Cecilia Bartoli: 2nd Show Added

Roy Thomson Hall’s 08-09 International Vocal Recitals

1^st show SOLD OUT; 2^nd performance added

Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano

With Orchestra La Scintilla of Zürich Opera

On Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 7 PM / Roy Thomson Hall

(Sunday, March 1 at 2 PM is sold out)

Tickets on sale to FriendsFirst members Friday December 12 at 10 AM

To the Public on Monday, December 15 at 10 AM

$195 - $75 - Call 416-872-4255 or online at www.roythomson.com

Or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

Due to the very high demand for tickets to Cecilia Bartoli's concert on March 1 at 2:00 pm, Roy Thomson Hall is pleased to announce that Ms. Bartoli has agreed to perform a 2^nd concert the same day at 7:00 PM. Tickets go on sale to the public on Monday, December 15 at 10 AM.

Cecilia Bartoli is one of the world’s most cherished and celebrated classical artists and undisputedly the most famous mezzo-soprano of her generation. Her two upcoming recitals, 2 PM and 7 PM, at Roy Thomson Hall on March 1, 2009 celebrate the life and roles of 19^th century opera diva Maria Malibran (1808-1836), a superstar of her era and muse for such composers as Rossini and Donizetti.

Ms. Bartoli is joined by the 25-member Orchestra La Scintilla of Zürich Opera, a distinguished period instrument ensemble, for a program drawn from Ms. Bartoli’s award-winning album Maria, and includes works by Garcia, Persiani, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Donizetti, Balfe, Beriot and Malibran. The orchestra will be led by concertmaster Ada Pesch.

The 2 PM performance is sponsored by RBC

Contemporary soprano artist Sarena Paton releases her latest CD, La Carissima

Contemporary soprano artist Sarena Paton releases her latest CD, La Carissima, bringing a new genre of classical-crossover to Canada.

Toronto – December 09, 2008

Contemporary soprano artist Sarena Paton releases her latest CD La Carissima, bringing a fresh and compelling genre of classical-crossover to Canada. After the success of her two albums Remember and Almost Like Love, La Carissima offers a mix of classical and cosmopolitan flair, available at iTunes this February 2009.

This March/April 2009, Sarena embarks on her Southern/Central Ontario tour, followed by her maritime tour, slated for this July/August. In addition, Sarena is collaborating with international EMI recording artist, counter-tenor Fernando Lima (who is currently touring with Sarah Brightman), as well as Welsh-born West End musical ­­­theatre star Peter Karrie (Phantom of the Opera, Man of La Mancha and Les Misérables).

Trained as a classical soprano, Sarena Paton developed a fascination for foreign languages and repertoire. La Carissima is a collaboration with Nashville producer/writer Terry Sawchuk (who also produced the albums of Matt Dusk), uniting her classical background with a more contemporary vibe.

La Carissima, features classical arias in Italian and Latin and breathtaking crossover compositions in Italian, Spanish and English, penned by Paton and top Canadian and American songwriters in the classical-crossover genre. Recorded with the rich bold, sound of a Russian orchestra, La Carissima appeals to classical and pop lovers alike.

This December 23, 2008, Sarena will sing the national anthem at the World Junior Hockey Championships at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton. For the second year, she joined tenor John McDermott and Cape Breton songstress Rita MacNeil on their annual Christmas tours. Sarena recently appeared in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and performed throughout southern Ontario, including an engagement at Queen’s Park (Toronto), as part of Remembrance Day ceremonies.

With a long-standing interest and involvement with the WWII Veterans, Sarena released her previous album Remember, produced by J. Richard Hutt, in honour of the veterans and peacekeepers of the past and present, especially those serving in Afghanistan. Aside from producing her own concerts, Sarena is one of the founding team members of the Remembrance Day concert tradition, which takes place at the Ronald V. Joyce Centre (Hamilton Place) every year.

Sarena’s commitment to the veterans attracted the attention of Veterans Affairs Canada and she was invited to perform at the prestigious Senate Ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa during Veterans Week in 2006. Sarena has been honoured to sing one of her singles Honor Thy Fallen, written for fallen soldiers, firefighters, O.P.P. officers and RCMP, at a number of memorial services.

At the age of sixteen, Sarena made her first appearance as a soprano soloist with the Boris Brott National Academy Orchestra. The following year, she presented her debut recital with songs in 6 languages. She appeared at the 8th International Mozart Festival in Salzburg, Austria; she took the stage alongside Jim Witter in Memories of a Winter’s Eve; and she performed the role of Christine Daae in the Canadian Phantom Unmasked tour with Peter Karrie.

Sarena Paton has performed as a part of a backup ensemble for international music icons such as Susan Aglukark, Paul Anka, Sarah Brightman, Reba McEntire, Frank Mills, The Nylons, Roch Voisine and Michelle Wright.

Sarena toured France, Switzerland and Germany with a 20-piece band, playing the Montreux Jazz Festival, ZMF Festival and the Juno Beach Memorial. Last year, she was the soloist at the 2007 World Synchronized Skating Championships and the 2007 Canadian International Military Tattoo.

Sarena Paton is also a recognized actress who recently completed filming Sons of Eden, a short independent film by writer/director Izabela Ciesinska. In summer 2009, Sarena begins shooting the feature film Bounce, with director/writer/producer Kenneth Olsen. In her youth, Sarena played the recurring role of Velma Bugle on the Canadian classic television series Road to Avonlea. In addition to her 5-year spot on the renowned CBC children’s series Mr. Dress-Up, she also appeared in Ready or Not, Katts and Dog and the feature film Fly Away Home.

For more information, visit www.sarenapaton.com and www.myspace.com/sarenapaton.

The late Birgit Nilsson donates biggest Prize in classical music history

The late Birgit Nilsson donates biggest Prize in classical music history

Stockholm, December 5th, 2008 – The Birgit Nilsson Foundation announces today the establishment of the Birgit Nilsson Prize as the biggest prize in classical music history. It was the wish of the legendary Swedish dramatic soprano Birgit Nilsson to award outstanding achievements in the international field of opera and concert with a prize in the amount of one million dollars. The first Prize winner will be announced in 2009.

In the early eighties, towards the end of her long and distinguished career, the legendary Swedish dramatic soprano Birgit Nilsson decided to establish a foundation for a Prize to be awarded every second or third year in the amount of one million dollars for outstanding achievements by:

– A singer in the field of opera and/or concert and/or oratorio

– A conductor in the classical field of opera and/or concert

– A specific production by an opera company, as long as this production is outstandingly cast and conducted and, most importantly, staged in the spirit of the composer.

The name of the first prize winner, chosen by Birgit Nilsson herself, is being kept in a sealed envelope until the official announcement to be made in early 2009.

According to the provisions of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, its Council shall appoint a jury consisting of prominent figures in the classical music field for a three-year term. The jury shall give its recommendation to the Foundation Council, which will make the final decision. In keeping with Ms Nilsson's wishes, the Prize may be given to two designees, in which case the Prize is split in half. Also, the Prize may never be awarded to the same person twice.

Birgit Nilsson (1918–2005) was the world's leading dramatic soprano of her time, excelling in the operas of Wagner (“The Ring Cycle”, “Tristan und Isolde” “Tannhäuser” and “Lohengrin”), Strauss (“Salome”, “Elektra” and “Die Frau ohne Schatten”), Puccini (“Tosca” and “Turandot”), Verdi (“Aida”, “Un Ballo in Maschera” and “Macbeth”) as well as many other operas.

During her legendary career, she performed regularly at major opera houses like

Stockholm, Bayreuth, Vienna, Milan, London, Paris, Munich, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Buenos Aires and others.

Following her debut at the Stockholm Opera in 1946, her international career began in the early fifties with debuts in Glyndebourne, Bayreuth, Vienna and Munich, to be followed by debuts in North and South America in the mid-fifties. Her opening of La Scala season 1958 as Turandot, her 1959 New York debut as Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera and her performances as Isolde and Brunhilde in Wieland Wagner's productions in Bayreuth were considered milestones in her career.

Ms. Nilsson took her farewell from the operatic stage in the role of Elektra in 1982.

Further information on the Birgit Nilsson Prize and pictures of Birgit Nilsson on

www.birgitnilssonprize.org.

Aria from Lori Laitman's 'The Scarlet Letter' to Premiere in London England

Aria from Lori Laitman's 'The Scarlet Letter' to Premiere in London England


British Mezzo-soprano Katherine Marriott will perform the "Witch's Dance" aria from Lori Laitman's new opera, 'The Scarlet Letter'. The opera saw its world premiere at The University of Central Arkansas a mere month ago, and has already been hailed as a significant and exciting new work. "This great story seems be on its way to becoming great opera...." said Ellis Widner of The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette following the opera's world premiere in November.


Katherine Marriott selected the aria for inclusion for her upcoming recital titled 'Seduction and the Dark Arts' to be performed on December 5th at The Red Hedgehog in Highgate, London, England. Upon receiving the aria from the composer, she reflected: "The aria is fabulous to sing, a real tour-de-force. The witch is gloriously, not simply, a catalyst. It's easy to find a strong personality in there, and the writing lends itself to finding many different colours in the tone… And David Mason is wonderful as the librettist - strikes exactly the right balance or lyricism and "speaking" tone, so it sounds neither dated nor banal! "

Recital celebrates 50th anniversary of Lois Marshall in Russia

FACULTY VOICE RECITAL CELEBRATES HISTORIC TOURS OF LOIS MARSHALL TO THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

TORONTO - Lois Marshall was one of the best known Canadian sopranos of her generation. She has sung in the world’s finest performance halls under such conductors as Toscanini, Sargent, Beecham, MacMillan, Stokowski, and Barbirolli. In October 1958, Marshall became the first North American singer ever to tour the Soviet Union exclusively as a recitalist, and her route took her from Moscow to Riga, Leningrad, Kiev, and back to Moscow. On Friday, November 14, the University of Toronto is proud to present Russian Nights, a voice recital celebrating the 50th anniversary of that historic event. Featuring faculty soprano Lorna MacDonald and pianist Che Anne Loewen, the program is a compilation of Marshall’s Russian tours between 1958 and 1977, including lieder by Schubert, Britten and Richard Strauss; arias by Handel and Puccini, as well as folksong arrangements.

The recital takes place at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall in the Edward Johnson Building at 80 Queen’s Park. Tickets ($25 adults and $15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at the University of Toronto, soprano Lorna MacDonald holds the Lois Marshall Chair in Voice Studies and is head of Voice Studies at the Faculty of Music. She enjoys a career of distinction as a lyric-coloratura soprano and voice teacher, and has sung across Canada and the US, in Wales, Taiwan, France, Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Bermuda. Her acclaimed performances have been broadcast on CBC, PBS and NPR. The Halifax Chronicle-Herald has praised her performances of Mozart and Buxtehude as having “freshness of tone…clarity of style and diction…beautifully expressive musicianship…served by a perfection of technical mastery.” As a teacher, Lorna initiated many successful and innovative additions to the voice studies curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her record has been recognized with Ontario’s prestigious OCUFA Award for “teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to university teaching”.

Che Anne Loewen, originally from Steinbach, Manitoba, is a collaborative pianist of breadth and authority. She has performed throughout Canada and in Europe with many singers and instrumentalists, including Jean Stilwell, Catherine Robbin, Gary Relyea, and Measha Brueggergosman. She has been heard many times over the CBC and has been praised in the press for “her brilliant support” (The Globe and Mail), “truly exquisite articulation” (Fredericton Daily Gleaner) and “her subtlety and nuance” (Halifax Chronicle-Herald).

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

###

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

L'Orchestre Internazionale d'Italia à Montréal !

Directement d’Italie et
pour la première fois au Canada

L’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
Avec artistes invités :
Francesca Ruospo, soprano
Claudio Marcotulli, guitare

10 novembre 2008, 20 h
Église St.James United
460, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montréal
Métro Place-des-Arts

Billets : 25 $ régulier / 20 $ Étudiant-Aîné
Billetterie et renseignements : 514.848.9696
www.cshow.ca

Montréal, 3 octobre 2008 – De la grande visite s’amène à Montréal le 10 novembre prochain ! En effet, pour célébrer le 150e anniversaire de naissance du célèbre compositeur Giacomo Puccini, le réputé Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, dirigé par le chef d’orchestre canadien Kerry Stratton présentera un concert à l’Église Unie Saint-James dans le cadre de la toute première tournée canadienne de l’orchestre.

Se joigneront à l’orchestre le talentueux guitariste italien Claudio Marcotulli ainsi que la soprano Francesca Ruospo, présentée avec la permission de l’Accademia Teatro Alla Scala.

Au programme, quelques-uns des plus célèbres airs de Puccini, Rossini et Rodrigo, ainsi que deux œuvres présentées en grande première canadienne de deux compositeurs italiens, commandes de RAI trade. Une soirée magique aux effluves d’Italie à ne pas rater !

Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
www.oidi.com
Fondé en 1986, l’Orchestre international d’Italie (Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia) est une émanation de l’Orchestre mondial des Jeunesses Musicales. Il s’est produit un peu partout en Europe, en Amérique latine et an Asie, tant dans des festivals que dans les salles les plus prestigieuses. Il a donné à ce jour plus de 900 concerts et participé à de nombreuses productions lyriques. Il a été dirigé par plusieurs chefs réputés et accompagné des solistes qui comptent parmi les plus célèbres de notre époque. En 1997, il a reçu le Prix européen de la culture pour les orchestres. Son port d’attache est l’antique et magnifique cité de Fermo située dans les Marches au cœur de l’Italie, tout près de l’Adriatique. Depuis 2003, il est l’orchestre en résidence du Teatro Venditio Basso à Ascoli Piceno. L’orchestre nous arrive tout droit d’Italie où il a donné des concerts sous la direction de Maestro Stratton les 24, 25 et 26 octobre.



Francesca Ruospo
Lauréate de nombreux prix, la soprano Francesca Ruospo s’est formée à l’Académie de la Scala de Milan. Elle a chanté dans plusieurs villes italiennes, ainsi qu’à Londres, Chicago, Abou Dhabi, Pékin et au Parlement européen. Elle fait ses débuts au Canada peu de temps après avoir tenu le rôle de La Comtesse dans une production des Noces de Figaro présentée à la Scala.

Claudio Marcotulli
www.claudiomarcotulli.it
Le guitariste italien Claudio Marcotulli, est considéré comme l’un des guitaristes les plus exceptionnels de sa génération pour la qualité de ses exécutions et de son captivant choix de répertoire. En 1984, il fut lauréat du concours René Bartoli ainsi que le premier prix à la compétition F. Tarrega d'Espagne. Claudio Marcotulli participé à plusieurs tournées mondiales et compte plusieurs albums à son actif sous étiquette Tres. Il a notamment donné plusieurs concerts avec l’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia et le grand ténor italien Luciano Pavarotti.

***

Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
Tournée canadienne :

2 novembre: Port Hope, Ontario
3 novembre: Toronto, Ontario
4 novembre: Welland, Ontario
5 novembre: Orillia, Ontario
6 novembre: Markham, Ontario
7 novembre: Milton, Ontario
8 novembre: Barrie, Ontario
9 novembre: Richmond Hill, Ontario
10 novembre: Montréal, Québec

La tournée canadienne de l’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italie est présentée par International Touring Productions et le International Resource Centre for Performing Arts.

Giorgia Fumanti en concerts au Québec pour le temps des Fêtes

Après avoir fait un malheur aux Jeux olympiques de Beijing

Giorgia Fumanti

nous revient pour une

série de concerts du temps des Fêtes!

Montréal, le 30 octobre 2008 – De retour à la maison après avoir électrisé des millions de Chinois à l’occasion de mémorables prestations livrées aux Jeux olympiques de Pékin et au Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival, voilà que l’envoûtante soprano québécoise d’origine italienne Giorgia Fumanti est à mettre au point les derniers préparatifs en vue d’une mini-tournée de concerts aux couleurs du temps des Fêtes, qu’elle s’apprête à effectuer dans quelques salles et églises de la Belle province. Une occasion en or (et… en art!) de voir et, surtout, d’entendre de près celle qui a désormais l’habitude de briller devant plusieurs milliers de spectateurs, sur les scènes comptant parmi les plus prestigieuses au monde.

Si elle est des plus fières d’offrir prochainement aux Québécois un tout premier album de langue française (Je Suis, en magasin le 18 novembre), reste que son ultime plaisir réside dans ce partage d’émotions qu’elle vit avec son premier public, le public d’ici, lorsqu’elle ne fait qu’un avec la scène. Pour l’heure, les dates et les endroits suivants de cette « rentrée » québécoise ont été confirmés :

Le samedi 29 novembre | 20 h – Église de la Purification

445, rue Notre-Dame, à Repentigny
Infos : Isba Music, Édith Provost 450.669.4088

Le dimanche 30 novembre | 15 h – Église Saint-Joseph-de-Chambly

164, rue Martel , à Chambly
Infos : 450.658.1568 ou 819.679.0313

Le samedi 6 décembre | 20 h – Chapelle Saint-Édouard

364, Chemin Knowlton, au Lac Brome
Infos : 450.242.2870 – Sans frais : 1.877.242.2870

Le dimanche 7 décembre | 15 h 30 – Église de Val-Morin

6149 rue Morin, à Val-Morin

Infos : Isba Music, Édith Provost 450.669.4088

Le dimanche 21 décembre | 19 h – Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne

866, rue Saint-Pierre, à Terrebonne

www.theatreduvieuxterrebonne.com

Billets en vente : À la billetterie du Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne
450.492.4777 – Sans frais : 1.866.404.4777

Par internet : www.admission.com, ou au 514.790.1245

Natalie Choquette lance TERRA MIA

TERRA MIA
de NATALIE CHOQUETTE

Une odyssée lyrique aux quatre coins du monde

Montréal, le 27 novembre 2008 – Cela fait trois ans que Natalie Choquette explore les grands airs des répertoires sacrés, baroques et classiques. Avec brio et succès d'ailleurs, puisque sa trilogie Æterna s'est vendue à 100 000 exemplaires et a remporté trois Félix à l'ADISQ. Aujourd'hui, la célèbre soprano se lance dans une nouvelle aventure et un nouveau registre avec un album plein d'amour et de rythmes du monde… Alors faites vos valises et embarquez avec « La diva » pour une belle et grande épopée à travers TERRA MIA.

En 10 langues et 16 chansons, Natalie Choquette célèbre l'amour avec des compositions ou des chants traditionnels issus des cultures portugaise, japonaise, française, québécoise, gitane, russe, chinoise, arabe, péruvienne… En duo avec Marco Calliari puis avec le jeune Torontois Daniel Panetta (découvert à l'émission Canadian Idol), elle fait une escale romantique en Italie pour entonner Reginella et Non ti scordar di me. Sur les rivages ensoleillés de Cuba, mère et fille se retrouvent ensuite, mêlant leur voix et leurs émotions dans une chanson spécialement écrite par Florence K., Mamacita.

Tout au long du périple, la voix en or de Natalie Choquette est soutenue par un écrin de musique finement ciselé dans l'authenticité : violons tziganes, accordéon italien, uhru chinois, oud arabe, flûtes péruviennes, irlandaises ou japonaises, guitare flamenco, tres cubain… Pour enregistrer El cóndor pasa, un chant traditionnel des Andes, la chanteuse et son équipe sont même allés en Amérique du Sud pour s'entourer d'un vrai chœur d'enfants péruviens. Le résultat est touchant.

Au total et en plus de ce chœur, 20 musiciens et 8 choristes ont participé à l'aventure de TERRA MIA, dont la réalisation et les sublimes arrangements sont signés John Roney et Éric Lagacé.

TERRA MIA de Natalie Choquette : le classique et la musique du monde sont enfin réconciliés dans un album conçu comme une invitation à s'évader sur une autre planète : la nôtre. En vente partout dès aujourd'hui sur étiquette Isba Music, distributionDEP|Universal.

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson | New CD On Wigmore Hall Live

LORRAINE HUNT LIEBERSON'S 1999 WIGMORE HALL CONCERT

IS RELEASED ON THE WIGMORE HALL LIVE LABEL

THE MUSIC OF SCHUMANN AND BRAHMS IS HEARD IN POWERFUL AND PROFOUND PERFORMANCES BY THE BELOVED AMERICAN MEZZO-SOPRANO WHO DIED IN 2006; JULIUS DRAKE IS THE PIANIST

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, the esteemed and beloved American mezzo-soprano who died in 2006, is heard in a new CD on the Wigmore Hall Live label (WHLIVE0024). This concert was recorded live in London's Wigmore Hall on October 4, 1999. Julius Drake is the pianist.

Ms. Hunt Lieberson's performances of works by Brahms and Schumann are soulful, powerful and profound -- a masterful technique completely in service to the music and its message.

This is the 25^th CD released on the Wigmore Hall Live label and the second by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, the first being the 30 November 1998 concert of works by Brahms, Handel, Lieberson (the singer's husband), Mahler, and a traditional spiritual, with Roger Vignoles, pianist (WHLive0013, released last year).

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, originally from Northern California, died at the age of 52. She brought an almost paradoxical combination of serenity and intensity to her performances, with her subtle but penetrating illumination of both text and music. Her recorded legacy is relatively small, making this release especially valuable.

Reviewing the live concert in 1999, Andrew Clements in The Guardian (London) wrote: "...With Julius Drake as the ever attentive pianist, she devoted her recital to Brahms and Schumann, and it was spell-binding. There is no artifice, no affectation and most of all no self-regarding ego about Hunt Lieberson; she is on the platform to communicate. It helps, of course, that she possesses a voice of such haunting beauty and that her musicality is so instinctive ... Each number of Frauenliebe und -leben ran through a whole spectrum of colour and emotional flux. The way in which Ich kann's nicht fassen grew from breathless wonder to untrammelled ecstasy was a microcosm of the emotional journey that the whole cycle charts. Magical."

The contents of the CD are as follows:

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Mezzo-soprano

Julius Drake, Piano

Brahms – Eight Songs, Op. 57

Schumann – Four Lieder from Goethe's Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Op. 98a

Schumann – Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42

(Encores: Debussy – Fantoches from Fetes galantes; and Handel – Angels, ever bright and fair, from Theodora)

John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, who is responsible for all aspects of the Hall's activities and its recording label, stated: "We are particularly delighted to release a second Wigmore Hall Live archive recording of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson -- one of the world's most beautiful voices -- in repertoire by Schumann and Brahms.

"Wigmore Hall Live has grown into a flagship international label since its launch in 2005, and we're very excited that we have already reached our 25th disc, with many more exciting releases planned for the seasons ahead. The label is now distributed in 30 worldwide territories, bringing the unique Wigmore Hall experience to an even greater audience."

London's Wigmore Hall is generally regarded as the world's finest concert hall for chamber music and song, a reputation which has grown and flourished in the 107 years since its opening. Its generous acoustics, intimacy and warm hospitality has won great loyalty from the world's greatest artists. Being innovative as well as traditional, Wigmore Hall has consistently led the way for new types of song recital and chamber music programming. It is held in the highest esteem and affection by musicians and music lovers the world over.

Wigmore Hall Live's catalogue includes archival recordings of musicians of the highest calibre: Dame Margaret Price with Geoffrey Parsons, and Peter Schreier with András Schiff; contemporary Wigmore regulars Dame Felicity Lott with Graham Johnson and Sir Thomas Allen with Malcolm Martineau. Early music, with the Academy of Ancient Music, is heard in close proximity to contemporary music, advocated by the Arditti Quartet, while Wigmore Hall continues its commitment to nurturing Young Artists with exhilarating performance by Joyce DiDonato and Julius Drake. The label's newer releases include recent concerts from the Ysaÿe Quartet, and the first appearance at the Hall by Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski and her recital partner, Marita Isokoski.

Releases scheduled for 2009 on Wigmore Hall Live include recitals by Swedish soprano Miah Persson and pianist Roger Vignoles; Polish mezzo-soprano Ewa Podleś with pianist Garrick Ohlsson (a program that also features Musorgsky's Songs and Dances of Death); Russian-born pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja; and Hungarian pianist András Schiff playing at Wigmore Hall's 1988 Haydn Festival.

De la grande visite à Montréal

Directement d’Italie et
pour la première fois au Canada

L’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
Avec artistes invités :
Francesca Ruospo, soprano
Claudio Marcotulli, guitare

10 novembre 2008, 20 h
Église St.James United
460, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Montréal
Métro Place-des-Arts

Billets : 25 $ régulier / 20 $ Étudiant-Aîné
Billetterie et renseignements : 514.848.9696
www.cshow.ca

Montréal, 3 octobre 2008 – De la grande visite s’amène à Montréal le 10 novembre prochain ! En effet, pour célébrer le 150e anniversaire de naissance du célèbre compositeur Giacomo Puccini, le réputé Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, dirigé par le chef d’orchestre canadien Kerry Stratton présentera un concert à l’Église Unie Saint-James dans le cadre de la toute première tournée canadienne de l’orchestre.

Se joigneront à l’orchestre le talentueux guitariste italien Claudio Marcotulli ainsi que la soprano Francesca Ruospo, présentée avec la permission de l’Accademia Teatro Alla Scala.

Au programme, quelques-uns des plus célèbres airs de Puccini, Rossini et Rodrigo, ainsi que deux œuvres présentées en grande première canadienne de deux compositeurs italiens, commandes de RAI trade. Une soirée magique aux effluves d’Italie à ne pas rater !

Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
www.oidi.com
Fondé en 1986, l’Orchestre international d’Italie (Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia) est une émanation de l’Orchestre mondial des Jeunesses Musicales. Il s’est produit un peu partout en Europe, en Amérique latine et an Asie, tant dans des festivals que dans les salles les plus prestigieuses. Il a donné à ce jour plus de 900 concerts et participé à de nombreuses productions lyriques. Il a été dirigé par plusieurs chefs réputés et accompagné des solistes qui comptent parmi les plus célèbres de notre époque. En 1997, il a reçu le Prix européen de la culture pour les orchestres. Son port d’attache est l’antique et magnifique cité de Fermo située dans les Marches au cœur de l’Italie, tout près de l’Adriatique. Depuis 2003, il est l’orchestre en résidence du Teatro Venditio Basso à Ascoli Piceno. L’orchestre nous arrive tout droit d’Italie où il a donné des concerts sous la direction de Maestro Stratton les 24, 25 et 26 octobre.



Francesca Ruospo
Lauréate de nombreux prix, la soprano Francesca Ruospo s’est formée à l’Académie de la Scala de Milan. Elle a chanté dans plusieurs villes italiennes, ainsi qu’à Londres, Chicago, Abou Dhabi, Pékin et au Parlement européen. Elle fait ses débuts au Canada peu de temps après avoir tenu le rôle de La Comtesse dans une production des Noces de Figaro présentée à la Scala.

Claudio Marcotulli
www.claudiomarcotulli.it
Le guitariste italien Claudio Marcotulli, est considéré comme l’un des guitaristes les plus exceptionnels de sa génération pour la qualité de ses exécutions et de son captivant choix de répertoire. En 1984, il fut lauréat du concours René Bartoli ainsi que le premier prix à la compétition F. Tarrega d'Espagne. Claudio Marcotulli participé à plusieurs tournées mondiales et compte plusieurs albums à son actif sous étiquette Tres. Il a notamment donné plusieurs concerts avec l’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia et le grand ténor italien Luciano Pavarotti.

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Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia
Tournée canadienne :

2 novembre: Port Hope, Ontario
3 novembre: Toronto, Ontario
4 novembre: Welland, Ontario
5 novembre: Orillia, Ontario
6 novembre: Markham, Ontario
7 novembre: Milton, Ontario
8 novembre: Barrie, Ontario
9 novembre: Richmond Hill, Ontario
10 novembre: Montréal, Québec

La tournée canadienne de l’Orchestra Internazionale d’Italie est présentée par International Touring Productions et le International Resource Centre for Performing Arts.

Giorgia Fumanti on NBC

After singing at the Beijing Olympics Giorgia Fumanti will perform live on NBC on the Red Carpet in New York City and in Nanning, China

Montreal, October 9, 2008 – Following her triumph last August in Beijing, where she performed at the Beijing Olympics for CCTV, Italian-born soprano Giorgia Fumanti has been invited to return to China to perform, on October 22^nd, at the Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival in Nanning City, the capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. China’s national network, CCTV, will be broadcasting the event live for millions of television viewers.

But before heading off to China, Giorgia Fumanti will perform on Monday, October 13^th at 12h45 on the Red Carpet (5^th Avenue, between 68^th and 69^th Street) during the 2008 Columbus Day Parade in New York City, the largest celebration of Italian and Italian-American heritage and culture in the world. This event will be broadcasted live on NBC from 12h00 to 15h00 anchored by NBC Producer, anchor and financial reporter Maria Bartiromo and entertainer Joe Piscopo. This event will also be broadcasted by RAI and RAI International. Giorgia Fumanti will be among the many celebrities that will attend the Columbus Celebration Gala Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Saturday, October 11^th.

Ms Fumanti has already been performing on the world’s greatest stages and is now being regularly invited to take part in some of the most prestigious musical events this planet has to offer to promote her debut EMI CD From My Heart. Following her tour with José Carreras in Asia and London, he quoted “with such a voice I am sure you have a great career in front of you”. Giorgia had also the privilege to perform with Lang Lang who said “she is an amazing singer and one of the best voices in the world”. She recently also performed with Mario Frangoulis, Lucio Dalla, Zucchero, Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Patrizio Buanne and more.

Wherever she appears around the world, Giorgia Fumanti invariably enthrals audiences with her charismatic vocal performances and heart-stopping simplicity.

www.myspace.com/giorgiafumanti www.giorgiafumanti.com

Italian Soprano Francesca Ruospo Makes Canadian Debut

November 3 at Roy Thomson Hall

CANADIAN DEBUT OF ITALIAN SOPRANO FRANCESCA RUOSPO

IN PERFORMANCE WITH ORCHESTRA INTERNAZIONALE D’ITALIA

Toronto, October 3, 2008… Award-winning Italian soprano Francesca Ruospo makes her Canadian debut, direct from a starring role at La Scala. She gives her first Canadian performance at Toronto’s Gala Italia at Roy Thomson Hall, when Kerry Stratton8 p.m. conducts the Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, Monday, November 3,

Ms. Ruospo is starring as the Countess in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, this month at Milan’s legendary opera house. She is appearing under the baton of noted baroque and classical specialist Giovanni Antonini in the production of famed opera director Giorgio Strehler (1921-1997).

She will join Maestro Stratton and the Orchestra in arias from four Puccini operas, celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the famous operatic composer (1828-1924). As well, the program will include will include Puccini’s Capriccio Sinfonico for orchestra.

Still in her 20s, soprano FRANCESCA RUOSPO was born in Conversano, near the southern Italian city of Bari. Beginning her studies in piano, she switched to voice, graduating in 2001 with highest honors from Bari’s N. Piccinni Conservatory. Her many awards include the 2003 Scholarship of the Maria Caniglia competition, and one from the Boris Christoff Foundation in collaboration with Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera. In 2004, she captured top prizes in two international competitions – first prize in the Mario Lanza and second prize in the Tito Schipa.

In 2005, she won admission to the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where she has completed the two-year training. In the 2006 Leyla Gencer International Competition, she earned second prize.

At home in Italy, Ms. Ruospo has sung the roles of Ines in Il Trovatore (Verdi) in Teatro Marchetti di Camerino (2004) and in Teatro Piccinni, Bari (2005); Corinna in Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini) in Teatro Marrucino di Chieti, Suor Angelica (Puccini) in Teatro comunale di Modena and Piacenze (2007); Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte (Mozart) in Teatro alla Scala (2007) and Teatro Piccolodi Milano in the Strehler production; and Mimi in La Bohème (Puccini) at the Lyric Festival, L’Abbazia di Casamari (August 2008).

Internationally, she has performed in Chicago, in Strasbourg for the European Parliament, and in London, Abu Dhabi and Beijing.

GALA ITALIA is presented on the occasion of the 13^th edition of the annual Italian wine-tasting, and supported by the Italian Cultural Institute, International Touring Productions, the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists, and the New Classical 96.3 FM.

Tickets, $35; $25 seniors and students; and $20 group rate, are available through the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, 416-872-4255, or via www.roythomson.com. For more information, call 416-362-1422 or visit www.sumarts.com/ircpa.