Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Un troisième album pour Joseph Edgar arrive en gare !

« Y'a un train qui s'en vient... »

un troisième album pour Joseph Edgar arrive en gare !

Deux ans et demi après la parution de « oh ma ma », Joseph Edgar offre au public un troisième album intitulé « Y'a un train qui s'en vient... », en vente à partir du mardi 5 mai. L'auteur-compositeur-interprète acadien, ex-chanteur principal du groupe populaire Zéro ˚Celsius, livre un disque composé de 11 nouvelles pièces, dont la plupart ont été créées au cours de la dernière année. Déjà, depuis le début avril, le premier extrait « Rêves volés » a été lancé aux radios et sur Internet et suscite un grand intérêt de la part des critiques. La chanson a déjà fait son entrée sur les palmarès des radios communautaires francophones en Atlantique et, même s'il s'agit d'une production maison, le vidéoclip de cette chanson a fait beaucoup de chemin sur divers sites web.

S'alliant une fois de plus au réalisateur Marc « Chops » Arsenault (Pascal Lejeune, Petunia, Serge Brido...), bassiste du groupe Les Païens dont les membres font partie de l'équipe principale du disque, Joseph Edgar raconte que ce cd vient finalement combler son désir de faire un album qui a comme vocation de « joindre le plus possible l'énergie et la force du spectacle à une expérience sonore qu'on ne peut explorer qu'en studio. » Le chanteur ajoute qu'il a réussi à obtenir le son qu'il cherchait « grâce au travail de tous ceux et celles qui ont joué sur l'album et qui sont venus complémenter les chansons de leur talent magique, et surtout, grâce au travail passionné du réalisateur qui a aussi agi comme ingénieur et mixeur. »

En plus des autres membres du groupe Les Païens (Jean Surette, Denis Surette et Sébastien Michaud), les autres musiciens que l'on retrouve sur l'album sont Isabelle Thériault, Chris Colepaugh et Lisa LeBlanc, entre autres.

Rappelons que Joseph Edgar a été récipiendaire du trophée Artiste de l'année en musique au Gala des prix Éloizes en 2008 pour son album « oh ma ma » sorti à l'automne 2006 et sur lequel l'extrait « Fantôme de Blanchard » a réussi à capter l'attention et les éloges de quelques grands noms de la scène québécoise dont Daniel Bélanger et Ariane Moffatt. On entend souvent dire que Joseph Edgar est l'héritier de Zachary Richard !

À la mi-mai, Joseph Edgar partira à travers les provinces atlantiques pour promouvoir l'album avec sa « Tournée du tounerre » à laquelle s'ajoute le groupe Les Païens. Lors de son arrêt au Théâtre Capitol à Moncton le 23 mai, Oumou Soumaré, Georgette LeBlanc, Isabelle Thériault, Lisa Leblanc et Brian Coughlan s'ajouteront au spectacle. Joseph Edgar devrait être de passage à Montréal en juin.

Les détails de la tournée ainsi que d'autres informations se retrouvent sur le site www.myspace.com/josephedgar ainsi que sur la page Facebook de l'artiste.

« Y'a un train qui s'en vient... » est distribué en magasin et sur Internet par Distribution Plages (www.plages.net) et sera aussi disponible sur les sites Internet zik.ca et iTunes.

Labels: acadien, CD

Monday, April 27, 2009

Twenty-Year Old Piano Prodigy Ran Jia makes her Vancouver Debut

Twenty-Year Old Piano Prodigy Ran Jia makes her Vancouver Debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Vancouver BC – Twenty-year-old wunderkind Ran Jia took her homeland China by storm, performing from the age of seven – now, she sets her sights on North America. The VSO is honoured to present her Vancouver debut in an all-Mozart series finale in the Bach & Beyond and Beltone Symphony Sundays series packages. She will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12, while Maestro Bramwell Tovey leads the orchestra in Mozart’s Paris and Linz symphonies.

Pianist Ran Jia has been hailed as “China’s new champion” and a “piano poet.” The daughter of Professor Daqun Jia, Dean of the Graduate Study Programs at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and one of China’s leading composers, she began studying the piano at age 3 and immediately showed extraordinary natural abilities. Her professional career skyrocketed when she was the only concert pianist invited to perform at Thelonious Monk’s 90^th birthday in New York. The winner of numerous accolades the world over, she now studies with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

This concert celebrates the music of history’s greatest musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Symphony No.31, better known as the “Paris” Symphony, is one of Mozart’s most famous symphonies. Longing to escape from the tyrannical, unappreciative grip of his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg, in September 1777 Mozart and his mother set out to find him a new job. They arrived in Paris and over the next six months, Wolfgang and his music drew an indifferent response. To make matters worse, his mother died in July. One of the few bright spots of the Parisian period was his association with the Concert spiritual, a series of public musical events managed by Jean Le Gros. This impresario commissioned several works from Mozart including Symphony No.31 which was positively received by Parisian audiences.

Mozart composed Symphony No.36 in the autumn of 1783. After an emotionally strained visit with his family in Salzburg, he and his wife Constanze stopped in the city of Linz during their return journey to Vienna. They enjoyed the hospitality of Count Thun, a music-loving nobleman whose wealth allowed him the luxury of his own orchestra. As a gesture of gratitude to his host, Mozart composed this work for him. Written in just four days, it has been known as the Linz Symphony ever since.

Mozart launched his life as a freelance artist in Vienna in May 1781. Since he was best known there as a pianist, he composed numerous piano works, including Piano Concerto No.12 in A Major, to play at his own subscription concerts. Despite the modest nature and scoring of this concerto, it stands out in Mozart’s early works for that instrument.

CONCERT INFO

Bach & Beyond and Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Music of the Master: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16, 8pm, Chan Centre

Sunday, May 17, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Ran Jia, piano

Mozart Symphony No. 31, Paris

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12

Mozart Symphony No. 36, Linz

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

Tickets available through VSO Customer Service at 604.876.3434 and online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Chan Centre performance tickets also available at the Chan Centre Box Office, or Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone, 604.280.3311.

Generously Supported By:

The Bach & Beyond Series has been endowed by a generous gift from the Chan Foundation of Canada.

Radio Sponsor: CHQM-FM

Symphony Sundays Series Sponsor: Beltone

BIOGRAPHIES

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

A musician of striking versatility, Bramwell Tovey is acknowledged around the world for his artistic depth and warm, charismatic personality on the podium. Tovey’s career as a conductor is uniquely enhanced by his work as a composer and pianist, lending him a remarkable musical perspective.

Tovey garnered a 2008 Grammy Award and a 2008 Juno Award for his recording with violinist James Ehnes and the Vancouver Symphony. Recently named Principal Guest Conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, he works frequently with the Toronto Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, among many others. He has presided as host and conductor of the New York Philharmonic’s Summertime Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall since its founding in 2004.

As a composer, he was honored with the Best Canadian Classical Composition Juno Award in 2003 for his Requiem for a Charred Skull. New works include a co-commission for the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics’ 2008 summer seasons as well as a full-length opera for the Calgary Opera, The Inventor, to premiere in January of 2011.

Tovey has been awarded honorary degrees, including a Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music in London, honorary Doctorates of Law from the universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba, and Kwantlen University College, as well as a Royal Conservatory of Music Fellowship in Toronto. In 1999, he received the M. Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, a Canadian prize awarded to artists for outstanding contributions in the performing arts.

Ran Jia, piano

At twenty, pianist Ran Jia is already regarded as a striking musician with unusual natural abilities. Tan Dun hailed her a “piano poet with dramatic skill in music-making”.

Born on December 31, 1988 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Ms. Jia began studying piano at the age of three. She made her solo debut in 1995, and has since performed publicly in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Fuzhou, and Xiamen in China. Her numerous awards include The Special Prize for her performance of a Mozart Sonata in the Second Piano International-E-Competition in 2004; the Silver Medal in The National Cultural Ministry Dandelion Youth Arts Competition in Nanjing, China in 2001; First Prize and the Osaka Mayer Prize in the Shanghai-Osaka Chinese and Japanese Friendship Youth Piano Competition in 2000; First Prize in The Sichuan Youth Piano Competition in 1998; and Second Prize in The National Xinghai Cup Piano Competition in 1998.

In October 2001, Ms. Jia performed Mozart’s Sonata in F major (K. 533) at a master class at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Piano master Fou T’song praised her talent in the Evening News Standard in Shanghai as “an amazing natural feeling for music.” In May 2004, Ms. Jia presented an ambitious recital at the Heluting Concert Hall at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The program included sonatas by Mozart, Prokofiev, and Schubert, Chopin’s Ballade No. 1, Debussy’s Preludes and Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Her recital was received with great enthusiasm by the audience and the media. Oriental TV broadcasted two documentaries featuring Ran’s life as a young artist including her live performance at the Conservatory.

In November 2005, Ms. Jia was selected to perform at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall with her teacher, Gary Graffman, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at a “Junior/Senior Concert” organized by the Musicians Emergency Fund, Inc. Ms. Jia performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 under Maestro Li Jian. Highlights of 2006 included a return, sold-out concert at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and a performance of two Mozart concerti with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra at the Shanghai Concert Hall. She has recently been featured in a live concert on Chicago’s classical music station WFMT and has given her recital debut at the concert series of Rockefeller University in New York. She was the only classical pianist invited to perform for a celebration concert in New York City in honor of Thelonious Monk’s 90^th Birthday. This concert was broadcast worldwide on WQXR. Ms. Jia will make her debut at the Klavierfestival Ruhr in Germany in the summer of 2008 and will make her Carnegie Hall recital debut in the 08/09 season and return to Shanghai for a solo recital.

Ran Jia is currently studying with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Her father, Professor Daqun Jia, is one of the leading composers in China and Dean of the Graduate Study Programs at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Labels: piano, vancouver, VSO, young artists

The Shaw Festival receives $2.1 million

The Shaw Festival receives $2.1 million in funding support from the Government of Canada

Colleen Blake, Executive Director of the Shaw Festival, announced today that the theatre festival is receiving $2,131,860 million in funding through the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP).

“The Shaw Festival is thrilled to receive this significant grant from the Government of Canada during this challenging economic time,” said Blake. “Not only will this funding assist the Shaw Festival in extending our marketing efforts to increase the visibility of our events both nationally and internationally by investing in building visitors now and in the future, but we are confident this injection of support will also have a positive economic impact for our community partners and the entire Niagara Region.”

The announcement was made on behalf of the Government of Canada by the Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and MP for Niagara Falls at The Shaw’s Royal George Theatre. Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and Board Chair Janet McKelvey spoke on behalf of the Festival and a performance by Shaw Festival Ensemble member Jay Turvey from The Shaw’s production of Sunday in the Park with George concluded the celebration.

Funding from the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP) must be used to support costs associated with new activities, programs or experiences that enhance a tourism event. In The Shaw’s case, this funding will be used primarily to support marketing initiatives that will increase ticket sales.

The Shaw will launch an immediate and aggressive strategic marketing plan to turn the current sales trend around early. One of the marketing initiatives is “Great Theatre in the Heart of Niagara Wine Country”, a fully integrated marketing project that leverages many partners in the Niagara Region (wineries, accommodation and fine dining) creating “Staycation” value-added packages to promote the experience of great theatre in a region rich in fine wine, fabulous dining experiences and award-winning accommodation. These and other funded activities will support and promote great theatre in the heart of Niagara wine country. The project deals not only with this year’s needs, but also focuses strongly on initiatives to grow future audiences to levels that ensures sustainability.

A powerful economic force in the Niagara (and Ontario) economy, The Shaw’s season lasts from April to the end of October, and critically affects the health of many industries that rely on Shaw visitors for this period. The Shaw believes it is vital to be in the market place more aggressively, for a longer period of time, and in more markets and this incremental marketing funding makes that possible.

In thanking the Government for its investment in The Shaw, Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell spoke about the important role of theatre in times such as these: “We become more, not less necessary. We are here to explain, to distract, to clarify, to comfort, and to give the reasons why. We have been heartened by the incredible support of our donors who are coming to the fore to ensure we can continue to create work that is both challenging and entertaining. The Government of Canada’s support of the Shaw Festival with this Marquee Tourism Events grant makes a critical contribution towards ensuring financial stability for both the Shaw Festival and tourism in the Niagara Region. Thank you for creating this innovative funding initiative.”

The Shaw Festival is an internationally renowned theatre company, one of the pre-eminent theatre companies in North America, and one of the major performing arts organizations in Canada. Its Academy plays an important role in training future actors, directors, and designers – a major contribution to the health of theatre in Ontario and Canada. As well, The Shaw plays a vital part in the important tourism business of the Niagara Region, with an annual direct economic impact of over $80 million.

The Shaw Festival is just one of several of Canada’s annual, world-class marquee tourism events that have been granted funding under the MTEP Summer 2009 funding stream.

Labels: funding, Shaw Festival, theatre

Nouveauté partition de CMBV

Nouveauté partition : entre oratorio et divertissement, l'Idylle "Un Pasteur de son peuple" de B.-A. Dupuy (1707-1789)

Le divertissement que publient les Éditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles en partition est très original. Composé en 1761 par Bernard-Aymable Dupuy pour la nomination d'Arthur-Richard Dillon à l'archevêché de Toulouse, il s'agit d'un portrait en musique de cet homme d'église, héritier d'une grande famille au passé militaire glorieux, en forme d'oratorio.

Le compositeur toulousain montre une ambition dépassant largement l'aspect circonstanciel de l'œuvre : la vivacité et la variété dominent cette musique qui enchaîne les airs, les rondeaux, les ariettes, les ritournelles, les chœurs, les danses, les récitatifs, les duos… Ménageant un juste équilibre entre spontanéité italienne et élégance française dans un beau style classique.

Aussi divertissante pour le public que pour les interprètes, l'œuvre se prête parfaitement bien à un cadre pédagogique ambitieux associant toutes les disciplines de la scène : chant, chœur, orchestre, danse, mise en scène, l'on peut même envisager une narration. Les professionnels trouveront eux une petite œuvre lyrique classique extrêmement divertissante dont la frontière entre profane et religieux tangue.

L'effectifs comprend 4 chanteurs solistes, chœur à 5 parties (soprani divisés), et orchestre (piccolo, flûtes (1 & 2), hautbois (1 & 2), basson, Cor (ut), violon 1 & 2, violoncelles et basse continue).

BERNARD-AYMABLE DUPUY (1707-1789)

Maître de chapelle de Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges et de Saint-Sernin à Toulouse.

Idylle « Un pasteur de son peuple » [BAD. 70] (livret non identifié), transcription Françoise Talvard collection Œuvre lyrique – série Patrimoine musical en Midi-Pyrénées proposée par Françoise Talvard, © 2008, 79 pages, 19x24 cm, conducteur broché, ISMN M-56016-178-5 : avec introduction et livret (français).

cahiers-178 Idylle « Un pasteur de son peuple », conducteur.......................... 20,00 €
cahiers-178-mv Idylle, chant/basse continue............................................................ 15,50 €

cahiers-178-mo Idylle, matériel d'orchestre........................................................... 110,00 €

Les publications des Éditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles peuvent être commandées sur leur boutique en ligne (http://editions.cmbv.fr) et sont en stock dans le réseau des librairies partenaires (liste disponible : http://editions.cmbv.fr/lire/index.php?rubid=1). Elles peuvent par ailleurs être commander dans toute librairie musicale.

Short opera for an archbishop

The lyric work newly published in a full score by the Éditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles is really original. Composed in 1761 as an oratorio by Bernard-Aymable Dupuy for the nomination of His Grace Arthur-Richard Dillon as archbishop of Toulouse, it is a musical portrait of this man of the church, heir to a great family with a glorious military past. This short classical lyric work, full of freshness, is on a fluctuating borderline between sacred and secular music.

The composer from Toulouse (South of France) goes beyond the conventional form of a works such as this: the music is extremely lively and varied, linking aria, rondeau, duet, dance, recitative, arietta, chorus… with a good balance between Italian liveliness and French clarity and elegance in a beautiful classical esthetic.

Entertaining for the public and the performers, the work can be used for a show merging all aspects of the stage arts: soloists, chorus, orchestra, dance, drama… a narrator should be added. Professionals will enjoy a short classical lyric work, full of freshness, on a fluctuating borderline between sacred and secular.

The work can be performed by 4 singers (SABB), a five parts choir (soprani divided) and an orchestra (piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboe, bassoon, Horn (C), Violins 1 & 2, cellos and continuo).

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

The Editions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles are available from:
The website http://editions.cmbv.fr (delivery all over the world)
In New-York at OMI (http://www.omifacsimiles.com)
In California at Theodore Front (http://www.tfront.com)
In England at Jacks Pipe and Hammers (http://www.jackspipesandhammers.com)

web : http://www.cmbv.fr
boutique : http://editions.cmbv.fr

Labels: baroque, CMBV. partition, oratorio

Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal 2009

Jeff Guess, From Hand to Mouth, 1993. Vue de l'installation / Installation view, The American Center, Paris, 1995. Détail / Detail. Avec l'aimable autorisation de l'artiste / Courtesy of the artist

LE MOIS DE LA PHOTO À MONTRÉAL DÉVOILE UN APERÇU DE SA 11^e ÉDITION
Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal est heureux de dévoiler un aperçu de la programmation de sa 11^e édition, qui se déroulera du 10 septembre au 11 octobre prochain. L'événement automnal transformera la ville en une vaste exposition de photographie contemporaine.

Sous le thème Les Espaces de l'image, développé par la commissaire invitée Gaëlle Morel, la 11^e édition du Mois de la Photo à Montréal propose d'explorer la question des dispositifs et de la mise en espace, perçue comme une des clés de lecture essentielles des différents projets photographiques présentés au cours de ces dernières années.

Sorties de leur cadre traditionnel, les images se déploieront dans l'espace d'exposition sous la forme d'installations photographiques et vidéo. Le spectateur sera invité à faire l'expérience d'une variété de procédés visuels et sonores : agrandissement et monumentalité des tirages, projections multiples, conception in situ, fabrication et utilisation d'objets et de machines, etc.

EXPOSITIONS
Au programme : 24 expositions individuelles d'artistes en provenance de 13 pays et de 4 continents, qui associent leurs images à de véritables expériences scénographiques. Parmi ceux-ci, mentionnons : Luc Courchesne (Canada), Jeff Guess (É.-U./France), Alfredo Jaar (Chili/É.-U.), Emmanuelle Léonard (Canada), Oscar Muñoz (Colombie) et Beat Streuli (Suisse). Plusieurs oeuvres seront présentées en première nord-américaine et mondiale.

Les expositions et interventions extérieures seront réparties dans une variété de lieux de diffusion montréalais en partenariat avec des musées, galeries, centres d'artistes et maisons de la culture. La soirée d'ouverture et plusieurs expositions se dérouleront dans un édifice du quartier historique de Saint-Henri. Grâce à la générosité de nos partenaires, toutes les expositions et les activités ouvertes au grand public seront gratuites.

À PROPOS DE L' ÉVÉNEMENT
Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal est une biennale internationale de photographie contemporaine dont la première édition s'est tenue en 1989, afin de célébrer le 150^e anniversaire de l'invention de la photographie. En 2007, le directeur du British Journal of Photography, Simon Bainbridge, situait Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal parmi les 10 meilleurs festivals de photographie dans le monde et le considérait comme la plus importante biennale de photographie en Amérique du Nord.

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LE MOIS DE LA PHOTO À MONTRÉAL PRESENTS ITS PROGRAM PREVIEW
Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal is delighted to present the preview of the program for its 11^th presentation, to be held from September 10 to October 11, 2009. This fall, the event will transform the city into a vast exhibition of contemporary photography.

Organized around the theme The Spaces of the Image, developed by guest curator Gaëlle Morel, the 11^th presentation of Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal will explore the questions of mechanisms and staging, perceived as essential keys to reading the different photographic projects presented in recent years.

Taken out of their traditional framework, images will be deployed in the exhibition spaces in the form of in situ photographic and video installations. Visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in a variety of visual and sound experiences: enlargement and monumentalization of prints, projections, the use of objects and devices, staging strategies, etc.

EXHIBITIONS
The event will feature 24 solo exhibitions by artists from 13 countries and 4 continents, whose practices combine images with scenographic experiences. Among them are Luc Courchesne (Canada), Jeff Guess (USA/France), Alfredo Jaar (Chile/USA), Emmanuelle Léonard (Canada), Oscar Muñoz (Colombia), and Beat Streuli (Switzerland). A number of the works are being presented for the first time in North America or as world premières.

The exhibitions and public space interventions will be presented in a variety of different sites across the city in partnership with museums, galleries, artist-run centres, and maisons de la culture. The public event launch and several exhibitions will be held in the historic Saint-Henri district. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, all of our exhibitions and activities open to the general public will be presented free of charge.

ABOUT THE EVENT
Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal is an international biennale of contemporary photography first presented in 1989, to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the invention of photography. In 2007, the editor of the British Journal of Photography, Simon Bainbridge, listed Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal among the 10 best photographic events in the world, and named it North America's premier biannual photo festival.

PARTENAIRES D'EXPOSITIONS / EXHIBITIONS PARTNERS
Centre Canadien d'Architecture | Fonderie Darling |Galerie B-312 | Galerie Leonard & Bina Ellen
Galerie de l'UQAM | Les Ateliers Jean Brillant | MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels)
Maison de la culture Frontenac | Maison de la culture Plateau-Mont-Royal
SBC, galerie d'art contemporain | VOX, image contemporaine

Labels: montréal, museum, musée, photographie, photography

PSO Percussion Kinderkonzert Series, Beginning May 18

Portland Symphony Orchestra Presents Kinderkonzert Series on Percussion Instruments Beginning May 18
Introducing young children to instrument families and musical concepts

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) begins its last Kinderkonzert series of the 2008-09 season with "Percussion: Wood, Metal, Skins!" The programs will travel to six Southern Maine locations May 18 through May 29.

The PSO Percussion trio will introduce kids aged three to seven to their fascinating array of both standard and unusual percussion instruments. They'll see and hear how wood, metal and "skins" are used to create rhythms and melodies. The "Percussion: Wood, Metal, Skins!" program opens on May 18 at the South Hiram Elementary School and then travels to five other locations for a total of 15 performances.

Kinderkonzerts are entertaining, interactive programs with Portland Symphony musicians where kids ages 3 - 7 can sing, dance, wiggle, clap, and have fun listening and learning about music and instruments. School systems can coordinate the Kinderkonzert visit with Science and English Language Arts instruction in addition to Visual and Performing Arts. Specially prepared worksheets designed to support Maine's Learning Results are available online or by contacting the PSO.

Sponsored by Time Warner Cable, all Portland Symphony Orchestra Kinderkonzert tickets are $3 per person with advance reservation, $4 at the door (adult or child). For additional information, reservations and ticketing information visit www.portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128.

# # #

PSO Kinderkonzert Schedule for Percussion: Wood, Metal, Skins!:

May 18, 2009 | 9:30, 10:30 AM
South Hiram Elementary School
213 South Hiram Road, South Hiram

May 19, 2009 | 9:30, 10:30 AM
South Portland High School Auditorium
637 Highland Avenue, South Portland

May 21, 2009 | 9:30, 10:30 AM, 1:00 PM
Brunswick High School's Crooker Theater
116 Maquoit Road, Brunswick

May 27, 2009 | 9:30, 10:30 AM
Reiche Community School
166 Brackett Street, Portland

May 28, 2009 | 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 AM
Olin Arts Center, Bates College
75 Russell Street, Lewiston

May 29, 2009 | 9:30, ~~10:30~~* AM, 1:00 PM
C.K. Burns Elementary School
135 Middle Street, Saco

* SOLD OUT

Labels: children, kinderkonzert series, maine, percussion, PSO

Friday, April 24, 2009

Laudate Singers present VIVA VIVALDI! May 22

Laudate Singers present

VIVA VIVALDI!

with

Nancy DiNovo, violin

and Baroque instrumentalists

Friday May 22, 2009 at 8:00 pm

St. David's United Church, West Vancouver

(Taylor Way @ Hwy 1)

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

604.729.6814 or info@laudatesingers.com

www.laudatesingers.com

Laudate Singers and artistic director Lars Kaario bring their 14th season to an exhilarating close, as they join forces with violinist Nancy DiNovo and an ensemble of Vancouver’s finest Baroque instrumentalists for Viva Vivaldi! The choir and orchestra will present such beloved Vivaldi masterpieces as the joyful Gloria, the refined Beatus Vir (both featuring soprano soloists Catherine Crouch and Heidi Ackermann and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Stephanson) and the Credo. DiNovo will also perform the glittering Spring movement from Vivaldi's most famous work, The Four Seasons.

Viva Vivaldi! provides a brilliant, spirited conclusion to a season that – in true Laudate fashion – has ranged from the very old to the brand new, including several world premieres of new pieces by Canadian composers. The choir’s varied programming has spanned centuries, cultures and musical styles, taking audiences on a journey through the ancient mysteries of the medieval mass, the colourful sounds of the tango and, now, the beauties of a Baroque Venetian spring. Hearts will be lifted and ears dazzled, as Laudate Singers, Nancy DiNovo and friends give virtuoso performances of some of the most popular works in the Western classical canon.

www.laudatesingers.com

Labels: laudate singers, vancouver, vivaldi

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Phila Singers in Concert at Verizon Hall is Centrepiece of National Conference

THE PHILADELPHIA SINGERS PRESENTS CENTERPIECE CONCERT OF 32^ND ANNUAL CHORUS AMERICA CONFERENCE

500 arts leaders from across the United States and Canada expected to attend Conference and The Philadelphia Singers Centerpiece Concert in The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Philadelphia Singers will host the 32^nd Annual National Chorus America Conference in Philadelphia from June 10^th through the 13^that the Hyatt at Penn’s Landing and has the distinct honor of presenting the Centerpiece Concert in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce Streets, on Thursday, June 11 at 8:00 p.m. The concert will include Donald Martino’s a cappella Seven Pious Pieces and Charles Martin Loeffler’s gorgeous By the Rivers of Babylon performed by The Philadelphia Singers fully professional chorus. The finale will feature Anton Bruckner’s exquisite and seldom performed masterpiece, Mass in E Minor, featuring the glorious 150-voice Philadelphia Singers Chorale. The concert is open to the general public. Tickets are $36, $51 and $61 and may be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.philadelphiasingers.org.

Music Director David Hayes said, “The Centerpiece Conference will put the artistic focus almost exclusively on the chorus, showcasing The Philadelphia Singers’ artistry and virtuosity.” Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor combines moments of quiet a cappella tranquility with passages of soaring beauty. The Philadelphia Singers Chorale will be joined by woodwinds and brass from the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. A unique combination of flutes, harp, cello and organ will accompany the women of The Philadelphia Singers on Loeffler’s By The Rivers of Babylon and will feature organist Michael Stairs on The Kimmel Center’s magnificent Fred J. Cooper memorial organ. An expanded chorus of fifty-voices from the fully-professional ensemble will perform Martino’s a cappella Seven Pious Pieces.

Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor for chorus, wind and brass instruments is considered his first great work, premiering in 1866 when he was 42 years old. It is a beautiful combination of intricate Italian Renaissance polyphony and the dark sonorities and lush harmonies of the Romantic period. His use of a wind band makes it unique among the composer's works and among 19th-century liturgical works in general. Bruckner's choral writing is among the most glorious and powerful in all Romantic music: the polyphony for eight-part chorus in the Kyrie and the Sanctus is matched by few of his contemporaries. Bruckner's harmonic language is enormously expressive throughout, and much of the music is obviously inspired by the music of Wagner, whose Tristan und Isolde Bruckner had just heard.

American Donald Martino, who died in 2005, won the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1974 and was the former chair of the New England Conservatory’s composition department. His Seven Pious Pieces is an a cappella work for mixed chorus set to texts by 17^th century poet Robert Herrick. The Philadelphia Singers previously performed the piece in 1994 at its Philadelphia Premiere. Although Martino was known as an academic and a serialist composer, in an interview with the Boston Globe in 1980, he said, ''My music is not austere and academic. It is a fantasy that anyone writes academic music. I write music for people to listen to, to react to; I want them to say, 'Hey, this is nice!' " It is in this spirit that he set out to write Seven Pious Pieces, which he composed with an intent to demonstrate that a twelve-pitch piece could be made to sound tonal.

Charles Martin Loeffler was born in Germany, but lived most of his life in America, becoming a U.S. Citizen in 1887. By the Rivers of Babylon is set to text from Psalm 137. It is typical of his choral writing, which he often set to texts that reflect the sadness and transience of life, the loss of something once known and loved. To express this quality, he used a unique instrumentation of two flutes, harp, cello and organ. The melodic line is reminiscent of the reciting tones of Gregorian chant and the unusual orchestration provides an intriguing contrast to the women’s chorus.

The 32^nd AnnualChorus America Conference and Centerpiece Concert will shine a national spotlight on The Philadelphia Singers, and welcome the service organization back to its birthplace. Michael Korn, who founded The Philadelphia Singers in 1972, established Chorus America in 1977 as the Association of Professional Vocal Ensembles. The association has since expanded and in 1993 officially changed its name to Chorus America to reflect its role as a service organization that embraces the broad spectrum of choruses. For more information on Chorus America Conference and the Conference visit www.chorusamerica.org.

The Philadelphia Singers, a professional choral ensemble, engages and inspires a broad range of audiences in the Philadelphia region with compelling concert experiences. The Singers has a special commitment to preserve and strengthen America’s rich choral heritage through performances, commissions, and music education. It seeks to enrich the broader community through embodying the highest standards of classical musicianship and providing a platform for its musicians to serve the community in a wide variety of formats.

Founded in 1972 by Michael Korn, The Philadelphia Singers has been under the dynamic leadership of Music Director and Conductor David Hayes since 1992. For 36 years, The Philadelphia Singers has contributed to the city’s vibrant cultural community through presenting choral music of the highest caliber, meaningful education and community programs, and significant collaborations with local, national and internationally recognized performing arts organizations. In 2001, The Philadelphia Singers Chorale was named Resident Chorus of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the first time in the orchestra’s history that a chorus has received this distinction. The Philadelphia Singers Chorale appears on all of the orchestra’s choral subscriptions concerts including performances at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts annual performances of Handel’s Messiah and the “Glorious Sounds of Christmas” as well as appearances at the Saratoga Performance Arts Center. Maestro Wolfgang Sawallisch, Conductor Laureate of The Philadelphia Orchestra, hails The Singers as “one of the musical treasures of Philadelphia.”

Labels: philadelphia, singing

JAZZ@MASSEY/09-10 season/Starting Aug 5!

Massey Hall presents

JAZZ @ MASSEY HALL 09/10

Single Tickets Now On Sale!

· Lang Lang & Herbie Hancock – Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8pm

· Ornette Coleman – Thursday, September 24, 2009 8pm

· Brad Mehldau Trio – Saturday, April 10, 2010 8pm

Single Tickets On Sale to FriendsFirst members: 10 am, Wed April 22, 2009

Single Tickets On Sale to Public: 12 Noon, Sat April 25, 2009

Subscriptions (3 Concerts) Still Available

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 2009-2010 Season (Series of 3 concerts)

Massey Hall presents its 2^nd spectacular season of Jazz @ Massey Hall – a three-concert series featuring a stellar lineup of internationally acclaimed artists 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. Toronto audiences will be treated to the extraordinary partnership of piano greats Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock, the inimitable genius of saxophonist Ornette Coleman, and the incomparable stylings of the Brad Mehldau Trio – all on the stage of Massey Hall, Canada’s historic concert venue long recognized internationally as one of the great halls for jazz.

Subscriptions (3 concerts) Still Available: $295 - $145

1) LANG LANG & HERBIE HANCOCK with ORCHESTRA

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 8 PM Massey Hall

Single Tickets: $199.50 - $69.50

Pianists Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock reunite after their thrilling, 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 to perform a variety of solos, duets and concertos for two pianos, with orchestra, by such masters as Gershwin, Bernstein, Ravel, and others.

"...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

2) ORNETTE COLEMAN

Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 8 PM Massey Hall

Single Tickets: $89.50 - $69.50

Fifty years ago, saxophonist Ornette Coleman shook up the world of jazz with The Shape Of Jazz To Come, a groundbreaking album whose influence has been felt by virtually every jazz musician. Coleman has always sought that most prized quality in jazz: freedom. His profound artistry was recognized in 2007 with both a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement. We have heard first hand how powerfully his music continues to resonate, thanks to his 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 Coleman’s appearance in Toronto was both.” --The Globe & Mail

3) BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO

Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 8 PM Massey Hall

Single Tickets: $69.50 - $49.50

Universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists on the jazz scene today, Brad Mehldau pushes boundaries to blend musical genres and blaze trails into new musical territory. His hauntingly beautiful melody lines and stunning improvisations reveal his deeply intelligent musicianship. Mehldau has recorded and performed around the world since the mid 1990s as a soloist and in collaboration with Pat Metheny, Joshua Redman, Wayne Shorter, and many others. His acclaimed trio includes bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. “The elliptical lines, volatile rhythmic figures and unexpected bursts of color and dissonance… prove that Mehldau writes as cleverly as he plays.” --The Chicago Tribune

Jazz @ Massey Hall is sponsored by TD Canada Trust

Labels: 2009-10 season, jazz, Massey Hall, Toronto

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Eighth Blackbird Performs Steve Reich's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Double Sextet at Ojai Music Festival

*Steve Reich and members of Nexus perform Reich’s Drumming at 2008 Ojai Music Festival

STEVE REICH WINS PULITZER PRIZE FOR DOUBLE SEXTET

Work To Be Performed By Eighth Blackbird at Ojai Music Festival Sunday, June 14

Steve Reich, the 2008 featured composer at the Ojai Music Festival described by New Yorker magazine as “the most original musical thinker of our time,” has won a Pulitzer Prize for Double Sextet, which was commissioned and premiered in 2007 by eighth blackbird, the music director of the 2009 Ojai Music Festival. The 22-minute work can be performed either by a sextet playing against a prerecording of the work or as an ensemble of 12 instrumentalists.

On Sunday, June 14, the closing day of the four-day Ojai Music Festival, eighth blackbird will be joined by six ‘live’ musicians in a performance of Steve Reich’s Double Sextet, to open the Festival’s four-hour Marathon Finale.

Grammy Award-winning sextet eighth blackbird, known for its provocative and engaging performances, comprising flutist Tim Munro, clarinetist Michael J. Maccaferri, violin/violist Matt Albert, cellist Nicholas Photinos, percussionist Matthew Duvall, percussion; and pianist Lisa Kaplan. The sextet, which plays with a virtuosic and theatrical flair, debunks the myth that contemporary music is only for a cerebral few.

The six artists joining eighth blackbird in the June 14 performance of Double Sextet are flutist Alexis Kenny, clarinetist John Schertle, violinist Andrew McCann, cellist Darrett Adkins, percussionist Greg Beyer, and pianist Amy Briggs.

American composer Steve Reich, an early pioneer in tape music and American minimalism, has established himself as one of the foremost composers of our time. The 72-year-old composer has been described by The Guardian as one of the few composers who have "altered the direction of musical history" and by The New York Times as “our greatest living composer.” His music has been performed by countless orchestras and ensembles worldwide, and noted choreographers have created dances to his music. Known for steady pulse, repetition, and a fascination with canons, his music has been influential to composers and pop musicians all over the world. Mr. Reich has been recognized with Grammy Awards for Different Trains and Music for 18 Musicians (also to be performed at the 2009 Ojai Music Festival), and his “documentary video opera” works The Cave and Three Tales, created in collaboration with video artist Beryl Korot, have expanded the boundaries of the operatic medium.

The 63^rd annual Ojai Music Festival, under 2009 Music Director eighth blackbird, takes place from June 11 to June 14. The Festival, which for six decades has become well known for its fearlessness in championing pioneering musical ideas and personalities, takes place in the unspoiled beauty of California’s Ojai Valley, and is known worldwide for providing artists with the freedom to present music they are passionate about. Many of today’s finest contemporary artists have been gathered for this year’s festival, which has been described as “a wild and diverse musical party of extraordinary talents.” Among them are freewheeling chamber ensemble Tin Hat; the matchless recorder quartet from Berlin, QNG; American pianist Jeremy Denk; composer/guitarist Steven Mackey, actor/singer Rinde Eckert, and renowned sound sculptor Trimpin. The Ojai Music Festival is located 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Ojai Music Festival single tickets range from $35 to $95 for reserved seating; lawn seats are $15. For a full schedule of events, visit www.ojaifestival.org

Labels: california, composer, sextet

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Death and the Maiden, Altera Vitae at MainLine Theatre- May 13-24

Death and the Maiden

By Ariel Dorfman

Directed by Jesse Corbeil

Wednesday, May 13 - Sunday, May 24

"During all those years not an hour has passed that I haven't heard it, that same voice, next to me, next to my ear, that voice mixed with saliva, you think I'd forget a voice like his?" - Paulina

Montreal, April 2009- Altera Vitae is proud to present their third production, Death and the Maiden, playing at MainLine Theatre from May 13 to 24. Directed by Jesse Corbeil, the capable cast includes Sam Croitoru (Dr. Roberto Miranda), Carolyn Fe (Paulina Salas) and William Ward (Paulina's husband, Gerardo Escobar). Altera Vitae produces works of theatre that engage and service the community. With each new production, the company partners itself with a valuable, charitable organization whose mandate is similar to themes in the play. For Death and the Maiden, Altera Vitae supports RIVO, assisting the organization in their public awareness strategies. Carolyn Fe, Altera Vitae's artistic director, wants the public to know about this vital intervention network of therapists and community workers concerned with the well being of survivors of torture and other forms of organised political violence. "RIVO helps people like Paulina get on with their lives and thrive…not forgetting the past but moving onto the future with pride."

Years after the fall of a dictatorship, a woman gets the chance to confront her torturer. Is this a time for forgiveness or revenge? Death and the Maiden is an inquest into the darker side of humanity – one in which everyone is implicated and justice seems like a fragile, ambiguous invention. Winner of the 1992 Olivier Award for Best Play, Ariel Dorfman's explosively, provocative drama is set in a country that has only recently returned to democracy. Gerardo Escobar has just been chosen to head the commission that will investigate the crimes of the old regime when his car breaks down and the benevolent doctor Roberto Miranda picks him up. But Gerardo's wife, Paulina Salas, thinks she recognizes another man – the one who raped and tortured her as she lay blindfolded in a military detention center years before. What would you do?

Director Jesse Corbeil comments on the unfortunate timelessness of the story, "Though it's not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the text, the play references the forces that were at work in Chile during the early post-Pinochet years; but the themes are still very fresh today." He continues, "Torture and the presumption of guilt are everywhere, and habeas corpus is becoming nothing more than a notion." Jesse would like audience members to come away questioning what it is that moves people to make assumptions where guilt and innocence are concerned, especially with so many people still imprisoned on the strength of extremely flimsy evidence.

Death and the Maiden is about survival and survivors' will to live and show the strength in humanity. Producer/actor Carolyn Fe is passionate about the play on many levels, "It amazes me how much the human body and mind can take when there is a goal, a promise, a hope or objective that is held onto." For Carolyn it is also deeply personal, "I've chosen to do this play to bring out the silent scream in everybody." She continues, "This play makes you listen to that scream in the dark that nobody hears after barricading yourself for too long. Yes, it is political, but it also speaks to those who lack confidence." Carolyn believes if you have a goal and you remain focused on it, you can attain anything.

Rounding out the team is stage manager and lighting designer Mindy Sirois, sound designer Dan Legault, fight choreographer Vladimir Cara, technical director Scott Drysdale, technical assistant Jeffery Farrer and photographer Litratista.

"If he's innocent? Then he's really screwed." - Paulina

Death and the Maiden

Altera Vitae Productions

Playing at MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St. Laurent

Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 pm

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm

$20 regular, $15 student/senior

Pay-what-you-can: Wed. May 13 preview and May 16 and 17 matinees, to help spread word of mouth

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

Showtimes: May 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23 at 8:00 pm

Matinées: May 16, 17, 23, 24 at 2:00 pm

www.alteravitae.com

RIVO- http://www.web.net/~rivo/EngFramesHome.htm

Labels: Mainline Theatre, montreal

Monday, April 20, 2009

Free public reading May 8

Free Public Reading of

Speak Oppenheimer or Elephants

by Jaspreet Singh

Infinithéâtre is pleased to present a free public reading of award-winning Montréal writer Jaspreet Singh's play, Speak Oppenheimer or Elephants on Friday, May 8^th 2009 at 7:30 PM at the NDG Maison de la culture.

The drama focuses on the culturally schizophrenic post-9/11 existence of Irfan Hussein, a Kashmiri-American nuclear physicist traveling back to his birthplace to bury his mother. The play explores themes of nuclear proliferation, terrorism, racism and the complicated identities that characterize our globalized existence.

Montreal writer Jaspreet Singh was born in India and moved to Canada in 1990. A former research scientist, Singh holds a PhD in chemical engineering from McGill University. Singh has won critical acclaim for his short stories, including his collection entitled, 17 Tomatoes: Tales from Kashmir. His First novel, Chef, published last year, was nominated for four major national and international literary awards.

An open discussion of the play will follow the reading with the author present. The reading of Speak Oppenheimer or Elephants, will be held at:

Friday,May 8, 2009

7:30pm.

Maison de la culture in NDG

3755 rue Botrel

Call to reserve:

(514) 872 - 2157

Labels: Infinithéâtre, literature, montreal, theatre

Friday, April 17, 2009

The VSO Presents the Vancouver Debut of Alexander Gavrylyuk

The VSO Presents the Vancouver Debut of Alexander Gavrylyuk, performing Tchaikovsky’s other Piano Concerto!

Vancouver BC – Celebrated for his outstanding technique and dramatic musicality, Alexander Gavrylyuk is unquestionably one of the top pianists of his generation. Mr. Gavrylyuk plays Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in his Vancouver debut. Maestro Bramwell Tovey wields the baton in a string of other Russian classics performed by the orchestra, including Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Overture, Shostakovich’s The Age of Gold Suite and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. This extraordinary concert is featured at the Orpheum and the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey in the final concert of the 2008/2009 Surrey Nights series.

“A world class pianist performing at his absolute best…”

- New York Times

“…such blow-your-socks-off virtuosity is complemented with a dark, intense, ferociously-concentrated essence and nature…unlike so many competition winners we shall surely be hearing a lot more of this prodigiously gifted young pianist and life force.”

- The Gramophone

Winner of the 1999 Vladimir Horowitz Competition, the 2000 Hamamatsu Competition and, most notably, the 2005 Arthur Rubinstein Competition, Mr. Gavrylyuk is undeniably a superstar in the making. Currently based in Moscow, Mr. Gavrylyuk had his solo debut recital last year at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatorium at the invitation of Nikolay Petrov and also performed a solo recital at the Kremlin.

Alexander Gavrylyuk’s upcoming engagements include a recital at the hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, concerts with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Netherlands Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic and the Moscow Radio Orchestra. Gavrylyuk has also been invited to record the complete Prokofiev concerti with conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gavrylyuk performs Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.2, a rarely-performed gem of the repertoire that lives in the shadow of its much more famous big brother, the popular Piano Concerto No.1. Although not blessed with such an intense beginning or as many memorable melodies, many passages of the Second are as dramatic and beautiful as anything ever written for piano and orchestra. Mr. Gavrylyuk’s debut features this extraordinary work that has rarely been heard in Vancouver in an exciting, all-Russian classical celebration.

CONCERT INFO

Musically Speaking & Surrey Nights Series:

Exciting Russian Classics! Gavrylyuk Plays Tchaikovsky

Saturday, May 9, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Monday, May 11, 8pm, Bell Performing Arts Centre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano*

Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major*

James Maxwell Olympic Commission

Shostakovich The Age of Gold Suite

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

Rubinstein Competition winning piano prodigy Alexander Gavrylyuk is one of the top pianists of his generation, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Lang Lang and Yundi Li. His performance of Tchaikovsky’s other piano concerto will blow you away.

Tickets for May 9 Concert: $20 to $56 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets for May 11 Concert: $37 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

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

Generously Supported By:

May 9 Concert Sponsor: HSBC Canada

Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

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

Radio Sponsor: 103.5 QM/FM

The Surrey Nights Series has been endowed by a generous gift from Werner and Helga Höing.

BIOGRAPHIES

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano

Winner of the 11th Arthur Rubinstein Masters Piano Competition 2005. Winner of the 4th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition Japan 2000. Winner of the 3rd Horowitz International Piano Competition in Ukraine in 1999.

Alexander's upcoming engagements include solo recital at the big hall of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, concerts with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Netherlands Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, the Moscow Radio Orchestra. Gavrylyuk has been invited to record and perform the complete Prokofiev concerti with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting in 2009.

In January 2007 Alexander had his solo debut recital at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatorium at the invitation of Nikolay Petrov. Gavrylyuk has also performed a solo recital at the Kremlin. 2007 took Alexander to Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Taipei, and the USA.

Alexander has performed with the Russian National Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra, the, Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony, and Western Australia Symphony. Lately Gavrylyuk has performed with conductors Lazarev, Spivakov, Segerstam, Fedoseyev, Gruppman, Ettinger, Tovey and Soudan.

Alexander Gavrylyuk was born in 1984 in the Ukraine and began his piano studies at the age of seven. He gave his first concerto performance when he was nine years old. In 1996 he was a prize winner in Senigalia, Italy and in 1997 was a 2nd prize winner at the Second Horowitz International Piano Competition in Kiev. The next big step for Alexander was going back to compete at the Third Horowitz International Piano Competition and winning the coveted First prize and Gold medal in 1999.

Proclaimed as “the best sixteen year old pianist of the late twentieth century” by critics in Japan in November 2000 after winning First Prize in the prestigious Hamamatsu International piano Competition in Japan. He was 16 years old in a field of competitors ranging in age from 16 to 32. Alexander returns regularly, touring Japan and performing to a full house in Suntory Hall and Tokyo Opera City Hall. He recorded his first two CD’s in Japan.

Alexander lived in Sydney, Australia from 1998-2006. His Australian concert activities in more recent years include recitals at the Sydney Opera House, City Recital Hall in Sydney as well as performances with the Melbourne Symphony and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s in 2006.

In April 2005, Gavrylyuk won the First Prize, Gold Medal as well as the Best Performance of a Classical Concerto in the internationally renowned Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition. That year, VAI International recorded his live performance at the Miami Piano Discoveries Festival, USA, for international DVD release which went on to receive four and five star ratings in the international press. In May 2007 he recorded his second DVD with VAI.

Labels: BC, bramwell tovey, piano, tchaikovsky, VSO

Previews begin for Shavian Restoration comedy In Good King Charles's Golden Days

Preview performances of In Good King Charles’s Golden Days, George Bernard Shaw’s Restoration romp begin Friday, April 17, 2009, at the Royal George Theatre.

A religious leader (Ric Reid), an artist (Ken James Stewart) and Charles II, the Merrie Monarch (Benedict Campbell), meet at Sir Isaac Newton’s (Graeme Somerville) house. The set-up for a joke? No, it’s Shaw’s Restoration comedy, where debates on everything – from geometry to art to love potions – ensue.

First produced in 1939, Shaw’s history lesson in three acts is a witty and decidedly Shavian take on some great men (and women) of history. The play’s subtitle, "A True History that Never Happened", gives insight into Shaw’s whimsical approach to this fascinating and humorous discussion piece. Shaw pondered what would happen if several prominent and influential men of history met at the height of their powers? What debates and discussions would this gathering inspire? And what if this discussion was, on occasion, interrupted by one or several of the King’s mistresses? The result is a lively dialogue spanning both the serious and comedic on a wide-range of topics.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell considers this brilliant ensemble piece “a glorious opportunity for our actors to display their unparalleled gifts for Shavian comic mayhem.” In Good King Charles’s Golden Days also features Shaw Ensemble members Laurie Paton, Esther Maloney, Mary Haney, Nicola Correia-Damude, Claire Jullien, Lisa Codrington and Andrew Bunker.

Directed by Eda Holmes, director of last season’s The Little Foxes and the highly acclaimed 2004 Shaw Festival production of the musical Floyd Collins, In Good King Charles’s Golden Days has set design by Camellia Koo, costume design by Michael Gianfrancesco, lighting design by Bonnie Beecher and fight direction by John Stead. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Beatrice Campbell, Assistant Stage Manager Barry Burns and Production Stage Manager Judy Farthing.

In Good King Charles’s Golden Days begins preview performances Friday, April 17; opens Thursday, May 21; and plays in repertory until Friday, October 9. In Good King Charles’s Golden Days is generously sponsored by the Producers Circle.

Labels: niagara, shaw, Shaw Festival, theatre

En mai, La Scena Musicale mettra l’accent sur les festivals de jazz, de musiques du monde et de musique folklorique

[English version]

Nouvelles dates de tombées :

Édition Québec :

Pour les réservations d'annonces : 27 avril
Maquettes : 28 avril à 10 h
Distribution : 1er mai

Édition Canada anglais :

Pour les réservations d'annonces : 1er mai
Maquettes : 1er mai
Distribution : 8 mai

La Scena Musicale April 2009 Issue

La Scena Musicale May 2008 Issue

Chaque année, La Scena Musicale publie son numéro spécial « Jazz ». Le premier de deux numéros distribués à l’échelle nationale, il paraît le 1er mai et contient toute l’information dont vous avez besoin pour planifier votre été ici et ailleurs, notamment notre Guide annuel des festivals de jazz, de musiques du monde et de musique folklorique (plus de 180 festivals!). C'est également un dossier spécial sur les femmes dans le Jazz. La compositrice et chef Maria Schneider fait la couverture et nous parlons également avec la chanteuse et pianiste Patricia Barber. Vous trouverez aussi notre choix de festivals de jazz et des critiques de disques de jazz. Lucia di Lammermoor sera la prochaine production de l’Opéra de Montréal et nous publions une étude musicologique du chef-d’œuvre de Donizetti. Cette production fait aussi partie de notre prochaine activité de collecte de fonds : un week-end d’opéra à Montréal le 23 mai. La Société chorale de Saint-Lambert célèbre ses 90 ans, alors que le Quatuor Guarneri prend sa retraite après 45 ans d’existence. Nous vous amenons dans les coulisses de l’édition de 2009 du Concours Musical International de Montréal (chant). Le CD Découverte de mai est consacré aux œuvres complètes pour guitare du compositeur Francesco Tárrega (1852-1909), interprétées par le guitariste québécois Michel Beauchamp. La date de tombée pour les annonces est le 27 avril et le 1er mai.

LSM est fière de son rôle primordial dans la promotion des festivals d’été, et en complément du jazz, la section « répertoire des festivals » comprendra aussi les festivals de musique du monde et de musique folklorique. N'oubliez pas qu’en juin, nous publierons notre répertoire annuel des festivals canadiens d'été de musique classique. En couverture : la contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux. Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter :

Pour plus d’information sur les tarifs et la production, voir notre calendrier 2008-2009 à http://ads.scena.org ou communiquer directement avec notre service des ventes au 514-948-0509 ou à sales@scena.org.

Pour vous abonner (et recevoir la Collection Découverte), visitez http://www.scena.org/LaSCENACard

Salutations cordiales,

Wah Keung Chan
Éditeur et rédacteur en chef fondateur
La Scena Musicale
La SCENA
The Music Scene

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

Mai 2009 : le numéro « Jazz » de La Scena Musicale

En page couverture de LSM : la compositrice et chef Maria Schneider
Entrevue avec la chanteuse/pianiste Patricia Barber
L'article sur le CD Découverte : Francesco Tárrega (1852-1909), œuvres interprétées par le guitariste québécois Michel Beauchamp.
L’Opéra de Montréal présente Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti
Concours Musical International de Montréal, Chant 2009
La Société chorale de Saint-Lambert célèbre ses 90 ans
Le Quatuor Guarneri prend sa retraite
et d'autres articles

GUIDE

festivals de jazz, de musiques du monde et de musique folklorique: plus de 180 festivals

Édition nationale 50 000 exemplaires (100 000 lecteurs)

Édition Québec

Québec : 2 500
Montréal : 18 500
En kiosque : 2 000
Abonnements : 2 000

Édition Canada anglais

Vancouver : 4 500
Victoria : 2 500
Calgary : 2 500
Edmonton : 2 500
Ottawa : 3 000
Toronto : 10 000

Édition Québec :

Pour les réservations d'annonces : 27 avril
Maquettes : 28 avril à 10 h
Sortie : 1er mai

Édition Canada anglais :

Pour les réservations d'annonces : 1er mai
Maquettes : 1er mai
Sortie : 8 mai

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

La Scena Musicale : juin 2008

En couverture : Marie-Nicole Lemieux

Édition nationale 50,000 copies (100,000 lecteurs)

Édition Québec

Québec : 2 500
Montréal : 18 500
En kiosque : 2 000
Abonnements : 2 000

Édition Canada anglais

Vancouver : 4 500
Victoria : 2 500
Calgary : 2 500
Edmonton : 2 500
Ottawa : 3 000
Toronto : 10 000

Sortie : le 1er juin
Tombée publicitaire : le 22 mai

Maquettes :

le 25 mai

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La Scena Musicale : juillet/août 2008

50 000 lecteurs
Distribution : 25 000

Québec : 2 500
Montréal : 18 500
En kiosque : 2 000
Abonnements : 2 000

Sortie : le 1er juillet
Tombée publicitaire : le 19 juin
Maquettes : le 22 juin

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La Scena Musicale vous invite à Lucia di Lammermoor

Cette année, La Scena Musicale célèbre la fête des Mères avec une invitation à Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti, le 23 mai, présenté par l'Opéra de Montréal. Le chef-d’oeuvre de Donizetti, l’un des maîtres du bel canto. En Écosse, Lucia aime Edgardo, membre du clan ennemi, mais Enrico, le frère de Lucia, oblige sa soeur à épouser Arturo… Une tragique histoire d’amour et de folie.

Donizetti : Lucia di Lammermoor
Opéra de Montréal
le samedi 23 mai à 20 h
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts, Montréal
514-948-2520 / operaweekend@scena.org

Billets:

catégorie 2 (Corbeille): 106 $ chacun. Offre spéciale : achetez deux billets de cat. 2 et vous recevrez un DVD de Lucia di Lammermoor (valeur de 40$)
catégorie 3 (Mezzanine): 76 $ chacun.

NOTEZ: 10% de rabais pour abonnés de LSM
Voir http://www.scena.org/LaSCENACard

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Aussi, en octobre 2009:
Weekend d'opéra à Toronto

> Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
> The Nightingale and Other Short Fables (Stravinsky), mise-en-scène de Robert Lepage

Canadian Opera Company
Les 18 et 19 octobre 2009

1 (877) 948-2520
operaweekend@scena.org

Nombre de places limité

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Festivals

Au sujet des festivals de musique et des arts, La Scena Musicale, La SCENA et The Music Scene sont les ressources à consulter pour trouver les festivals de musique et des arts internationaux et canadiens en 2009 (en imprimé et en ligne). Les numéros suivants couvriront tous les festivals de 2009 :

Festivals internationaux de musique classique et des arts : numéro de printemps 2009 de The Music Scene.
Festivals canadiens de jazz, de musique du monde et folk (plus festivals internationaux de jazz) : numéro de mai 2009 de La Scena Musicale. C’est un numéro national (distribution doublée à 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
Festivals canadiens de musique classique et des arts : numéro de juin de La Scena Musicale (comprenant le numéro d’été 2009 de La SCENA). C’est un numéro national (distribution doublée à 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
Voir http://ads.scena.org pour plus d’information.

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Pétition pour le rétablissement du financement par le Conseil des Arts du Canada en faveur des périodiques à diffusion contrôléeLe Conseil des Arts du Canada, dans ses procédures de demande de subvention pour 2009, a abandonné le soutien qu'il accordait aux périodiques à diffusion contrôlée. Donc, La Scena Musicale (LSM), The Music Scene Ontario et La SCENA n’ont plus droit à cette source de financement.

En 2007-08, le Conseil des Arts du Canada a subventionné 106 magazines d’art et littéraires pour un total de 2 661 900 $. D’après nous, il faut traiter tous les périodiques consacrés à l’art et à la littérature de manière juste et équitable, ce qui signifie notamment que leurs demandes de soutien devraient être étudiées par un jury. C’est pourquoi La Scena Musicale a décidé de lancer une campagne visant à faire annuler ce changement de politique.

Nous vous prions de manifester votre soutien à l’égard de tous les périodiques d’art à diffusion contrôlée (y compris les nôtres) en signant la pétition et en la faisant circuler.

Pour en savoir plus, lisez l’article suivant dans notre carnet Web : http://www.scena.org/blog/2009/02/le-conseil-des-arts-du-canada-ne.html

Pétition en ligne :

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Nouveau à LSM Online

Nouveau: services RSS. Visitez http://www.scena.org/rss_scena.html

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Annoncez avec nous et joignez les consommateurs canadiens les plus friands de culture.

Vous voulez toucher une population aisée, informée et urbaine de 35 ans et plus, ou encore les musiciens et artistes professionnels ou étudiants ?La Scena Musicale vous invite chez 100 000 Canadiens parmi les plus instruits, avertis en matière de culture et de consommation. Nos lecteurs sont passionnés de musique, de danse, de théâtre, de cinéma et d’arts visuels, et ils s’intéressent à la nourriture, la mode, la décoration.Nos revues renommées La Scena Musicale, La SCENA et The Music Scene publient des articles et critiques qui font réfléchir. La Scena Musicale et La SCENA sont les seules publications bilingues à Montréal consacrées à la musique (classique, jazz et musiques du monde) et aux arts (danse, théâtre, cinéma et arts visuels). En plus, notre calendrier culturel est le plus complet au Canada et assure des lectures répétées (plus de 225 000 par mois). Distribuées gratuitement dans certains foyers aisés (100 000 $ +), nos publications tiennent leur promesse. Nous sommes lus, et lus souvent.

À NOTER:

50 000 lecteurs par parution
675 000 lectures du magazine (3 mois) ou 225 000 lectures par mois

Profil des lecteurs

aisés, haut niveau d'instruction, 35 ans +, mélomanes
musiciens, artistes et étudiants

Renseignements :

Trousse média : http://ads.scena.org
514-948-0509
sales@scena.org

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Faites mieux travailler votre budget !

Laissez LSM vous aider à obtenir des prix plus concurrentiels pour vos imprimés (affiches, dépliants, brochures, programmes, etc.).Forte de ses 15 années d’expérience en achat d’outils de marketing chez des imprimeurs de partout au pays, LSM peut vous ouvrir un accès aux meilleurs prix d’impression existants. Investissez l’argent économisé dans de meilleures surfaces publicitaires (annonces plus grandes ou mieux placées) parmi les divers produits médias de LSM.

ÉCONOMISEZ dans vos imprimés et PROFITEZ d’une meilleure visibilité !

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Dons et bénévoles demandés

La Scena Musicale/The Music Scene est un organisme de bienfaisance enregistré qui fait la promotion des arts et de la musique en publiant trois magazines et un site Web. Nous rapprochons les musicien(ne)s et les artistes avec la communauté artistique, les mélomanes et les amateurs d’art. Aidez-nous à poursuivre notre travail avec un don (d'argent ou de biens) ou par du travail bénévole.Communiquer avec nous au 514-948-2520 ou à info@scena.org

Donnez à CanaDon.org

N^o d’organisme de bienfaisance à l’ARC : 14199 6579 RR0001

Labels: LSM_News

May's La Scena Musicale puts the accent on jazz, world and folk festivals!

[Version française]

NEW Deadlines:

Quebec Edition:

Deadline for ad reservations: April 27

Deadline for artwork: April 28 at 10 AM

Distribution: May 1

English Canada Edition:

Deadline for ad reservations: May 1

Deadline for artwork: May 1

Distribution: May 8

La Scena Musicale April 2009 Issue

La Scena Musicale May 2008 Issue

May is an exciting month for La Scena Musicale as we feature our annual Jazz and Folk Edition. The first of two nationally distributed issues, it appears May 1 and continues to provide more of the essential information you need to plan your summer at home and abroad, including our annual Guide to Jazz, World and Folk Music Festivals (more than 180 festivals!). It is also a special issue on Women in Music. Composer and bandleader Maria Schneider is on the cover, while we also feature singer and pianist Patricia Barber. You will also find Jazz Festival picks and more jazz CD reviews. Lucia di Lammermoor is next on Opéra de Montréal’s bill, and we provide a musicological view of Donezetti’s masterpiece. The performance is also part of our next fundraising event: Opera weekend in Montreal on May 23rd. The St. Lambert Choral Society celebrates 90 years while the Guarneri Quartet retires after 45 years of music making, and we’ll provide you with a behind the scenes look into the 2009 Edition of the Montreal International Music Competition (Voice). The May Discovery CD features composer Francesco Tárrega’s (1852-1909) complete works for guitar, presented by Canadian guitarist Michel Beauchamp. The deadline for advertising is April 27.

LSM prides itself on its leading role in promoting festivals and, in addition to jazz, this month's festival guides will cover summer festivals of world and folk music. Keep an eye out for our summer classical festival guide in June. For more information on these guides, please consult:

http://www.scena.org/pdf-files/Jazz_09NEW.pdf (jazz, world, folk)
http://www.scena.org/pdf-files/Festivals_09.pdf (classical and the arts)

Reach over 100,000 readers with 25,000 copies distributed in Montreal and the province of Quebec, and another 25,000 copies in English Canada. La Scena Musicale contains award-winning editorial features, an extensive calendar of events (province of Quebec including radio and TV listings) and product reviews; readers consult each issue 4.5 times a month, generating 450,000 viewings per month.

For more info on rates and production please visit http://ads.scena.org for our 2008-2009 schedule or contact our sales department directly at 514-948-0509 or sales@scena.org.

To subscribe, call 514-948-2520.

Yours sincerely,

Wah Keung Chan
Founding Publisher and Editor
La Scena Musicale
La SCENA
The Music Scene

____________________________________________________________

Upcoming Issues:

La Scena Musicale: May 2008 National Edition

50,000 copies (100,000 readers)

Contents:

On the cover: Composer and bandleader Maria Schneider
Interview with singer/pianist Patricia Barber
Opéra de Montréal performs Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor
2009 Montreal International Music Competition
St. Lambert Choral Society celebrates 90 years
Guarneri Quartet retires
Guide: Jazz, World and Folk Music Festivals (more than 180 festivals!)

Quebec Edition (25,000 copies)

Québec City: 2 500
Montreal: 18,500
Newsstands: 2,000
Mailing: 2,000

English Canada Edition (25,000 copies)

Vancouver: 4,500
Victoria: 2,500
Calgary: 2,500
Edmonton: 2,500
Ottawa: 3,000
Toronto: 10,000

Quebec Edition:

Deadline for ad reservations: April 27

Deadline for materials: April 28 at noon

Distribution: May 1

English Canada Edition:

Deadline for ad reservations: May 1

Deadline for materials: May 1

Distribution: May 8

La Scena Musicale: June 2008 National Edition

Guides to classical music and arts festivals

50,000 copies (100,000 readers)

Content:

On the cover: Marie-Nicole Lemieux

Quebec Edition (25,000 copies)

Québec City: 2 500
Montreal: 18,500
Newsstands: 2,000
Mailing: 2,000

English Canada Edition (25,000 copies

Vancouver: 3,500
Victoria: 2,500
Calgary: 2,500
Edmonton: 2,500
Ottawa: 3,000
Toronto: 10,000
Maritimes: 1,000

Distribution date: June 1, 2009
Advertising Deadline: May 22

Materials:

May 25 (colour)
May 25 (black and white)

La Scena Musicale: July/August 2008

50,000 readers

Quebec

circulation: 25,000 copies

Montreal : 20,500

Québec City : 500

Newsstands: 2,000

Mailing: 2,000

Distribution date: July 1
Advertising deadline: June 19
Materials deadline: June 22

____________________________________________________________ ________________________

Festivals:

Talking about music and arts festivals. La Scena Musicale, La SCENA and The Music Scene are the place to find International and Canadian music and arts festivals in 2009 (in print and online). The following three issues will cover all the 2009 festivals:

International Classical Music and Arts Festivals: Spring 2009 issue of The Music Scene

Canadian Jazz, World and Folk Festivals plus International Jazz festivals: May 2009 issue of La Scena Musicale. This is a national issue (double distribution to 50,000 copies) and the ad rates are 1.5 times the regular rates.

Canadian Classical Music and Arts Festivals: June issue of La Scena Musicale (including the Summer 2009 issue of La SCENA). This is a national issue (double distribution to 50,000 copies) and the ad rates are 1.5 times the regular rates.

Visit http://ads.scena.org for more info (to come).

______________________________________________________________________________________

La Scena Musicale takes you to Lucia di Lammermoor

This year, La Scena Musicale celebrates the month of mothers with an outing on Saturday, May 23 to the Opéra de Montréal's production of Donizetti's masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor. In Scotland, Lucia is in love with Edgardo, member of an enemy clan. But Enrico, Lucia's brother, forces his sister to marry Arturo. A tragic story of love and madness..

Donizetti : Lucia di Lammermoor
Opéra de Montréal
Saturday, May 23, 8 p.m.
Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
Place des Arts, Montréal
514-948-2520 / operaweekend@scena.org

Prices:

Category 2 (Corbeil): $106 each. Special: Buy 2 tickets of cat. 2 and receive a DVD of Lucia di Lammermoor (value of $40)

Category 3 (Mezzanine): $76 each. Special: Buy 2 tickets of cat. 3 and receive the LSM Puccini CD-set (value of $23).

NOTE: 10% off for LSM subscribers.
See http://www.scena.org/LaSCENACard for more details about becoming a subscriber.

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Also, in October 2009:
Opera Weekend in Toronto

> Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
> The Nightingale and Other Short Fables (Stravinsky), Robert Lepage, director

Canadian Opera Company
October 17 and 18, 2009

1 (877) 948-2520
operaweekend@scena.org

Nombre de places limité / Number of tickets limited.
More details to come.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Petition: Restore Canada Council Funding to Controlled-Circulation Magazines

The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) has recently dropped support for controlled-circulation print magazines in its 2010 application process, rendering La Scena Musicale (LSM), The Music Scene Ontario and La SCENA ineligible to compete for CCA grants. In 2007-08, the Canada Council funded 106 arts & literary magazines for a total of $2,661,900.

We feel that all arts and literary magazines should be treated equally and fairly, and this means the ability to submit an application that is reviewed by a peer jury.

Consequently, La Scena Musicale has launched a campaign to reverse the Canada Council policy change.Please show your support for all controlled-circulation arts magazines (including our family of magazine) by signing up and circulate this appeal.

See our blog article for details: http://www.scena.org/blog/2009/02/canada-council-drops-support-for.html

Online petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/restore-canada-council-funding-to-controlled-circulation-magazines

and a Facebook group Restore Canada Council Funding to Controlled-Circulation Magazines

_______________________________________________________________________________________

New LSM Online Feature:

NEW: RSS Feeds for our news, blogs and Lebrecht Weekly: http://www.scena.org/RSS_SCENA .html

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Advertise with us and reach Canada’s most cultured consumers:

Want to reach the affluent, sophisticated, urban 35+ demographic or professional and student musicans and artists?

La Scena Musicale invites you into the lives of 100,000 highly educated Canadians with sophisticated taste in culture and lifestyle. Our readers are passionate about music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts, as well as food, fashion and their homes.

Our award-winning magazines La Scena Musicale, La SCENA and The Music Scene contain thought-provoking articles and reviews. La Scena Musicale and La SCENA are the only bilingual Montreal publications dedicated to covering classical music, jazz, world music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts. In addition, we publish Canada’s most in-depth cultural calendar, which ensures repeat viewings: over 225,000 per month. Our new direct distribution to affluent households ($100K+) means our magazines truly deliver. We are read, and read often.

Readership Profile

50,000 readers per issue

225,000 readings per month, 675,000 readings for three-month issues

Affluent, educated, 35+, music and arts lovers including the desired Baby Boomers.

Music and arts professionals and students

For more info on rates and production please visit http://ads.scena.orgor contact our sales department directly at 514-948-0509 or sales@scena.org.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

PRINTING: Make Your Budget Work Smarter for You!

Let LSM help you secure more competitive prices for your printing needs (posters, flyers, pamphlets, programs, etc…).SAVE on your printing needs and GAIN better advertising exposure!

With over 15 years of experience sourcing marketing materials from printers across Canada, LSM can help you access the best available printing prices. Invest the money you save on better advertising ‘real estate’ (larger ads and/or better ad positioning) in LSM through its varied media product offering.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Donations Requested:

La Scena Musicale/The Music Scene is a registered charity promoting music and the arts through three magazines and a website. We connect musicians/artists, the arts community and music/art lovers together through education and information. Help us continue our work with a donation (cash or goods) or by volunteering.

Please contact 514-948-2520 or info@scena.org

Donate at CanadaHelps.org

Charitable tax no. 14199 6579 RR0001

Labels: LSM_News

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Nouvelle directrice des programmes à Radio Ville-Marie

RADIO VILLE-MARIE

MADAME CLAUDETTE LAMBERT,

NOUVELLE DIRECTRICE DES PROGRAMMES

Radio Ville-Marie (CIRA-FM) a le plaisir d'annoncer la nomination de Madame Claudette Lambert à la direction des programmes. Madame Lambert possède une vaste expérience dans le monde des médias et connaît très bien l'univers de la radio. « C'est une très belle acquisition pour notre média qui ne cesse de se développer.» de dire Jean-Guy Roy, directeur général. Le réseau de la Société Radio Ville-Marie est devenu depuis ses débuts en 1995 un incontournable dans le paysage médiatique québécois. Avec ses 306 000 auditeurs (CROP) et ses cinq fréquences, ce média spécialisé est sans contredit l'un des plus culturels du Québec.

L'arrivée de Madame Lambert à la programmation vient enrichir une équipe qui regroupe plus de deux cents professionnels à Montréal et en régions. Journaliste, animatrice, réalisatrice et relationniste, Claudette Lambert a travaillé pendant vingt-quatre ans à la Société Radio Canada. Elle s'est fait connaître à la radio et à la télévision dans plusieurs séries fort populaires et particulièrement à la barre de l'émission quotidienne Femme d'aujourd'hui. Elle a été aussi enseignante et jusqu'à tout récemment attachée de presse aux éditions Novalis, Bayard et l'Atelier. Elle a effectué des collaborations en journalisme écrit dans plusieurs revues dont L'Actualité, Le Lundi et Spiritualité Santé.

Femme d'équipe, Madame Claudette Lambert possède également une excellente formation universitaire en communication, en pédagogie et en sociologie. Récemment nommée à la direction des programmes, Claudette Lambert est toutefois une grande collaboratrice et amie de la station depuis plusieurs années. Elle a été membre du comité de programmation et du conseil d'administration de la Société pendant cinq ans. Radio Ville-Marie, tout un monde à découvrir.

Labels: montréal, radio, radio ville-marie

Juilliard String Quartet Welcomes Nick Eanet As It's New First Violinist

THE JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET WELCOMES NICK EANET AS ITS NEW FIRST VIOLINIST

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009, AT THE RAVINIA FESTIVAL

THE QUARTET'S DEBUT WITH EANET AS MEMBER MARKS A NEW ERA IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD-RENOWNED ENSEMBLE

The Juilliard String Quartet, whose name has been synonymous with the highest quality in chamber music, will perform its first concert with Nick Eanet as its first violinist at the Ravinia Festival (in Highland Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago) on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at 8 p.m. This is only the ninth incarnation of the Quartet since its inception in 1946, with changes in membership occurring singly and slowly, with an average of eleven years' gap between changes. Mr. Eanet's arrival marks the newest chapter in the ever-evolving history of the Juilliard String Quartet.

Mr. Eanet is leaving his position as concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra to join the Juilliard Quartet. He replaces Joel Smirnoff, who is assuming the position of President of the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music. The existing members of the Quartet, after Mr. Smirnoff's departure, are Ronald Copes, violin; Samuel Rhodes, viola; and Joel Krosnick, cello.

Mr. Eanet is welcomed enthusiastically by the continuing members of the Juilliard String Quartet, whose goal was to find a player who would take the Quartet into the next generation and continue the Juilliard String Quartet's legacy with youthfulness and vitality. The qualifications for the new member included an interest in performing contemporary music and a dedication to teaching. Mr. Eanet was a natural choice, as he brings to the Quartet the ideal qualities of having a new viewpoint as well as a shared emotional connection and musical philosophy with his new colleagues.

For Nick Eanet, the connection to the Juilliard String Quartet is almost familial. "It's very emotional for me to join this particular quartet," Eanet said. "Besides its being 'the' quartet when I was growing up, I have had a relationship with the founding violinist, Robert (Bobby) Mann, Sam, and both Joels since I was in school at Juilliard. As a freshman, I remember leaving my first quartet coaching with Bobby and thinking 'I must study with him.' That was to happen a few years later, and he was my violin teacher during my last year in school."

Nick Eanet's passionate connection to quartet playing, and his memories of the Juilliard, date back to his early childhood. "When I was only five years old, my young quartet was invited by Shinichi Suzuki to participate in his festival in Matsumoto, Japan. String quartets still hold a cherished place in my heart. Wonderful memories from a very early age, with some of the most personal and unique masterpieces in classical music, make a powerful combination -- those late Beethoven quartets sometimes feel like they dropped from the sky. I will never forget hearing Opus 132 for the first time: It was one of the Juilliard String Quartet's home concerts, and I was still quite young -- that slow movement was the most intense thing I had ever heard!"

Delighted to join this august group, Eanet embraces its tradition of teaching and inspiring new works: "The importance of the JSQ to the world of string quartets is impossible to calculate. Just the number of important commissions they have added to this already-rich repertoire would be a major accomplishment -- or their role in mentoring almost all the major American string quartets. And then there are those incredible recordings... It's intensely exciting to now share the responsibility for such an important institution. I can't wait to start the adventure."

The Ravinia program will include works by Schubert, Bartok and Mendelssohn; the complete program is as follows:

Schubert - Quartet No. 13 in A minor, D. 804, Op. 29, "Rosamunde"

Bartok - String Quartet No. 2

Mendelssohn - Quartet in F minor, Op. 80

(Program subject to change)

About the Juilliard String Quartet

The Juilliard String Quartet was founded as Juilliard's resident string quartet in 1946 by then-Juilliard President William Schuman. The current Quartet with violinist Joel Smirnoff has been together since 1997, when the founding violinist of the Quartet, Robert Mann, retired after 50 years. At that time, Mr. Smirnoff assumed the first violin position, with Ronald Copes joining as second violin.

Nick Eanet was a member of the Mendelssohn String Quartet earlier in his career and had continued his chamber music performance while a member of the Met Opera Orchestra since 1999. He is also an experienced teacher of his instrument; while a member of the Mendelssohn String Quartet, he was in residence and taught at Harvard University. He also was a member of the faculty of the University of Delaware and the North Carolina School of the Arts.

As champions of contemporary music since their founding, the Juilliard String Quartet's commissioned works come from noted composers such as Milton Babbitt, Ralph Shapey, Ezekiel Viñao, and Richard Wernick. In 2007-08, the Juilliard String Quartet offered special programming in honor of Elliott Carter's 100^th birthday, and on April 29, 2008 at Juilliard, the Quartet, with clarinetist and Juilliard faculty member Charles Neidich, performed the world premiere of Elliott Carter's Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet. In addition to the Quartet's North American performances, tours of Asia and Europe are planned for the 2009—2010 season.

Tickets for the July 8 concert at Ravinia go on sale to the general
public on April 16 exclusively at www.ravinia.org.

Labels: Juilliard String Quartet, violin

Queen of Puddings in Europe with Love Songs

QUEEN OF PUDDINGS MUSIC THEATRE

LOVE SONGS Tours EUROPE

Canadian Production Debuts in Paris, Ljubjana and Zagreb

Queen of Puddings Music Theatre’s stunning one-woman show, Love Songs debuts in Europe this weekend at the legendary Centre Culturel Irlandais, in the historic Quartier Latin in Paris (France) on Saturday, April 18, followed by performances at Cankarjev Dom – a multi-venue state-of-the-art performing arts facility in the heart of magical Ljubjana (Slovenia) on April 21, and in Zagreb (Croatia) on April 24, as part of the prestigious international Zagreb Music Biennale.

Love Songs is a spectacular virtuosic (a cappella) tour de force for solo female singer starring mezzo-soprano Lauren Phillips. Award-winning composer Ana Sokolovic chose her favourite love poems from many different languages, set them to music and framed each set with “I Love You” in 100 languages. A Queen of Puddings commission, Love Songs had a very successful premiere in Toronto last year at the Canadian Opera Company’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and was remounted at Harbourfront in July 2008, and in Montreal in February 2009. “…a magnificent work… Phillips went beyond virtuosity and entered into the various states of love with purity of heart as well as voice, and conveyed an exhilarating freedom and daring as she leapt from language to language – especially in the dizzying “I love you’s” - Tamara Bernstein, The Globe and Mail (March 2008)

Lauren Phillips has been described as “incantatory” in her singing. Originally from Ottawa, she has won Opera Guild Scholarships, a University of Western Ontario Gold Medal, as well as the Vivian Asfar Memorial Award through an opera competition as a young artist with Opera Lyra Ottawa. Ana Sokolovic was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and is now based in Montreal. Her works have been performed in North America and abroad. This opera is her third collaboration with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre (having written Sirens and The Midnight Court). Ana Sokolovic has won many distinctions and prizes, including the CBC Radio National Competition for Young Composers. She also represented Canada at UNESCO’s International Rostrum of Composers in Paris.

The Toronto based Queen of Puddings Music Theatre creates boundary bursting music theatre – a music theatre that is dynamic, provocative and precedent setting. The company, founded in 1995 by Artistic Directors Dáirine Ní Mheadhra & John Hess, is acclaimed for its unique aesthetic based on a physical, singing theatre.

LOVE SONGS

Singer Lauren Phillips

Director/Choreographer Marie-Josée Chartier

Music Director Dáirine Ní Mheadhra

Production Manager/Lighting Designer Glenn Davidson

This tour has been made possible through the Touring programs of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

www.queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.com

Labels: queen of puddings music theatre, theatre

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

VSO's May Concert Listings

The VSO’s May Concert Listings

Vancouver, BC – The month of May is jam-packed with a thrilling array of musical choices, beginning with Russian piano prodigy Alexander Gavrylyuk, playing Tchaikovsky’s rarely-performed Piano Concerto No. 2 (a piece that is not nearly as famous as its big brother, but just as exciting!). This Rubinstein Competition winner is without a doubt one of the top pianists of his generation, and he makes his VSO debut on this concert pair at the Orpheum and the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey. Next up is another young piano genius, eighteen-year old Ran Jia, also in her VSO debut. She will be highlighted in this all-Mozart Bach & Beyond series finale at the Chan Centre, and Beltone Symphony Sundays series finale at the Orpheum.

Moving along, the final Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Roundhouse concert of the season features a new work by VSO Composer-In-Residence Scott Good titled …blood which flowed. The final Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets of the season is next, featuring local choir En Chor in an explosive concert of Musical Fireworks.

A spectacular London Drugs VSO Pops concert celebrates the beloved music of George Gershwin. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, Canadian pianist Jon Nakamatsu and vocalist Doug LaBrecque are featured in some of the most memorable and enjoyable music ever written, including the delicious Rhapsody in Blue. Next up is the season’s final concert for the little ones: Tiny Tots Let’s Have a Playdate with Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda. Toddlers can play games to the classic music of Brahms. Older children can enjoy the fun Spectra Energy Kids Koncert How the Gimquat Found Her Song featuring renowned children’s entertainers Platypus Theatre. Through the captivating tale of an imaginary creature in search of her identity, this program explores the history of western music from Gregorian chant to the present day. With stops in Leipzig, Vienna, Berlin and New Orleans among many more, Gimquat and the children discover the music of the ages.

Last up in May is pianist Benjamin Hochman making his VSO debut, with VSO Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama in a concert that features a rare Mozart piano concerto and the passionate music of Russian master Sergey Prokofiev.

May is a month of concerts sure to thrill and excite Vancouver audiences, who will voraciously consume information about these extraordinary, world-renowned artists making their VSO debuts performing some of the greatest artistic works ever created in a remarkable month of concert events.

CONCERT INFO:

Musically Speaking Series:

Exciting Russian Classics! Gavrylyuk Plays Tchaikovsky

Saturday, May 9, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano*

Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major*

James Maxwell Olympic Commission

Shostakovich The Age of Gold Suite

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

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.

May 9 Concert Sponsor: HSBC Canada

Surrey Nights Series:

Exciting Russian Classics! Gavrylyuk Plays Tchaikovsky

Monday, May 11, 8pm, Bell Performing Arts Centre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano

Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major*

James Maxwell Olympic Commission

Shostakovich The Age of Gold Suite

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

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

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

Generously Supported By:

The Surrey Nights Series has been endowed by a generous gift from Werner and Helga Höing.

Bach & Beyond Series:

Music of the Master: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Friday & Saturday, May 15 & 16, 8pm, Chan Centre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Ran Jia, piano

Mozart Symphony No. 31, Paris

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12

Mozart Symphony No. 36, Linz

An all-Mozart series finale! The VSO celebrates the music of history’s greatest musical genius, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Eighteen year-old pianist Ran Jia has been praised as “a poet, with dramatic skill in music making.” She will perform an early Mozart piano concerto in her VSO debut.

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

Generously Supported By:

The Bach & Beyond Series has been endowed by a generous gift from the Chan Foundation of Canada.

Radio Sponsor: CHQM-FM

Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Music of the Master: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Sunday, May 17, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Ran Jia, piano

Mozart Symphony No. 31, Paris

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 12

Mozart Symphony No. 36, Linz

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

The Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Roundhouse Series:

That was then, these are now

Sunday, May 17, 8pm, Roundhouse Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

György Ligeti Chamber Concerto

Jocelyn Morlock Music of the romantic era

Jordan Nobles Entropy

Scott Good …blood which flowed

John Adams Chamber Symphony

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

Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets Series:

Musical Fireworks!

Thursday, May 21, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

En Chor, choir*

Bernstein Candide: Overture

Handel/Harty Royal Fireworks

Shostakovich Festive Overture

Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture*

Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain

Dvorak Slavonic Dance

This music created quite a stir in its time, and continues to do so. Thrill to the sounds of Handel’s Royal Fireworks Music, Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee, Glinka’s Russlan and Ludmilla, and many more exciting classics.

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:

A Gershwin Celebration

Friday & Saturday, May 22 & 23, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Jeff Tyzik, conductor

Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Doug LaBreque, vocalist

Gershwin Funny Face Overture

Gershwin I Got Rhythm

Gershwin Embraceable You

Gershwin They Can’t Take That Away From Me

Gershwin An American in Paris

Gershwin Catfish Row

Gershwin Fascinatin’ Rhythm

Gershwin Our Love Is Here To Stay

Gershwin Swanee

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

The iconic, beloved music of George Gershwin needs no introduction. This spectacular concert is an all-Gershwin celebration that fills the Orpheum with some of the most memorable and enjoyable music ever written.

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:

Let’s Have a Playdate!

Friday, May 22, 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre

Saturday, May 23, 10:00am, 11:30am, Terry Fox Theatre

Let Your Music Shine with Lisa and Linda, entertainers

Featuring the music of Brahms. Hide and seek, bounce the ball and other favourite games set to the music of the classics.

Adult Tickets $15, Child Tickets $7

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

Premier Education Partner:

TELUS

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

Spectra Energy Kids’ Koncerts Series:

How the Gimquat Found Her Song

Sunday, May 24, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Platypus Theatre, entertainers

Through the captivating tale of an imaginary creature in search of her identity, this program explores the history of western music from Gregorian chant to the present day. With stops in Leipzig (where the audience becomes Bach’s choir!), Vienna, Berlin and New Orleans among many more, Gimquat and the children discover the music of the ages.

Tickets $26 (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: Spectra Energy

Premier Education Partner: TELUS

The Kids’ Koncerts Series has been endowed by a generous gift from the William and Irene McEwen Fund.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series:

Melody and Power: Mozart and Prokofiev

Saturday & Monday, May 30 & June 1, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor

Benjamin Hochman, piano

Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon: Overture, Op. 24

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, Jeunehomme

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

An early Mozart piano concerto is a rarely heard musical treat. This is followed up by the main course: the huge, exciting, passionate music of Russian master Sergey Prokofiev.

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.

Labels: vancouver, VSO

Un mois de pur ravissement musical avec le Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal !

Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal
14e édition

1er au 30 mai 2009

Un mois de pur ravissement musical !

Église St-James
463, Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montréal / Métro Place-des-Arts

Sala Rossa
4848, boulevard St-Laurent, Montréal

Biletterie : 514.848.9696 / 514.489.7444
www.festivalmontreal.org <http://www.festivalmontreal.org>

Montréal, le 14 avril 2009 – C’est à un mois de pur ravissement musical auquel vous convie le Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal, qui se déroulera du 1er au 30 mai prochain, principalement à l’Église St-James de Montréal, mais aussi à La Sala Rossa, pour ce qui est de la toute nouvelle série Chamber Rock McAuslan.

La programmation, époustouflante et d’une qualité artistique sans pareille, propose des prestations musicales d’artistes au sommet de leur art tels que Anton Kuerti, Lara St-John, André Laplante, Oliver Jones, Nathalie Paulin, Jonathan Crow, Florence K et Ivo Janssen, en plus d’accueillir de prestigieux ensembles tels que l’incomparable Quatuor Guarneri, pour leur dernier concert au Canada et le Quatuor Afiara.

De plus, le Festival innove cette année en proposant une passionnante nouvelle série de concerts, la série Chamber Rock McAuslan. Née de la constante volonté d’innover du Festival, elle propose un mariage unique de styles musicaux. On pourra ainsi entendre les artistes indi-rock Torngat et Courtney Wing & the Liederwolfe Collective ainsi que Philippe B., auxquels s’associeront des musiciens de formation classique tels que la marimbiste Anne-Julie Caron, le Quatuor à cordes Roddick et l’accordéoniste Vladimir Sidorov.

Le réputé violoncelliste et directeur artistique Denis Brott a fondé le Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal en 1995 dans le but d’atteindre un vaste public au moyen de concerts novateurs, qui associent musique de chambre et autres formes d’art telles que le théâtre, la danse et les arts visuels. Le Festival accueille des musiciens de réputation internationale, du Canada et de l’étranger, et donne aussi à des jeunes l’occasion de se produire en compagnie d’artistes réputés, ce qui suscite de passionnantes rencontres musicales. Enfin, le Festival se distingue par sa volonté de présenter tous ses concerts dans des lieux qui témoignent de la richesse culturelle et patrimoniale de Montréal.

Labels: chambre, festival, montréal

Noël Coward's Tonight at 8:30 started with previews of Brief Encounters at the Shaw Festival

Noël Coward’s Tonight at 8:30 series started with previews of Brief Encounters at the Shaw Festival Theatre

Still Life, We Were Dancing and Hands Across the Sea, three of the best known one-act plays from Noël Coward’s Tonight at 8:30, began preview performances in Brief Encounters on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at the Festival Theatre. Directed by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell, this first triple bill in the Shaw Festival’s Coward cycle of ten one-act plays marks the start of a world premiere — the first time all ten plays have been presented together in repertory theatre history.

Repressed love after a chance meeting at a train station; flaming passion from a single dance across the floor; mistaken identity following a passing holiday acquaintance – three different stories all inspired by three brief moments in time, come together to make up Brief Encounters. This opening triplet of Coward’s Tonight at 8:30 cycle features three miniature delights only possible from the pen of Noël Coward and demonstrate the great range of his writing – from drama to comedy to music.

Initially conceived by Coward to revive the one-act play, Tonight at 8:30 also provided the opportunity for Coward to showcase his and his favourite actress, Gertrude Lawrence’s acting, singing, and dancing talents. Staying true to Coward’s original idea, Deborah Hay, Patrick Galligan, Corrine Koslo and Thom Marriott perform multiple roles and show off their triple threat talents in this threesome of Coward short plays. Brief Encounters also features Krista Colosimo, Gray Powell, Goldie Semple, Michael Ball, Prince Amponsah, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Beryl Bain and David Schurmann in multiple roles.

Brief Encounters has set and costumes designed by the Shaw Festival’s Head of Design, William Schmuck, lighting design by Head of Lighting Design Kevin Lamotte, musical arrangements and sound design by John Gzowski, projections by Adam Larsen, choreography by Valerie Moore. The stage management team includes Production Stage Manager Judy Farthing and Assistant Stage Manager Amy Jewell.

Jackie Maxwell and William Schmuck’s previous collaborations include last season’s production of The Stepmother and Rutherford and Son in 2004.

Brief Encounters preview performances began on Saturday, April 11; opens Wednesday, May 20; and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 24. Brief Encounters is sponsored by CIBC World Markets.

First presented in January 1935, the Tonight at 8:30 collection was completed, with the exception of Star Chamber, in May 1936. Previously, the Shaw Festival had presented We Were Dancing, Family Album and Shadow Play in 1971.

For more information on this once in a lifetime presentation of Tonight at 8:30, please visit www.tonightat830.com.

Labels: Shaw Festival, theatre

Les Estivales de Musique au Coeur du Médoc

LES ESTIVALES DE MUSIQUE AU CŒUR DU MEDOC

Festival de musique classique dans le Médoc

Du 2 au 16 juillet 2009

Pour leur sixième édition, les Estivales de musique au cœur du Médoc, association parrainée par le célèbre musicien et chroniqueur de France inter, Frédérique LODEON, organise une série de 6 concerts dans les hauts lieux viticoles.

Les châteaux prestigieux du Médoc (Lagrange, Branaire Ducru, Talbot, Lafite Rothschild, Malleret, Loudenne) dévoileront les prestations des lauréats des grands concours internationaux.

Leurs prestations seront clôturées par une dégustation de vins.

Ce festival, alliant musique et vin lors des concerts-dégustation a pour mission de faire découvrir au grand public les talents les plus prometteurs de la musique classique, rencontre d'excellence, d'exigence et de tradition.

Programmation 2009

Jeudi 02 juillet à 21H

Duo lyrique au Château Lagrange / Saint Julien Beychevelle

Isabelle Druet (Mezzo Soprane) et Szabolcs Brikner (Ténor)

1^er et 2^nd prix du concours reine Elisabeth Bruxelles 2008

Accompagnement piano : Stéphane Jamin.

Mardi 07 juillet à 21H

Récital d'alto au Château Branaire Ducru / Saint Julien Beychevelle

Arnaud Thorette

Lauréat concours Gênes, Paris, Nüremberg, Haverhill.

Mercredi 08 juillet à 21H

Flûte et Harpe au Château Talbot / Saint Julien Beychevelle

Seiya Ueno et Rino Kageyama

Lauréats du concours Rampal Paris 2008 et Laskin Paris 2008

è Présence et commentaires de Frédéric Lodéon

Jeudi 09 juillet à 21H

Piano au Château Lafite Rothschild / Pauillac

Jean Frederic Neuburger

Lauréat des concours Long Thibaut, Valence, Etlingen et nominé aux Victoires de la musique 2007

Mercredi 15 juillet à 21H

Duo de violons au Château de Malleret / Le Pian Médoc

Sarah Nemtanu (révélation de l'année soliste aux Victoires de la musique 2007) et sa sœur Deborah Nemtanu

Lauréates des concours Ravel, Stradivarius.

è Exposition de l'artiste Cathy Schein (du 2 au 20 juillet au Château)

Jeudi 16 juillet à 21H

Quintette à vent au Château Loudenne / Saint Yzans de Médoc

L'ensemble à vent Aquillon, 1^ier prix du concours ARD de Munich en 2006

En savoir plus :

www.estivales-musique-medoc.com

Labels: festival, France

Monday, April 13, 2009

Young Stars of the Young Century: 3 Teenage Virtuosi Perform in Toronto, May 9

Saturday, May 9 at the Glenn Gould Studio

SHOW ONE PRESENTS THREE ASTOUNDING YOUNG TALENTS

IN YOUNG STARS OF THE YOUNG CENTURY CONCERT

“These concerts are so full of youthful energy and true virtuosity that I cannot think of a better way to inspire your kids and give yourself hope for the next generation,” says Svetlana Dvoretskaia.

Her company, Show One Productions, is about to present the 2009 edition of its signature series, Young Stars of the Young Century. Three teenage virtuosi from the former Soviet Union – all international award-winners – perform in Toronto Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.

Tickets, $35; students and seniors $30, are available from the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, www.roythomson.com or 416-872-4255. Details including the complete program, and group rates may be obtained by visiting www.ShowOneProductions.ca.

The three Young Stars – all winners of awards from the California-based Guzik Foundation – are coming direct from their Carnegie Hall debuts, the night before.

Georgian pianist Luka Okrostsvoridze is back for his third Young Stars performance, after his successful North American solo recital debut in Toronto in 2007. Armenian clarinetist Narek Arutyunyan returns after his first Toronto visit in Young Stars in 2008. Russian violinist Yuri Revich makes his Canadian debut.

Their concert features musical favorites from the sublime romanticism of Chopin and Schumann to the jazzy delights of Gershwin and Piazzolla, with plenty of virtuosic musical fireworks, individually and in duos and trios. Among other features composers are Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Sarasate and Françaix.

LUKA OKROSTSVORIDZE, piano (born in Tblisi, Georgia in 1991), studied with Professor Dorensky (teacher of Denis Matsuev) at the Moscow Conservatory. An accomplished pianist and composer, Luka has won international competitions and festivals, including the Colmar in France. After Luka’s first Toronto performance, with Young Stars in 2006, he made his North American solo recital debut here in 2007, winning fans with his charm, and passionate and mature playing. “His intensity is palpable,” remarked the National Post.

YURI REVICH, violin (born in Moscow in 1991), has performed with the Russian National conducted by Mikhail Pletnev, the Moscow Soloists under Yuri Bashmet, and other leading orchestras. Yuri has won such international competitions as Virtuosi of the XXI Century and the David Oistrakh in Russia, and the Oldenburg Promenade and International Kloster-Schontal Violin Competition in Germany. In 2008, French master Alan Karbonar presented Yuri with a violin made especially for him. Germany’s Weinheimer Nachrichten (Weinheim News) described how Revich “left the public open-mouthed with the drama, passion and directness of his performance.”

NAREK ARUTYUNYAN, clarinet (born in Gumri, Armenia, 1992) is a regular soloist with the great Russian orchestras, under the likes of Constantine Orbelian, Vladimir Spivakov, and Yuri Bashmet. Narek has also given solo recitals in France, Italy and Switzerland. A winner of many international competitions, Narek is equally gifted in classical and jazz. At his 2008 Toronto debut in Young Stars, Alexa Petrenko of Classical 96.3 FM exclaimed that “this performance stopped time.”

The artists’ Carnegie Hall debuts, May 8, mark the U.S. debuts of Okrostvoridze and Revich, and the New York debut of Arutyunyan.

YOUNG STARS OF THE YOUNG CENTURY

“The Glenn Gould is a perfect acoustic venue,” says Svetlana Dvoretskaia. “It also has a legacy, being named for one of the most important musicians in the world – which should make it as inspiring for the young virtuosi to play there as it is for the audience to hear them.”

For the last five years, Show One Productions has presented the Young Stars of the Young Century gala concerts, featuring the cream of the most talented young musicians from the former U.S.S.R.

Their concerts are a celebration of musical achievement, friendship and peace. The youthful artists have received outstanding critical acclaim through the years, along with exposure to new audiences. The Toronto Star has called Young Stars a “high-wattage evening of classical music favorites.”

THE GUZIK FOUNDATION

Every year, music schools throughout Russia groom their finest students to compete for scholarships granted by the Palo Alto-based Guzik Foundation. Over $400,000 is granted annually in cash prizes, recording contracts, concerts and other career enhancement. The Guzik Foundation Scholarship Program is funded by innovative philanthropist Nahum Guzik, a high-tech industrialist and Russian émigré.

Labels: Glenn Gould Studio, piano, Toronto, young artists

Announcing Jazz Piano Star Lynn Arriale May 12TH CD/DVD

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

Catch Lynne Arriale LIVE - MAY 19 @ NYC Jazz Standard with Randy Brecker, George Mraz and Anthony Pinciotti

Plus MAY 21-24 @ Chicago's Jazz Showcase with Hans Glawischnig and Anthony Pinciotti

and more dates to be announced!

(New York, NY) Motéma 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.Motéma.com and at www.lynnearriale.com

(plus www.JazzStandard.net and www.JazzShocase.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 Motéma 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 (Motéma), 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.

###

Motéma Music, founded in 2003 in San Francisco, is now based in Harlem, New York, The company is a division of the Motéma Foundation, a private foundation that is dedicated to promoting excellence and humanity in jazz and other creative art forms that promote harmony and enrich the world around us. For more information, please visit: www.Motéma.com.

This CD recording was produced by Lynne Arriale and Suzi Reynolds. The DVD was produced by Suzi Reynolds of Suzi Reynolds & Associates, LLC. and was made possible, in part, by a grant from Women in Jazz, Inc.

"NUANCE" PHOTO - L to R: RANDY BRECKER, LYNNE ARRIALE, GEORGE MRAZ, ANTHONY PINCIOTTI - (Photo Credit: R. Andrew Lepley)

Labels: CD, jazz, piano

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pentaèdre présente : Le jeu de l'inventaire

Pentaèdre présente :

LE JEU DE L’INVENTAIRE
Pentaèdre et Jean Maheux, comédien

Musique : Michel Longtin
Texte : Michel Garneau
Metteur en scène : Alexis Martin

Les 7, 8 et 9 mai 2009, 20 h

Espace Dell’Arte
40, rue Jean-Talon Est (Métro Jean-Talon / De Castelnau)
Billets : 25 $ - 15 $ (aînés/étudiants)
Renseignements et billetterie : 514-490-9613 #101
www.pentaedre.com <http://www.pentaedre.com>

Montréal, 8 avril 2009 - En 1948, Le Refus Global, co-écrit et signé par ce que le Québec comptait d’artistes, de poètes et d’intellectuels les plus brillants dénonçait, entre autres choses, l’omniprésence et les diktats de l’Église Catholique. Ce texte causa une onde de choc qui mènera à la révolution tranquille et à la naissance du Québec moderne.
Au début des années 1980, le poète Michel Garneau et le compositeur Michel Longtin créent, à la demande de l’ensemble aujourd’hui disparu York Winds, Le Jeu de l’Inventaire, une œuvre musicale et poétique sur Le Refus Global. Écrit pour un acteur et un quintette à vent, Le Jeu de l’Inventaire est à la fois une représentation musicale et théâtrale de la sclérose intellectuelle et sociale dénoncée par le manifeste, une poétisation de son message ainsi qu’une exploration fantastique des interactions possibles entre un comédien devant se faire musicien et des musiciens devant se glisser dans leur peau d’acteur. L’œuvre, jamais créée à ce jour, sera donnée en première par Pentaèdre, avec le comédien Jean Maheux, dans une mise en scène d’Alexis Martin.

***

Depuis ses débuts en 1985, PENTAÈDRE se consacre à la découverte d'un répertoire de musique de chambre varié, original et souvent moins connu. Composé de cinq musiciens talentueux, dont la technique et la précision de jeu sont unanimement reconnues, Pentaèdre effectue des tournées au Québec, au Canada, aux États-Unis et en Europe. Pentaèdre collabore avec des artistes de renom et participe à des créations audacieuses, dont récemment l’opéra comique A Chair in Love ou L’amour est un opéra muet avec les mimes Omnibus. Pentaèdre a reçu deux Prix OPUS : Meilleur disque 2008, musique classique, romantique, postromantique, impressionniste pour son Winterreise avec le ténor Christoph Prégardien, qui s’est attiré de nombreux éloges internationalement, et Meilleur concert de l’année 2002, musiques actuelle, contemporaine, électroacoustique.

Labels: chambre, comedy, montréal, Pentaèdre, théâtre

Yves Garand est nommé à la direction générale et artistique de Orgue et Couleurs

Yves Garand est nommé à la direction générale et artistique
de ORGUE ET COULEURS

Montréal, jeudi 8 avril 2009 — Le Conseil d’administration est heureux d’annoncer la nomination de monsieur Yves Garand à la direction générale et artistique de ORGUE ET COULEURS, prenant le relais de Régis Rousseau, nommé en octobre dernier à la direction du Conservatoire de musique de Saguenay.

Monsieur Garand est entré officiellement en fonction le lundi 6 avril 2009 et poursuivra la mission de l’organisme à faire connaître le répertoire diversifié de l’orgue à un plus large public, avec la présentation de son événement automnal annuel, le Festival d’automne Orgue et Couleurs, dont ce sera la onzième édition en 2009. ORGUE ET COULEURS continuera également de présenter, en collaboration avec l’arrondissement de Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, sa série estivale Les Concerts populaires de Montréal, créée il y a 45 ans, pour rendre plus accessible la musique symphonique à la population de Montréal.

Très actif sur la scène culturelle de l’Île de Montréal, artiste polyvalent, pianiste, organiste, professeur, agent et producteur, Yves Garand travaille régulièrement avec des artistes lyriques et instrumentistes, de même qu’avec plusieurs chorales du Québec.

Yves Garand a reçu sa formation musicale au Collège Marguerite-Bourgeois, au Conservatoire de musique de Montréal et à la Faculté de musique de l’Université de Montréal, auprès de Françoise Aubut, Marcelle Martin-Graton et Raymond Daveluy (orgue), Janine Lachance (piano d’accompagnement) et Agnès Grossmann (direction chorale). En 1985, il est boursier du gouvernement du Québec, ce qui lui permet d'aller se perfectionner à Paris.

Yves Garand s’intéresse à diverses formes d’expression artistique, ce qui l’amène à assumer différentes fonctions dans le domaine musical. Il est directeur de L’École de musique Auguste-Descarries de Lachine et y enseigne le piano et le chant ; est depuis 1999, directeur musical du Chœur Ambiance de Lachine ; et est directeur artistique de la série de concerts Les Saint-Anges en musique présentée dans le cadre de Les Concerts Lachine, à l’église des Saints-Anges, dont il est l’organiste titulaire. Il est membre du Conseil d’administration de la Fédération des Amis de l’orgue (FQAO).

Labels: orgue et couleurs

In rep, Riverside Drive & My Child, Gleams Theatre at MainLine- April 28-May 10

Hold the Dates!

GLEAMS THEATRE presents

"SECLUDED SPOTS"
In rep, two hot plays in two short weeks

Directed by Constantin Sokolov

Mark these dates in your spring calendar

Tuesday, April 28 to Sunday, May 10, 2009

Riverside Drive by Woody Allen offers up Allen's continuing preoccupation with people who rationalize their actions, hide what they're doing and inevitably slip into sexual deception.

And

My Child by Mike Bartlett. Here, a father finds himself being phased-out of his son's life while we watch the extraordinary lengths used to hold on to him. Together on a bare stage, trapped in a 'cage', actors and spectators will face the challenge of Bartlett's sharp, fast-paced dialogue.

Gleams Theatre is honoured to welcome Mike Bartlett, author of My Child, for his one-week visit to Montréal from the UK- Tuesday, April 28, to Tuesday, May 5- for this North American Premiere of his show.

Secluded Spots- Riverside Drive & My Child (playing in rep)

Gleams Theatre

At MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St. Laurent

Great ticket packages available

Labels: Gleams Theatre, montreal, theatre

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

TorontoJazzBuzz brings YOU an upSwing to trump the economic downturn!

TorontoJazzBuzz brings YOU Connick sidemen, Marsalis, Juno winners, FREE downloads, and an upSwing to trump the economic downturn – for $15!

When: Wed, May 6^th 2009 – 7:30pm

What: (Harry Connick Jr's bassist) Neal Caine Quintet with Jason Marsalis

Where: Chalkers Pub – 247 Marlee Ave, North York – www.ChalkersPub.com

How Much: $15 Limited Advance - $35@door

Tickets: www.TorontoJazzBuzz.com

TorontoJazzBuzz and Chalkers Pub with Groove Factor Drums present this talent-laden Modern Jazz ensemble which features original music by its leader, bassist/tunesmith, Neal Caine, (who will be fresh from his Connecticut performance as guest bassist with the Branford Marsalis Quartet. (Caine is bassist with the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra, and formerly of Diana Krall's group). Jason Marsalis will be on drums – (there's that iconic surname again), brother of Branford and Wynton Marsalis. The group's tenor saxophonist (Stephen Riley – formerly of Harry Connick Jr's Orchestra) will still be warm from his concert with Marcus Roberts in the days prior to this May 6^th performance with Caine's Quintet. Ellis Marsalis-trained Juno winning trumpeter, William Sperandei (who has toured with Wynton Marsalis), will provide the fourth leg of this intrepid group, while Juno nominated pianist, Robi Botos (a favourite of the late legend, Oscar Peterson's) will complete this band of thoroughbreds.

Repertoire: Original works from Caine's last release, "Backstabber's Ball", some new unreleased tunes, and a few standards.

Adv. ticket buyers receive FREE downloads of:

· A 2008 Jason Marsalis / TorontoJazzBuzz concert

· Neal Caine Quartet recordings (2 tunes)

· Selected downloadable video links of artists TJB has presented

Keita Hopkinson's accidentally philanthropic hobby company – TorontoJazzBuzz (www.TorontoJazzBuzz.com) – developed this event. Though still a novice Jazz Impresario, Hopkinson has presented some of the best Jazz musicians in the business, including Juno winners, Jason Marsalis, and musicians associated with Harry Connick Jr, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Buddy Rich. TJB has presented shows for the 2005 Downtown Toronto Jazz Fest, Luminato, 2008 CBC Canada Reads Awards Gala, the 2008 Toronto Book Awards, and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Hopkinson lost the equivalent of 3/4s of his annual salary when he produced, promoted, booked, managed, and funded his first Jazz concerts in 2005.

He has shouldered the funding of most of these concerts himself on the strength of his abundant energy, a modest part time day-job income, a line-of-credit and a credit card. He is also a Realist oil painter – having apprenticed in an academy whose lineage strides back over 300 years through some of the best studios in Europe . He has not yet entered the market to sell his works, but aims to do that this year, in part to help fund more Jazz concerts. (www.TheSquareInch.blogspot.com).

He has received accolades and encouragement from accomplished US and Canadian performers, including famed saxophonist and record label founder Branford Marsalis, several Canadian and US Jazz that he champions, and other elite musicians who have expressed an interest in working with him. Even Toronto 's Mayor, David Miller congratulated this ill-equipped impresario when the Mayor co-hosted the 2008 Toronto Book Awards – (where TorontoJazzBuzz musicians performed, and where the Mayor spoke briefly with Hopkinson about his TJB projects).

Modern Jazz&Groove thrills, built on the pillars of Swing!!!

Labels: jazz, Toronto

Hometown pianist Avan Yu plays Rachmaninoff at the Orpheum, and on Tour with the VSO

Vancouver BC – Vancouver’s own piano virtuoso and long-time VSO friend, Avan Yu, performs Rachmaninoff’s thrilling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini from April 25 to 27 at the Orpheum Theatre. Bramwell Tovey leads the orchestra in Debussy’s Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune and Stravinsky’s Petrouchka.

“(Avan Yu) has killer fingers and what’s more, he has a definite ear for tone.”

- The Vancouver Sun

In addition to his three Orpheum performances on VSO subscription series, Mr. Yu will accompany the VSO on its Central Canada Tour from May 1 to 4, 2009 as featured soloist. The tour was planned around an invitation from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa as part of BC Scene, a celebration of the arts and cultural scene in British Columbia. The tour will take the orchestra to Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Montréal.

Last month, Avan Yu embarked on a two-week concert tour in Spain. He gave successful recitals in Vitoria, Seville, Peñaranda de Bracamonte, Gijón, Oviedo, Avilçes, and Santander. The last time the pianist was in Spain was in August 2008, when he won the Silver Medal and the Audience Prize at the 16^th Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition. Launched in 1974, the Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition takes place every three years and has become one of the most important piano competitions in the world today. In a span of less than two weeks, the contestants had to play five different concerts, including two concertos with orchestras as well as a chamber concert with the Casals Quartet.

At age 21, Canadian pianist Avan Yu has already performed in recital and with orchestras on four continents, captivating audiences with his extraordinary musicianship and ability. He is the only pianist to win first prize in both the junior and senior divisions of the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition. He made his debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the age of fourteen, and in October of this season, made his successful New York debut at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. Mr. Yu first came to national attention by taking first prize at the Canadian Chopin Competition at the age of 17, after having won the Canadian Music Competition in both 2001 and 2002.

CONCERT INFO

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series & Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Great Romantics: Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Stravinsky

Saturday & Monday, April 25 & 27, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Avan Yu, piano*

Debussy Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune

Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini*

Stravinsky Petrouchka

Tickets for April 25 & 27: $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets for April 26: $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:

Masterworks Silver Series Sponsor: PricewaterhouseCoopers

April 25 Concert Sponsor: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

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 Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Sunday Afternoon in Concert

Symphony Sundays Series Sponsor: Beltone

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. Tovey's 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 2008-09 season holds many highlights for Tovey. In the fall of his ninth season with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the conductor takes the ensemble on tour to China and South Korea with guest artist Hillary Hahn. The first orchestra from Canada to perform in China in 30 years, the tour is capped by a performance at the Beijing Music Festival—another first for a Canadian symphony. Upon returning to Vancouver, Tovey leads the orchestra through an in-depth Brahms Festival, featuring all four symphonies, the two piano concertos and the violin concerto. The Brahms Violin concerto is performed with violinist James Ehnes who, along with the VSO, won both a GRAMMY Award and a Juno Award in 2007 for a CBC recording of violin concertos by Walton, Korngold and Barber. Other special guest artists during the season include violinist Joshua Bell as well as a joint performance by celebrated vocalists Samuel Ramey and Frederica von Stade.

Recently branded the "...the hottest hot-weather conductor in America right now..." by The Baltimore Sun, Tovey continues both his second season as Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and his sixth season as founding host and conductor of the New York Philharmonic's Summertime Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall in summer 2009. The orchestras recently co-commissioned him to write a piece, the well-received Urban Runway, which receives its Canadian premiere this season.

An esteemed guest conductor, Tovey has worked with orchestras in Europe and the UK including the London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra as well as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra which he revisits this season. Tovey's other debuts include performances with the Ulster and Helsingborg Orchestras and Opera North. He also makes his Australian debut in fall 2008 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and guest artist Christian Tetzlaff. In North America, along with his work with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, Tovey has made guest appearances with the orchestras of Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Seattle, Montreal as well as ongoing performances with Toronto, where he conducts this season.

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 ensemble's exploration of new music, the festival premiered more than 250 works by diverse international and Canadian composers under Tovey's leadership, with every performance broadcast on Canada's CBC Radio.

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 "Orphée d'Or" of the Academie Lyrique Francaise, for their critically praised recording of Jean Cras' opera, Polyphème. The following year, in celebration of the opening of Luxembourg's new Philharmonic Hall, Tovey conducted the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Europa Academie Choir in the world premiere of Penderecki's 8th Symphony, composed especially for the occasion.

Renowned as a choral conductor, Tovey has performed works ranging from Mahler's Symphony No. 8 to Bach's 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.

With a profound commitment to new music, Tovey has established himself as a formidable composer and is the first artist to win a Juno Award in both conducting and composing. He has been commissioned by the Calgary Opera to compose the company's 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. Tovey's 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 and 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 Holst's 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.

Avan Yu, piano

At the age of 21, Canadian pianist Avan Yu has already performed in recital and with orchestra on four continents, consistently captivating audiences with his extraordinary musicianship and prodigious ability. He is the only pianist to win First Prize in both the Junior and Senior Divisions of the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition. During a recent tour of Quebec and Ontario for Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, Claude Gingras of Montreal's La Presse wrote, "Avan Yu is destined to become a very important pianist."

Most recently in August 2008, Avan captured the Silver Medal and the Audience Award at the prestigious 16th Paloma O'Shea Santander International Piano Competition in Spain. As a result, he will be performing in various European venues during the coming seasons.

Avan made his debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the age of fourteen in a performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. According to the Vancouver Sun, "He was astonishing, bringing out all the piano's harmonic depths and especially the music's poetry." Avan was then immediately re-engaged to perform the same work for a gala Summer Concert before an audience of 8,000 people. Since that time, he was engaged by the VSO for five of the six most recent seasons, including performances of the Chopin Concerto in F minor, the Prokofieff Second Piano Concerto, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition as part of their RussiaFest. This spring he will appear on the VSO’s PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series at the Orpheum and then will be their featured soloist when they tour Central Canada performing in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City.

In the past few years, Avan has collaborated with orchestras such as the Dresden Philharmonic, Real Filharmonía de Galicia, Victoria Symphony, Ottawa Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Xiamen Philharmonic in China, Orchestre Philharmonique of Morocco, B.C. Chinese Orchestra, Seattle Northwest Philharmonia, and Seattle Youth Orchestra.

On October 13th of this season, he made his successful New York debut at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. In addition, he has performed for the CBC, the Chopin Club in Warsaw, UNESCO, Vancouver Women's Musical Society, Far East Broadcast Corporation, Canadian Vocal and Performing Arts Society, Vancouver Chopin Society, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver as well as a tour of ten Chopin recitals in British Columbia. Avan has also been invited by Debut Atlantic to tour the Canadian Atlantic Provinces in the 2009/10 season.

Avan Yu first came to national attention by taking first prize at the Canadian Chopin Competition at the age of seventeen, after having won the Canadian Music Competition in both 2001 and 2002. He was a prize winner at the International Radio Competition for Young Musicians in Prague (with violinist Nikki Chooi), the Fourth Tchaikovsky International Music Competition for Young Musicians in Xiamen, China, and at the Fourth Concours International de Musique in Morocco where he was awarded the Grand Prix du Publique. Avan has received support from the Koerner Foundation, the Vancouver Women's Musical Society, and the B.C. Arts Council.

Avan Yu began his musical studies in Hong Kong at the age of five. After moving to Vancouver in 1997 he studied with K.K. Sum, and since 2003 has been a student of Kenneth Broadway and Ralph Markham. Currently, Avan is continuing his studies at the University of Fine Arts in Berlin, Germany with Klaus Hellwig.

Labels: piano, rachmaninov, VSO

Star Trek’s Mr. Sulu joins Jack Everly for a Sci-Fi Spectacular

Star Trek's Mr. Sulu (George Takei) joins Jack Everly and the NAC Orchestra for a Sci-Fi Spectacular from April 23 to 25

Ottawa, Canada - Jack Everly and the National Arts Centre Orchestra boldly go where no orchestra has gone before when they bring the "Sci-Fi Spectacular" to Southam Hall… the final frontier… from Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. George Takei (pronounced Ta-KAY), best known as helmsman Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek television series and six Star Trek feature films, beams in as narrator for this concert, joined by tenor Mike Eldred, soprano Kristin Plumley, and the Laurence Ewashko Singers.

NAC Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly raises his "lightsabre" to lead music from sci-fi and fantasy movie soundtracks, much of it by supercomposer John Williams, including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone; Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Somewhere in Time; Superman; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Day the Earth Stood Still, the latter in a special new arrangement by Jack of the 1951 movie score. Jack is also responsible for an arrangement titled Lost in Syndication - a medley of science fiction television show theme songs including The X-Files, The Jetsons, My Favourite Martian, The Twilight Zone, Lost in Space, The Outer Limits and Stargate. A dazzling laser light show adds special effects to a concert that is truly out of this world!

Roaming the NAC Foyers will be such Sci-Fi characters as Darth Vader, Boba Fet, Star Trek, Storm troopers etc. and audience members also are encouraged to dress up and come as their favourite space personality.

George Takei, best known for his portrayal of "Mr. Sulu" in the acclaimed television and film series Star Trek, is currently a recurring guest star on NBC's hit ensemble drama series Heroes. His five-decade career includes more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television guest-starring roles. He received a star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame in 1986 and he placed his signature and handprint in the forecourt of the landmark Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood in 1991. His many credits include a 1987 Grammy nomination in the "Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording" category.

Mike Eldred is one of North America's most in-demand and beloved tenors, starring on Broadway in the recent "final cast" of Les Misérables in the role of Jean Valjean. He has performed with many symphony orchestras as well as award-winning artists including Jim Brickman, Michael Bolton, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder and Trisha Yearwood. Mr. Eldred has released five solo recordings.

Kristen Plumley has portrayed such opera heroines as Norina (Don Pasquale), Zerlina (Don

Giovanni), Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Adele (Die Fledermaus) Despina (Così fan tutte) and Yum-Yum (The Mikado). Plumley's orchestral appearances include Mozart's Coronation Mass and Haydn's Mass in Time of War with the New England Symphonic Ensemble at Carnegie Hall.

Jack Everly is now his fifth year as Principal Pops Conductor of the NAC Orchestra. His many memorable concerts include On the Air: Music of the Fabulous 40s, The Beat Goes On, A Cole Porter Celebration, Pops Goes Vegas, and his recent tribute to the 70s: Disco Days and Boogie Nights. Everly is also the Principal Pops Conductor with the Baltimore and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, as well as Music Director for the Symphonic Pops Consortium.

Tickets for the NAC Orchestra's "Sci-Fi Spectacular" from April 23 to 25 in Southam Hall are on sale now at $29, $39, $49, $59, $69 and $86 (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 NAC's 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.

Labels: nac, NACO, ottawa

Carmina Nova: ancient times, modern ears

Carmina Nova

Folk songs and ballads from ancient times, heard through modern ears

Tuesday & Wednesday, May 5 & 6, 2009 at 8 pm

Trinity St. Paul’s Centre

Toronto’s Talisker Players conclude their 2008/09 season with Carmina Nova, a fascinating programme featuring Luciano Berio’s stunning Folk Songs, R. Murray Schafer’s captivating Minnelieder and the world premiere of The Song of Henry Pyne by Alexander Rapoport. The Talisker Players share the stage with mezzo-soprano Norine Burgess, who brings her unique flair and ease in countless styles and languages to these outstanding works. Delving into ballads, folk songs and stories from ancient times in many cultures as heard through the ears of some of the greatest composers of the modern age, Carmina Nova is presented at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre on May 5 and 6.

Luciano Berio's Folk Songs is a pioneering work from 1964 that draws on traditional melodies from America, Armenia, Sicily, Genoa, Sardinia, the Auvergne and Azerbaijan. The composer honours the original melodies while creating a highly inventive and personal framework for the ensemble – mezzo soprano with viola, cello, flute, clarinet, harp and percussion. His muse was his wife, the great mezzo soprano Cathy Berberian, who established the work's popularity through many performances and an acclaimed first recording.

Minnelieder, by Canada's R. Murray Schafer, is an early work, written in 1956 when he was studying and working in Vienna. The composer, who at 75 has recently received the Governor General's Lifetime Achievement Award, has stated that it is "the first work I would regard as a useful contribution to music." It is indeed a beautiful piece, for mezzo-soprano with woodwind quintet. The texts are in medieval German, by Minnesinger (the name derives from the word minne, Middle High German for love) from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, and they speak mostly of passionate but unfulfilled love.

As a companion to these two compelling works, Talisker Players have commissioned a new work from the well-known Toronto composer Alexander Rapoport. The Song of Henry Pyne is a retelling of an ancient middle-European ballad, for mezzo-soprano, viola, flute, bassoon and harp. The libretto, written by the composer, follows the young protagonist through various trials of love, with the instruments of the ensemble taking on the voices of the different characters in the story, in the style of medieval madrigal comedy. One of Toronto's most distinguished composers, Alexander Rapoport has had numerous commissions for orchestral and solo works, and for vocal works of all types, as well as music for film and theatre. An accomplished librettist, he also co-wrote the libretto for his acclaimed one-act opera, The Dragon in the Rocks, commissioned by the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus in 2007/08. His clever and light-hearted Music Theory Song, commissioned by the Riverdale Youth Singers in 2006, has already become a staple of the repertoire.

The evening includes readings from some of the most famous literature of medieval and Renaissance Europe, which describe the period in lusty detail. Excerpts from Don Quixote, The Canterbury Tales and The Decameron will be delivered by the well-known Toronto actor and director Stewart Arnott.

Photo of Norine Burgess. Norine Burgess’s compelling stage presence and beauty of tone have brought her renown in opera houses and on concert stages around the world. She has appeared in opera production in Canada and abroad. Equally acclaimed on the concert stage, the Canadian singer performs regularly with The Aldeburgh Connection and with leading orchestras such as the Montreal Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and many other ensembles across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe.

Carmina Nova

Tuesday, May 5 & Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 8 PM

Ballads and folk songs from ancient times, heard through modern ears

Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West

Norine Burgess, mezzo soprano

The Talisker Players

Stewart Arnott, actor

R. Murray Schafer: Minnelieder, for voice and woodwind quintet

Luciano Berio: Folk Songs, for voice, flute, clarinet, viola, cello, harp and percussion

Alexander Rapoport: The Song of Henry Pyne, for voice, viola, flute, bassoon and harp

*world premiere*

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets: $30 / $20 (seniors) / $10 (students)

Box office: 416-504-7529

General information: 416-466-1800

Email: words.music@taliskerplayers.ca

www.taliskerplayers.ca

Labels: folk, Talisker Players, Toronto

Monday, April 6, 2009

2009 Lineup Announced - TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival

2009 TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival Line-Up
Tickets are on sale now!
June 26 - July 5, 2009
For detailed listings, more club shows and free concerts visit www.torontojazz.com

Canon Theatre 8pm (TicketKing - 416.872.1212)
Tony Bennett – Sunday, July 5

Mainstage Concert Theatre - Nathan Phillips Square 8pm (416.870.8000)
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Friday, June 26 (Blackburn opens)
Medeski Martin & Wood – Saturday, June 27
Buckwheat Zydeco / BeauSoleil – Sunday, June 28 *double bill*
Kool & The Gang – Monday, June 29 (Harrison Kennedy opens)
Jamie Cullum – Tuesday, June 30
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Wednesday, July 1 (Brandi Disterheft Quartet opens)
Al Di Meola World Sinfonia '09 – Thursday, July 2 (Amanda Martinez opens)
Dave Holland Quintet / An Evening w. Branford Marsalis – Fri, July 3*double bill*
Curtis Stigers / Eliane Elias – Saturday, July 4 * double bill*
Sadao Watanabe – Sunday, July 5

Enwave Theatre – Harbourfront Centre 7pm (416.973.4000)
José González Trio – Friday, June 26
Jackie Richardson & Joe Sealy – Sunday, June 28
Melody Gardot – Monday, June 29
Chucho Valdés – Wednesday, July 1 (two shows - 7pm & 9:30pm)
Kenny Werner Quintet – Saturday, July 4

Fleck Dance Theatre – Harbourfront Centre 7pm (416.973.4000)
Freddy Cole Quartet – Friday, June 26
Maria Schneider Orchestra – Sunday, June 28 (9pm)
Hiromi – Monday, June 29
Mose Allison Trio – Tuesday, June 30

Notable Concerts
Madeleine Peyroux – Tues, June 30 @ Danforth Music Hall (416.870.8000)
Susan Tedeschi – Friday, July 3 @ Opera House (416.870.8000)

Church of the Redeemer, 7pm 162 Bloor St. West (416.870.8000)
Monks Casino – Friday, June 26
Delirium – Saturday, June 27
Motif – Monday, June 29
Enrico Rava & Stefano Bollani – Wednesday, July 1
Cabaret, The Old Mill Inn 8pm (416.870.8000)
Adi Braun & Andrée Bernard – Friday, June 26
Ray Jessel – Saturday, June 27
Carolyn Scott / Judy Marshak – Sunday, June 28
Adam Brazier – Monday, June 39
Nancy White / Judith Lander – Tuesday, June 30
George Evans / Maureen Kennedy – Wednesday, July 1
Adam Brazier – Thursday, July 2

Supermarket 9:30pm (416.870.8000)
The Heavy – Friday, June 26 (10pm)
The Sea & Cake – Saturday, June 27
Alice Russell – Tuesday, June 30
wordPEOPLE – Thursday, July 2
Joyce – Friday, July 3 (9pm)

The Pilot 9pm (416.870.8000)
Russ Little Quintet – Friday, June 26
Charlie Hunter – Saturday, June 27 (two shows – 9pm & 11pm)
Chris Potter's Underground – Monday, June 29 & Tuesday, June 30
Bobby Militello – Thursday, July 2
Grant Stewart Quartet – Saturday, July 4
Felix Stussi w. Ray Anderson – Sunday, July 5

*Previously Announced*
Sonny Rollins – Friday, June 26 @ Four Seasons Centre (416.363.8231)
Gary Burton Quartet Revisited w. Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez – Monday, June 29 @ Four Seasons Centre (416.363.8231)

*** tickets subject to GST and all applicable facility fees and service charges**

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 to 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!

For more information visit www.torontojazz.com

Labels: jazz, TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto

Symphony Nova Scotia performs at eight elementary schools this spring

Halifax, NS – Symphony Nova Scotia takes to the road this spring to perform at eight schools across the Halifax Regional Municipality and beyond.

Sponsored by RBC Financial Group and conducted by Symphony Nova Scotia resident conductor Martin MacDonald, these engaging in-school concerts introduce young audiences to musical instruments, classical music, and the orchestra in a fun, interactive way.

Each in-school concert provides students with a unique educational experience. This year’s program will explore music from a wide variety of cultures, including European, Middle Eastern, African, Asian, Latin American, and French Canadian.

Then, students will be able to discover the character and qualities of each family of instruments as the orchestra performs the sounds of the cultures that form our Canadian identity.

“We are so excited about the focus of this program,” says Christina Murray, Symphony Nova Scotia’s Education and Outreach Manager. “We’ve developed it in collaboration with teachers to help open a dialogue about intercultural understanding.”

The orchestra will be performing this special program between April 8 and May 7 for seven schools: Southdale-North Woodside Elementary (Dartmouth), Enfield District School, Oyster Pond Academy, Seaside Elementary (Eastern Passage), BLT Elementary (Timberlea), Hillside Park Elementary (Lower Sackville), and Somerset and District Elementary (Berwick). They will also be performing a smaller program for pre-school and primary students at Halifax Independent School.

In-school concerts are just part of Symphony Nova Scotia’s comprehensive music education initiatives, along with open rehearsals, school matinees, special workshops, the Adopt-a-Musician program, the Musical Munchkins program, and the Library Series. These programs allow the orchestra to share the love of musical learning with over 14,000 young audiences each year.

For more information about Symphony Nova Scotia’s education and outreach programs, visit www.symphonynovascotia.ca.

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.

Labels: children, symphony nova scotia

Over the River and Through the Woods

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts

and

Saputo Inc.

Present

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

By JOE DIPIETRO

Directed by STEVEN SCHIPPER

April 19 - May 10, 2009

MONTREAL April 2009 – The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is delighted to present Joe DiPietro's hilarious and endearing Off-Broadway hit Over The River and Through the Woods.

"The theme of family relationships has been at the heart of our season", said Bryna Wasserman, Artistic and Executive Director of the Segal Centre. "Joe DiPietro's play will make you laugh until you roar and it will wrap its warm arms around you during its more touching moments".

Set in New Jersey in 1994, the play is about Nick, a young, single Italian-American who announces to both sets of grandparents that he has been offered a dream job in Seattle. Devastated by the news, his doting, salt-of-the-earth grandparents, with whom he has dinner every Sunday, cook up a plot to keep him from leaving the nest.

DiPietro, who has been compared to playwright Neil Simon for writing compelling autobiographical plays, says the grandparents he created "Are quite true to life. And if anyone thinks that this play exaggerates them, they would have only had to talk to them. One of them is still alive -- Ida (the inspiration for one of the play's characters, Aida). She gets mad when I reveal her exact age, so let's just say she's comfortably over 90".

Director Steven Schipper says DiPietro's humourous portrait of his grandparents is universal. "He must have sat behind the couch at my house with a tape recorder. There is no other explanation for the accuracy, the word-for-word authenticity of what is on that stage. Sure, my family was Jewish and he's writing about Italians, but you just have to change the pasta to matzo, and you'll see what I mean".

"The arts can create bridges of understanding and respect between cultures and Over the River and Through the Woods accomplishes this beautifully," adds Bryna Wasserman.

It is in this spirit that the Segal Centre created a 21-day festival called 'A Salute to the Italian Community'.

The 'Salute' will run concurrently with Over The River and Through the Woods and will feature Italian films, moviemakers and artists. Films showing at the Segal Centre's CinemaSpace include: Italian classics (Estate Violenta, La Traviata, La Resa Dei Conti); modern hits (Cinema Paradiso, Mambo Italiano); movies by Montreal Italian directors; and films about Africa by Italian directors, as part of the 25th annual Vues D'Afrique Festival.

The Lounge, the Segal Centre's increasingly popular downstairs café, will display select works by photographer Geraldo Pace, sculptor Egidio Vincelli and Italian-born Montreal painters Vito Del Signore and Umberto Bruni.

Finally, Joe DiPietro will be in Montreal to watch Steven Schipper's outstanding cast incarnate his beloved family on the Segal stage. He will also give a lecture about Over the River and Through the Woods and his life as a playwright at Sunday @ the Segal (Sunday, April 19, 11am)

Contact Suzanne Shugar for more information or interview requests.
Tél. (514) 739-2301, ext 8302 or sshugar@segalcentre.org

CAST BIOS

Doreen Brownstone - Emma Cristano

Well-known in Winnipeg, Doreen has also worked for Drayton Entertainment, Belfry, Sunshine, Citadel, Lunchbox, Globe and Magnus Theatres, plus two northern Manitoba/Ontario winter tours for the Manitoba Theatre Centre. Her resume includes radio, film and TV. In October 2004 she received the National Canadian Actors' Equity Life Membership Award, and in June 2006 a Life Achievement Award from Manitoba ACTRA. Grateful thanks to director Steven Schipper for this opportunity to appear at the Segal Centre.

Diana Donnelly - Caitlin O'Hare

Diana was born and raised in Montreal. Last time she performed on this stage was with the Montreal Young Company. She recently completed a tour of Tarragon's East of Berlin in which she originated the role of Sarah. Diana is going into her third season with Soulpepper Theatre after having spent four years with the Shaw Festival. Other Montreal credits include Impromptu on Nun's Island (Centaur); Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Repercussion Theatre). She is married to the wonderful Jeff Meadows.

DeAnn Mears - Aida Gianelli

DeAnn is delighted to be acting in Montreal for the first time with husband Frank Savino. Her Broadway credits include: Tiny Alice, Abelard and Heloise, Too True To Be Good, Never Live Over A Pretzel Factory and Dear Liar. Ms Mears has performed in major regional theatres throughout the United States and Canada and was a leading actor for seven years at the famed American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. FILM/TV credits include: Presumed Innocent, Petulia, and Justine. She has recurring roles on Law and Order, Beacon Hill, and Another World and was recently seen on Law and Order-Special Victims Unit.
Bernie Passeltiner - Nunzio Cristano

Bernie Passeltiner is thrilled to be back at the Segal where he starred in Tuesdays with Morrie and Visiting Mr. Green. Broadway appearances: Cafe Crown, Goodbye Fidel, Yentl and The Office. Off-Broadway shows include: Isn't it Romantic, The Dybbuk and The Sunshine Boys. He has toured the U.S., Canada and Japan in West Side Story and Grand Hotel and has played major roles in regional theatres across the U.S. and Canada. Film and TV credits include: Tootsie, 84 Charing Cross Road, What about Bob?, Law and Order, Ed and Kojak.

Frank Savino - Frank Gianelli

Frank has worked many times in Canada. His Canadian credits include: the Canadian Premiere of Broadway Bound (The Citadel, Edmonton & Royal Alex, Toronto), Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre Calgary) and The Royal Hunt of the Sun (O'Keefe Centre, Toronto). Broadway appearances include: Daughter of Silence, Room Service, and Mixed Emotions. Film and TV credits include: Three Days of the Condor, The Race That Won The West, The Trade; Louis Riel and the series Jake and the Kid (CBC), The Sopranos, Law and Order and Hill Street Blues.

Gianpaolo Venuta - Nick Cristano
Over the River and Through the Woods marks Gianpaolo's return to the Segal Centre after more than a year. He was last seen on this stage in The Diary Of Anne Frank in the role of Peter and prior to that starred in Infinitheatre's The Elephant Song. Gianpaolo's film and TV experience includes leading roles in Pure, Il Duce Canadese, Take-Out, as well as a recurring role in Naked Josh. My Claudia, a short film written and directed by Gianpaolo, recently premiered at The Toronto World Short Film Festival and was well-received.

DESIGN TEAM

Set and Costume Design MICHAEL GIANFRANCESCO
Lighting Design KIRSTEN WATT
Sound Design ARLO C. BATES
Stage Manager LUCIANA BURCHERI
Assistant Stage Manager JEN JONES

MEDIA CALL

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The media is invited to photograph and tape an excerpt of Over the River and Through the Woods

12:30pm for still cameras
1pm for video cameras

Contact Suzanne Shugar for more information or interview requests.
Tél. (514) 739-2301, ext 8302 or sshugar@segalcentre.org

MONDAY NIGHT TALKBACKS

As usual following the play, some of the actors and/or designers will remain on stage to take questions from the audience. Monday Night Talkbacks provides an intimate opportunity for audiences to engage up close and personal with the personalities bringing first class professional English language theatre to Montreal.

BUILDING AUDIENCES FOR THE FUTURE

Everyone knows the importance of creating and fostering new theatre audiences. To this end, the Segal Centre is offering substantial savings for those under 30, providing an opportunity for full-time college and university students and young professionals to experience high quality theatre at an affordable price.

TICKETS AND MEDIA INFORMATION

Run:
April 19 - May 10, 2009

Previews:
April 19 1:30 pm
April 20, 21 8:00 pm

Sunday-@-the Segal:
April 19 11:00 am
Media Opening Night:
Wednesday, April 22 8:00 pm
Performances:
Monday - Thursday, 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 pm
Sunday 7:00 pm

Matinées:
Wednesdays 1:00 pm
Sundays 2:00 pm

Box Office:
(514) 739-7944

Admission
(514) 790-1245
www.admission.com

Labels: montreal, The Segal Centre for performing Arts, theatre

L’OSJM vous invite à devenir chef d’orchestre d’un soir

L'OSJM vous invite à devenir chef d'orchestre d'un soir

Qui n'a jamais rêvé de diriger un orchestre symphonique, ou qui ne s'est jamais demandé à quoi peut bien servir un chef d'orchestre? Est-ce si difficile? Faut-il vraiment des connaissances particulières?

Cette année, l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montréal vous offre la possibilité de diriger cet orchestre de 60 musiciens pendant cinq minutes au cours d'une soirée bénéfice qui aura lieu le 20 mai prochain, à 20 heures à la salle Claude-Champagne.

Pour courir la chance de diriger l'Orchestre, rien de plus simple : il suffit au candidat Chef d'un soir de s'inscrire à l'adresse www.osjm.org/inscriptionchef puis de demander à ses connaissances et amis de le soutenir en versant des dons à son nom à l'adresse www.osjm.org/soutenirchef, une page qui permet les paiements sécurisés par carte de crédit ou compte Paypal.

Les trois chefs qui auront reçu le plus important soutien financier pourront diriger l'Orchestre le 20 mai prochain et participer à une de ses répétitions. Un quatrième chef sera désigné parmi les autres candidats.

L'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montréal (OSJM) a été fondé en 1976 et réunit chaque année une soixantaine d'instrumentistes âgés en moyenne de 18 ans, admis après audition. Près de 1 000 jeunes instrumentistes provenant de l'île de Montréal, élèves de nos grandes écoles de musique, ont ainsi acquis une formation de haute qualité permettant à nombre d'entre eux de faire partie de nos orchestres professionnels.

Le répertoire de l'OSJM est puisé à même le vaste éventail de la musique symphonique allant de Mozart à Mahler, en passant par Debussy, Chostakovitch et Beethoven. Plusieurs solistes, instrumentistes, chanteurs et compositeurs de renom, autant québécois qu'étrangers, ont partagé la scène avec l'OSJM.

L'OSJM a effectué des tournées au Québec, en Ontario, en Alberta, en Écosse, en Grèce et en France. L'Orchestre compte à son actif plusieurs disques, dont la Symphonie # 3 avec orgue de Camille Saint-Saëns ainsi que Le lac des cygnes et Casse-Noisettes de Tchaïkovsky.

À propos de Louis Lavigueur
Louis Lavigueur dirige l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montréal depuis septembre 1986. Lauréat du concours international de jeunes chefs d'orchestre de Besançon (France), il est chef-adjoint et coordonnateur de l'Orchestre du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, chef de l'Orchestre de Pierre-Laporte, directeur artistique et chef de l'Orchestre des concerts symphoniques de Gatineau et de l'Ensemble Sinfonia de Montréal. Il a été chef d'orchestre en résidence à l'Université McGill.

L'un des rares chefs à connaître et former aussi bien les chœurs que les orchestres, il dirige le chœur du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, les cinq chœurs du programme musique-études de l'École Pierre-Laporte, l'Ensemble vocal Polymnie de Longueuil et le Chœur Polyphonique de Montréal. Il a été décoré de l'Ordre du Mérite Choral et a remporté le Prix de la Ville de Versailles pour la meilleure interprétation d'une œuvre pour orchestre de Darius Milhaud.

Pédagogue recherché, Louis Lavigueur a enseigné aux Universités Laval, McGill et Montréal. En tant que chef invité, il a dirigé plusieurs orchestres et chœurs au Canada, en France, en Suisse et en République tchèque. Il a fréquemment enregistré des émissions tant à la radio qu'à la télévision de Radio-Canada. Il a signé plusieurs disques avec l'Orchestre Métropolitain ainsi que des œuvres de Saint-Saëns et Tchaïkovsky avec l'OSJM, qu'il a mené en tournée en Grèce et en France.

Labels: montréal, osjm

Le Spotlight is back!/Le Spotlight est de retour

MUSICAL THEATRE TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN LE SPOTLIGHT 2009

Get ready for the city's most exciting night of musical theatre on Tuesday evening, May 5at the Gesù in downtown Montreal. Le Spotlight: Montreal's Musical Theatre Challenge is the third edition of this celebration of local performing excellence, sponsored by the Centre for Education and Theatre in Montreal (CETM)

INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF MONTREAL-BASED TALENT

Ten Montrealers were selected during a round of preliminary auditions held recently at CETM. The judging panel included noted stage director Corey Castle, speech and accent coach Julia Lenardon, and drama educator Cathy Burns. "The quality of this year's talented contestants is positively amazing," said Stephen Pietrantoni of CETM. "Montreal has a lot to be proud of, and we will spend the evening celebrating that reality."

This year's Le Spotlight finalists are: Shayne Devouges, Katia DiPerna, Braulio Elicer, Lisa Ashley Gontovnick, Kayla Grunfeld, Shannon Hamilton, Coralie Heiler, Julie Lapierre, Stephanie Lessard and Heather White. Each will have just four minutes alone on stage to demonstrate acting, singing and movement skills before a panel of professional judges and a live audience. The winner will receive free tuition for a two-day musical theatre master class with Group Theatre Musical Montreal a guaranteed featured part in the Next Wave Festival of New Musicals coming to the McCord Museum and the Gesù in August.

ROBERT MARIEN GUEST STARS

Numerous special guests will add their own special lustre to this annual celebration of musical theatre in La Grande Métropole. Leading the way will be Montreal-based Broadway star Robert Marien, who will perform a specially-orchestrated medley of hit songs from musical theatre. Eighty-one year old local legend Geraldine Doucet will add her grace and experience to a quartet of Broadway Babies, and Tocadéo, (Montreal's answer to Il Divo), will be among the special performers to display their musical theatre artistry.

All performers will appear with a live 10-piece orchestra under the direction of Chris Barillaro. The show will be directed by Patrick Olafson and hosted by Le Spotlight creator, Stephen Pietrantoni. A partial list of judges for the finals includes radio personality and musical theatre enthusiast Sharman Yarnell of CJAD radio, Kevin John Saylor, Artistic Director of the Kateri Performing Arts centre in Kahnawake, and Sergine Dumais from the faculty at LAMDA, with three others to be revealed at a later time.

VOX POPULI

For the first time this year, those present in the audience will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorite performer. "We'll see if the judges and the public choose the same contestant," said Pietrantoni, "but it's the evaluation of the judges that will decide who we ultimately will see on stage in August."

Tickets are $25 (all taxes and facility fees included), and may be obtained at the Gesù box office (Tues. – Sat., noon to 6 p.m.). Student/senior rates are available.

Venue: Amphithéâtre du Gesù, - Centre de créativité, 1200 Bleury (between Ste-Catherine and René-Lévesque) Montreal. Metro: Place des Arts. buses: 15, 80 or 150.

More information about the competition is available from Le Spotlight's official website: www.lespotlight.ca.

Labels: montreal, music theatre

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Portland Symphony Announces 2009-10 Season

Portland Symphony Orchestra Announces 2009-10
85th Anniversary Season, 30th Anniversary of Magic of Christmas

Concerts include actors, dancers, and multimedia components
Two programs with vocal soloists and full chorus
Guest artists include Dame Evelyn Glennie, Yuja Wang, and mandolin phenom Chris Thile

PORTLAND, Maine – For the Portland Symphony Orchestra's 85th anniversary, Music Director Robert Moody guides Maine's premier orchestra through the 2009-10 concert season filled with traditional and new works of classical repertoire, internationally celebrated guest artists and an entertaining variety of Pops and contemporary musical offerings. The PSO's 2009-10 season is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories.

Among the many guests visiting Merrill Auditorium are Dame Evelyn Glennie in her first PSO appearance in 15 years; mandolin legend Chris Thile; pianist Yuja Wang; Byron Stripling on trumpet; and vocalists Natalie Fagnan, Mary Phillips, Lisa Saffer, John McVeigh and Timothy Jones. Guest ensembles include members of the Portland Stage Company, Choral Art Society, Cirque de la Symphonie, and Maine's very own Motor Booty Affair. Guest conductors include Matthew Fritz, Conductor of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic's "Discovery" Series; Alfred Savia, Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic; Scott Terrell, Resident Conductor at Charleston Symphony; and Matthew Troy, Assistant Conductor at the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra.

The PSO performs two premieres: the New England premiere of Concerto for Mandolin, a new work by Chris Thile co-commissioned by the PSO; and the Maine premiere of Chasing Light… by Joseph Schwantner, part of Ford Made in America Consortium, a partnership program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet the Composer.

Music Director Robert Moody said, "Our commitment to the greatest masterworks in our repertory is unbending. At the same time, we are also exploring works which are not yet part of the canon, but perhaps will be one day. I will always try to pair music that might challenge us a bit with "tried and true" music from the repertory. Pairing Brett Dietz's Headcase with Ravel and Mozart is an example of that approach. None of us will be here in 100 years to know for sure which works survive and thrive, but it is an immense privilege, and great responsibility, to be part of that initial journey."

Another first for the PSO this year will be two performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection," which will close both the Tuesday Classical and Sunday Classical series. Executive Director Ari Solotoff explains: "Performing a work as powerful and momentous as Mahler's Resurrection Symphony is something that many orchestras aspire to. However it's a very expensive program, requiring chorus, soloists, and many more musicians than we usually have onstage. Having this program close both of our classical series makes it possible for more people to experience this incredible music. It is also a great example of the kind of efficient and strategic thinking we are using during these economically challenging times, as two performances of the same program can be more cost-effective than one."

"We've enjoyed 85 years of incredible music making with the PSO, but this year will be transformative," added Gordon Gayer, President of the PSO Board of Trustees. "At the same time the PSO continues to provide quality programming and educational activities in an economically sustainable way, our 2009-10 season promises to reinforce why the PSO is such an integral part of Portland's community and culture."

Music Director Moody adds, "I have always looked to music as an outlet and a celebration of all that life has to offer, especially during times of challenge. This season is all about experiences that are energetic, 'electric,' poignant, evolving, inspiring, entertaining, and moving. If we do our job right, people should still be recovering from the goose-bumps, and remembering this 85th anniversary season, for a long time to come."

Tuesday Classical:
Six concerts on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM

Tuesday, October 6, 2009: Heroes and the American Dream
Robert Moody, conductor
Actors from Portland Stage Company

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"
Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Celebrates the American immigrant experience and the American dream. Brings elements of theatre and multimedia into the concert hall, employing actors and projected historical images from the Ellis Island archives.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009: It Is Enough
Robert Moody, conductor
Charles Dimmick, violin

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture
Berg: Violin Concerto
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

Tuesday, February 16, 2010: Rach and Romance
Robert Moody, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

John Adams: The Chairman Dances
Hanson: Symphony No. 2, "Romantic"
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2

Tuesday, March 9, 2010: Life, Death, Transfiguration
Robert Moody, conductor
Natalie Fagnan, soprano; John McVeigh, tenor; boy soprano tba
Choral Art Society

Theofanidis: Rainbow Body
Richard Strauss: Tod und Verklärung ("Death and Transfiguration")
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Requiem

Tuesday, April 6, 2010: Sounds and Light
Alfred Savia, guest conductor
Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Sponsored by Verrill Dana, LLP

Schwantner: Chasing Light… (Maine premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
Masson: Snare drum Concerto
Joe Duddell: Snowblind for solo percussion and strings
Ravel: Bolero

The Portland Symphony PSO's performance of Joseph Schwantner's Chasing Light…is part of Ford Made in America, a partnership program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet The Composer.

Ford Made in America is made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company.

Major support is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts, and The Amphion Foundation.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010: Mighty Mahler
Robert Moody, conductor
Lisa Saffer, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano
Choral Art Society

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"

Sunday Classical:
Four concerts on Sundays at 2:30 PM

Sunday, November 8, 2009: Great Stories to Tell!
Robert Moody, conductor
Narrator, dancers tba

Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite 1
Mendelssohn: Selections from A Midsummer Night's Dream
Stravinsky: L'histoire du Soldat ("A Soldier's Tale")

Sunday, January 24, 2010: Head and Heart
Robert Moody, conductor
Timothy Jones, baritone

Ravel: Pavane pour une infante defunte ("Pavane for a dead princess")
Mozart: Symphony No. 25, "Little G minor"
Dietz: Headcase

A musical journey through a major stroke that the composer suffered when he was 29. Incorporates voice, electronic sounds, and projected images.

Sunday, March 28, 2010: Chris Thile in Concert with the PSO
Scott Terrell, guest conductor
Chris Thile, mandolin

Copland: Appalachian Spring (Original Version)
Schoenberg: Verklärte nacht ("Transfigured Night ")
Thile: Concerto for Mandolin (PSO co-commission, New England premiere)

Sunday, May 2, 2010: Mighty Mahler
Robert Moody, conductor
Lisa Saffer, soprano; Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano
Choral Art Society

Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"

LSM Newswire

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Un troisième album pour Joseph Edgar arrive en gare !

Monday, April 27, 2009

Twenty-Year Old Piano Prodigy Ran Jia makes her Vancouver Debut

The Shaw Festival receives $2.1 million

Nouveauté partition de CMBV

Le Mois de la Photo à Montréal 2009

PSO Percussion Kinderkonzert Series, Beginning May 18

Friday, April 24, 2009

Laudate Singers present VIVA VIVALDI! May 22

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Phila Singers in Concert at Verizon Hall is Centrepiece of National Conference

THE PHILADELPHIA SINGERS PRESENTS CENTERPIECE CONCERT OF 32ND ANNUAL CHORUS AMERICA CONFERENCE

500 arts leaders from across the United States and Canada expected to attend Conference and The Philadelphia Singers Centerpiece Concert in The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

JAZZ@MASSEY/09-10 season/Starting Aug 5!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Eighth Blackbird Performs Steve Reich's Pulitzer Prize-Winning Double Sextet at Ojai Music Festival

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Death and the Maiden, Altera Vitae at MainLine Theatre- May 13-24

Wednesday, May 13 - Sunday, May 24

Death and the Maiden

Altera Vitae Productions

Playing at MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St. Laurent

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm

Monday, April 20, 2009

Free public reading May 8

Friday, April 17, 2009

The VSO Presents the Vancouver Debut of Alexander Gavrylyuk

Previews begin for Shavian Restoration comedy In Good King Charles's Golden Days

En mai, La Scena Musicale mettra l’accent sur les festivals de jazz, de musiques du monde et de musique folklorique

May's La Scena Musicale puts the accent on jazz, world and folk festivals!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Nouvelle directrice des programmes à Radio Ville-Marie

RADIO VILLE-MARIE

MADAME CLAUDETTE LAMBERT,

NOUVELLE DIRECTRICE DES PROGRAMMES

Juilliard String Quartet Welcomes Nick Eanet As It's New First Violinist

Queen of Puddings in Europe with Love Songs

QUEEN OF PUDDINGS MUSIC THEATRE

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

VSO's May Concert Listings

Un mois de pur ravissement musical avec le Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal !

Noël Coward's Tonight at 8:30 started with previews of Brief Encounters at the Shaw Festival

Les Estivales de Musique au Coeur du Médoc

Monday, April 13, 2009

Young Stars of the Young Century: 3 Teenage Virtuosi Perform in Toronto, May 9

Announcing Jazz Piano Star Lynn Arriale May 12TH CD/DVD

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Pentaèdre présente : Le jeu de l'inventaire

Yves Garand est nommé à la direction générale et artistique de Orgue et Couleurs

In rep, Riverside Drive & My Child, Gleams Theatre at MainLine- April 28-May 10

Mark these dates in your spring calendar

Tuesday, April 28 to Sunday, May 10, 2009

Gleams Theatre

At MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St. Laurent

Great ticket packages available

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

TorontoJazzBuzz brings YOU an upSwing to trump the economic downturn!

Hometown pianist Avan Yu plays Rachmaninoff at the Orpheum, and on Tour with the VSO

Star Trek’s Mr. Sulu joins Jack Everly for a Sci-Fi Spectacular

Carmina Nova: ancient times, modern ears

Trinity St. Paul’s Centre

TICKET INFORMATION

Monday, April 6, 2009

2009 Lineup Announced - TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival

Symphony Nova Scotia performs at eight elementary schools this spring

Over the River and Through the Woods

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts

and

Saputo Inc.

Present

OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS

By JOE DIPIETRO

Directed by STEVEN SCHIPPER

April 19 - May 10, 2009

CAST BIOS

DESIGN TEAM

THE PHILADELPHIA SINGERS PRESENTS CENTERPIECE CONCERT OF 32^ND ANNUAL CHORUS AMERICA CONFERENCE

MEDIA CALL