Harbourfront Centre - Music with Bite

Free family concert series kicks off with Annabelle Canto, a bilingual opera performance on Thanksgiving Weekend, Sunday, October 12, as part of HarbourKIDS!

TORONTO, Wednesday, October 1, 2008 ’Äî Music with Bite, Harbourfront Centre's free concert series for families returns on Sunday, October 12 with Annabelle Canto; an entertaining bilingual (English/French) opera performance. From Montreal, soprano Christina Tannous becomes Annabelle Canto, the young opera singer who loses both her voice and memory on the morning of an important concert. Annabelle and her pianist, played by Dominic Boulianne, set out on a quest for this magical voice. The performance takes place on Sunday, October 12, at

1 p.m., at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Admission is free. For information, the public can call 416-973-4000 or visit harbourfrontcentre.com.



Annabelle Canto is a wonderful story of a young opera singer who happens to lose both her voice and her memory on the morning of an important concert. Where could her singing talent have gone? Using spontaneity, innocence and humour, Annabelle Canto and her pianist Henry set out on a quest for this magical voice. Along their musical route, they discover magical opera characters. This bilingual Music with Bite performance is part of HarbourKIDS: GEEK OUT! (October 12-13), a free family celebration of GEEKS with two jam-packed days of performances and interactive activities.



Christina Tannous is the new Annabelle Canto in a series of youth concerts to be performed all across Canada, in collaboration with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada. Born in Montreal, Tannous graduated from the Conservatoire de Musique de Montrˆ©al. In 1999, Tannous' talent came to national attention as the 1st prizewinner of the CBC Competition for Young Performers, where she was also awarded the Jean A. Chalmers Award, given by the Canadian Opera Women's Committee. Tannous has been a soloist with various Canadian orchestras, such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre Mˆ©tropolitain du Grand-Montrˆ©al. Her velvet voice is appreciated in opera, oratorio and recital repertoire, and is often broadcasted by Radio-Canada and CBC Radio.



Dominic Boulianne studied at the Conservatoire de musique in Chicoutimi and in Montreal, and at the Conservatoire de musique de Quˆ©bec. Boulianne was a prizewinner at the Canadian Music Competition, the Concours de Musique de Sillery, the Concours de l'Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, and the Festival de musique du Royaume. He has appeared in concert and in recital with the Orchestre symphonique de Quˆ©bec and the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay-Lac St-Jean. Since 2006, he has portrayed the pianist Henri in the Jeunesses Musicales of Canada's production of Annabelle Canto for young audiences. He also teaches at the Conservatoire de musique du Collˆ®ge Stanislas in Montreal.



Annabelle Canto is part of Quˆ©bec Now!, a Toronto-wide celebration of contemporary Quˆ©bec arts and culture from September through December. Quˆ©bec Now! showcases the best of contemporary culture from Quˆ©bec in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature and film. Harbourfront Centre is very proud to partner with the Bureau du Quˆ©bec ˆÝ Toronto and the Ministre de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition fˆ©minine du Quˆ©bec to present Quˆ©bec Now!, one of the largest organized Quˆ©bˆ©cois arts and cultural celebrations to take place in Toronto.



Music with Bite is a refreshing experience where children can pull up a comfy cushion and sit in front of the stage for an enjoyable, interactive music performance tailored for the youngest audience members. After the concert, children can enjoy a complimentary Natrel milk beverage and cookies. Concerts take place on select Sundays at 1 p.m. Music with Bite is a co-production with Jeunesses Musicales Ontario, which is affiliated with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, who since 1949 has dedicated its work to musical excellence and the promotion of young artists and music for young people. Jeunesses Musicales of Canada is a member of Jeunesses Musicales International.



Music with Bite is produced with the support of the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and Desjardins.



FOCUS: Pause

Harbourfront Centre wants you. to. slow. down. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and images, what happens when someone really takes the time to reflect? From September to May, Harbourfront Centre wants you to pause and make a connection to art, technology, the world. Find time for yourself by taking one of our Courses and Workshops; reflect while you wait for the World Stage curtain to rise; indulge in a great book during the 2008 International Festival of Authors. Harbourfront Centre’Äîtime well spent.