Susanne Yi-Jia Hou to replace tenor Terence Mierau in upcoming Symphony Nova Scotia performances

Susanne Yi-Jia Hou to replace tenor Terence Mierau in upcoming Symphony Nova Scotia performances

Halifax, NS - Young Canadian violinist Susanne Yi-Jia Hou will perform Beethoven’Äôs brilliant Violin Concerto with Symphony Nova Scotia on Thursday, February 12 in Halifax and on Friday, February 13 in Lunenburg.

Susanne will be replacing Maritime tenor Terence Mierau, who was originally scheduled to perform Benjamin Britten’Äôs Les Illuminations. Mierau is unable to perform due to health reasons.

"We wish Terence a speedy recovery, and regret that we won’Äôt be able to hear him perform,’Äù says Symphony Nova Scotia CEO Erika Beatty. ’ÄúHowever, we know our patrons will appreciate the opportunity to hear Beethoven's Violin Concerto performed by one of the best young violinists in Canada.’Äù

Hou’Äôs playing has been praised as ’Äústrangely strong yet delicate; her technique near flawless’Äù (The Strad), and ’Äúabsolutely phenomenal’Äù (Lord Yehudi Menuhin). She performs on a $3 million 1729 Guarneri violin, on a three-year loan from the instrument bank of the Canada Council for the Arts.

Suzanne performed with Symphony Nova Scotia in both 2006 and 2007, and on both occasions was praised with standing ovations and enthusiastic reviews. This will be her first Nova Scotia performance of Beethoven’Äôs huge Violin Concerto, the ’ÄúEverest’Äù of the violin repertoire.

The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’Äôs melodic Wind Serenade and Beethoven’Äôs elegant Symphony no. 4.

For tickets or more information, call 494.3820 or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

About Susanne Yi-Jia Hou

Acknowledged as one of Canada’Äôs most captivating and gifted young performers, Susanne Hou is in demand across Canada and around the world. Along with regular solo orchestral appearances, she is a lead violinist with Bowfire, the highly acclaimed production led by Lenny Solomon. Susanne has been seen on PBS and the Today Show amongst the top virtuoso violinists and fiddlers in each genre of modern string playing.

Suzanne recently performed the violin solos in the Atom Egoyan film Adoration, and was the subject of a CBC documentary entitled Shanghai Violinist.

About Symphony Nova Scotia
Expect the Unexpected with Symphony Nova Scotia ’Äì 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.