performed by the Artword Theatre Ensemble: Paula
Grove, Valeri Kay, Tanis MacArthur, Allan Merovitz,
Gordon Odegaard and Nea Reid, with Princess Land and
Seneca Sundown

Artword Theatre's second production in its inaugural
season is RASCALS AND NUMSKULLS. This new
original Canadian play follows the thrilling real-life
adventures of Robert and Phoebe Land. Robert Land,
a United Empire Loyalist, was a secret agent for the British
army in the American Revolution. Captured and condemned
to death, he escaped the hangman and fought in Mohawk
leader Joseph Brant's guerrilla army. His wife, Phoebe Land
fought an equally courageous battle protecting her family in
the midst of a terrible civil war. It's a story of heroism and
endurance by ordinary people caught in a clash of empires.
Presented in comedy-style, the "Rascals and Numskulls" of
the play's title are the American and British leaders of the
time. The play is being performed at The Pearl Company,
located in Hamilton, Ontario's Landsdale neighbourhood,
which is named after Robert Land.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES

February 12-22, 2009 at 7:30pm (Thursdays-Saturdays)
and 2:00pm (Sundays)

RASCALS AND NUMSKULLS will be presented by
Artword Theatre at The Pearl Company, located at 16
Steven Street (at King William) in Hamilton, Ontario.
Tickets are $10 on Thursdays, and $20 for adults/$15
for students and seniors on Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays.

Box Office: 905-548-0341

ARTWORD THEATRE AND THE PEARL COMPANY

Artword Theatre, the creative team of director
Ronald Weihs and designer Judith Sandiford, has been
producing original theatre since 1993. Weihs and
Sandiford operated a facility in downtown Toronto,
until their theatre was closed to make way for a condo
in 2006. After 12 years in downtown Toronto, Artword
moved to Hamilton teaming up with Gary Santucci and
Barbara Milne at The Pearl Company.

Website: www.artword.net

The Pearl Company is an arts and performance facility
owned by guitarist and composer Gary Santucci and arts
activist Barbara Milne. Renovated in 2006, the facility
has devoted two of its three floors to the arts. The Pearl
Company has launched a number of arts initiatives,
including the well-known Art Bus two Fridays a month,
the Opus Mundi Festival, theatre workshops and
productions, concerts and events and outdoor festivals.

Website: www.thepearlcompany.ca

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The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada Urges Immediate Passage of the Performance Rights Act


The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada Urges

Immediate Passage of the Performance Rights Act

New York, NY The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is urging Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act, which will provide a full performance right for sound recordings broadcast over traditional AM/FM Radio.

The overwhelming majority of performers are not rich, but hardworking men and women trying to make a living, said AFM President Tom Lee. A source of income is being denied to these men and women by over-the-air AM/FM radio, which gets its advertising revenue and listeners from the popularity of their recorded music. The Performance Rights Act would give performers a fair recognition of the value their work brings to radio. A royalty payment of just a fraction of a cent per song would have a big impact on working musicians.

Currently, musicians are not paid when their music is broadcast over traditional AM/FM radio. The Performance Rights Act seeks to rectify this longstanding inequity in copyright law.

On behalf of AFM and myself, Id like to personally thank Senator Patrick Leahy and Rep. John Conyers Jr. for introducing the Performance Rights Act bill and recognizing how important it is to ensure that performers get paid for their hard work, said Lee. I now urge Congress to pass this measure as quickly as possible.

AFM would also like to thank the following co-sponsors: Representatives Darrell Issa; Howard Berman; Marsha Blackburn; Jane Harman; John Shadegg and Paul Hodes; and Senators Orrin Hatch; Dianne Feinstein; Bob Corker and Barbara Boxer.

ABOUT THE AFM

Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO, is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape. www.afm.org

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Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers Pointe--Callire


LABORDAGE !
LES PIRATES PRENDRONT DASSAUT POINTE--CALLIRE


Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers
une nouvelle exposition temporaire riche en aventure
Du 20 mai 2009 au 3 janvier 2010


Montral, le 4 fvrier 2009 Pointe--Callire, muse darchologie et dhistoire de Montral, prsentera du 20 mai 2009 au 3 janvier 2010 lexposition Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers. Le public est appel dcouvrir lhistoire de ces aventuriers des mers qui ont sillonn les eaux entourant la cte est de lAmrique du Nord et des Carabes du 16e au 19e sicle. Une vritable aventure la dcouverte de la fantastique destine de ces pirates, corsaires et flibustiers.

La vie bord
Le visiteur en apprendra plus sur lhistoire de la piraterie. Les pirates, les corsaires et les flibustiers taient des hors-la-loi et de rudes aventuriers, mais taient aussi parfois des gens du ct de la loi, cest--dire des membres de la Marine dtenant une lettre de marque qui, en temps de guerre, leur permettait, au nom du Roi ou du gouverneur, dattaquer les ennemis de la nation. Certaines destines dhommes et de femmes pirates sont devenues mythiques avec le temps. De nombreux rcits seront ainsi prsents dont celui de Barbe Noire, Sir Francis Drake, John Rackam, Sir Henry Morgan, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd, Jean Lafitte, le couple Eric Cobham et Maria Lindsay, pour nen nommer que quelques-uns.

Lhistoire de la piraterie en Amrique est un sujet fascinant, un pan mconnu de notre histoire. Lexposition sollicitera grandement limaginaire et la capacit dmerveillement du public. Jeunes et moins jeunes iront la rencontre de leurs curs denfants et se laisseront emporter par les passionnantes histoires de ces pirates, corsaires et flibustiers. a dclare Francine Lelivre, directrice gnrale de Pointe--Callire.

Prs de 150 objets fascinants du 16e au 19e sicle tmoignant de la vie de pirates seront prsents : vaisselle dtain, instruments de navigation, clystre servant soigner les maladies honteuses , armes feu et armes blanches, figures de proue, prcieux objets personnels, coffre de corsaire ainsi que de rares objets ayant appartenu des pirates canadiens. Cela peut paratre tonnant, mais le Canada a bel et bien vu dfiler sur ses eaux des pirates et des corsaires. Le cas le plus clbre est celui du dernier procs pour piraterie au Canada, la mutinerie du Saladin en 1844.

Montez bord du Pointe--Corsaire
Ķ
Un tonnant dcor attendra le visiteur, convi embarquer sur des mers mouvementes bord duĶ Pointe--Corsaire
. En effet, le Muse a relev lnorme dfi technique de construire un bateau grandeur nature dans la salle dexposition temporaire. Cest ainsi, que le public est invit fouler le pont et dcouvrir les origines et lhistoire de la piraterie en Amrique du Nord. Les diffrents espaces dun bateau seront voqus tout le long du parcours. Lembarquement se fera sur le quai, la table de recrutement. Par la suite, cest la cuisine qui est ouverte, ainsi que le coin des hommes, du chirurgien-apothicaire (frissons garantisĶ) et de larsenal (ou sainte-barbe). Plus loin, la proue du bateau, etĶ le gibet. Le capitaine nous ouvre les portes de sa cabine et nous montre firement son butinĶ

Cette exposition intressera autant les adultes friands dhistoire et daventures que les jeunes et les familles la recherche dune exprience enrichissante.

Lever les amarres et tous labordage sur le Pointe--Corsaire du 20 mai 2009 au 3 janvier 2010!

Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers
: un lieu o le divertissement et lhistoire se rencontrent dans un monde fantastique et captivant.

Le Muse est subventionn par la Ville de Montral.

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k.d. lang Joins TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival Lineup

k.d. lang Joins Jazz Festival Lineup
Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter to play Canon Theatre


Toronto Singer, songwriter and powerhouse performer k.d. lang will close the 23rd edition of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Canon Theatre. Tickets are on sale Friday, February 6.

From straight up country artist to iconic pop songstress with forays into pop, jazz and show tunes along the way, lang has been a musical force to be reckoned with over the last 25 years. With a dedicated cult following and considerable vocal talents, lang has always challenged conventional thought and crossed genres in music, carving a broad niche for an artist who simply defies categorization.

Watershed, which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 last February, marks lang's 10th studio album and her first time assuming the role of sole producer in addition to singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. A multiple Juno and Grammy award winner, do not miss one of Canada's greatest songwriters and voices this summer.

The sounds of jazz will have feet tappin' and fingers snappin' as the 23rd edition of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival swings its way into summer, running from June 26 - July 5, 2009. Be a part of the action as more than 1,500 musicians, performing in over 350 concerts, descend upon Toronto for the city's largest music festival. Get jazzed this summer!

k.d. lang
Sunday, July 5, 2009 - 8pm
Canon Theatre - 244 Victoria Street
Tickets: $49 - $99*
On sale at TicketKing Friday, February 6, 2009
www.ticketking.com
416.872.1212 or 1.800.461.3333
And the Canon Theatre Box Office
*tickets subject to GST and all applicable facility fees and service charges

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Concert du Trio Hochelaga - lundi 16 fvrier



Une autre anne prometteuse se profile pour le Trio Hochelaga. En ce dbut danne, le Trio Hochelaga est heureux de vous inviter son prochain concert prsent Montral, la salle Redpath de lUniversit McGill, le lundi 16 fvrier 2009, 20 h.

Au programme :
Ģ Joseph Haydn : Trio no 34, en si bmol majeur, Hob. XV/20
Ģ Charles Ives : Trio
Ģ Johannes Brahms : Trio no 1, en si majeur, opus 8


* Cot des billets : tudiants 5 $ - adultes 20 $ (taxe incluse)
Abonnement disponible - Billets en vente la porte le soir du concert.


* Salle Redpath de l'Universit McGill,
3461 McTavish, Montral (Mtro McGill)


Le Trio Hochelaga
Fond en 2000, le Trio Hochelaga sest trs rapidement distingu sur la scne musicale canadienne comme lun des plus importants ensembles de musique de chambre au pays. La violoniste Anne Robert, le violoncelliste Paul Marleyn, et le pianiste Stphane Lemelin ont choisi de partager leur passion pour un rpertoire de musique de chambre allant de lpoque classique la musique daujourdhui. Interprtes des grandes uvres du rpertoire, ils accordent une place particulire la musique franaise, dont ils se donnent le mandat dexplorer les richesses mconnues.

Portant le nom original de Montral en langue iroquoise, le Trio Hochelaga a ds ses dbuts t invit participer aux principaux festivals dt de lest du Canada, dont le Festival international de Lanaudire, le Festival international de musique de chambre dOttawa, le Festival of the Sound, et le Festival du Centre dArts dOrford. En 2003, le Trio Hochelaga a cr le Triple Concerto de Jacques Htu, avec lOrchestre symphonique de Montral au Festival de Lanaudire. Parmi les faits saillants dune tourne Taiwan et au Japon en 2004, notons linvitation se produire avec le Tokyo New City Orchestra dans le Triple Concerto de Beethoven au Sumida Triphony Hall de Tokyo. l'automne 2008, le Trio Hochelaga effectue une tourne en Chine, o il se produit notamment au premier Festival international de musique de chambre donn au Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing.


www.triohochelaga.com

Pour plus dinformation sur ce concert ou sur le Trio Hochelaga, contactez Chantal Poulin 514 899-8978 ou
web@triohochelaga.com

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2009 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award Recipients Announced

2009 ASCAP FOUNDATION YOUNG JAZZ COMPOSER AWARD RECIPIENTS
ANNOUNCED

Honorees to Be Recognized at ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame Ceremonies
on June 16 in NYC

New York, NY, February 4, 2009: ASCAP Foundation President Marilyn
Bergman has announced the recipients of the 2009 ASCAP Foundation Young
Jazz Composer Awards. This program, established in 2002, was created to
encourage gifted jazz composers from throughout the United States. The
recipients, who range in age from 15 to 29, are selected through a juried
national competition. They receive cash awards, and will be recognized at
the annual ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame ceremony on June 16, 2009, which will
be held in The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln
Center on Broadway at 60th Street, New York City.

Commenting on the awards, Marilyn Bergman said, "The young jazz creators
recognized through this program represent the future of this uniquely
American art form. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the
dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the honorees."

The Young Jazz Composer Awards are in their fourth year of sponsorship by
Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic division of musical giant Gibson Guitar
Corp. The Gibson Foundation supports The ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz
Composer Awards in fulfillment of its commitment to educational excellence
through music and the arts.

This year's ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award recipients, ages
18-29, are: Mike Baggetta, 29 (Brooklyn, NY); Tyler Gilmore, 26 (Denver,
CO); Victor Gould, 21 (Boston, MA); Aaron Grad, 28 (Takoma Park, MD); Nick
Grondin, 26 (Boston, MA); Alex Heitlinger, 28 (Brooklyn, NY); Armand Hirsch,
18 (New York, NY): Matt Holman, 26 (New York, NY); Remy Le Boeuf, 22
(New York, NY); Ben Markley, 27 (Longmont, CO); Kendall R. Moore, 22
(Miami, FL); Rob Mosher, 29 (Brooklyn, NY); Daniel Ori, 29 (New York, NY);
Travis Reuter, 22 (Brooklyn, NY); Albert Rivera, 25 (Bronx, NY); Sam
Sadigursky, 29 (Brooklyn, NY); Nikos Syropoulos, 20 (Los Angeles, CA);
Matthew Vashlishan, 26 (Coral Gables, FL); Justin Vasquez, 26 (Austin, TX);
and Brandon Wright, 26 (Brooklyn, NY).

The youngest ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers, ages 15 to 17, are:
Lucas Apostoleris, 15 (MA); Phillip Golub, 15 (CA); Nicolas Hetko, 17 (NY);
David Lantz, 17 (PA); Caili O'Doherty, 16 (OR) and Keshav Singh, 17 (CA).

Composers receiving Honorable Mention are: Benj Bellon, 17 (CA); Michael
Collins, 29 (Tempe, AZ); Zaccai Curtis, 27 (Bronx, NY); Douglas Detrick, 25,
(Eugene, OR); James Hirschfeld, 27, (New York, NY); Pascal Le Boeuf, 22
(Santa Cruz, CA); Chase Morrin, 15 (CA); Joshua Moshier, 22 (Evanston, IL);
Matt Savage, 16, (NH); Erica Seguine, 21 (Rochester, NY); and Stephen W.
(Red) Wierenga, 29, (New York, NY).

The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2009 competition were: John Fedchock,
Jay Leonhart, and Phil Markowitz.

About Gibson Foundation
Founded in 2002 as the philanthropic division of Gibson Guitar, the Gibson
Foundation is committed to making the world a better place for children
through its own initiatives and by its support of other non-profit organizations
that advance music and the arts, health and welfare, education, and
environmental causes. The impact of the support provided by the Gibson
Foundation benefits millions of people each year.
www.gibsonfoundation.org

About The ASCAP Foundation
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization
dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their
development through music education and talent development programs.
Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards,
recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for
senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by
contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the
United States.
www.ascapfoundation.org

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Changes at the Shaw Festival

Changes at the Shaw Festival

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, February 4, 2009ĶArtistic Director Jackie Maxwell regretfully announced today that Neil Munro is relinquishing his post as Associate Director of the Shaw Festival, for health reasons. He has also withdrawn from his directorial duties for the production of Born Yesterday, scheduled to appear on the Festival stage as part of The Shaws 2009 season.

In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell stated Neils contribution to The Shaw over the past several years has been enormous and we plan to continue to work with him on a project basis. However for the time being, Neil must focus on his health, and we support and respect that decision.

Director Eda Holmes, who has a lengthy association with The Shaw, has been appointed Associate Director. In announcing Edas appointment, Ms. Maxwell noted; From her early days as an Intern Director at The Shaw to her strong directorial successes with such shows as Floyd Collins and last seasons The Little Foxes and her curatorial direction of our Play Reading Series, we see this new role for Eda as a natural progression of her work at The Shaw. We are all excited by the energy and ideas she will bring to our Creative Management.

Toronto director, actor and playwright Gina Wilkinson will now direct Born Yesterday.

Already well known as an actor and playwright, Gina has been gaining momentum and kudos as a director over the last several years across Canada and we enthusiastically welcome her on board as she leads the creative team of Born Yesterday, said Ms. Maxwell.

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Tshepang, Theatre La Chapelle & Maurice Podrey's Mopo Productions- Feb. 24-Mar. 7


Theatre La Chapelle presents

Maurice Podbrey & Mopo Productions'

TSHEPANG

Written and directed by Lara Foot Newton

Tuesday, February 24- Saturday, March 7, 2009

To see a powerful excerpt from Tshepang please go to:

Tshepang on YouTube

"This is Jesus' sister. We have been waiting for someone to take away the sins of the world,

just like Jesus did, but he was way too long ago. The world has forgotten." - Simon

Montreal, February 2009- Theatre La Chapelle and Maurice Podbrey's Mopo Productions are excited to finally bring this moving play to Montreal. For four years, Tshepang has toured within South Africa and internationally to six countries, to overwhelmingly enthusiastic response. Maurice Podbrey, founding Artistic Director of Centaur Theatre Company, first brought potent South African theatre to Montreal when he introduced local theatergoers to Athol Fugard.

In 2001, devastating news of the rape of a nine-month-old child drew the national and world media to a small South African town a community cut off by poverty from its own heart. This play is motivated by that news report and twenty thousand true stories that come forth every year. The town and its characters are fictional.

In Tshepang, Ruth, the mother of baby Tshepang, has not uttered a word in three years. Simon comes forward to protect her, and from the ashes of tragedy a most unusual tale of hope and love emerges. Tshepang is a powerful story told with humour and heartbreak. Rather than finding simple answers, the play draws the viewer into the complexities and contradictions that surround these events.

For playwright/director Lara Foot Newton, it was important to bring a dishonored town to life, "It felt like the village was the rapist." She continues, "But at the same time, the whole community had been violated- by colonialism, by apartheid, by poverty. It had lost its humanity." A director of prize-winning shows, this remarkable piece draws on a South African style of story telling, combining striking visual imagery with an African sense of poetic magic realism.

Since it was first performed in South Africa in 2003, the play has touched the hearts of theatre lovers all over the globe. Maurice Podbrey is thrilled to be offering this work to Montrealers, "This is probably South Africa's most significant theatre piece of the past decade. Lara Foot Newton is, I believe, the successor to Athol Fugard as the playwright of note in a reborn South Africa." He continues, "I've waited a long time to showcase the best of our South African work and I could not be happier that it is Tshepang. I am most proud to be bringing it, at last, to Montreal and cities across Canada. The play is a courageous story of love, forgiveness and coming to terms with a devastation of huge magnitude."

Including Foot Newton, the whole team has been lauded for its work: actors Constance Didi as Ruth and Mncedisi Shebangu reprising his role as narrator and sculptor, Simon; set and costume designer Gerhard Marx, who creates a visual and evocative environment for the story; and lighting designer Wesley France. The Sundance Festival has hailed the work and in 2009 it will be made into a full-length movie, "Foot Newton and Marx have tackled a topic that is both devastating and taboo and made it compelling, visceral and deeply emotional. In addition to the textual story telling, which is subtle and authentic, the visual components of the piece are breathtakingly arresting."

"If you only see one show this year, Tshepang demands to be the one Ķ" - Sunday Independent (South Africa)

Tshepang

Maurice Podbrey and Mopo Productions

Presented by Theatre La Chapelle

3700 Rue Saint-Dominique

Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 pm

Matinee: Sunday, March 1st at 3:00 pm

Reservations: 514-843-7738 or http://www.lachapelle.org/

Tickets: 25$ regular, $20 students/seniors/professional artists

Special fundraiser with the proceeds going towards the development of a new generation of South African theatrical talent, March 3 and 4.

Tickets $150 (tax receipt issued). Please call Maurice: (514) 509-6909

Lara Foot Newton Playwright and Director

Lara Foot Newton, South African theatre director, playwright and producer, is noted for her creative spirit. As one of her country's top directors, she has been recognised nationally for her hard-hitting work. Lara was the Associate Artistic Director at The Market Theatre from 1998-2001 and the Resident director and dramaturge at The Baxter Theatre from 2005-2007. To date, she has directed more than 34 productions, 23 of which have been new South African works, including a staging of Zakes Mda's novel, Ways of Dying (2000), and her own creation, Tshepang (2003), which won best new play of the year in 2003 and was published in April 2004. More recently, Foot Newton won the prestigious Rolex arts award and was mentored by Sir Peter Hall. In 2007, two of Lara's new plays were presented by The Baxter theatre: Reach and Karoo Moose. These two plays received nine Fleur du Cap nominations between them. In 2007 Lara received her MA from The University of Cape Town. Lara is a fellow of Sundance and is currently working on the film adaptation of Tshepang. Lara's new venture is the company MASAMBE. Its aim is to tour new South African works of an international standard to communities around the country and to perform in the language of the community.

Gerhard Marx- Scenography

Lara Foot Newton worked closely with Gerhard Marx, whose contribution is central to the conception of the play. Gerhard Marx is an artist, as well as a theatre and filmmaker. He has produced four solo exhibitions, and exhibits regularly with Warren Siebrits Modern and Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg. His works are featured in numerous public and private art collections. Recent theatre productions include: They Say (written and directed by Marx) for the Aardklop National Arts Festival (Winner of the Bravo Award: "Most Memorable Moment", Aardklop Festival 2008) and REwind: A Cantata for Voice, Tape and Testimony (directed by Marx, an interactive film by Gerhard Marx and Maja Marx, and composed by Philip Miller). It performed in Brooklyn New York, the 62nd Centre, William College, Massachusetts (2007) and at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg (2008). Marx is a fellow of the Sundance Institute's Film Directors and Screenwriters Laboratory; of the Annenberg Film Foundation; and of the Ampersand Foundation. He lives and works in Johannesburg.

Mncedisi Shanbangu- Simon

Mncedisi trained at the Market Theatre Laboratory and attended the summer acting course at the Royal National Theatre Studio in London. His theatre career started in 1997 with Gomorrah and afterwards he appeared in a number of plays at the Market Theatre including Orpheus, Ways of Dying, Tshepang, Nongongo and Dream of the Dog amongst others. As director, he was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Drama in 2004. He has appeared in the movie Catch a Fire and Hijack Stories and has received several theatre awards, including the 2003 Fleur du Cap Best Actor Award for his performance in Tshepang.

Constance Didi- Ruth

Nonceba Constance Didi graduated from the New Africa Theatre Academy (NATA) in 2002 in Theatre and Performing Arts. During her year at NATA she performed in Leopard in my Suitcase, directed by Abduragmaan Adams and choreographed by Charles Maema and Nicola Visser and Good Rubbish, written by Ian Bruce and directed by Ina Bruce. After graduating she was then employed by the Academy for three years. Constance performed in the Robben Island Road Show The Island and The Applebox, written by Ian Bruce and directed by Ina Bruce, which toured the provinces. In 2006 she performed In Case You Forget, directed by Ben Snyder and That Spirit, directed by Themba Lonzi. In 2008 she performed in the physical theatre piece Icarus, choreographed by Louise Coetzer as part of the Baxter Dance Festival.

Maurice Podbrey- Producer

Former artistic director and founder of Montreal's Centaur Theatre Company, Maurice returned to South Africa in 1997 where he established Mopo Productions to support the development of performing arts, including the production and touring of important new work both within South Africa and abroad. Tshepang has toured South Africa, Europe (Amsterdam, London, Stockholm, Zurich, Geneva, Dublin, Vienna) and Australia, as well as presenting at the Rolex Awards conference in New York.

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March 22, 2009 Music Reading

CAMMAC

Canadian Amateur Musicians Musiciens Amateurs du Canada

Toronto Region

21 Dale Avenue #346 Toronto Ontario M4W 1K3

Phone: 416-925-6182

President: Kathy Gallyas

E-mail: gallyas@sympatico.ca or

Treasurer: Marion Wilk

marion@wilk.tv

]

CAMMAC invites Singers and Instrumentalists to read

The Bach: B minor Mass

Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 2 p.m., singers and instrumentalists under the direction of Stephanie Martin will read the Bach: B minor Mass. The reading will take place at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street, (2 blocks north of St. Clair Avenue) in Elliott Hall (enter from Heath Street). Please arrive 15 minutes early to set up.

Albert Basso summarizes the Mass in B minor as "the consecration of a whole life: started in 1733 for "diplomatic reasons" it was finished in the very last years of Bach's life, when he had already gone blined. This monumental work is a synthesis of every stylistic and technical contribution that the Cantor of Leipzig made to music.

Recently appointed Music Director of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Toronto, Stephanie Mart carries on the tradition of a cappella choral singing established by Healey Willan in the 1920's.

Instrumentalists are asked to register in advance at k_mackenzie@sympatico.ca so that sufficient parts will be available.

Fee: Students are free, non-members $10. For further information call 416-421-0779 or Toronto@cammac.ca.

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Lancement de la campagne de promotion L'effet UQAM

Lancement de la campagne de promotion Leffet UQAM

Valoriser les retombes de la recherche et de la cration

Montral, le 4 fvrier 2009 - LUQAM lance une campagne promotionnelle qui prsente les retombes concrtes de la recherche et de la cration universitaires. Intitule Leffet UQAM, cette campagne met lavant-scne une quinzaine de professeurs qui illustrent limpact de leurs ralisations.

http://www.effet.uqam.ca/

Changements climatiques, politique trangre, lutte au cancer, croissance conomique, prvention du suicide, sont autant de sujets dimportance touchs par Leffet UQAM. Ainsi Leffet Laprise illustre les travaux du professeur Ren Laprise, le seul Qubcois membre du Groupe d'experts intergouvernemental sur l'volution du climat (GIEC), laurat ex quo du Prix Nobel de la paix 2007.

Depuis sa naissance, il y a prs de 40 ans, lUQAM sest toujours dmarque par sa volont de sinsrer dans la socit. Les professeurs de lUQAM ont non seulement le souci de lexcellence, mais aussi celui doptimiser les retombes de leurs travaux, sur les plans scientifique, conomique, social, culturel et aussi en matire damlioration de la qualit de vie. La campagne Leffet UQAM dmontre que les professeurs de lUQAM ne se contentent pas de chercher. Ils trouvent!

La campagne est dploye principalement dans le mtro de Montral, des cgeps et cinmas de la rgion montralaise, sur Internet, certaines publications ainsi que sur les chanes spcialises du rseau Astral Media et sur Canal Savoir.

Campagne Leffet UQAM

Direction : Nathalie Benoit, Service des communications, UQAM


Direction de la cration : Alexandre Renzo et Esther Thomassin

Direction artistique : Alexandre Renzo
Conception-rdaction : Esther Thomassin

Traduction anglaise : Victoria Barkoff
Design graphique et photographie : Alexandre Renzo et Alexandre Blanger

Production des messages tl et Web:

Les Productions Passez GO Inc.

Ralisation: Marie-Claude Blouin

Direction photo: Flix Ttreault

Direction de production: Vicky Bounadre

Musique originale: Louis-Jean Cormier

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ve Cournoyer - Lancement de disque - 7 Mai 2009

NOUVEAUT CD

VE COURNOYER

7 MAI 2009

Montral, le mercredi 4 fvrier 2009 l'aube de sa quarantaine, ve Cournoyer dbute la nouvelle anne en se laissant porter par une vague d'inspiration qui la mnera tout droit vers un 3e album au printemps prochain. Toujours empreinte de cette posie qui fait la force de ses textes maintes fois salus par la critique, et rsolue faire de cette nouvelle re un lieu de cration unique, c'est avec la dtermination qu'on lui connat qu've Cournoyer concocte un nouvel album, une autoproduction qu'elle prsentera le 7 mai prochain au Lion d'Or. D'ailleurs, sur le site My Space de l'artiste, on peut y entendre en grande primeur la pice En Avant , empreinte d'une srnit joyeusement contagieuse. Un bel aperu de ce qui mitonne dans sa cocotte !

Elle bricole des arrangements crus pour nous parler de surconsommation, de rbellion et de cur tout abm.

TAM TAM MACADAM de dc. 05

Sabot-de-Vnus, premier album d'Eve Cournoyer, se veut l'antidote la pop conformiste et sans personnalit.

De la chanson urbaine, un peu bordlique, mordante et authentique sur le plan musical et potique.

La preuve qu'avec du talent et de la patience, on peut faire de petits miracles.

Alexandre Vigneault, La presse, 28 dcembre 2002

Loin de la pop prt--porter, ve Cournoyer est une des nouvelles figures se faire entendre dans le paysage de la musique pop qubcoise.

Sensible, sa musique se fait souvent thtrale, pas trop, juste ce qu'il faut, pour soutenir les atmosphres et les textes, parfois loufoques, souvent srieux, prenant les habits de divers personnages trs girly pour livrer ses tats d'esprit.

Bernard Lamarche, Le Devoir, 9 novembre 2002

Chansonnire et technicienne sonore, Eve Cournoyer crit, compose et ralise ses chansons depuis 10 ans. Sur ses albums, Sabot-de-Vnus (2002) et L'cho (2005), elle a gard ce qu'elle avait enregistr chez elle pour ensuite y ajouter en studio de la basse (Maurice Williams et Fred Fortin), de la batterie (Alain Quirion et Alain Berg) et de la guitare lectrique (Jocelyn Tellier et Guy Kaye). En grande amoureuse des mots, Eve Cournoyer cultive l'art de la phrase qui cogne et qui sonne, la mlodie qui accroche et qui reste dans la tte. Son criture, ponctue de double sens, navigue entre l'ombre et la lumire, tantt engage, tantt drle ou romantique. Le fruit de sa crativit fut d'ailleurs soulign lors de la remise de deux prix, remis par la SOCAN, pour ses chansons Dans le bois et Tout arrive. Eve Cournoyer a aussi fait la trame sonore de deux films raliss par Franois Delisle Le bonheur c'est une chanson triste (2004) et Toi (2007). Toujours en 2007, ve participait au sein d'un collectif d'artistes l'enregistrement de l'album Le Zoo (Orange Musique), un hommage Jean-Claude Lauzon. Forte de deux expriences de tourne en premire partie du spectacle Kanasuta de Richard Desjardins en 2004 et 2008, ve a aussi prsent plusieurs spectacles en groupe ou en solo dans divers festivals et salles du Qubec, dont les Francofolies de Montral et Au Coup de cur francophone.

Prochains spectacles

12 fvrier : Inspecteur pingle

La semaine Internationale d'Urbain Desbois

17 fvrier : Quai des brumes

28 fvrier : La Caravane de North Hatley

25 mars : Divan Orange

7 mai : Lancement de disque Lion d'Or


De nouvelles photos seront bientt disponibles.

La pice En avant est disponible en format numrique.

www.myspace.com/evecournoyer

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Concert bnfice au profit du Choeur de la montagne / Hommage Jacques Brel

Hommage Jacques Brel

Concert/bnfice au profit du Choeur de la montagne

Beloeil, 2 fvrier 2009 - Le chanteur, Claude Libersan, choriste au Choeur de la montagne, prsentera en concert/bnfice son spectacle Hommage Jacques Brel au profit du Choeur de la montagne.

Brel qui a connu une carrire clatante bien que trop brve, nous a laiss une oeuvre colossale. Claude Libersan vous invite venir explorer avec lui quelques facettes de l'univers gnial de Brel rempli de mlodies, de posie, et de textes d'une profondeur exceptionnelle.

Ne manquez pas ce moment magique de grandes motions qui aura lieu le samedi, 21 fvrier 2009 20h00 au centre de formation artistique du Choeur de la montagne, 620, rue Richelieu, Beloeil. Admission 20$ . Billets en vente chez Multi-lectronique de Beloeil 450.467.8273

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Parution : Tempus Perfectum n5

couverture 05

Parution : Tempus Perfectum n5

Pour sa deuxime collaboration la revue Tempus Perfectum, Philippe Gonin nous propose de revenir sur les circonstances de la naissance de la premire musique de film, dont 2008 a marqu le centenaire. La musique de L'Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908) est crite par un compositeur alors au fate de sa gloire et des honneurs, Camille Saint-Sans (1835-1921).

Vous pouvez galement vous procurer les anciens numros de la revue et trouverez tous les dtails concernant lachat au numro en consultant notre site internet.

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NAC Feb. 12: Debut Series with Shanshan Yao

NAC Orchestras 2009 Debut Series of recitals and Exploration of the Concerto continues on Feb. 12 with violinist Shanshan Yao

Ottawa, Canada The National Arts Centre Orchestras Debut Series, which gives talented rising star musicians the opportunity to perform in recital at the NAC, continues on Thursday, February 12 with violinist Shanshan Yao accompanied by pianist Jean Desmarais. The series of one-hour recitals takes place at noon in the NAC Salon. The program consists of Respighis Sonata for Violin and Piano in B minor, three movements from Dompierres Les Diableries, and Wieniawskis Polonaise in D major. Admission is $3, with proceeds going to fund the NACO Bursary.

Each Debut Series noon-hour recital is connected to a Musically Speaking Exploration of the Concerto pre-concert talk the evening on the same date. Prior to the National Arts Centre Orchestra concert on February 12 at 8 p.m., Shanshan Yao, together with her mentor William van der Sloot of Calgarys Mount Royal College Conservatory, will discuss and demonstrate the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto to be performed later than evening by violinist Sarah Chang. Admission to the Pre-Concert Talk hosted by Michel Dozois is free.

As a soloist, Chinese violinist Shanshan Yao has performed with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Banff Centre Chamber Orchestra, and Japans Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. A violinist since the age of six, she enrolled at Shanghai Conservatory of Music when she was nine. She made her orchestra debut at the age of twelve playing Bruchs Violin Concerto in G minor with the Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Yao is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes including the Calgary Concerto Competition and Morningside Music Bridge Concerto Competition (Canada), and CBC Radios Up and Coming series. Shanshan Yao is also an avid chamber musician and her piano trio won the second prize in the National Music Festival in Canada. Currently, Shanshan Yao is pursuing her Master of Music Degree at The Juilliard School with Donald Weilersteina and Ronald Copes. She continued her studies in Canada as a full-scholarship student in Mount Royal College Conservatorys Academy Program under the tutelage of William van der Sloot. Most recently, Ms. Yao received the Bachelor of Music Degree from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with Aaron Rosand.

Recently, she was invited to appear in a special performance for the former Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Eisenhower Fellowships Conference in Philadelphia.

The NAC Debut Series continues with the following recitals and Musically Speaking Pre-Concert Explorations of the Concerto:

FRIDAY, MAY 15

Yina Tong, cello

Jean Desmarais, piano

Paul Lefebvre, host

Salon at 12 noon: Noonhour recital

Salon at 7 p.m.: Exploration of Herberts Cello Concerto No. 2 with cello teacher John Kadz (Mount Royal College Conservatory).

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

Maghan Stewart, soprano

Jonathan Estabrooks, baritone

Jean Desmarais, piano

Paul Lefebvre, host

Salon at 12 noon: Noonhour recital

Salon at 7 p.m.: Exploration of the Choral Masterpiece: Brahms Requiem with star soprano-teacher Benita Valente with soprano Maghan Stewart and baritone Jonathan Estabrooks.

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Despite Successes, Portland Symphony Orchestra is Fighting for Survival



Despite Successes, Portland Symphony Orchestra is Fighting for Survival
Safety net eradicated, Maine's largest performing arts organization is forced to confront immediate needs and develop a path to sustainability

PORTLAND, Maine In this inaugural year of Robert Moody's tenure as Music Director, and on the eve of its 85th anniversary season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is experiencing record ticket sales, with attendance at Classical and Pops concerts at the highest levels in its history.

Despite these successes, however, a combination of market downturn leading to decreased endowment value and years of producing community-oriented programs that operate at a loss has forced the PSO to make cutbacks in every area of the organization, including staff layoffs, reducing education programs and canceling the popular Independence Pops concerts.

Music Director Robert Moody stated: "We are experiencing such an exciting time in the life of PSO, with tremendous energy and electricity coming from our wonderful musicians, and amazing support from our community. But these are challenging times, and we must rise to these challenges in a way that is true to our most basic mission of highest artistic quality and fiscal integrity. I am confident that we can come together as a community to provide a stronger foundation for our PSO, one of New England's foremost and prized cultural assets."

The PSO's invested assets (also referred to as the endowment) have lost more than a third of their value since September 2008. A healthy orchestra has at least a three-to-one ratio of endowment to operating expenses. Even at the peak of the market in 2007 the PSO's was 1:1; now it is well below that.

School budget freezes across the state have had a significant impact on the PSO's ability to provide the same level of education programming as in years past, and foundation grants for education are down 60% from last year.

While the 2007-08 season ended with record levels of individual giving, so far this year over $108,000 has been lost through donors decreasing or withdrawing their past support, most citing the economy as their reason.

Executive Director Ari Solotoff explained: "We have great artistic momentum and had taken steps before the financial fallout to reduce costs; however those actions are simply not sufficient to cover the gap between our expenses and our income, especially given our depleted endowment. We are facing a possible shortfall of over $220,000 this year, an untenable risk given that the PSO has incurred an accumulated deficit of almost $2 million over the past eight years. Even with these painful cost reductions, we could face more drastic cuts in the next three to six months."

Board President Gordon Gayer added: "An organization's endowment is its safety net. You can spend the money, but there are consequences. In recent years we have drawn on our endowment to support programs like Independence Pops and KinderKonzerts. These programs have real value and benefit to the community but they do not pay for themselves. And now the stock market crunch has driven down our endowment to the point where it can no longer function as our financial safety net."

Details of the cost savings measures are as follows:

Independence Pops Canceled:
Ģ Has lost on average $65,000 each year; the PSO cannot sustain this loss in the current environment, despite a desire to present summer programming throughout southern Maine
Ģ Corporate sponsorships for Independence Pops are down by 65% since 2003
Ģ Attendance is highly weather dependent and has declined over 50% in the past 5 years
Ģ Last year performed in four locations: Bridgton, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Sanford

Administrative & Overhead Expenses Reduced:
Ģ Senior staff 10% pay cut effective February 1
Ģ 20% workforce eliminated (2 positions); staff reorganized
Ģ Non revenue-generating budgets frozen or cut
Ģ Renegotiating fees and seeking in-kind services wherever possible

Education Programs Reduced
Ģ Even before the economic downturn in October, PSO took steps to adjust KinderKonzert schedules in locations where the program expenses exceeded revenues. The Freeport site has been eliminated entirely, six other sites have fewer performances. Those sites are Center Conway, Portland (Reiche School), Shelburne, South Hiram, South Portland, and Waldoboro
Ģ Elimination of two performances of spring 2009 Youth Concerts, and adjusted repertoire for remaining concerts to require fewer musicians and lower music rental costs

Canceling Side By Side program with Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra
Ģ This would have been the third year for this program which places the region's most talented young musicians on stage with PSO musicians
Ģ Funding applications to local foundations were rejected

Artistic Expenses Reduced
Ģ Saved $40,000 by reducing production elements for Magic of Christmas 2008
Ģ Orchestra will hold more rehearsals in Rehearsal Hall vs. on stage to reduce Merrill rental fees
Ģ Changing repertoire for March 24, 2009 Tuesday Classical concert to reduce number of extra musicians
Ģ Reducing the number of rehearsals for select concerts (reducing services and therefore income for musicians)
Ģ Seeking reduced guest artist fees for the remainder of the season

Economic and Community Impact
Maine's largest performing arts organization, the Portland Symphony has a $2.8 million budget. Taking both organizational and audience spending (such as parking, eating out before concerts, etc.) into account, the estimated economic impact of the PSO in Portland is $4.6 million, representing 16% of the total economic impact of the arts in Portland. (Source: Americans for the Arts "Arts and Economic Prosperity" survey and impact calculator.)

With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Over 80,000 people are reached each year by PSO performances, including 30,000 schoolchildren through its educational programs. Thousands of tickets are also provided to social service agencies such as Portland West's Neighborhood Arts Access program.

"Any attractive community places a very strong emphasis on the sustainability and growth of arts and culture, and the PSO is a cornerstone of the arts not just in Portland, but throughout the region. In fact, organizations like the PSO are critical to attracting a diverse workforce and growing business," said PSO Trustee Jonathan Ayers, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX Laboratories. "I am particularly proud that the PSO makes it possible for Maine schools to have superb musicians available to teach our young people, and I am confident that the PSO will remain an integral part of our very special arts community."

"The news that the PSO will not be performing their Independence Pops this summer at Fort Williams on July 4th weekend is tragic, but should not come as a surprise, " says Alex Fisher, Founder/Chairman of Planet Dog. "The increase in costs to put on a show of such magnitude has become cost prohibitive for organizations like the PSO."

"Quality of life is a central element in Portland's continuing vitality. The PSO is a critical part of our region's cultural richness, and we are lucky to have the PSO adding their special magic to our community," states Christopher Hall, Senior Vice President of the Portland Regional Chamber. "It's also important to remember that the PSO contributes many millions of dollars a year in direct economic benefits to area employees, small businesses and non-profits. In short, the PSO is an important part of what makes our region thrive, both culturally and economically."

Matt Jacobson, President/CEO, Maine & Company adds: "The strength of Maine's economy, and recovery from our current state, is dependent on the sustainability and growth of ALL sectors. And for the state's largest city, Portland, the arts and entertainment community is led by the Symphony. The PSO has been a cultural leader for our families and community. It's important that all Maine residents and business leaders realize the significant contributions the PSO has provided to the city and state for years, and how our individual and corporate support are needed to continue this great artistic treasure."

"The Portland Symphony Orchestra is essential to the vitality and financial well-being of Portland," notes Richard Lucas, president, Maine District, KeyBank. "It is especially important to recognize the PSO's role in education and outreach to the youth of our community through their programming. There is a strong correlation between students involved in music and the likelihood of their attaining a higher level of education. We are truly fortunate to have access to live classical music, performed by professionals, in one of the most beautiful halls in the country right in our own community. The importance of supporting this historical cultural institution cannot be underestimated."

Brian Petrovek, Managing Owner/CEO, Portland Pirates: "A thriving arts and entertainment community is vital to the quality of life we enjoy in Portland, and the Symphony plays a key role in the artistic and cultural makeup of our city and our region. As we continue to support local businesses, restaurants, sports and other entertainment venues during these challenging times, we share an equally important responsibility to preserve this local treasure, which brings live music of the highest caliber to each of us, and to our children."

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La percussionniste Aiyun Huang jouera dans la srie CBC McGill

Soire Big Bang

La srie de concerts CBC/McGill prsente Aiyun Huang et l'Ensemble de Percussion de McGill

Montral, le mardi 3 fvrier 2009 Pour son prochain concert, la srie CBC/McGill prsente la percussionniste Aiyun Huang et l'Ensemble de percussion de McGill, le jeudi 12 fvrier 19h30 la Salle Pollack de l'Universit McGill. Le violoniste Mark Fewer et la clarinettiste Lori Freedman feront galement partis de la distribution de la soire.

Pour l'occasion, la CBC a command une nouvelle uvre au compositeur canadien Michael Oesterle. Son Cepheid Variations est crite pour glockenspiel solo, deux marimbas et deux vibraphones. En plus de cette cration, le programme de soire prsentera quelques uvres phares du rpertoire pour percussion : Links No. 5 (Sitting on the Edge of Nothing) for solo vibraphone (1987), de Stuart Saunders Smith ; le Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra (1940-59) de Lou Harrison ; Bass Clarinet and Percussion (1981), de Morton Feldman.

Ce concert est une occasion exceptionnelle d'entendre la percussionniste de renomme internationale Aiyun Huang, professeur de percussion de l'cole de musique Schulich. Celle-ci s'est produite en concert travers l'Amrique du Nord, le Mexique, l'Europe et l'Asie.

Deux de ses collgues de l'cole de musique Schulich, la clarinettiste Lori Freedman et le violoniste Mark Fewer, se joindront elle. Freedman est une clarinettiste virtuose dont le style polyvalent lui permet d'interprter et de composer de la musique contemporaine, improvise ou lectroacoustique. Considr comme tant l'un des musiciens les plus uniques et les plus innovateurs de sa gnration, Fewer porte plusieurs chapeaux. On le retrouve en solo, en musique de chambre, la tte d'un orchestre, en jazz et comme directeur artistique.

L'Ensemble de percussion de McGill, form d'lves en percussion de l'cole de musique Schulich, se produit en concert sur le campus de l'Universit, en plus d'tre rgulirement invit participer des vnements musicaux d'envergure, rcemment en France et Toronto.

La Salle Pollack est situe au 555 Sherbrooke Ouest. On peut se procurer des billets au guichet de la salle Pollack (514-398-4547), de midi 18 h la semaine, ou une heure avant le dbut de chaque concert, au prix de 15 $, (10 $ pour les tudiants et les personnes du troisime ge) au guichet de la salle Pollack de midi 18h la semaine, ou encore une heure avant le dbut de chaque concert. Le prix des billets comprend les taxes et les frais de service. Les billets sont galement en vente par l'entremise du rseau Admission (514.790.1245 ou www.admission.com frais de service en sus).

Pour plus de renseignements sur ce concert ainsi que sur toute la srie, veuillez tlphoner au 514-398-4547 ou visitez le site www.cbc.ca/montreal.

Scott Tresham est le ralisateur de ce concert. Kelly Rice est le ralisateur-coordonnateur et le directeur artistique des concerts CBC/McGill 2008-2009.

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Spectacle bnfice de la Ligue des droits des droits et liberts





Spectacle bnfice de la Ligue des droits et liberts


Plus que jamais, les droits humains!




La Ligue des droits et liberts dsire marquer une pause festive dans son anne d'intenses activits. Durant toute l'anne 2008, la Ligue des droits et liberts est intervenue sur l'usage du taser, les vnements de l't dernier Montral-Nord, les poursuites-billons (les tristement fameux SLAPP), le rapatriement souhait d'Omar Khadr, la surveillance des voyageurs et, plus rcemment, sur l'horrible guerre en Palestine. Prochainement, la Ligue souhaite intervenir sur l'importance des droits conomiques et sociaux en ces temps de crise.




C'est tout de mme dans un esprit festif que la Ligue convie la population le 13 fvrier prochain 20h30, un spectacle bnfice au Kola Note (5240, avenue du Parc). Cette soire en musique et en mots pourra compter sur la gnrosit des artistes suivants :




- INTAKTO : la rencontre d'un guitariste chilien et d'un violoniste montralais.


- Jean-Franois Lessard : auteur-compositeur-interprte engag et militant.


- Les Voies Fministes : la chorale de la Maison Parent-Roback.


- Marie-Claude Thisdle : qui interprte Richard Desjardins.


- Yves Desrosiers : chanteur aux chansons de pluie qui nous ensoleillent.


- Papa Zon et ses musiciens : les rythmes du Burkina Faso, de la kora et du balafon.


- Nancy Roberge de Mise au jeu : l'animation.


- Et d'autres surprises, des vraies!




Fonde en 1963, la Ligue des droits et liberts est un organisme indpendant ddi la dfense des droits humains, dont ceux noncs dans la Dclaration universelle des droits de l'homme qui a tout juste 60 ans. La Ligue ne peut agir que grce au soutien militant et financier de ses membres et amis. Depuis sa cration, elle fait de l'ducation, de la mobilisation et assure une vigilance de tous les instants pour que les droits et liberts se ralisent au Qubec et ailleurs.




Billets en vente au cot de 30 $ (arrangements possibles pour personnes faible revenu) :


- la Ligue des droits et liberts, (514) 849-7717 #421 ou info@liguedesdroits.ca;


- au Kola Note (514) 274-9339 et


- www.admission.com: (514) 790-1245 (tarif rgulier seulement).


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Feb 13 Choral Concert - Vox Femina




Faculty of Music Choral Concert Celebrates Music for Female Voices

TORONTO On Friday, February 13, 2009, the University of Toronto Womens Chorus is joined by guest choir, the University of Guelph Chamber Choir, in Vox Femina, a concert featuring music for female voices spanning 500 years. Conducted by Robert Cooper C.M. and Marta McCarthy, the program includes music by Palestrina, John Tavener, Francis Poulenc, Pavel Chesnokov, Eric Whitacre, Brahms, Duke Ellington and folksong arrangements. The concert takes place at 7:30 pm in Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street (NW corner of Yonge & Heath). Tickets ($14 adults, $8 students/seniors) can be purchased at the Faculty of Music box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744 and are also available at the door on performance night.

One of Canadas foremost choral conductors, Robert Cooper C.M. is currently Artistic Director of Chorus Niagara, Orpheus Choir of Toronto, the Opera in Concert Chorus, and the University Womens Chorus, University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. Mr. Cooper has had the honor of conducting the National Youth Choir of Canada and made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1997 for a Celebration of Canadian Choral Music. He has conducted symphony orchestras in Halifax, Winnipeg, Edmonton and London (ON), opera companies in Victoria, Ottawa and Winnipeg, leading choirs across Canada, as well as Toronto Operetta Theatre and Opera in Concert. Acknowledged as an innovative programmer, Mr. Cooper has also commissioned and premiered many new works by both Canadian and international composers. Mr. Cooper has adjudicated the international choral competition Let The Peoples Sing on many occasions, guest conducted Newfoundlands Festival 500, Parry Sounds Festival of the Sound, the 2007 Ontario Youth Choir, and Ottawas Thirteen Strings to which he returns once again in December 2008 to conduct works by Haydn and Britten. In addition to his work as a popular clinician, Mr. Cooper will conduct Toronto Operetta Theatres spring production of Iolanthe. Mr. Cooper recently left CBC Radio Two after 31 years of bringing fine choral music and operatic performances to all of Canada as Executive Producer of Opera and Choral Music. He has served as President of the Ontario Choral Federation and the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and presently serves on the Board of Directors of Chorus America. Robert Cooper is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Brock University for his significant contribution to the Canadian choral community and is a member of the Order of Canada.

Dr. Marta McCarthy, conductor, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph, where she has been directing the choirs and teaching musicianship for thirteen years. She also conducted the University of Waterloo Choir, and taught choral techniques at Wilfrid Laurier University and at the University of Toronto. Marta is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Princeton (M.Mus), the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT, piano performance) and of the University of Toronto (B.Mus, B.Ed., Ph.D.). Recent honours include the 1999 Elmer Iseler Conducting Fellowship, an Ontario Volunteer Service Award, and being named a member of the June Callwood Circle of Caring. In 2005, she was awarded the Guelph Woman of Distinction for Arts & Culture.

Part of Canadas top university, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music has an illustrious history as one of North Americas leading centres for the scholarly and professional study of music, offering a rich array of degree and diploma programs from the undergraduate to post-graduate levels. The Faculty of Music presents an annual concert season of over 100 public events. Highlights of the 2008-09 season include cellists Steven Isserlis and Shauna Rolston, baritone Sherrill Milnes, composer Maria Schneider, conductors David Briskin and Miah Im, jazz great Phil Nimmons, the Mir, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, the Gryphon Trio and Nexus. For more information, please visit our website at
www.music.utoronto.ca or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

The Faculty of Music 2008-2009 concert season is made possible by the generous support of our pillar sponsors: Manulife Financial, MBNA Canada, and TD Meloche Monnex Insurance.


Ticket sales and general inquiries:
Faculty of Music Box Office
Hours: 1 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Phone: 416-978-3744
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queens Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

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WSO Shares Stage with Young MB Musicians



The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra


WSO to Share the Stage with Manitobas Young
Musical Talent in 1st Annual Rising Stars Concert
February 3, 2009 -- On February 19, some of Manitobas most talented young musicians and singers have the rare opportunity to perform side-by-side with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, during the first annual WSO Rising Stars concert.
Rising Stars is a new education and outreach initiative that partners the WSO with the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra, an honour choir of Manitoba high school students, the Winnipeg Boys Choir and soloists from the University of Manitoba to perform Carl Orffs Carmina Burana.
Conducted by WSO Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate and Assistant Conductor Rei Hotoda, the concert will feature over 400 musicians performing together on stage.
The Rising Stars program was created to showcase outstanding young musical talent across Winnipeg and Manitoba, said Tanya Derksen, WSO Education and Outreach Manager. We want to celebrate what these young people can do by giving them a professional symphony orchestra experience.
The concert will also highlight cellist Ariel Carrabr, violinist Joshua Peters and soprano Sage Robinson. All three high school students won competitions to perform solo pieces with the WSO during the concert. The winners were selected by a panel of music educators and WSO musicians and staff (including Rei Hotoda).
Students of the youth orchestra (the oldest of its kind in Canada) are excited to be a featured guest of the WSO and to be collaborating so closely with professional musicians, said Daniel Scholz, conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra and the WSOs principal viola. I still remember the first time I played with the WSO as a member of the Youth Orchestra. This is an amazing experience that they will not forget.
The 300-member High School Honour Choir is a diverse group of dedicated choral students who represent nearly 20 Manitoba high schools. They will be led by Elroy Friesen, the Director of Choral Activities for the University of Manitoba.
Rising Stars takes place Thursday, February 19 at 8pm. Tickets are $20 (general admission seating), available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.mb.ca or by calling 452-3112.

An image used for spacing HERE has been stripped by your email client.
For additional information, photos or to schedule interviews please contact

Sheena Stemler
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
(204) 949-3970
(204) 290-7484
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is the celebrated hub of Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 25,000 students annually and tours outside the city reaching out to communities across Manitoba.


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PORTopera Announces Call for Auditions, Feb. 21-22



PORTopera HOLDS AUDITIONS FOR MAINE'S EMERGING ARTISTS PROGRAM AND THEIR SUMMER PERFORMANCE OF DON PASQUALE, FEBRUARY 21-22

PORTLAND, Maine PORTopera will hold two separate auditions this February for upcoming projects. Chorus auditions for their summer 2009 mainstage performance of Gaetano Donizetti's comic opera Don Pasquale will be held Saturday, February 21 from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Auditions for their Maine's Emerging Artists (MEA) program will be held on Sunday, February 22 from 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. All auditions will take place at the Corthell Concert Hall on the USM Gorham campus.

For Don Pasquale auditions on Saturday, February 21 candidates should be prepared to perform a song or aria, preferably in Italian, but English is also acceptable. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions must be scheduled in advance by calling (207) 879-7678 or emailing info@portopera.org (with the subject line "Chorus Audition"). Music rehearsals begin in June and staging rehearsals begin the second week in July. Performances of Don Pasquale will be held at Merrill Auditorium in Portland Thursday, July 30 and Saturday, August 1.

Young artists under the age of 35 and with ties to the State of Maine (either through family, education or work) are eligible for an audition with PORTopera's 2009 Maine's Emerging Artists program. Applicants must submit an application form, headshot, resume and CD/DVD/VHS recording to: PORTopera, MEA auditions, P.O. Box 7733, Portland, ME 04112. Applications can be downloaded from the company's website at www.portopera.org. Applicants selected for an audition on Sunday, February 22 will be contacted by PORTopera in advance.

MEA participants will perform a short opera in English at Maine and New Hampshire venues in June and July 2009 (rehearsals begin in early June). MEA participants will also perform in the Chorus of PORTopera's summer 2009 production of Donizetti's Don Pasquale, which will be presented at Portland's Merrill Auditorium July 30 and August 1.

About PORTopera:

PORTopera is Maine's only opera company performing fully staged operas with nationally and internationally acclaimed singers. PORTopera will be celebrating its 15th season in 2009 with two performances of Donizetti's Don Pasquale July 31 and August 1. For more information visit www.portopera.org.







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"Phenomenal" violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou performs Beethoven with Symphony Nova Scotia

Phenomenal violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou performs Beethoven with Symphony Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS - Young Canadian violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou will perform Beethovens brilliant Violin Concerto with Symphony Nova Scotia on Thursday, February 12 in Halifax and on Friday, February 13 in Lunenburg. Both concerts begin at 7:30 pm.

Susanne will be replacing tenor Terence Mierau, who was originally scheduled to perform Benjamin Brittens Les Illuminations. Mierau is unable to perform due to health reasons.

I am simply thrilled to be performing the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Maestro Bernhard Gueller and Symphony Nova Scotia! says Susanne.

I have a deep personal connection with this concerto... because the moment I was born, my father (who has been my violin teacher since I was four years old) was performing this concerto with the Shanghai Symphony! He told me he felt something miraculous happening while playing the second movement, and it turns out... that is exactly when I was born! So it is very special for me to share this magical and transcendent music with my favourite musicians in Halifax.

Susannes playing has been praised as strangely strong yet delicate; her technique near flawless (The Strad), and absolutely phenomenal (Lord Yehudi Menuhin). She performs on a $3 million 1729 Guarneri violin, on a three-year loan from the instrument bank of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Susanne performed with Symphony Nova Scotia in both 2006 and 2007, and on both occasions was praised with standing ovations and enthusiastic reviews. This will be her first Nova Scotia performance of Beethovens huge Violin Concerto, the Everest of the violin repertoire.

The orchestra will also perform Dvoks melodic Wind Serenade and Beethovens elegant Symphony no. 4.

For tickets or more information, call 494.3820 or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

About Yi-Jia Susanne Hou

Acknowledged as one of Canadas most captivating and gifted young performers, Susanne Hou is in demand across Canada and around the world. Along with regular solo orchestral appearances, she is a lead violinist with Bowfire, the highly acclaimed production led by Lenny Solomon. Susanne has been seen on PBS and the Today Show amongst the top virtuoso violinists and fiddlers in each genre of modern string playing.

Suzanne recently performed the violin solos in the Atom Egoyan film Adoration, and was the subject of a CBC documentary entitled Shanghai Violinist.

About Symphony Nova Scotia
Expect the Unexpected with Symphony Nova Scotia from Baroque to Berlioz to bluegrass! Each year the 37-member ensemble performs for more than 40,000 audience members (including 14,000 young music lovers) in communities across Nova Scotia. Under the inspirational leadership of Bernhard Gueller, Symphony Nova Scotia is recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the country. Join the orchestra in celebrating its 25th anniversary this season!

Symphony Nova Scotia is grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture, and Heritage, and the Halifax Regional Municipality for their continued support.


Symphony Nova Scotia

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MH/RTH 09-10: Jazz at Massey - International vocal-virtuoso, four Special concerts

The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall

Announces its 2009-2010 season of jazz and classical concerts:

JAZZ @ MASSEY HALL (series of 3 concerts)

INTERNATIONAL VOCAL RECITALS (series of 4 concerts)

VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE (series of 3 concerts)

& FOUR SPECIAL CONCERTS

SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW

Call 416-872-4255 or online at www.masseyhall.com or www.roythomson.com

or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

JAZZ @ MASSEY HALL (Series of 3 concerts)

Now in its sophomore year, the Jazz @ Massey Hall series presents three concerts with three very distinct perspectives on jazz. The lines are blurred between classical and jazz, contemporary popular music is re-worked as jazz standards, and uncharted territory is explored through improvisation.

Subscriptions: $295 - $145.

LANG LANG & HERBIE HANCOCK

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 8 PM

Pianists Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock reunite after their ground-breaking, dueling-keys performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008. The hottest artist on the classical music planet and the legendary jazz pianist join forces, performing a variety of solos, duets and concertos for two pianos, with orchestra.

"...a genre-crossing revamp of George Gershwin's ''Rhapsody in Blue'' was the perfect showcase for these two hugely talented ivory tinklers." --Entertainment Weekly on 50th Grammy Awards performance

ORNETTE COLEMAN

Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 8 PM

Fifty years ago, saxophonist Ornette Coleman caused the world of jazz to take a sharp left turn. The Shape Of Jazz To Come was a groundbreaking album and its influence has since been felt by virtually every jazz musician. Coleman was rightfully recognized in 2007 with both a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. We know first hand how powerfully his music continues to resonate, thanks to the deeply memorable concert at Massey Hall in 2005.

There are concerts in the world of jazz, plenty of concerts, and then there are events. Ornette Colemans appearance in Toronto was both. --The Globe & Mail

BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO

Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 8 PM

Universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists on the jazz scene today, Brad Mehldau pushes boundaries, blending musical genres and blazing trails in new musical territory. His hauntingly beautiful melody lines and stunning improvisations reveal his deeply intelligent musicianship, with influences that range from Radiohead to Nick Drake and Oasis to the great American Standards.

The elliptical lines, volatile rhythmic figures and unexpected bursts of color and dissonanceĶ prove that Mehldau writes as cleverly as he plays. --The Chicago Tribune

INTERNATIONAL VOCAL RECITALS (Series of 4 concerts) ROY THOMSON HALL

Roy Thomson Hall is proud to introduce audiences to four vocal artists making their debuts on this series. Together they share youth, critical acclaim, energy, and a mastery of their craft. Individually, they bring fresh and distinctive voices to the worlds great opera houses, orchestras, and now in recital on this series. Music lovers will discover a new generation of stars.

Subscriptions: $265 - $125

JOSPEH CALLEJA, tenor

Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 2 PM

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja is an exhilarating young talent, one of the most promising artists of the new millennium. His is an exceptionally beautiful lyric tenor which recalls a young Pavarotti, capturing the long-lost classic sounds and timbre of earlier 20th century tenor greats. He has performed at the major opera houses of North America and throughout Europe from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden to the Salzburg Festival, and has toured Germany, in concert, with soprano Anna Netrebko. No stranger to Canadian audiences, he made his thrilling Canadian debut as Rodolfo in La Bohme in Toronto with the Canadian Opera Company to great critical acclaim.

Ķa rare discovery, evoking memories from Caruso to Domingo with the suppleness of his tone and the expressive, highly individual lyricism he brings to even the most familiar material. --The Observer

KARINA GAUVIN, soprano

Sun Feb 14 2010 at 2 PM

The Globe and Mail hailed her as "one of the dream sopranos of our time," who in turn is "distinctive, sophisticated, deeply intuitive, a questioning and fearless artist." She has wowed audiences and critics the world over with her luscious timbre, profound musicality and wide vocal range. With one Grammy and nineteen Juno nominations, and two Juno awards to her credit, she has also proved herself a wildly successful recording artist. Whether gracing the great operatic or concert stages of the world, Gauvin has the remarkable ability to instantly convey the musical heart of every piece she performs. No wonder she is an audience favourite and Canadas Queen of Song.

NATHAN GUNN, baritone

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 8 PM

American baritone Nathan Gunn has been casting a spell around the globe with his daring interpretations of both classical and new opera repertoire. Hes been forging new creative worlds with his electrifying performances on the stages of top European and American opera houses. His recording of Peter Grimes with the London Symphony Orchestra was nominated for a Grammy award, and he has numerous accolades to his credit, including the first winner of the Beverly Sills Award for Young Singers and was a pick in People magazines annual Sexiest Man Alive issue.

ALEXANDRA DESHORTIES, soprano

Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2 PM

Canadian recital debut

A regular performer at the Metropolitan Opera since the millennium, Alexandra Deshorties has become one of operas most sought-after young stars. Born in Montreal, but raised in Marseilles and educated in New York, Deshorties reflects the rich character and identify of each of these cultural centres through her impassioned singing and committed portrayal of the great operatic roles. Also in demand as a concert artist, she has appeared with orchestras around the world including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony, and at the Salzburg Festival.

Ķthe climax of her performance was the great scena Ei parteĶ Per piet, ben mio, with grand singing, impassioned interpretation. It was the operas high point. --San Francisco Classical Voice

VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCES (Series of 3 concerts) ROY THOMSON HALL

Torontos cultural renaissance combines with Roy Thomson Halls international reputation for acoustic excellence to make the Hall a favourite destination for the worlds elite orchestras. This seasons Virtuoso Performances series offers a rare opportunity to experience three of those ensembles, each with its own distinctive voice, each led by an inimitable maestro.

Subscriptions: $395 - $115

CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA

Monday, October 19, 2009 at 8 PM

Franz Welser-Mst, conductor

Repertoire, TBA

One of the worlds most-revered symphonic ensembles makes a rare Toronto appearance, the launching point of a pan-European tour. The orchestra achieved greatness under the renowned George Szell, who directed it for an incredible thirty years beginning in the mid-1940s. Now in its 90th season, music director Franz Welser-Mst boldly moves the ensemble into the 21st century. The orchestra has long been acclaimed as the most European of the American Big Five and remains securely positioned among the top ten in the world.

Ķthe finest in America --The New York Magazine

ROTTERDAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 8 PM

Yannick Nzet-Sguin, conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Messiaen: Les offrandes oublies

Ravel: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand

R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra has been the musical heart of the Netherlands since 1930. The orchestra gained world acclaim in the 1970s under the youthful baton of Edo de Waart, touring internationally and producing outstanding recordings. In 1995 Valery Gergiev took the reins, founding the Gergiev Festival Rotterdam, with the ensemble playing a vital role in one of the Netherlands major cultural events. Montreal-born Yannick Nzet-Sguin succeeded Gergiev in 2008, upon receiving an unprecedented and astonishing unanimous vote from the orchestra. Since then, the brilliant young Nzet-Sguin has been dazzling audiences the world over with his incisive leadership and artistry. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is in high demand worldwide as a soloist, admired for his incredible technique and poetic interpretations. .

Presented in association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

MARIINSKY ORCHESTRA (Kirov)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 8 PM

Valery Gergiev, conductor

Repertoire, TBA

Under the dynamic leadership of musical director Valery Gergiev, the internationally-acclaimed powerhouse Mariinsky Orchestra (formerly known as the Kirov Orchestra) never fails to thrill, astound and astonish. Every performance is crafted with gemstone brilliance, every performance, the experience of a lifetime. A favourite with Toronto audiences and always a sellout, the orchestra returns for its 5th appearance at Roy Thomson Hall.

The Kirov Orchestra is a perfectly balanced, impeccably blended virtuoso instrument, and Gergiev plays it with masterly lan. --The Los Angeles Times

FOUR SPECIAL CONCERTS AT ROY THOMSON HALL

(FOR SUBSCRIBERS TO ADD TO THEIR SERIES):

CHINA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Monday, November 16, 2009 at 8 PM

Tickets: $112 - $24

Long Yu, conductor

Yuja Wang, piano

Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

Yuan Kai: China Air (Canadian Premire)

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2

Since its inception in 2000, the highly innovative, 120-member China Philharmonic Orchestra has established extensive collaborative relationships with world-famous conductors and soloists, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sara Chang and Placido Domingo. The orchestra aspires to introduce the gems of Chinas symphonic music to the world and the finest of western musical heritage to Chinese audiencesa magnificent cultural exchange. It has performed in the grand venues of the world, including Avery Fisher Hall, Barbican Hall, the world-famous Palais Garnier and Berlin Philharmonie, playing to glowing reviews.

At 20, Yuja Wang has both the energetic, fearless imagination of youth and the probing sensitivity that in most artists comes only with maturity... --San Francisco Chronicle

Presented in association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

ANGELA HEWITT, PIANO

Friday, February 12, 2010 at 8 PM

Tickets: $69 - $29

JS Bach: Italian Concerto

Beethoven: Sonata in D major, Op. 10 No. 3

Brahms: Sonata in F minor, Op. 5

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Angela Hewitts triumphant 1st prize win at the Toronto International Bach Piano Competition! Since that prestigious win at Roy Thomson Hall in 1985, Hewitt has firmly established herself as the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time. Her eleven-year project to record all the major keyboard works of Bach was described as one of the record glories of our age by The Sunday Times. In 2006 she earned the Gramophone Artist of the Year award and received the Order of the British Empire in the Queens Birthday Honours. She is the consummate artist, and captivates utterly with her mesmerizing performances. Roy Thomson Hall is honoured to have her return to our concert stage.

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 8 PM

Tickets: $112 - $24

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Lang Lang, piano

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 Classical

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7

Its a celebration of youthful genius when the phenomenal Lang Lang shares the stage with the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. Composed of the world's finest young musicians under the age of 27, who are hand-picked through a rigorous audition process, the orchestra has developed through collaborations with the finest conductors and teachers from the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, and the NDR Symphony Orchestra. This performance is part of its first-ever tour of North America.

Presented in association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

SPECIAL LATE-NIGHT CONCERT

Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 11 PM

Tickets: $69 - $20

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Peter Oundjian, conductor

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Join Peter Oundjian, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and an international cast of soloists for a special 11pm performance of Beethovens thrilling Symphony No. 9.

Stay for the party in the lobby and dance the night away! Experience the TSO like never before.

Presented in association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

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Scenes from Lori Laitman's Opera "The Scarlet Letter" at The Clinton Presidential Library



Scenes from renowned American composer Lori Laitman's opera, The Scarlet Letter, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's 19th century American literary masterpiece, will be presented in recital at the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR, on February 8th, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Vocalists from the original production, which premiered to critical acclaim last November, will perform two scenes and select signature arias.


The opera, commissioned by The University of Central Arkansas through Robert Holden and The UCA Opera Program, provided the prolific American composer, admired for her masterful compositions for voice, an opportunity to collaborate with award-winning American poet David Mason.


"Composer Lori Laitman has written gorgeous music that works hand-in-glove with the words of librettist David Mason and underpins the very essence of this psychological-social drama," wrote Ellis Widner of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette following the world premiere on November 6th, 2008. "This great story seems be on its way to becoming great opera..... It is mostly sung dialog, but the few arias are at key moments and are stunningly effective...Laitman's music can turn on an emotional dime, from the tense and emotionally complex confrontation between convicted adulteress Hester Prynne (soprano Christine Donahue) and Roger Chillingworth (baritone Robert Holden), the resurfaced husband determined to learn the identity of the child's father, to the achingly tender lullaby she sings to her daughter after Chillingworth departs. Laitman also shows great skill in the combination and repetition of motifs to heighten tension and revive a social-emotional subtext. At times, her music suggests the lushness of Stephen Sondheim."


The recital will take place on February 8th at 3:00 p.m. at The Great Hall, Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, 1200 President Lincoln Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas.


Cast includes Baritone Robert Holden as Roger Chillingworth,Soprano Christine Donahue as Hester Prynne,Tenor John Garst as Arthur Dimmesdale and Carl Anthony on piano. Admission is free to the public.

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Scenes from Lori Laitman's Opera "The Scarlet Letter" at The Clinton Presidential Library February 8, 2009

Scenes from Lori Laitman's Opera "The Scarlet Letter" at The Clinton Presidential Library

Scenes from renowned American composer Lori Laitman's opera, The Scarlet Letter, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's 19th century American literary masterpiece, will be presented in recital at the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR, on February 8th, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Vocalists from the original production, which premiered to critical acclaim last November, will perform two scenes and select signature arias.

The opera, commissioned by The University of Central Arkansas through Robert Holden and The UCA Opera Program, provided the prolific American composer, admired for her masterful compositions for voice, an opportunity to collaborate with award-winning American poet David Mason.

"Composer Lori Laitman has written gorgeous music that works hand-in-glove with the words of librettist David Mason and underpins the very essence of this psychological-social drama," wrote Ellis Widner of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette following the world premiere on November 6th, 2008. "This great story seems be on its way to becoming great opera..... It is mostly sung dialog, but the few arias are at key moments and are stunningly effective...Laitman's music can turn on an emotional dime, from the tense and emotionally complex confrontation between convicted adulteress Hester Prynne (soprano Christine Donahue) and Roger Chillingworth (baritone Robert Holden), the resurfaced husband determined to learn the identity of the child's father, to the achingly tender lullaby she sings to her daughter after Chillingworth departs. Laitman also shows great skill in the combination and repetition of motifs to heighten tension and revive a social-emotional subtext. At times, her music suggests the lushness of Stephen Sondheim."

The recital will take place on February 8th at 3:00 p.m. at The Great Hall, Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, 1200 President Lincoln Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cast includes Baritone Robert Holden as Roger Chillingworth,Soprano Christine Donahue as Hester Prynne,Tenor John Garst as Arthur Dimmesdale and Carl Anthony on piano. Admission is free to the public.

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Monday, February 2, 2009

NACO, Feb 11-12: Sarah Chang and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

Sarah Chang performs the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the NAC Orchestra led by Roberto Minczuk on Feb. 11-12

Ottawa (Canada) One of the most remarkable prodigies of any generation, Sarah Chang has matured into a young artist whose musical insight, technical virtuosity, and emotional range continue to astonish. The soloist returns to perform Mendelssohns Violin Concerto with the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Roberto Minczuk on Wednesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 12 at 8 p.m. in the NACs Southam Hall. These Ovation Series concerts include a suite from Mendelssohns A Midsummer Nights Dream and Beethovens fresh, energetic, whimsical Fourth Symphony.

Audiences are invited to stay in Southam Hall after both concerts to chat with Sarah Chang in a Musically Speaking Talkback hosted by CBC Radio National Music Producer Jill LaForty.

On Thursday, February 12 (one night only), there is also a free Musically Speaking pre-concert exploration of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto as explained by violin teacher William van der Sloot of Calgarys Mount Royal College Conservatory and demonstrated by young violinist Shanshan Yao accompanied by pianist Jean Desmarais. This entertaining and informative lecture-demonstration, hosted by Michel Dozois, is free. (Shanshan Yao will also perform a one-hour Debut Series recital at 12 noon on February 12 in the NAC Salon.)

Sarah Chang has this to say about the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto: I first learned the Mendelssohn Concerto when I was 7 years old and a student at The Juilliard School. I remember falling in love with it immediately! Its a jewel of a concerto, loaded with virtuosic elements and challenges but also filled with some of the most beautiful, soaring melodies ever written. I recorded it when I was 16 with the Berlin Philharmonic and Mariss Jansons, and throughout the years it has been a constant staple in my repertoire.

Born in Philadelphia to Korean parents, Sarah Chang began her violin studies at age 4. Her early auditions, at age 8, for Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti led to immediate engagements with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Sarah Chang made a sensational debut with the NAC Orchestra in 1992 at age 12 playing Paganinis Violin Concerto No. 1. She has reached a wide audience through her many television appearances, concert broadcasts, and best-selling recordings for EMI Classics, for which she records exclusively. Her latest release, the widely lauded Vivaldi Four Seasons with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, has reached the Billboard charts in the US and continues to top the best selling charts internationally. Her most recent appearance at the NAC was in 2002 when she performed the Brahms Violin Concerto.

Tickets for these concerts with violinist Sarah Chang and conductor Roberto Minczuk on Wednesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 12 at 8 p.m. are on sale now at $19.00, $39.00, $49.00, $59.00, $69.00 and $86.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NACs website at http://www.nac-cna.ca/.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $11 at the NAC Box Office from 2 p.m. the day before the concert to 6 p.m. the day of, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.

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Choral Art Society Presents Mendelssohns Elijah, March 31

The Choral Art Society

PORTLAND'S CHORAL ART SOCIETY PRESENTS MENDELSSOHN'S ELIJAH ORATORIO, MARCH 31

PORTLAND, Maine In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth, Portland's Choral Art Society will present Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah in its full splendor on Tuesday, March 31 at Merrill Auditorium. Widely known as the best oratorio of the 19th century, this production of Elijah includes the Choral Art Society Masterworks Chorus, live orchestra and special guest soloists Lisa Saffer (soprano), Jennifer DeDominici (mezzo-soprano), John McVeigh (tenor) and Philip Cutlip (bass). The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Elijah depicts various events in the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Mendelssohn did not shrink from the harshness of the Old Testament plots, and his music for Elijah is full of power, drama and compelling scene-setting. Composed in the spirit of Mendelssohn's Baroque predecessors Bach and Handel, whose music he greatly admired, the style clearly reflects Mendelssohn's own genius as an early Romantic composer.

An oratorio is an elaborate musical presentation composed of an orchestra, choir and soloists. A sacred response to the secular, oratorio was popularized in response to the birth of opera in the early 1600s, but in a manner appropriate for church performance. The oratorio is similar to opera in the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters and arias; however, as opera is musical theater, an oratorio is strictly a concert piece, often dealing with sacred topics, with little or no interaction between characters and no props or elaborate costumes.

Scored for a full orchestra, a large chorus, and four vocal soloists, the part of Elijah is sung by the Philip Cutlip and is a major role. The soloists include:
  • Lisa Saffer (soprano) An internationally acclaimed operatic soprano based in Maine, Saffer has performed on concert stages with virtually all leading American orchestras and regularly throughout Europe. Particularly well known for her performances in the operas of Handel, she is a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award, London's equivalent of New York's Tony Award. She has thrilled local audiences in past performances with PORTopera and the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
  • Jennifer DeDominici (mezzo-soprano) A 2000 graduate of the USM School of Music, DeDominici is a resident of Denver and a mainstay in the performances offered by Opera Theatre of the Rockies. She performed the starring role in their production of Carmen in 2008. She has also performed for Opera Colorado, Central City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera, and was awarded first prize in the 2007 Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition.
  • John McVeigh (tenor) A resident of Portland, McVeigh has been a full-time professional opera singer since 1995. He has performed with countless symphonies and opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Grand Opera, NYC Opera and Los Angeles Opera, as well as concert stages around the globe. Locally he has performed on multiple occasions with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and played the role of Tybalt in last summer's PORTopera mainstage production of Romo et Juliette.
  • Philip Cutlip (bass-baritone) Established on both the concert and opera stage, Cutlip has performed with nearly every major North American orchestra, and his performances have been called "moving beyond words." A distinctive element in Cutlip's career is his ongoing collaboration with both well-established dance companies and avant-garde ensembles. He performed in the 2002 PORTopera mainstage production of Gounod's Faust, and was a tremendous sensation when he performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra at their March 2008 "German Requiem" concert.

The Choral Art Society's presentation of Elijah will be performed at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$47 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. (Phone and internet orders subject to $5 per ticket handling fee.) Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle Street, Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.

About The Choral Art Society:
The Society has more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus, the mid-sized Choral Art Singers, and the intimate a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition. The Society offers an annual concert series and appears regularly as guests of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is the conductor and artistic director of The Choral Art Society.
For more information about The Choral Art Society and the 2008-09 performances visit www.choralart.org or call (207) 828-0043.





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Don Giovanni, Benot Brire et Jean-Franois Rivest l'UdeM !


MozartĶ Don GiovanniĶ Benot BrireĶ et Jean-Franois RivestĶ

Rencontre au sommet la

Facult de musique de lUniversit de Montral !

LAtelier dopra et

lOrchestre de lUniversit de Montral

prsentent

Don Giovanni

opra en deux actes

de Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Livret de Lorenzo da Ponte

Direction : Jean-Franois Rivest

Mise en scne : Benot Brire

du 25 au 28 fvrier 2009, 19 h 30,

la salle Claude-Champagne de lUniversit de Montral.

Vous trouverez, en pice jointe,

le communiqu de presse de cet vnement.


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NAC, Feb. 10: Radu Lupu gives a solo piano recital of Beethoven and Schubert


The phenomenal Radu Lupu gives a solo piano recital of Beethoven and Schubert at the NAC on Feb. 10

Ottawa, Canada A true colossus in the world of music, the Romanian virtuoso Radu Lupu will perform three piano sonatas by Beethoven including the monumental Pathtique, and one Schubert Sonata in the National Arts Centres Southam Hall on Tuesday, February 10 at 8 p.m. This solo piano recital opens the 2008-09 season of the Bombardier Great Performers Series.

Of Beethovens vast output of 32 piano sonatas, a genre that occupied the composer throughout his entire creative life, the Pathtique Sonata No. 8 in C minor is the most exalted of all both in popular acclaim and historical import. The word pathtique meant moved by strong passions, an apt title for this emotionally powerful work composed on the threshold of the age of musical Romanticism. Beethovens two Op. 14 Sonatas (Nos. 9 and 10) reveal the composer in a relaxed, genial mood, and are filled with charm, elegance and intimacy.

In the second half of the recital, Radu Lupu will perform Schuberts Sonata in B-flat major. Like Beethoven, Schubert wrote piano sonatas throughout his lifetime, and this one is considered to one of the greatest works (many claim the greatest) in this genre.

Radu Lupu is firmly established as one of the most important musicians of his generation and is widely acknowledged as a leading interpreter of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and Schubert. The pianist won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance for his London/Decca recording the Schubert B-flat major Sonata which he is performing on this concert. His discography also includes a recording of Beethovens Pathtique Sonata as well as complete Beethoven concertos with the Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta.

First Prize winner in the 1966 Van Cliburn, the 1967 Enescu International and the 1969 Leeds International competitions, Radu Lupu has regularly performed as soloist and recitalist in the musical capitals and major festivals of Europe and the United States. He has appeared many times with the Berlin Philharmonic and with the Vienna Philharmonici. He is also a frequent visitor to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and all of the major London orchestras. This season, his annual winter tour will include concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Montreal Symphony. His European orchestral engagements include the Berlin Staatskapelle, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Zurich Tonhalle, as well as recitals in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, and Stockholm.

Radu Lupu has performed at the NAC several times, both in recital and as soloist with the NAC Orchestra. His most recent recitals were in 2006 and 1999.

Tickets for this Bombardier Great Performers recital featuring Radu Lupu on February 10 are on sale now at $19.00, $39.00, $45.00, $49.00, $59.00 and $69.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NACs web-site at www.nac-cna.ca.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $11 at the NAC Box Office from 2 p.m. the day before the concert to 6 p.m. the day of, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca

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Spectacle bnfice de la Ligue des droits et libertsau Kola Note le 13 Fv

Spectacle bnfice de la Ligue des droits et liberts

Plus que jamais, les droits humains!

La Ligue vous invite participer son spectacle bnfice annuel le 13 fvrier prochain 20h30, au Kola Note (5240, avenue du Parc). Cette soire en musique et en mots pourra compter sur la gnrosit des artistes suivants :

- INTAKTO : la rencontre dun guitariste chilien et dun violoniste montralais.

- Jean-Franois Lessard : auteur-compositeur-interprte engag et militant.

- Les Voies Fministes : la chorale de la Maison Parent-Roback.

- Marie-Claude Thisdle : qui interprte Richard Desjardins

- Yves Desrosiers : chanteur aux chansons de pluie qui nous ensoleillent

- Papa Zon et ses musiciens : les rythmes du Burkina Faso, de la kora et du balafon

- Nancy Roberge de Mise au jeu lanimation

- et dautres surprises, des vrais!

Ainsi, la Ligue des droits et liberts dsire marquer une pause festive dans son anne dintenses activits. Durant toute lanne 2008, la Ligue des droits et liberts est intervenue sur lusage du taser, les vnements de lt dernier Montral-Nord, les poursuites- billons (les tristement fameux SLAPP), le rapatriement souhait dOmar Khadr, la surveillance des voyageurs et, plus rcemment, sur lhorrible guerre en Palestine. Prochainement, la Ligue souhaite intervenir sur limportance des droits conomiques et sociaux en ces temps de crise.

Fonde en 1963, la Ligue des droits et liberts est un organisme indpendant ddi la dfense des droits humains, dont la Dclaration universelle des droits de lhomme qui a tout juste 60 ans. Elle ne peut agir que grce au soutien militant et financier de ses membres et amis. Depuis sa cration, la Ligue fait de lducation, de la mobilisation et assure une vigilance de tous les instants pour que les droits et liberts se ralisent au Qubec, et ailleurs.

Billets en vente au cot de 30 $ Ligue des droits et liberts, (514) 849-7717 # 421 ou info@liguedesdroits.ca et au Kola Note (514) 274-9339 et www.admission.com, (514) 790-1245.

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North America Embraces Australian Spoken Word Tour

North America Embraces Australian Spoken Word Tour

On 4 February 2009, four acclaimed Australian poets and spoken word artists will land in Canada to start their North American tour.

Alicia Sometimes, Emilie Zoey Baker, Justin Ashworth and Sean M Whelan, (all hailing from UNESCO's recently announced City of Literature, Melbourne, Australia), have been invited to perform in Montral at the 2009 Festival Voix d'Ameriques, and will deliver Australian showcase performances in Vancouver, Ottawa, New York and Chicago.

These are nationally renowned solo performers in Australia with years of publishing and performing experience at home and internationally.

The group of four have contributed much to the development of Melbourne's famously thriving spoken word culture, through organizing regular and special events, publishing, producing a literary radio show, and teaching in schools and the community.

As part of their travels, they will also be recording an audio documentary of American poets and performers for Australia's esteemed Radio National.

Tour Dates 2009:

4 February Vancouver, Spillious Speak and Sing

Featuring; Emilie, Alicia & Sean

6 February Ottawa, as part of the AB Series

Featuring; Justin, Emilie, Alicia & Sean

914 February Montral, Festival Voix d'Amriques

Featuring; Justin, Emilie, Alicia, & Sean

11 February Montral, Vanier College (tbc)

Featuring; Justin & more TBA

15 February New York City, The Bowery Club

Featuring; Emilie, Justin & Sean with special local guests Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz & Shappy

22 February Chicago, The Green Mill Bar

Featuring; Sean & Emilie

The PR Contact regarding this Tour is Angela Gullace of Its Undefined in Melbourne, Australia

Justin, Alicia, Emily Zoey & Sean are all available for Interviews and Promo Appearances/Bookings

Promo CD's and Media Passes to selected shows are also available upon request

For any such related queries or for more information she is contactable via;

Ph: +61.3.9568.5102 | Mob: +61.400.171.196 | Email: itsundefined@gmail.com

(Note: If calling internationally please note that the Its Undefined office has a 24 hour manned phone line)

About The Artists:

Justin Ashworth has released two independent CDs and a book of poetry, composed music for several short films, dance works and visual art installations. His spoken word performance is a mix of dark ambient music, with haikus as a mantra, and a surrealist tendency. In 2005 Justin published his first book of poetry and CD of spoken word called Fleeting Poetry. It was a collection of short poems about love and death coffee and the laundromat. It came with a CD of spoken word set to dreamy ambient music.

Justin's work also appeared in local independent poetry magazine Mod_Piece, and on a compilation CD/DVD put out by Melbourne's Electundra Festival. In 2007, Justin released the CD, New Music to Fall Asleep to... An electro-acoustic music and poetry exploration of the surrealist state of mind, and the potential for lullabies to invoke more than just sleep. It combined ambient soundscapes, odd rhythms, and a poetic imagination. In March 2008 the project toured Australia nationally.

As a guest musician and/or poet, Justin has been Involved in acclaimed Melbourne Fringe Festival shows "Seamstress" (2008), "Kunst Ist Scheisse" (2006), "Extreme Spoken Word" (2005) and Conan the Bubbleman's "Ephemera" (2003).

http://www.myspace.com/fleetingpoetry

http://www.fleetingpoetry.blogspot.com

Alicia Sometimes is a poet, writer, broadcaster and musician. She has been published in Australia and overseas in such publications as Best Australian Poems 2006, Cordite, Verandah, Westerly, Heat, Poetrix, Short Fuse, Hecate, papertiger, Blue Dog, Overland, Meanjin, etc. She has performed spoken word over 400 times as a feature or guest at many venues, festivals and events in Australia, Berlin, London and New Zealand, including the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne Writers' Festival, Queensland Poetry Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Mildura Arts Festival, Tasmanian Poetry Festival, Sydney Writers' Festival, The Big Day Out and the Newcastle Writers' Festival.

Her first collection of poetry, kissing the curve was released in 2003 through Five Islands Press. Alicia conducted many workshops in cities and regional areas working with communities to showcase poetry performances. She has also been awarded residencies at Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre, Varuna and the Melbourne Aquarium.

She has had work commissioned for State Library of Victoria, Victoria Museum, Art Gallery of Victoria, Writers' Radio and the Red Room Project. Her work has been on radio many times both in Australia and overseas. She is currently a presenter on 3RRR with a weekly show Aural Text dedicated to playing spoken word and was a monthly guest on JJJ's Artery showcasing the best in spoken word from around Australia. In 2004 she was co-organiser of the first national poetry radio slam on Radio National. She was co-editor of the literary journal Going Down Swinging for seven years.

http://www.myspace.com/aliciasometimes

http://www.aliciasometimes.com

Emilie Zoey Baker has been a professional artist, writer and performer for over fifteen years. She recently received a scholarship to PoetryLab at the University of Wollongong to work on her second collection of poetry. She was the winner of the Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup in 2006, a member of the winning team for the 2004 Melbourne Writers' Festival poetry slam, and holds slam titles around the country, including 2002 Melbourne Erotic Slam champion. In 2009 will be State coordinater for the National Australian Slam run by The National State Library.

She has featured at many venues and festivals including the 2007 Melbourne International Arts Festival ('Voiceprints' at La Mama), the Sydney Opera House as part of the NightWords Festival and a recent tour of New Zealand. She has been published nationally and internationally and was the producer of You Talkin To Me?, a Melbourne spoken word and music compilation CD. Her first collection of poetry, She Wore The Sky On Her Shoulders, was published in 2003 by Hit and Miss Publications. She has appeared on international radio and television and is just downright fabulous.

"This is great material find me one person who writes like Emilie and I will run naked through downtown San Diego this is exactly what I am looking for her work is fun to read and at the same time the content is very, very serious and makes for deep material to reflect upon. I have never seen such a perfect combination of these two elements in my life!" August Highland, Editor M.A.G (USA)

'Hilarious'-Australian Book Review

http://www.myspace.com/emiliezoeybaker

http://www.atomicladybomb.blogspot.com

Sean M Whelan has been a writer and performer of spoken word, poetry and short stories for almost ten years. His written work has been widely published both locally and overseas. His spoken word performances have been broadcast on radio RRR and JJJ, Australia's National Youth Radio Station. In 2003 he traveled to New York as part of an Australia Council grant to perform at the launch of Short Fuse, a global collection of Fusion Poetry.

Since 2005 Sean has worked extensively with Melbourne rock band The Mime Set. Their debut performance was for the 2005 Melbourne Fringe Festival with a show titled Death To Your Dreams. It was a collaboration of poetry and music. Since then they have written two more Fringe Festival shows together, LCUK: Falling In and Out of Luck in 2006 and Sweet Cowboy in 2007. Sweet Cowboy was also co-written by Emilie Zoey Baker. In 2007 Sean was invited to perform at the Utan Kayu International Literary Biennale in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sean also co-ordinates one of Melbourne's most popular regular spoken word events called Babble, held at Bar Open, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. His first collection of poetry was published in 2003 by Hit & Miss publications titled Love is the First Hate. In 2008 his second book of poetry titled Tattooing the Surface Of The Moon is published by Small Change Press.

http://www.myspace.com/seanmwhelan

http://www.loveisthenewhate.blogspot.com

Alicia Sometimes, Emilie Zoey Baker and Sean M Whelan received support for the North American tour from the state body Arts Victoria and from the national Copyright Agency Limited.

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Jazz piano star Lynne Arriale forms new alliance to release"Nuance - The Bennett studio sessions"





JAZZ PIANO STAR LYNNE ARRIALE FORMS NEW ALLIANCES TO RELEASE "NUANCE - THE BENNETT STUDIO SESSIONS" FEATURING RANDY BRECKER, GEORGE MRAZ AND ANTHONY PINCIOTTI
CD/DVD ON MOTEMA MUSIC AVAILABLE MAY 12, 2009

Lynne Arriale, Randy Brecker, George Mraz and Anthony Pinciotti

(New York, NY - Februray 2, 2009) Motma Music proudly announces the release of LYNNE ARRIALE'S "NUANCE - The Bennett Studio Sessions" - featuring RANDY BRECKER, GEORGE MRAZ and ANTHONY PINCIOTTI, on-sale May 12, 2009. In a departure from her ten previous trio recordings, leader/composer/arranger Arriale is collaborating with an extraordinary new lineup of iconic musicians: Grammy winning Randy Brecker on trumpet/flugelhorn; jazz legend George Mraz on bass; and critically acclaimed Anthony Pinciotti on drums. More information, please visit:
www.Motma.com
and at www.lynnearriale.com.

The project was recorded at the multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning BENNETT STUDIOS, just outside New York City, and includes video documentation of "behind the scenes" footage of the CD recording, a bonus DVD program of a live, private, "in-studio" audience concert, and up-close and personal interviews with each artist. The release displays a new creative direction for Arriale, as she continues her illustrious musical journey, which began with a ten-year run of her celebrated former trio. Arriale continues to garner praise in every configuration in which she chooses to play as an outstanding leader, including from The New York Times: "brilliant musicianship and bandstand instincts (which) place her among the top jazz pianists of the day." This new release, with iconic jazz masters Brecker and Mraz, brings even more heightened originality to Arriale's sound as evidenced in her six powerful, new compositions and inspired arrangements of covers by composers as disparate as Sting, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Tommy Wolf.

"This is music that really transports the listener into the wondrous world of Lynne's imagination," said Jana Herzen, President of Motma Music. "I'm proud to say it is really like no other jazz record I have ever heard. What I find most interesting is, if you check out the DVD interviews, Randy and George - these iconic jazz stars who have recorded over 1000 records between them - are so taken with Lynne's completely singular approach to composing and recording."
"It's all about the 'nuance,' and that's what we went for," said Randy Brecker, working with Arriale here, for the first time. "She knows how to tug at the heartstrings (and) I don't think I can compare her to anyone...her music transcends jazz. It's just pure music."

Please visit the "Nuance" EPK - http://www.motema.com/video/LynneArrialeTrio/55
The fulltrack list for "Nuance," a CD & DVD set, includes: Wrapped Around Your Finger (Sting); I Mean You (Thelonious Monk); Longing (Lynne Arriale); Crawfish & Gumbo (Lynne Arriale); Ballad of the Sad Young Men (Tommy Wolf); Carry On (Lynne Arriale); La Noche (Lynne Arriale); Yada Yada Yada (Lynne Arriale); I Hear A Rhapsody (J. Baker, G. Fragos & D. Gasparre); A Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie) and A Gentle Soul (Lynne Arriale).

Arriale has been capturing the imaginations of jazz and mainstream music lovers with her outstanding CD / DVD recordings and sold out performances for nearly 20 years. Critically acclaimed as having a 'singular voice' as a pianist, leader, composer, arranger and for "putting the heart back into jazz" (London Times), Arriale's consistently excellent recordings have topped every notable jazz chart. With back to back #1 Jazz Week radio hits, a #17 debut on Billboard's Jazz Chart, the top ten "Best Of" lists for The New Yorker, United Press International and a two time winner of The German Record Critics Association, Arriale has earned her place among elite international artists. Arriale has met the mainstream through her featured performances on the PBS nationally televised program, Profile of a Recording Artist, and on multiple NPR programs including Weekend Edition, Jazz Set, and Piano Jazz with Marion McPartland.

Lynne Arriale, Randy Brecker, George Mraz and Anthony Pinciotti

Arriale's 2007 release, LIVE (Motma), was recorded by BR-TV at Germany's oldest and most prestigious jazz event, The Burghausen Jazz Festival, and won the 2007 German Record Critics Award for best jazz CD/DVD recording. She has toured Japan with the legendary "100 Golden Fingers" group, sharing the stage with jazz legends Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Ray Bryant, Junior Mance, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway and Monty Alexander.
Arriale regularly performs at such internationally acclaimed venues as The Spoleto Arts Festival, Ireland's Cork Jazz Festival, The Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, the Burghausen and Stuttgart Jazz Festivals, The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Folly Theater, The Gilmore Festival, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival and numerous other festivals, concerts and clubs throughout Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Romania, Norway, The Czech Republic, Ireland, the UK and Australia.
Leading up to the release, Lynne will tour internationally in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Austria, and The Netherlands. RANDY BRECKER, who plays flugelhorn and trumpet on NUANCE, has recorded for more than three decades with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, James Taylor, David Sanborn, George Benson, Chaka Khan, and Frank Zappa. GEORGE MRAZ (bass) has recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton and Tommy Flanagan. ANTHONY PINCIOTTI is a rising star and drum master who is a first-call sideman for such jazz luminaries as James Moody, John Abercrombie, Kenny Werner, Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Gary Bartz, Marcus Belgrave, Ira Sullivan and Frank Foster.
Deeply committed to jazz education, Lynne Arriale is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and Director of the Jazz Combo Program at The University of North Florida at Jacksonville. She also conducts master classes, clinics and workshops internationally for professionals, students and communities at large.




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Community Update Event Submission


La Scena Musicale Valentine's Day Choral Love Songs Benefit Concert

February 14, 2009 at 8 PM, Pollack Hall
555 Sherbrooke West, Montreal
Musicians:
Iwan Edwards, Concerto Della Donna,
Christopher Jackson, Studio de musique ancienne de Montral,
Patrick Wedd, Musica Orbium
Choral Love Songs by Palestrina, Gabrieli, Copland and Gershwin

Concept:
Montreal's choral community is expressing their support for the classical music magazine La Scena Musicale and its founder Wah Keung Chan by collaborating in a benefit concert supporting the publication. The event, scheduled for 8 p.m. on February 14, 2009, features three of Montreal's top choirs: Concerto Della Donna, Musica Orbium, and the Studio de Musique ancienne de Montral, conducted by stalwarts of the Montreal choral scene Iwan Edwards, Patrick Wedd and Christopher Jackson, respectively. The ensembles will perform choral love songs from Gabrieli and Palestrina to Copland and Gershwin, with each choir singing their own segment and then joining forces for the finale.

Read the entire press release at http://www.scena.org/blog/newswire/2009/01/three-of-montreals-top-choirs-support.html

VIP Tickets: $130 (including pre-concert reception and a $100 tax receipt)

Concert Tickets:
30 $ (regular);
20 $ (seniors);
20 $ (students)

514-948-2520 * gala2009@scena.org
www.scena.org

Info: Dawna Coleman, 514-948-2520, dawnacoleman@scena.org
----
Concert Program


Concerto Della Donna
Director: Iwan Edwards
Assistant director: Amy Henderson

Minnelied (Op. 4 Heft 1) ݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉.......Johannes Brahms

Embraceable you...݉݉.....Ira and George Gershwin, arr. Arne Dagsvik

Autumn of love (Seasons of love, No. 3) ݉݉݉݉......Eleanor Daley

Dacw 'nghariad I lawr yn y berllan ݉݉݉............. arr. Grace Williams

Bonjour, mon cur.....݉...........Orlando di Lasso, arr. Norman Greyson

It was a lover and his lass........݉....݉݉݉݉݉..........Ward Swingle

Musica Orbium
Patrick Wedd, directeur artistique

Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare .................................George Shearing

Live with me and be my love
When daffodils begin to peer
It was a lover and his lass
Spring
Who is Sylvia?
Fie on sinful fantasy
Hey, ho, the wind and the rain

-----------------------------------------------------Intermission----
-------------------------------------------------------

Studio de musique ancienne de Montral
Direction artistique: Christopher Jackson

Cantique des cantiques.......................................Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Introduxit me rex
Vox dilecti mei

Surge, propera, amica mea

Vidi speciosam݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉Tomas Luis de Victoria

Combined Choirs
Tous unis en chanson ݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉......Paul Halley
Lieto godea sedendo ݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉.......Giovanni Gabrieli
Las agachadas ݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉݉................Aaron Copland

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Sunday, February 1, 2009

Messiaen Quartet & Laitman Seed of Dream Vilna Concert Celebrates Endurance and Hope

"Lori Laitman has a great gift for song-writing and these songs skillfully employ a variety of styles to convey the pathos of the Holocaust."

American Record Guide, 2008

"This cycle is indeed a masterpiece that should not be missed!"

Journal of Singing, 2008

For Immediate Release

January 25, 2009

Messiaen/Laitman Vilnius Concert Celebrates Endurance and Hope

Olivier Messiaens Quartet for the End of Time and American composer Lori Laitmans song cycle The Seed of Dream will be performed at St. Katherine Church in Vilna, Lithuania on January 27, 2009 at 7pm.

Laitman's song cycle for baritone, cello and piano is based on five poems penned in Nazi-occupied Lithuania by the pre-eminent Yiddish poet Abraham Sutzkever. Sutzkever's poetry, written in the Vilna Ghetto during the war, stands witness to the transcendent power of art in the face of unimaginable cruelty and brutality. The cycle was commissioned by Music of Remembrance and saw its world premiere in Seattle, Washington in 2005 to glowing reviews. It was performed for the first time in Europe at The Tolerance Center of the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum in Vilna, Lithuania in 2007 by Norwegian baritone Stein Skjervold, who reprises the role in this production. It has also generated excitement and interest among some of the world's most prestigious vocalists, and continues to receive performances the world over.

Of the cycle, The Journal of Singing writes: "The American song composer, Lori Laitman, has been lauded by reviewers as one of the most extraordinary song composers working today, likening her to Ned Rorem. She has an innate ability to capture the essence of textual meaning, a keen perception of vocal nuance, and a lavish intellectual and musical vocabulary that she uses with a facile ease. It was with all of these extraordinary skills that she created a magnificent song cycle called The Seed of Dream.

In 2008 the cycle was released on Naxos, along with works by Jake Heggie and Gerard Schwarz.

Program Details:

January 27, 2009 at 19:00, St. Katherine Church, Vilna, Lithuania

Olivier Messiaen: "Quartet for the End of Time": Mia Cooper (UK), violin / Roger Arve Vigulf (Norway), clarinet / Tom Collingwood (UK), cello / Sonata Zuboviene (Lithuania), cello

Lori Laitman: "The Seed of Dream": Stein Skjervold (Norway), baritone / Tom Collingwood (UK), cello / Sonata Zuboviene (Lithuania), piano

Source:

Jona Rapoport Artist Management/Publicity

jona@jonarapoport.com

Baritone HOLZMAIR performs Laitman's The Seed of Dream in Native Austria

Holzmair to Perform Laitmans The Seed of Dream in Native Austria

"Lori Laitman has a great gift for song-writing and these songs skillfully employ a variety of styles to convey the pathos of the Holocaust."

American Record Guide, 2008

"This cycle is indeed a masterpiece that should not be missed!"

Journal of Singing, 2008

For Immediate Release

January 25, 2009

Wolfgang Holzmair, the renowned Austrian baritone, will perform 'The Seed of Dream' by American composer Lori Laitman in the town of Mrzzuschlag, Austria, on February 25th, 2009. The program also includes works by Schubert and Haydn.

Laitman's song cycle for baritone, cello and piano is based on five poems penned in Nazi-occupied Lithuania by the pre-eminent Yiddish poet Abraham Sutzkever. Sutzkever's poetry, written in the Vilna Ghetto during the war, stands witness to the transcendent power of art in the face of unimaginable cruelty and brutality. The cycle was commissioned by Music of Remembrance and saw its world premiere in Seattle, Washington in 2005 to glowing reviews. It was performed for the first time in Europe at The Tolerance Center of the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum in Vilna, Lithuania in 2007 by Norwegian baritone Stein Skjervold. It has also generated excitement and interest among some of the world's most prestigious vocalists, and continues to receive performances the world over.

Of the cycle, The Journal of Singing writes: "The American song composer, Lori Laitman, has been lauded by reviewers as one of the most extraordinary song composers working today, likening her to Ned Rorem. She has an innate ability to capture the essence of textual meaning, a keen perception of vocal nuance, and a lavish intellectual and musical vocabulary that she uses with a facile ease. It was with all of these extraordinary skills that she created a magnificent song cycle called The Seed of Dream.

In 2008 the cycle was released on Naxos, along with works by Jake Heggie and Gerard Schwarz.

The Jess-Trio-Wien and Wolfgang Holzmair will perform The Seed of Dream at Kunsthaus Muerz, Anton Webern Saal in Mrzzuschlag, Austria, on February 25th at 7:30 pm. For more information please visit www.kunsthausmuerz.at

Source:

Jona Rapoport Artist Management/Publicity

jona@jonarapoport.com

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