Ondine Signs Violist David Aaron Carpenter and Announces North American April Releases

[Note: Fact sheets attached as PDFs

Ondine North American News and Releases for April 2009

¬… Signs violist David Aaron Carpenter

¬… Releases world premiere recording of long-lost Hindemith work, the Klaviermusik mit Orchester, Op. 29

¬… Releases Bizarre Bazaar featuring clarinetist Kari Kriikku

¬… Releases world premiere recording of Hallgrˆ‚msson's Cello Concerto performed by Truls Mˆ½rk

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ONDINE SIGNS RISING STAR VIOLIST DAVID AARON CARPENTER

Debut recording ’Äì Viola Concertos by Elgar and Schnittke ’Äì will be released internationally in September 2009 and features the Philharmonia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach. A pre-release sample is available at www.ondine.net/davidaaroncarpenter

Ondine is pleased to announce the signing of a recording agreement with 22-year-old violist David Aaron Carpenter, who has recently emerged as one of the world's most promising young talents. The initial agreement calls for four CD releases. Mr. Carpenter, who was the Winner of the 2006 Walter W. Naumburg Viola Competition, will be performing in recital at Carnegie Hall in Zankel Hall on Monday, April 13, 2009 at 7:30 pm (www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_12771.html).

His debut recording ’Äì to be released in September 2009 ’Äì couples two concertos: a viola arrangement of Sir Edward Elgar's famous Cello Concerto and the Viola Concerto (1985) by Alfred Schnittke. Christoph Eschenbach leads the Philharmonia Orchestra. David Aaron Carpenter adapted much of the Elgar Concerto himself, using the well-known and Elgar-sanctioned arrangement by Lionel Tertis as a basis.

Since making his orchestral debut in 2005 with The Philadelphia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach, David Aaron Carpenter has been performing with leading musicians and orchestras in the United States and Europe. In 2007, he became the first American and youngest protˆ©gˆ© for The Rolex Mentor and Protˆ©gˆ© Arts Initiative and the protˆ©gˆ© of world-renowned violinist and violist Pinchas Zukerman. He was chosen among an international selection that included every violinist and violist of his generation.

David Aaron Carpenter has been acclaimed as producing, "a seductively rich sound and demonstrating both a forceful interpretive personality and remarkable control of his instrument," (The New York Times) and, "whose beautiful modulated tone makes a striking impression." (The Strad)

Industry veteran Kevin Kleinmann, who brought David Aaron Carpenter to Ondine's attention and serves as Executive Producer for this and future recordings with the artist on Ondine, said, "In my more than thirty years working with classical musicians, I have rarely encountered a more striking talent than David Aaron Carpenter. He combines an incandescent and imaginative musical personality with effortless technique an maturity far beyond his years. His intense musicality and talent brings to my mind such past greats as Michael Rabin and Jacqueline du Prˆ©. Working on the Elgar recording project made me realize how, I David's hands, this Concerto works so well on the viola."

Reijo Kiilunen, Managing Director of Ondine, added, "It is my pleasure to welcome this outstandingly gifted young musician to Ondine and to release his debut recording. I believe that David Aaron Carpenter combines superstar potential with an artistic depth uncommon for his age. The juxtaposition of the concertos by Elgar and Schnittke underlines our label's artistic vision, and we look forward to many further exciting recordings with David in the future."

On signing with Ondine, David Aaron Carpenter said, "I want to express my gratitude to the Rolex Mentor and Protˆ©gˆ© Arts Initiative for making this recording possible. I look forward to my collaboration with Ondine, a company that remains true to its core musical principals. I am fortunate that Ondine aligns its vision with my own to establish the viola as a solo instrument. Making my first recording with Maestro Eschenbach and the Philharmonia Orchestra has been a truly remarkable journey. Performing the Elgar Cello Concerto on viola has definitely been the highlight of my musical career thus far, and I hope that listeners will appreciate this masterpiece interpreted in a new light." Subsequent to the release of his debut album, David Aaron Carpenter will be performing the Schnittke Concerto in Dresden with the Dresden Staatskapelle conducted by Christoph Eschenbach on November 29th and 30th, 2009.

Artist profile at Ondine.net: www.ondine.net/index.php?lid=en&cid=3.2&oid=4055

Artist profile on The Rolex Mentor & Protˆ©gˆ© Arts Initiative website: www.rolexmentorprotege.com/en/music/david-aaron-carpenter/index.jsp

Video portrait of the artist: www.rolexmentorprotege.com/en/music/david-aaron-carpenter/journalself-portrait.jsp

Video showing the artist working with his mentor Pinchas Zukerman: www.rolexmentorprotege.com/en/music/mentorship-2006-2007/index.jsp

Interview with the artist: www.rolexmentorprotege.com/en/music/mentorship-2006-2007/interviewwith-protege.jsp

Official website of the artist: http://davidaaroncarpenter.com

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PAUL HINDEMITH

KLAVIERMUSIK MIT ORCHESTER,

Op. 29 (for Piano Left Hand)

WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING

ANTONˆçN DVO‰òˆÅK

SYMPHONY No. 9 in E minor

Op. 95 "From the New World"

Leon Fleisher, piano

The Curtis SymphonyOrchestra

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

ODE 1141-2

Release date: April 28, 2009

Ondine is proud to announce the April 28, 2009 release of the first-ever commercial recording of a long-lost major work by Paul Hindemith, the Klaviermusik mit Orchester, Op. 29 for piano left-hand and orchestra. The New York Times has called it, "a fantastic work that requires tremendous technique and stamina" (December 2, 2006). The disc also features Antonˆ‚n Dvo‰ôˆ°k's popular Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World").

Hindemith wrote this concerto in 1923 for the left-hand pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during the First World War. Wittgenstein never performed it, and it was only upon the death of his widow, in 2002, that the piece was discovered in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania; the work received an acclaimed 2004 world premiere in Berlin, with piano legend Leon Fleisher as soloist and the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle. Leon Fleisher, who is one of the most prominent specialists of left-hand repertoire, is the soloist on this recording.

Watch the Christoph Eschenbach and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra performing Dvo‰ôˆ°k Symphony No. 9 on YouTube.

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KARI KRIIKKU, CLARINET

BIZARRE BAZAAR

TAPIOLA SINFONIETTA

JAN SˆñDERBLOM, conductor

ODE 1140-2

Release date: April 28, 2009

Hailed by press and public as one of the world's foremost clarinetists, Kari Kriikku is celebrated for his musical inventiveness and fresh attitude towards traditional performance. His versatility covers numerous periods, ranging from Mozart to the contemporary, and has been a muse for composers such as Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho and Kimmo Hakola.

Kari Kriikku's passion for traditional folk music shines through in Bizarre Bazaar, his new album release on Ondine. The eclectic programme showcases the diverse use of the clarinet in Jewish klezmer, Portuguese fado, Argentinean tango and Arab music. "I have followed my instincts in gradually bringing together works from various cultures that have impressed me on my travels and then unabashedly adapted those works for concert use," says Kari Kriikku who performs here with the chamber orchestra Tapiola Sinfonietta and additional oud, qanun and laud players. The Finnish press hailed their live performances as "vibrantly energetic and entertaining" (Helsingin Sanomat).

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HAFLIˆêI HALLGRˆçMSSON

CELLO CONCERTO, HERMA

TRULS MˆòRK, CELLO

SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

JOHN STORGˆÖRDS, conductor

ODE 1133-2

Release date: April 28, 2009

The celebrated Norwegian cellist Truls Mˆ½rk is known as a tireless champion of the best contemporary music. On this release, he presents the Icelandic composer Hafliˆƒi Hallgrˆ‚msson ’Äì himself a professional cellist ’Äì with his two works for cello and orchestra. Truls Mˆ½rk joins forces with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, one of the finest ensembles of its kind, under the direction of John Storgˆ€rds. This CD includes the first commercial recording of the Cello Concerto, which Hallgrˆ‚msson dedicated to Mˆ½rk in 2003. Since the premiere, he has championed the work in a number of performances across Europe to great acclaim; The Times called it, "a remarkable new addition to the cello repertoire’Ķ one of his [Hallgrˆ‚msson's] finest work to date’Ķ" (Hilary Finch, The Times, 28 January 2004), Scotland's Herald spoke of "a work of haunting beauty" (Michael Tumelty, The Herald, 26 January 2004).

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About Ondine: Ondine was founded more than twenty years ago in Helsinki, Finland, where the company is still based and today offers an extremely eclectic catalogue of both contemporary Finnish music, as well as recordings with major Finnish and international artists.

Ondine's extensive catalogue includes more than four hundred recordings (two hundred and fifty of which are available physically) of artists and ensembles such as conductor and pianist Christoph Eschenbach, conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Leif Segerstam, John Storgˆ€rds and Mikko Franck, orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris, the London Sinfonietta, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Czech Philharmonic, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Helsinki Philharmonic, sopranos Karita Mattila and Soile Isokoski, pianist Olli Mustonen, violinist Pekka Kuusisto and clarinettist Kari Kriikku. The label has also had a long and fruitful association with the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, having recorded the premieres of many of his works and garnering many awards along the way.

The roots of Ondine date back to 1985 when founder Reijo Kiilunen released the very first Ondine album under the auspices of the renowned Finnish Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. The label's initial mission was to produce one live album at the Festival each season. The fourth album, however, featured Einojuhani Rautavaara's opera Thomas (ODE 704-2), raising major international attention and opening up the possibility for North American distribution. Kiilunen, who was running the Festival's concert agency and had begun the recording activity part-time, soon decided to devote himself fully to the development of this new business, producing and editing the first 50 releases himself. In 1991, Seppo Siirala joined as producer, and the Helsinki-based company has been expanding steadily since, currently numbering six full-time employees. Today, Ondine continues to uphold its reputation as one of the most respected labels in classical music, and its products have received numerous prizes at the Cannes (MIDEM) Classical Awards, the Gramophone Awards, the BBC Music Magazine Awards and the Classical Internet Awards.

Universal Music Classical and Ondine entered into a distribution agreement that began on January 1, 2008. Both physical and digital distribution in the United States and Canada are covered under the agreement. Universal Music Classical comprises the Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and ECM labels and is a division of the Universal Music Group. For more information about Ondine, visit www.ondine.net.

When WiIl the iPod Become Obsolete?

Toronto sound artist explores the ever-changing state of
music experience through sly exchange of human technologies

Walper Terrace Hotel ArtGallery in Kitchener, April 25^th-- May 3

(Toronto, ON) ’Äì What does it mean to be obsolete? This key question sparked sound artist Micheline Roi’Äôs inspiration for Obsolescence, a sound installation that explores the ever-evolving manner in which music reaches us.

For Roi, the home piano stands as an icon and witness to vast changes in music technology. Over the last century, its function has shifted from being one of the main sources of home entertainment to nothing more than a piece of furniture. Displaced by electronic keyboards, hi-fidelity audio and home speaker systems, the home piano is reduced to a curiosity ’Äì an ornamental antique of music technology. Now the loudspeaker functions as the central audio interface in home entertainment, creating a radical shift in the sound of domesticity from a social, self-produced acoustic to a manufactured digital environment. The question now is: how much longer will the loudspeaker last before it is superseded by the next piece of technology?

In Obsolescence, which opens at the Walper Terrace Hotel Art Gallery in Kitchener on April 25^th, the roles of an antique upright piano and 52 loudspeakers are exchanged. In this whole-gallery installation, the loudspeaker is positioned as an antique ornament through which the voices of pianists are heard, and the piano evolves from an ornamental piece to a modern-day transducer by which other sounds are made ’Äì not by it, but on it and through it.

Obsolescence is just one of over thirty events in CMC’Äôs 2008-2009 New Music in New Places festival series, designed to showcase the work of Canada’Äôs talented composers outside of the concert hall and in the communities where they work and live. Obsolescence also appears as part of the Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound, running April 24 ’Äì May 3 in various locations throughout Kitchener, Ontario.

EVENT DETAILS

WHO: Composer and Sound Artist Micheline Roi

Canadian Music Centre ’Äì Ontario Region

Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound

WHAT: The Canadian Music Centre’Äôs New Music in New Places festival series presents Obsolescence ’Äì a sound installation that explores the ever-evolving manner in which music reaches us. For more information, visit nmnp08.ning.com or www.openears.ca

WHEN: April 25 4 - 7 pm
April 26 12 - 5 pm
April 28 4 - 7 pm
April 29 4 - 7 pm

April 30 4 - 7 pm
May 1 4 - 7 pm
May 2 12 - 5 pm
May 3 12 - 5 pm

WHERE: Walper Terrace Hotel Art Gallery
1 King St. W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A1
Take #401 to Highway 8. Highway 8 becomes King Street. Continue on King.
The Hotel is on the corner of King & Queen (Entrance off Queen).

HOW MUCH: FREE

New Music in New Places acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Music Fund, administered by The SOCAN Foundation.

The complete New Music in New Places concert schedule is available online at nmnp08.ning.com.

RCM May and June events

The Royal Concert Season 08.09

Ends With an Eclectic Selection of Shows

Spring is in full bloom at The Royal Conservatory and the shows couldn't be more exciting! The May/June schedule includes world music, family shows, and a concert by some of The Conservatory's own, combining to create the perfect end to an exciting season.

The May/June concert series begins with a concert from The Royal Conservatory's Academy Symphony Orchestra (May 2), followed by award-winning artist Kiran Ahluwalia and the Rez Abbasi Trio, who will perform together on May 28. The season will end with two family-friendly shows from dance troupe Motus O who will present Petrouchka (May 30 and 31) and East of the Sun, West of the Moon (June 5-7).

The Academy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Visentin (Associate Dean of The Glenn Gould School and Dean of Young Artists Performance Academy), will perform their second of two symphonic concerts this season on May 2. Comprised of senior string students of the Young Artists Performance Academy of The Royal Conservatory, the orchestra will perform repertoire from Antonio Vivaldi to Arvo Part. Young Artist Performance Academy provides its students with the chance to work with internationally acclaimed faculty and guest artists in order to refine and enhance their performance skills, musicality, and desire for artistic excellence. This concert is free.

Indo-Canadian JUNO Award-winner Kiran Ahluwalia will be performing her blend of ghazal (a form of sung poetry that originated in Persia 1000 years ago) and Punjabi folk music, with her husband, Rez Abbasi of the Rez Abbasi Trio, on May 28. Abbasi, described as one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players on today's scene, has received critical acclaim for his latest album Bazaar, which also features Ahluwalia on several tracks. Ahluwalia's approach to ghazals reflects her own transplanted upbringing (she was born in India but grew up in Toronto) and her bi-cultural life experience has made her adept at reaching new audiences. She is one of the few modern artists who composes new music for the Urdu language ghazals.

Dance group MOTUS O, founded in 1990 by an American gymnast, an Australian sheep shearer, and a Canadian figure skater, bring two of their critically acclaimed full-length productions, created for both family and adult audiences and everyone else who has ever been in love, to The Royal Conservatory. The classic Russian tale of Petrouchka (May 30 and 31), with iconic music by Igor Stravinsky, tells the story of a magical world where a wizard and his three marionettes learn about love and valour. East of the Sun, West of the Moon (June 5-7), is a mythological story which explores the timeless themes of love and redemption, with original music by Peter Jarvis and Paul Tedeschini.

The 2008.09 season was a very exciting one for The Royal Conservatory with the return to the
newly renovated TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning on Bloor Street. The new Centre has garnered much praise for the beautifully restored Ihnatowycz Hall, the state-of-the-art technology, and the impressive new academic spaces.

THE ROYAL CONCERT SEASON

MAY/JUNE 2009

Academy Symphony Orchestra (Rising Stars Series): Saturday, May 2, 8pm*

Rez Abbasi Trio with Kiran Ahluwalia (World Music Concerts): Thursday, May 28, 7:30pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents Petrouchka (Family Series): Saturday, May 30, 2pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents Petrouchka (Family Series): Sunday, May 31, 2pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Friday, June 5, 7:30pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Saturday, June 6, 2pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Sunday, June 7, 2pm

Tickets $20.00, students $10

Motus O performances are free for children 5 and under

Tickets are available online at www.rcmusic.ca, by calling 416-408-2824 X321,

or at the door at the RCM, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

* FREE EVENT

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

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

Juno Award-Winning Composer John Burge at Avery Fisher Hall

Music of 2009 Juno Award-Winning Canadian Composer John Burge to be Performed at Lincoln Center

’ÄúIn attempting to communicate the suffering of political prisoners, to pay tribute to Amnesty International’Äôs role in ending it and to write a large piece, the young composer set himself a challenging task’ĶJohn Burge’Äôs Mass for Prisoners of Conscience is a triumph.’Äù-- Kingston Whig Standard

A classical and a modern Mass

It has just been announced that a recording of the music of John Burge, Flanders Fields Reflections, by the Sinfonia Toronto, conducted by Nurhan Arman, is the winner of a 2009 Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys, in the category of Best Canadian Classical Music Composition. The US premiere of the Burge Mass for Prisoners of Conscience will be presented in a performance dedicated to human rights organization Amnesty International, at Lincoln Center’Äôs Avery Fisher Hall, Sunday, April 5, at 2:00 PM. Conductor Laureate Doreen Rao will conduct musicians and singers from the University of Toronto, where she is Director of Choral Programs, and Queen’Äôs University in Ontario, where Dr. Burge is Director of the School of Music.

As a counterpoint to the Burge Mass, the evening will also feature the Mass No. 12 in B minor ("Theresienmesse") of Franz Josef Haydn, under the baton of Guest Conductor Eric Johnson. This work features the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and the Distinguished Concerts Singers International, which consists of vocalists from all corners of the United States and abroad. Guest soloists for this section of the program will be Orna Ariana, Soprano, Shannon Magee, Mezzo, John Tiranno, Tenor, and Samuel Smith, Baritone.

Previous recognition; First musical setting for world-famous poem

John Burge has written a large body of vocal, chamber, and orchestral compositions. His piece, Angels’Äô Voices, for choir and orchestra, received the 2006 Outstanding New Choral Composition Award from the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and was performed in New York City’Äôs Carnegie Hall in 2005. As a long-serving past-President of the Canadian League of Composers, Burge has been a passionate advocate for contemporary music and Canadian music in particular. His oeuvre contains many works that are inspired by Canadian poetry and landscape, such as One Sail, based upon a poem by Canadian poet Margaret Avison. Regarding the Juno-nominated Flanders Fields Reflections, based on the iconic poem by Canadian military officer John McCrae, conductor Nurhan Arman said, ’ÄúRecording these works was a real labour of love for us, and we are delighted that now people’Ķwill be able to listen to these remarkable compositions’Ķit’Äôs a great privilege to help pieces as beautiful as these become better known.’Äù

The Program

Mass for Prisoners of Conscience, commissioned in 1987 by Vancouver’Äôs Christ Church Cathedral Choir, is scored for baritone, mezzo-soprano and child soloists, accompanied by choir and a small instrumental ensemble of four solo woodwind instruments, two pianos and percussion. The text material for the soloists consists entirely of settings of first-hand accounts of political prisoners and their families sung in English. These accounts or testimonials are drawn from material provided by Amnesty International. The choir sings sections from the liturgical Mass in Latin, and comments on the emotions and situations expressed in the solo movements. Musically, the work is highly dramatic in the way that it combines percussively angular passages with lyrical vocal writing. The work was premiered by the University of Toronto Symphony Chorus, Dr. Doreen Rao, conductor, on November 9^th, 1990.

The Theresienmesse was composed following Haydn’Äôs tenure in England, where he had secured his reputation as the greatest living composer of his day. He would write no more symphonies, but did accept a commission from Nicholas II, the fourth of the Esterhˆ°zy princes whom he had served, to write a Mass each year celebrating the name day of Nicholas’Äôs wife. The Theresa Mass is written for four vocal soloists, chorus, and a somewhat unusual orchestra consisting of two clarinets, bassoon, two trumpets, timpani and strings.

Tickets

To obtain tickets or further information regarding this event, please visit the Distinguished Concerts web site, www.DCINY.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the DCINY box office, 212.707.8566, x 307 or directly from the concert venue.

Premiere works

In just two short years, DCINY has joined the ranks of major classical music production companies in America, nearly doubling its roster of participating ensembles and attracting talent from all over the globe. Among the events DCINY is honored to present this season are: one world and two US premiere performances of major new works by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, which took place on January 19, the US Premiere of Mass for Prisoners of Conscience by Canadian composer John Burge, and the world premiere of two new choral pieces by American composer Eric Whitacre, one this past March 15 and the other on June 28. Please visit www.DCINY.org for details regarding other highlights of DCINY’Äôs 2009/2010 Season.

Victoria Symphony announces 2009-2010 season

Grammy-award winner James Ehnes headlines Victoria Symphony's 09/10 season!

Victoria, BC ’Äì On Friday, March 27, Music Director Tania Miller unveiled the Victoria Symphony’Äôs new season of concerts for 2009/10. Highlights include performances by acclaimed violinist James Ehnes and jazz vocalist Michael Kaeshammer and of masterworks such as Holst’Äôs The Planets, Bach’Äôs Magnificat and Rachmaninoff’Äôs Piano Concerto no. 3.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 500 Victoria Symphony supporters, media and members of the arts community at the Royal Theatre, Maestra Miller, Conductor in Residence Giuseppe Pietraroia, trombonist Marcus Hissen and Concertmaster Terence Tam, presented personal highlights for the season.

The biggest announcement of the evening was that the Grammy-award winning violinist James Ehnes would appear with the Victoria Symphony in December and perform Beethoven’Äôs powerful Violin Concerto.

The return of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the Victoria debut of renowned pops specialists Five By Design in the Beltone Pops series was met with much excitement. In addition, the orchestral debut performance of jazz pianist and vocalist Michael Kaeshammer with the Victoria Symphony is set to be one much anticipated concert in the season, as well as Charlie Chaplin’Äôs silent film City Lights which will be screened with orchestral accompaniment.

Maestra Tania Miller comments, ’ÄúWe are very proud of the series we’Äôve assembled this year and we will continue to connect and engage our audience. Many of our series show great strength in the music and the special guests we have this season. I’Äôm very excited that artists such as James Ehnes, Five By Design and the students of the CCPA will be joining us, as well as again working with homegrown talent such as the Victoria Choral Society and Nikki Chooi.’Äù

This season launch marks the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 69^th year and Tania Miller’Äôs 7^th year as Music Director. Conductors Alain Trudel, Giuseppe Pietraroia and Brian Jackson join Maestra Miller as the Victoria Symphony’Äôs artistic leaders.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization. It is committed to producing high quality live music, fostering new music and encouraging community involvement through music education. The 2009/10 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led Tania Miller, its vibrant Music Director.

52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival

52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented By Verizon

Celebrates The Joy Of Jazz With Legendary Icons, Classic Tributes And Young Upstarts On 9 Stages For 3 Days Of Nonstop Jazz Entertainment, September 18 - 20, 2009

2009 Artists-In-Residence Wynton Marsalis And The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra Headline Arena/Lyons Stage

Dave Brubeck Quartet Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Time Out

Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band Plays The Music Of Miles Davis

And John Coltrane Commemorating 50th Anniversary

Of Kind of Blue and Giant Steps

American Icon And Folk Pioneer Pete Seeger Makes MJF Debut

Showcase Artist Joe Lovano Performs With NEA Jazz Master Hank Jones,

Us 5, John Patitucci Trio, Conrad Herwig

Commission Artist Jason Moran & The Bandwagon

Debuts Signature Piece, ’ÄúFeedback’Äù

Debut Of Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars Featuring Kenny Barron,

Regina Carter, Kurt Elling And Russell Malone

Sunday Night’Äôs Arena Show Features Three Generations Of Pianists:

Corea, Clark & White, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Jason Moran & The Bandwagon

March 30, 2009; Monterey, CA; The Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon will once again celebrate the joy of jazz as it launches its fifty-second edition with a variety of legendary performers, American icons, and visionary new artists in weekend of jazz, blues, folk, and American song that has characterized the world-renowned event on the oak-studded and beautiful land of the Monterey Fairgrounds, the location of the Festival since its inception in 1958. The 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon takes place September 18 - 20, 2009.

Tickets are on sale now by phone at (925) 275-9255 and on the Monterey Jazz Festival’Äôs website, montereyjazzfestival.org. Full Weekend Arena Packages are available from $225; Daily Grounds Tickets are from $35; Full Weekend Grounds Tickets are $110.00. MJF’Äôs new Family Discount Pack is $80 for 2 Adult and 2 Youth Tickets.

The Arena/Jimmy Lyons Stage will be the focal point of the Festival, with a lineup that is a celebration of the past, present, and future of American music with multiple award-winning artists and special projects, including NEA Jazz Master Hank Jones with Grammy winning saxophonist Joe Lovano (MJF/52 Showcase Artist); the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by 9-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (MJF/52 Artists-In-Residence); the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring pianist Kenny Barron, violinist Regina Carter, vocalist Kurt Elling, and guitarist Russell Malone; the gifted bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding; vocalist extraordinaire Dee Dee Bridgewater; the incomparable Grammy-winning pianist George Duke; the incendiary Jason Moran & The Bandwagon (MJF/52 Commission Artist); and the highly-anticipated super-trio of 15-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, pianist Chick Corea with legendary bassist Stanley Clarke and fiery drummer Lenny White.

A celebration of strings will also be featured in the Arena with soulful roots/blues guitarist and vocalist, Susan Tedeschi; the American icon and folk music pioneer Pete Seeger; and the gospel-soaked baptismal blues of John Scofield and the Piety Street Band.

Special golden anniversary celebrations of classic and historic jazz recordings from 1959 will fill the Arena with Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band (with special guests, the 5-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker and Joe Lovano, playing the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the beloved and influential jazz classics, Kind of Blue and Giant Steps. NEA Jazz Master, living legend and pianist Dave Brubeck returns to the stages of Monterey for his 15th appearance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his world-wide best selling and groundbreaking recording, Time Out.

The fruits of music education will also take center stage in the Arena, with the top high school big band -- selected at the Monterey Jazz Festival’Äôs Next Generation Festival (April 3 - 5, 2009) -- kicking off the Sunday Arena program, followed by MJF’Äôs own Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, featuring Wynton Marsalis and the top high school musicians in the country.

Tickets are on sale now by phone at (925) 275-9255 and on the Monterey Jazz Festival’Äôs website, montereyjazzfestival.org. Full Weekend Arena Packages are available from $225; Daily Grounds Tickets are from $35; Full Weekend Grounds Tickets are $110.00. MJF’Äôs new Family Discount Pack is $80 for 2 Adult and 2 Youth Tickets.

2009 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, SHOWCASE ARTIST AND COMMISSION ARTIST

In 2009, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will serve as the Festival’Äôs Artists-In-Residence, with participation at the Next Generation Festival, April 3 - 5, 2009, the MJF Summer Jazz Camp in June 2009, and at MJF/52. Featured members of JALC members include saxophonist Sherman Irby, trumpeter Sean Jones, trombonist Vincent Gardner, drummer Ali Jackson, and the 9-time Grammy-winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. At MJF/52, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be performing both in the Arena and on the Grounds.

Grammy-winning saxophonist Joe Lovano will be the MJF/52 Showcase Artist, and will put in four different performances with a myriad of groups: as a co-leader with NEA Jazz Master Hank Jones, featuring bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade; in Mr. Patitucci’Äôs Trio (also with Brian Blade); leading the intergenerational US5, with bassist Esperanza Spalding, pianist James Weidman, and drummers Francisco Mela and Otis Brown Jr.; and as a featured member of Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band playing the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Pianist Jason Moran serves at the MJF/52 Commission Artist. Described by Rolling Stone magazine as "the most provocative thinker in current jazz," Moran’Äôs piece, ’ÄúFeedback,’Äù will be debuted by his ensemble, The Bandwagon on the Arena stage, and the group will perform an additional set on the Grounds.

The longtime and growing tradition of Arena artists performing on the grounds is also unusually rich for MJF/52 -- patrons will be able to catch sets from Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band, the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone; Esperanza Spalding; John Scofield, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Lovano with John Patitucci and Brian Blade; and Jason Moran & The Bandwagon on Grounds stages throughout the weekend.

MJF/52: DAY BY DAY

Friday, September 18 in the Arena will kick off MJF/52 with an extravaganza of talent -- starting off with the MJF debut of up-and-coming bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding; followed by the latest edition of the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring pianist Kenny Barron, violinist Regina Carter, vocalist Kurt Elling, guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Kiyoshi Kitigawa and drummer Johnathan Blake. Closing the Arena’Äôs first evening is Conrad Herwig’Äôs explosive Latin Side All-Star Band featuring Randy Brecker and Joe Lovano, updating Miles Davis’Äô Kind of Blue and John Coltrane’Äôs Giant Steps in honor of the 50th anniversary of their release.

Friday night on the Grounds, New Grooves comes back to Dizzy’Äôs Den for 7th year. Kicking it off is the return of the deep soul of vocalist Lizz Wright, followed by breakout sensation Esperanza Spalding in her second set of the evening. Across the pathway in the Night Club, the Scott Amendola Trio will get the venue’Äôs evening of to a quirky bebop-oriented set, followed by the stellar John Patitucci Trio, featuring Joe Lovano and Brian Blade. Closing the Night Club will be Forro in the Dark, performing the Brazilian-folk dance music that has world-wide appeal. On the outdoor Garden Stage, the Roger Eddy Group gets the music started with his West Coast-flavored jazz, followed by the straight-ahead 2009 Berklee-Monterey Quartet, a harbinger of future musical talent. Global Noize -- a mash-up project headed by keyboardist Jason Miles and DJ Logic -- closes out the Garden stage on an inclusive world music note. In the Coffee House Gallery, fans will be treated to three sets from pianist Jonathan Batiste, the next generation of a New Orleans musical dynasty. In Lyons Lounge, DJ Vinnie Esparza will shake things up with an extended set of Salsa, Afro-Latin and Brazilian music.

Saturday, September 19 in the Arena features an afternoon of radically different guitar styles: John Scofield and the Piety Street Band opens the day with a sanctified set of New Orleans and Gospel-inflected blues, followed by American icon and visionary acoustic folk pioneer Pete Seeger in a very special and historic MJF debut. Soulful blues guitarist and lauded vocalist Susan Tedeschi also debuts on Saturday to close the afternoon with another MJF first. Saturday night’Äôs Arena program returns with three classic jazz acts -- starting the evening is the Joe Lovano and Hank Jones Quartet, featuring John Patitucci and Brian Blade; followed by vocalist, jazz ambassador, radio personality, and actress Dee Dee Bridgewater. Closing the evening is the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, the Artists-In-Residence of MJF/52.

Saturday on the Grounds will get off to a rousing start with a wide variety of performers and styles on the Garden Stage, including a tribute to Charles Brown from pianist Martin Headman; the Texas blues of guitarist, vocalist and songsmith Ruthie Foster; the raucous and funky New Orleans All-Stars featuring Henry Butler and Cyrile Neville; the soul-pop of guitarist and vocalist Raul Midˆ„n; and the Afro-Brazilian funk of Wayne Wallace and Rhythm & Rhyme.

Dizzy’Äôs Den will open on a ’ÄúBlue Note’Äù with an historical conversation with Blue Note label president, Bruce Lundvall and Mosaic Records founder and 3-time Grammy-winner, producer Michael Cuscuna. Journalist Dan Ouellette returns with his longtime MJF favorite, the DownBeat Blindfold Test -- this time with legendary pianist George Duke. The Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars with Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone will put on their second show of the weekend, followed by the groove-oriented Soulive, featuring John Scofield. Closing out Dizzy’Äôs will be Dee Dee Bridgewater, also her second appearance of the weekend. Visitors in the intimate and dynamic Coffee House Gallery will be treated to three sets each of classic and progressive jazz from the Weber Iago’Äôs ’ÄúThe Dhanyavad Project’Äù and the Peter Erskine and Alan Pasqua Trio.

In the Night Club, the day gets off to a youthful start with the top college vocal group from MJF’Äôs Next Generation Festival, followed by the Monterey Bay Jazz Orchestra. The evening’Äôs shows will simmer with the Cuban and Latin jazz of the Rodriguez Brothers, the burnin’Äô post-bop trumpet of Ambrose Akinmusire (a former MJF Next Generation Jazz Orchestra member) and regale in a special tribute from Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band, playing the music of Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.

On the other end of the grounds in Lyons Lounge, DJ Vinnie Esparza will pump out a second extended set of Soul-jazz, Afro-Latin and Brazilian music in what has become an ongoing tradition (now in it’Äôs third year at MJF) in pushing the musical envelope.

Sunday, September 20th in the Arena reflects MJF's 52-year support of jazz education with the top high school big band from the Next Generation Festival, followed by followed by MJF’Äôs own Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, featuring Wynton Marsalis and the top high school musicians in the country. The Grammy-winning George Duke closes the afternoon set. Sunday night celebrates Three Generations of Pianists, with the premiere of the MJF/52 Commission piece, ’ÄúFeedback’Äù and set from Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, followed by the incomparable Dave Brubeck Quartet as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Brubeck’Äôs groundbreaking recording Time Out. Capping off the Arena’Äôs Sunday program is the highly-anticipated super-trio Corea, Clark & White. Featuring former Return to Forever members the 15-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz Master, pianist Chick Corea, trendsetting bassist and Grammy winner Stanley Clarke, and influential drummer and Grammy winner Lenny White, the MJF/52 Arena program will end on a highly eclectic and electric note.

Sunday will be no less eclectic on the Grounds. The Night Club will host the top eight student groups from MJF’Äôs Next Generation Festival, with the evening’Äôs concerts featuring the pianist and NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Quartet, followed by Jason Moran & The Bandwagon.

Dizzy’Äôs Den will feature an afternoon of jazz education and music, with a conversation with NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi, hosted by journalist Yoshi Kato, followed by a Jazz Journalists Association panel entitled Jazz’Ķand the DJs Who Played the Records. Dizzy’Äôs Den will enjoy an evening of jazz stardom with shows from Joe Lovano leading US5, with bassist Esperanza Spalding, pianist James Weidman, and drummers Francisco Mela and Otis Brown Jr. The closing show in Dizzy’Äôs Den will feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

The outdoor Garden Stage will have the top college big band from the Next Generation Festival, followed by master trumpeter, Scotty Barnhart. Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez will close out the afternoon’Äôs Garden Stage. The evening shows will subvert the norm with the debut of Buffalo Collision, a collective-improv supergroup featuring pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer Dave King of the Bad Plus, with New York downtown improvising legends saxophonist Tim Berne and cellist Hank Roberts. The Shotgun Wedding Quintet will bring their own contemporary take on the acoustic tradition with a blend of hip-hop and jazz to end the evening.

DJ Logic will take a turn in Lyons Lounge with an extended evening set, and the Coffee House Gallery will host the Terrence Brewer Trio for two sets of boss guitar; a clinic with the 2009 Berklee-Monterey Quartet, followed by two sets from the visionary pianist, the Vijay Iyer Trio.

All weekend long in the evening, Lyons Lounge at the end of Lyons Lane will pulse with Samba, Afro-Cuban, funk and Soul-jazz sounds of Vinnie Esparza (Friday and Saturday) and DJ Logic (Sunday) -- both DJs are returning for encore performances. Lyons Lounge and Lyons Lane are named in honor of MJF founder Jimmy Lyons. The Lounge will again offer fans a hip jazz club to chill out on the north end of the Grounds, departing from the acoustic offerings of the Festival.

Also on the Grounds, a companion exhibit in the Coffee House Gallery celebrates the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records, entitled Somethin' Else: The Art of Blue Note Records, which showcases the iconic photography of Francis Wolff combined with the classic Blue Note record designs by Reid Miles. The art of over thirty classic albums will be displayed in what will be a visual feast of landmark graphic design from the world’Äôs most celebrated jazz label. In addition, Blue Note recording artists will have a strong presence at MJF/52 with Artist-In-Residence Wynton Marsalis, Showcase Artist Joe Lovano, and Commission Artist Jason Moran. In what has become a signature MJF welcome, Sue Downs will be performing on the Yamaha Disklavier on the Courtyard Stage, at the entrance of the Festival grounds.

The Jazz Theater will show simulcasts of the Arena shows all weekend long in the 900-seat venue. In addition, there will also be special film screenings of the Ralph J. Gleason presentation, The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi, the official documentary authorized by the Guaraldi family about the influential and popular West Coast pianist, hosted by Toby Gleason (Saturday); and Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistress: The Story of Oscar Brown Jr. about the American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, and civil rights activist, presented by director and producer, donnie l. betts (Sunday).

NEW FAMILY DISCOUNT PACK / 4TH ANNUAL FAMILY DAY

New for 2009, families can take advantage of MJF’Äôs Family Discount Pack, which includes two Adult Grounds Tickets and two Youth Grounds Tickets (2 - 18 years old) for only $80 on Friday, $100 on Saturday or Sunday--a savings of up to $20. With kids under 2 years free, the family can enjoy MJF/52 together and save. Families will enjoy the music, exhibitions, food, beverages, an international shopping bazaar, and much more on the 20 acres of beautiful forested fairgrounds, with lots of room to roam, play, and picnic.

Sunday, September 20th marks the Festival’Äôs 4th Annual Family Day! Families and children of all ages can participate in special activities, hear the country’Äôs top student jazz musicians, and join in the fun with the return of the popular Percussion Playshop, MJF’Äôs innovative ’ÄúInstrument Petting Zoo’Äù with high-tech, professional gear provided by Yamaha. The younger set can also bounce in the ’ÄúJazzy Jumper’Äù on the West Lawn.

’ÄòFORE’Äô AND MORE

The Festival's 11th Annual Golf ’Äòn’Äô Jazz Tournament will be a spectacular outing at the Links at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, rated as one the ’ÄúTop 100 Golf Resorts’Äù by Condˆ© Nast Traveler’Äôs Readers’Äô Poll for 2008. Participants will enjoy world class golf with guest artists, lunch, awards ceremony, Callaway Golf putting contest, great prizes, and much more on Thursday, September 17, 2009. To register, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org, call (831) 373-3366, or e-mail jazzinfo@montereyjazzfestival.org. All net proceeds benefit MJF's Jazz Education Programs.

MJF’Äôs Front Box Auction presents a golden opportunity for jazz fans to enjoy the Monterey Jazz Festival while supporting jazz education. The Front Box Auction opens on March 30, 2009 at 9:00 am and concludes on June 1, 2009 at 4:00 pm Pacific Time; patrons can bid to sit at the front of the Arena with three of their closest friends in four Front Box seats for the 52nd annual MJF. For more information, please visit montereyjazzfestival.org.

During the Festival, fans are also encouraged to visit the MJF Education Booth in the center of the midway to participate in the MJF Silent Auction featuring unique jazz memorabilia and collector’Äôs items, with all auction proceeds benefiting MJF’Äôs Jazz Education Programs.

PARTNERS IN JAZZ

¬… Every year, partners play an important role in helping the Festival fund its Jazz Education Programs, with efforts led by Presenting Partner, Verizon, now celebrating their 25th year in partnership with the Monterey Jazz Festival!

¬… Best Buy returns for the second year, partnering with MJF/52 and with the Next Generation Festival. Best Buy will host an expanded store at the center of the midway, where artists will be signing CDs.

¬… Korbel Champagne once again hosts Klub Korbel, a champagne bar in the Fairgrounds' Turf Club Patio featuring Arena simulcasts

¬… Monterey County favorites, Jekel and Five Rivers Wines return as Official Wines, served throughout the MJF/52 grounds

¬… Yamaha, a long time partner of both the Festival and MJF's Jazz Education Programs, will once again be providing Yamaha pianos and drums on MJF/52 stages, and music on the Yamaha Disklavier with on the Courtyard Stage

¬… North Coast Brewing Company returns as Official Beer for MJF/52, with a variety of North Coast brews available all around the grounds of the Monterey Jazz Festival, led by their lauded Brother Thelonious Belgian-style abbey ale

¬… Apple/iTunes will be providing free music sample download cards to all MJF/52 attendees, featuring a collection of Monterey Jazz Festival artists

¬… Returning Bay Area Media Partners, the San Jose Mercury News and KKSF, as well as DownBeat magazine, will be helping MJF get the word out about the Festival and its Jazz Education Programs

The Monterey Jazz Festival also receives invaluable support for the Festival and its Jazz Education Programs from the National Endowment for the Arts, Surdna Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, D'Addario Music Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Joseph Drown Foundation, Harden Foundation, William McCaskey Chapman & Adaline Dinsmore Chapman Foundation, Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc., Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Rotary International, as well as from generous individuals like you.

The Monterey Jazz Festival encourages jazz fans to purchase tickets early for the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon. Arena Packages traditionally sell out quickly and are available only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Grounds Tickets will increase by $5 per day Tuesday through Sunday of Festival week, (September 15 - 20) so fans are advised to act quickly and save on the already low price of Grounds Tickets!

Tickets are on sale now by phone at (925) 275-9255 and on the Monterey Jazz Festival’Äôs website, montereyjazzfestival.org. Full Weekend Arena Packages are available from $225; Daily Grounds Tickets are from $35; Full Weekend Grounds Tickets are $110.00. MJF’Äôs new Family Discount Pack is $80 for 2 Adult and 2 Youth Tickets.

MJF/52 Highlights Include:

• Return of jazz legends Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, John Scofield, Dave Brubeck
• World Premiere of Commission Artist Jason Moran & The Bandwagon’Äôs ’ÄúFeedback’Äù
• Showcase Artist Joe Lovano performs in trio, quartet, quintet, and big band groups
• Artists-In-Residence Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performs in the Arena and Grounds
• American icon and folk legend Pete Seeger, blues guitarist Susan Tedeschi, and new sensation Esperanza Spalding make debuts at MJF
• 50th anniversary celebrations of classic jazz recordings with Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band playing Kind of Blue and Giant Steps; Dave Brubeck plays Time Out
• Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars features Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone
• Lyons Lounge features Vinnie Esparza and DJ Logic remixing soul-jazz, salsa, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban
• Friday’Äôs "New Grooves" features Esperanza Spalding, Lizz Wright, and Global Noize
• New Orleans and Gulf Coast music celebrated with Jonathan Batiste, New Orleans All-Stars featuring Henry Butler and Cyrile Neville, John Scofield’Äôs Piety Street Band, Wynton Marsalis, Ruthie Foster, and Martin Headman’Äôs ’ÄúTribute to Charles Brown’Äù
• Special conversations with Blue Note’Äôs Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna; Toshiko Akiyoshi; DownBeat Blindfold Test with George Duke
• Blue Note’Äôs 70th anniversary celebrated with Somethin' Else: The Art of Blue Note Records with iconic photography by Francis Wolff and classic designs by Reid Miles
• Return of Sunday's ’ÄúFamily Day’Äù with fun for all ages
• Film screenings of The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi and Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistress: The Story of Oscar Brown Jr.
• Continued releases from Monterey Jazz Festival Records, featuring rare and rarified recordings from the last 50 years on CD in conjunction with Concord Music Group

52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival Presented by Verizon, September 18 - 20, 2009

Artists-In-Residence: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Showcase Artist: Joe Lovano

Commission Artist: Jason Moran & The Bandwagon

ARENA ARTISTS

FRIDAY NIGHT (Sept. 18)

Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band with special guests Randy Brecker and Joe Lovano; Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone; Esperanza Spalding

SATURDAY (Sept. 19)

Susan Tedeschi; Pete Seeger; John Scofield and the Piety Street Band; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Dee Dee Bridgewater; Hank Jones & Joe Lovano Quartet with John Patitucci and Brian Blade

SUNDAY (Sept. 20)

George Duke; Next Generation Jazz Orchestra with special guest Wynton Marsalis; Top High School Big Band from the Next Generation Festival; Corea, Clarke & White; Dave Brubeck Quartet; Jason Moran & The Bandwagon

GROUNDS ARTISTS

FRIDAY NIGHT (Sept. 18)

NEW GROOVES with Esperanza Spalding, Lizz Wright, Global Noize; John Patitucci Trio with Joe Lovano and Brian Blade; Jonathan Batiste; Scott Amendola Trio; Forro in the Dark; Roger Eddy Group; Berklee-Monterey Quartet 2009; Vinnie Esparza

SATURDAY (Sept. 19)

Monterey Jazz Festival All-Stars featuring Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, and Russell Malone; Conrad Herwig’Äôs Latin Side All-Star Band; Dee Dee Bridgewater; Soulive with Special Guest John Scofield; Peter Erskine & Alan Pasqua Trio; the New Orleans All-Stars featuring Henry Butler and Cyrile Neville; Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet; Rodriguez Brothers; Raul Midˆ„n; Wayne Wallace and Rhythm & Rhyme; Martin Headman, Ruthie Foster; Vinnie Esparza; Weber Iago Trio; DownBeat ’ÄúBlindfold Test’Äù featuring George Duke; conversation with Blue Note’Äôs Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cuscuna; The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi (film)

SUNDAY (Sept. 20)

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Jason Moran & The Bandwagon; Joe Lovano’Äôs Us 5 with Esperanza Spalding, James Weidman, Francisco Mela and Otis Brown Jr.; Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Quartet; Vijay Iyer Trio; Buffalo Collision; DJ Logic; Scotty Barnhart; Terrence Brewer Trio; Alfredo Rodriguez Trio; the Shotgun Wedding Quintet; Family Day with the Country’Äôs Best High School and College Bands; conversation with Toshiko Akiyoshi; Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistress: The Story of Oscar Brown Jr. (film)

ALL WEEKEND

Sue Downs on the Yamaha Disklavier; Arena Simulcasts in the Jazz Theater and Klub Korbel; Coffee House Gallery Exhibit: Somethin' Else: The Art of Blue Note Records - Iconic photography by Francis Wolff, classic designs by Reid Miles

Partial list, with more artists to be announced. Artists subject to change.

Tickets are on sale now by phone at (925) 275-9255 and on the Monterey Jazz Festival’Äôs website, montereyjazzfestival.org. Full Weekend Arena Packages are available from $225; Daily Grounds Tickets are from $35; Full Weekend Grounds Tickets are $110.00. MJF’Äôs new Family Discount Pack is $80 for 2 Adult and 2 Youth Tickets.

Fermeture annoncˆ©e de la Librairie Champlain de Toronto

Le 26 mars 2009 - L'Association des auteures et auteurs de l'Ontario franˆßais (AAOF) et la Table de concertation du livre franco-ontarien sont consternˆ©s par la fermeture prochaine de la Librairie Champlain de Toronto. Fondˆ©e en 1960, cette librairie ˆ©tait l'une des huit (8) librairies francophones de l'Ontario. Des sept qui restent, quatre sont ˆÝ Ottawa, deux ˆÝ Sudbury et une ˆÝ Hearst. Selon le propriˆ©taire de la Librairie Champlain, Marcel Arsenault, certaines bibliothˆ®ques et les conseils scolaires, qui ˆ©taient deux clients majeurs de la librairie, passent maintenant directement leurs commandes avec les gros distributeurs ou achˆ®tent sur Internet.

Comme en Ontario c'est la loi de la jungle concernant les achats de livres, rien ne protˆ®ge les petites librairies francophones, qui risquent toutes d'ˆ�tre dˆ©vorˆ©es par le souffle virtuel mais combien rˆ©el du Web et des multinationales qui offrent des escomptes incroyables.

Au Quˆ©bec, une telle saignˆ©e n'est plus possible depuis l'entrˆ©e en vigueur en 1981 de la Loi 51, qui oblige les institutions publiques (bibliothˆ®ques, ˆ©coles, entre autres) ˆÝ se fournir dans une librairie agrˆ©ˆ©e de leur rˆ©gion. Les achats doivent ˆ�tre effectuˆ©s au prix public. L'une des consˆ©quences de la Loi 51 a ˆ©tˆ© le dˆ©veloppement d'un rˆ©seau de librairies sur l'ensemble du territoire quˆ©bˆ©cois. Qu'attend-on en Ontario franˆßais pour se doter d'une telle Loi 51, adaptˆ©e ˆÝ notre propre rˆ©alitˆ©? Cela ne pourrait-il pas faire partie d'une politique du livre ciblˆ©e sur l'Ontario franˆßais?

La librairie est au coeur de l'industrie du livre. Fermer une librairie sur huit a des consˆ©quences nˆ©fastes sur l'ensemble de l'infrastructure et sur tous les acteurs de la chaˆÆne du livre, qui se sentent soudainement fragilisˆ©s devant la ¬´ walmartisation ¬ª de leurs intˆ©rˆ�ts vitaux en lecture, en alphabˆ©tisation et en rayonnement culturel.

Rolando Villazˆ„n's Handel on Deutsche Grammophon 3/31

Rolando Villazˆ„n and Handel Make a Surprising Musical Coupling in a New Deutsche Grammophon Release In Stores March 31st

Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Players Join Villazˆ„n for Idiomatic and Passionate Music-Making

’ÄúRolando Villazˆ„n has’Ķstepped into the operatic spotlight with a vengeance: an exuberantly brilliant, youthful, agile, all-around lyric tenor who defies the canard about tenors’Äô intelligence, who can genuinely act and who outstrips his rivals with a maverick breadth of repertory from Monteverdi to Puccini." New York Times

NEW YORK, NY ’Äì March 30, 2009 ’Äì On March 31st, 2009, Deutsche Grammophon will release the second studio recording from Mexican tenor Rolando Villazˆ„n. Paul McCreesh ’Äì a Gramophone Award winner for his previous Handel recordings ’Äì and the Gabrieli Players energize this all Italian Handel aria program. This recording follows the tremendous worldwide success of Villazˆ„n’Äôs 2008 Deutsche Grammophon debut, Cielo e Mar, and spotlights a dramatically different side of this versatile and winning singer.

For those who associate Rolando Villazˆ„n with the lyric tenor heroes of 19th-century operas, the notion of him singing Handel may come as a bit of a shock. ’ÄúI was in Paris, at the start of my career,’Äù he explains, ’Äúand I bought a CD of Cecilia Bartoli singing Vivaldi. I became obsessed by it. Ever since then I have sought out recordings of Baroque music. And I dreamed of singing it myself.’Äù

His chance came when he met the conductor and harpsichordist Emmanuelle HaˆØm. She persuaded him to make a CD of Monteverdi. ’ÄúAnd I must say that it was one of the most spiritually fulfilling experiences of my career. Another door opened in my inner life.’Äù Having convinced himself that he could sing Baroque arias, Villazˆ„n’Äôs next venture into that repertoire seemed obvious. With the 250th anniversary of George Frideric Handel’Äôs death on the horizon, he made the bold choice to record some of the greatest arias from Handel’Äôs opere serie. Until he made this recording he had sung barely a note of Handel in public.

What Villazˆ„n wanted to do was engage fully ’Äì musically, stylistically and philosophically ’Äì with the world of period-instrument Baroque performance which is why Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Players ’Äì who are at the forefront of Britain’Äôs period-instrument movement was engaged to work on the project.

’ÄúIn a sense this marks the coming-of-age of the Baroque music revival,’Äù the conductor says. ’ÄúEven great Romantic tenors want to sing it now! Of course, the convention is for lighter voices to do this repertoire. But once I had some preliminary rehearsals with Rolando, I realized that he has a fantastic instrument for Baroque music.’Äù

Rolando Villazˆ„n’Äôs Handel album is released as he makes his return to the American opera stage for the first time in two seasons. In January and February, he appeared as Edgardo in Donizetti’Äôs Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera. Villazˆ„n returns to the Met on April 8^th to showcase his comic prowess as Nemorino in L’ÄôElisir d’ÄôAmore also by Donizetti.

CMQ - Analekta rˆ©colte deux Prix Junos

ANALEKTA RˆâCOLTE DEUX PRIX JUNOS

Montrˆ©al, le 30 Mars 2009 ’Äì Analekta est fiˆ®re d'annoncer que deux de ses enregistrements ont rˆ©coltˆ© un Prix Juno dans les catˆ©gories ¬´ album classique de l'annˆ©e : grand orchestre ou soliste(s) accompagnˆ©(s) d'un grand orchestre ¬ª et ¬´ album classique de l'annˆ©e : chanteur solo ou chorale ¬ª. Ces rˆ©compenses confirment la qualitˆ© d'enregistrement mettant en lumiˆ®re les musiciens canadiens les plus reconnus.

Dans la catˆ©gorie ¬´ album classique de l'annˆ©e : grand orchestre ou soliste(s) accompagnˆ©(s) d'un grand orchestre ¬ª, l'Orchestre symphonique de Montrˆ©al et son directeur musical Kent Nagano ont rˆ©coltˆ© un Prix Juno pour Beethoven: L'Idˆ©al de la Rˆ©volution franˆßaise, disque sur lequel on retrouve Le Gˆ©nˆ©ral, une ‰ìuvre qui rend hommage au lieutenant gˆ©nˆ©ral Romˆ©o Dallaire.

Dans la catˆ©gorie ¬´ Album classique de l'annˆ©e : musique vocale ou chorale ¬ª, Analekta a rˆ©coltˆ© un Prix Juno pour son disque Gloria ! Vivaldi et ses anges de l'Ensemble Caprice, sous la direction artistique de Matthias Maute.

Avec ces deux rˆ©compenses, Analekta confirme la place unique qu'elle dˆ©tient sur le marchˆ© canadien de la musique classique et s'affirme comme l'une des plus importantes maisons de disques, tous genres confondus.

Devenue au fil des ans la plus grande maison indˆ©pendante de disques de musique classique au Canada, Analekta a cˆ©lˆ©brˆ© en 2008 son 20e anniversaire. Plusieurs prix et distinctions ont couronnˆ© la qualitˆ© de ses enregistrements et le talent de ses artistes.

POUR PLUS D'INFORMATION, VISITEZ ANALEKTA.COM, LE NOUVEAU SITE DE RˆâFˆâRENCE EN MUSIQUE CLASSIQUE.

Le plateau d'or 2009, les journˆ©es ludiques de Quˆ©bec

JOURNˆâES LUDIQUES DE QUˆâBEC, LE PLATEAU D’ÄôOR 2009

(Quˆ©bec, le 30 mars 2009)- Les inscriptions ˆÝ la troisiˆ®me ˆ©dition du concours Le Plateau d’Äôor sont enfin ouvertes!!!

Encore une fois cette annˆ©e, ce concours quˆ©bˆ©cois de crˆ©ation de jeux de sociˆ©tˆ© rˆ©unit les auteurs, les maisons d’Äôˆ©ditions et les joueurs pour mettre en lumiˆ®re l’Äôincroyable ˆ©nergie de la culture ludique quˆ©bˆ©coise.

L’Äôobjectif de ce concours est de donner de la visibilitˆ© aux auteurs de jeux de sociˆ©tˆ© afin qu’Äôils puissent faire reconnaˆÆtre leur talent ludique et avoir la chance de faire ˆ©diter leurs crˆ©ations. Ce dˆ©fi a d’Äôailleurs ˆ©tˆ© relevˆ© au cours des deux premiˆ®res ˆ©ditions puisque trois des quatre gagnants, ¬´ Quˆ©bec 1608 ¬ª, ¬´ Nankin ¬ª et ¬´ Poison ¬ª, seront bientˆ¥t ˆ©ditˆ©s respectivement par Filosofia Games (Canada), Lost Battalion Games (ˆâtats-Unis) et Repos Prod (Belgique).

Pour ˆ©valuer les candidatures, l'ˆ©dition 2009 du jury est composˆ© de cinq membres provenant du milieu professionnel des jeux, des mˆ©dias et de la communautˆ© des joueurs. Cette annˆ©e, nous pourrons compter sur la prˆ©sence de Franˆßois-Dominic Laramˆ©e, chroniqueur ˆÝ la Revanche des Nerdz au Canal Z, Raymond poirier (CKRL, Radio-Canada), ˆâric Raymond (Joubec) et Charles Veilleux. Le tout sera prˆ©sidˆ© pour une troisiˆ®me annˆ©e consˆ©cutive par Chantal Campagna (Distribution Le Valet).

Les crˆ©ateurs de jeux ont jusqu’Äôau 9 mai 2009 pour inscrire leurs jeux. Ils doivent entre autres s’Äôassurer d’Äôˆ�tre disponibles pour prˆ©senter leurs crˆ©ations en personne durant les Journˆ©es ludiques de Quˆ©bec, les 30 et 31 mai 2009. Toutes les procˆ©dures d’Äôinscription, les rˆ®glements du concours et des complˆ©ments d’Äôinformation sont disponibles ˆÝ l’Äôadresse suivante : http://www.journeesludiques.qc.ca

30ˆ®me Salon du livre de l'Outaouais

Une soixantaine d'auteurs et d'ˆ©diteurs de la francophonie canadienne prˆ©sents au 30ˆ®me Salon du livre de l'Outaouais

Ottawa, 28 mars 2009 - Le Salon du livre de l'Outaouais sera vˆ©ritablement investi par une soixantaine d'auteurs et d'ˆ©diteurs de la francophonie canadienne qui se retrouveront dans le stand 19 du Regroupement des ˆ©diteurs canadiens-franˆßais (RˆâCF). Cette annˆ©e encore, plusieurs ˆ©diteurs de l'Ontario, mais aussi de l'Acadie et de l'Ouest canadien, profitent du 30e anniversaire du Salon du livre de l'Outaouais pour lancer des nouveaux titres en prˆ©sence de leurs auteurs et permettre la rencontre du public et des auteurs lors de sˆ©ances de signatures. Les ˆ©diteurs du RˆâCF seront aussi ˆÝ l'honneur lors du dˆ©voilement des finalistes de l'ˆ©dition 2009 du Prix des lecteurs de Radio-Canada, le 28 mars prochain.

Les ˆâditions L'Interligne se distinguent par ses auteurs finalistes ou laurˆ©ats des Prix des lecteurs de Radio-Canada. Gilles Dubois, laurˆ©at du Prix des lecteurs Radio-Canada 2008 pour son roman pour adulte Akuna-Aki, meneur de chiens, lancera un roman pour adolescents, Aurˆ©lie Waterspoon. Ce titre figure parmi les trois finalistes du Prix des lecteurs 15-18 ans Radio-Canada et Centre FORA 2009 tout rˆ©cemment annoncˆ©s. Toujours aux ˆ©ditions L'interligne, l'oeuvre de Marguerite Andersen, Le figuier sur le toit, figurera parmi les cinq finalistes du Prix des lecteurs 2009 de Radio-Canada. Quant ˆÝ Franˆßoise Lepage, auteure pour la jeunesse reconnue par de nombreux prix, elle fait paraˆÆtre Les chercheurs d'ˆ©toiles.

Pas moins de deux des cinq titres des finalistes du Prix des lecteurs des Radio-Canada 2009 sont publiˆ©s aux ˆâditions du Vermillon, Avec le temps de Paul Genuits et Cap Nord de Hˆ©di Bouraoui. Les nouveautˆ©s seront ˆ©galement nombreuses aux ˆâditions du Vermillon. Jean-Louis Grosmaire prˆ©sente un nouveau roman, Tout le monde vous aime Monsieur Salim, tandis que Lysette Brochu, dˆ©voile un recueil de nouvelles pour adolescents, Tˆ�te froide, ainsi qu'un album pour les enfants, Camille et la fˆ�te de l'Action de grˆ¢ce. Les ˆâditions du Vermillon convient les lecteurs de Gatineau et d'Ottawa ˆÝ la dˆ©couverte de leur production du printemps lors d'un lancement collectif, le samedi 28 mars ˆÝ 16 h 30, Salle La Liˆ®vre, en prˆ©sence d'une dizaine de ses auteurs.

Les ˆâditions David pour leur part, organisent un lancement le vendredi 17 mars ˆÝ 18 h, sur la scˆ®ne Jacques-Poirier. Le nouveau roman de Katia Canciani, 178 secondes et le nouveau recueil de nouvelles de Claude Forand, R.I.P. Histoires mourantes seront en vedette. L'eau de vie de Daniel Marchildon est le 4^ˆ®me titre des ˆ©diteurs du RˆâCF finaliste au Prix des lecteurs Radio-Canada 2009.

Les ˆâditions Prise de parole seront reprˆ©sentˆ©es par le dramaturge franco-ontarien, Michel Ouellette, et sa piˆ®ce Iphigˆ©nie en trichromie, alors que Rolande Faucher, biographe de l'homme politique franco-ontarien Jean-Robert Gauthier sera aussi de la partie.

De plus, Paul Roux, bˆ©dˆ©iste bien connu dans la rˆ©gion, fait paraˆÆtre un quatriˆ®me livre, Petite Angˆ©lique (Bouton d'or Acadie). Du Cˆ¥tˆ© de l'Ouest canadien, Nadine Mackenzie, de Calgary, qui ˆ©crit aussi bien pour les enfants et les adultes, lance un nouveau roman La ranˆßon de l'espionnage (ˆâditions de la nouvelle plume). Plusieurs autres auteurs seront prˆ©sents. (Voir la liste des auteurs en sˆ©ance de dˆ©dicace.)

Les cinq titres finalistes au Prix des lecteurs Radio-Canada 2009, parmi lesquels quatre sont publiˆ©s par les ˆ©diteurs du RˆâCF, seront dˆ©voilˆ©s lors d'une ˆ©mission spˆ©ciale, enregistrˆ©e le vendredi 27 mars ˆÝ 19 h 30, sur la scˆ®ne Yves-Thˆ©riault. C'est l'animateur Claude Naubert de Radio-Canada qui dˆ©voilera les livres finalistes de la neuviˆ®me ˆ©dition du Prix des lecteurs. L'ˆ©mission sera diffusˆ©e d'un ocˆ©an ˆÝ l'autre ˆÝ l'antenne de Radio-Canada le samedi 28 mars 2009, de 10 h ˆÝ 11 h.

Steven Pasquale - star of TV's "Rescue Me" - releases debut CD on PS Classics

STAR OF TV'S "RESCUE ME" AND BROADWAY'S "REASONS TO BE PRETTY" STEVEN PASQUALE RELEASES HIS DEBUT SOLO JAZZ CD FROM PS CLASSICS

"SOMETHIN' LIKE LOVE"

PRODUCED BY JOHN PIZZARELLI AND JESSICA MOLASKEY

EXCLUSIVE PRE-RELEASE ON ITUNES MARCH 31, IN STORES APRIL 21

STEVEN PASQUALE (Pas-quˆ°l) has partnered up with PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, to release his debut album Somethin' Like Love. The ruggedly handsome actor-singer unbuttons his collar and rolls up his sleeves for an album of romantic jazz-tinged classics. Pasquale is best known for his work as fireman "Sean Garrity" on FX's critically acclaimed hit series "Rescue Me" and is currently starring on Broadway in the Neil LaBute play reasons to be pretty. The album will have an exclusive pre-release at iTunes on March 31 and will be available in stores on April 21.

"It's always been a dream of mine to make an old-fashioned jazz record," says Steve. "When we went on hiatus due to the writer's strike, I was afforded the time to finally sit down and do what I had always talked about doing." The CD, produced by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, features Larry Fuller and Tony Monte on piano, Martin Pizzarelli on bass, Tony Tedesco on drums, Marcus Parsley on muted trumpet and John Pizzarelli on guitar.

Somethin' Like Love finds him invoking his musical stage roots which include The Light in the Piazza, for which he created the lead role of "Fabrizio," and his Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk-nominated performance in A Man of No Importance. He offers signature interpretations of some of the most enduring standards in the Great American Songbook. The twelve selections range from a haunting rendition of the David Raksin/Johnny Mercer gem "Laura" to a wistful "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" to a swinging starry-eyed "On the Street Where You Live," to the title song, newly written by Pizzarelli and Molaskey. This alluring new album will surprise and delight his fans and win him many new ones.

"Steve has a gift for singing rich, legato lines and has a sound that harks back to another time, while still feeling very much of the present," says Pizzarelli. "The result is an intimate performance that's rare for an artist's first solo outing."

STEVEN PASQUALE is a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for Lincoln Center's A Man of No Importance and currently starring on Broadway in Neil LaBute's reasons to be pretty. He has starred in LaBute's Fat Pig (MCC), Beautiful Child (Vineyard Theatre), A Soldier's Story (Second Stage), Spinning into Butter (Lincoln Center), and The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons). TV and film roles include HBO's "Six Feet Under," Sofia Coppola's "Platinum," Aurora Borealis, The Last Run, and Fox's hit "AVP: Requiem." Steven was most recently seen in the Roundabout Theatre's A Little Night Music opposite Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, and Victor Garber.

PS CLASSICS - founded in 2000 by Tommy Krasker & Philip Chaffin, and a four-time Grammy nominee (for its cast recordings of Nine: The Musical, Assassins, Grey Gardens, and Company) - has made significant contributions to the heritage of American popular song through its critically acclaimed cast recordings; solo albums by such luminaries as Maureen McGovern, Victoria Clark and Jessica Molaskey; and recordings drawn from rare sound archives, including Sondheim Sings. PS Classics is distributed exclusively by Image Entertainment. Visit www.psclassics.com.

Opera Division singers perform Cole Porter

Singers from the Opera Division to perform songs of Cole Porter

TORONTO ’Äì Singers from the Opera Division of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music will present Why Can't You Behave?, a revue celebrating the songs of Cole Porter, and the wit of writer/poet Dorothy Parker. The program includes some of Porter's most famous songs, such as Anything Goes, In the Still of the Night, I Get a Kick Out of You, Night and Day, and Let's Do It. The two performances take place Friday and Saturday, April 3 & 4, 2009, at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall. Tickets ($14 adults and $8 seniors/students) can be purchased at the Faculty of Music box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Part of Canada’Äôs top university, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music has an illustrious history as one of North America’Äôs leading centres for the scholarly and professional study of music, offering a rich array of degree and diploma programs from the undergraduate to post-graduate levels. Many of this country’Äôs greatest musicians such as John Weinzweig, Lois Marshall, Elmer Iseler, Adrienne Pieczonka, Russell Braun, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet have studied or taught at the Faculty. With over 100 events featuring students, faculty and distinguished guests, the Faculty’Äôs performance season embodies its commitment to an education that champions diversity, depth and explorations. Highlights of the 2008-09 season include cellists Steven Isserlis and Shauna Rolston, baritone Sherrill Milnes, composer Maria Schneider, conductors David Briskin and Miah Im, jazz great Phil Nimmons, the Mirˆ„, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, the Gryphon Trio and Nexus.

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 ’Äì 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Phone: 416-978-3744
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’Äôs Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

Les Idˆ©es heureuses - Concert annuel de la Passion - Vendredi saint

Concert annuel de la Passion : le Vendredi saint 10 avril 2009 ˆÝ 17 h ˆÝ l'ˆâglise du Gesˆ¼

avec la soprano Suzie LeBlanc

Montrˆ©al, le 19 mars 2009 ’Äî ˆÄ l'occasion de la semaine sainte qui commˆ©more la Passion du Christ, Les Idˆ©es heureuses prˆ©sente un concert le Vendredi saint 10 avril ˆÝ 17 h ˆÝ l'ˆâglise du Gesˆ¼. Suzie LeBlanc, la cˆ©lˆ®bre soprano canadienne, est l'une des interprˆ®tes vedettes de ce programme de musique religieuse baroque. Matthew Jennejonh, hautbois d'amour, se joint comme soliste aux musiciens de l'ensemble des Idˆ©es heureuses dans plusieurs piˆ®ces de ce programme. Depuis 2005, Les Idˆ©es heureuses souhaite ˆ©tablir une tradition au centre-ville de Montrˆ©al en prˆ©sentant dans sa sˆ©rie rˆ©guliˆ®re les Vendredis saints aprˆ®s-midis, un concert dont les piˆ®ces se rˆ©fˆ®rent au Carˆ�me et ˆÝ la Passion.

Suzie LeBlanc

Partageant son temps entre le concert, la scˆ®ne lyrique, l'enregistrement, l'enseignement et la recherche, Suzie LeBlanc a explorˆ© et enregistrˆ© nombre de rˆ©pertoires inˆ©dits, notamment une collection d'airs romains du 17^e siˆ®cle, Amor Roma (ATMA Classique) et Lagrime Amare (Teldec). Sa discographie rˆ©cente comprend des lieders de Mozart avec Yannick Nezet-Seguin (ATMA), Die Zauberflˆ�te (Pamina) avec La Petite Bande (BAYER) et Membra Jesu Nostri de Buxtehude (ATMA) avec Les Voix Baroques sous la direction d'Alexander Weimann, gagnant du Prix Opus pour la musique ancienne, ainsi que Chants de terre et de ciel (Olivier Messiaen), disponible en octobre 2008 sur ATMA Classique. Elle assure la direction artistique de l'ensemble Le Nouvel Opˆ©ra en rˆ©sidence au Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al et enseigne le chant baroque ˆÝ la Facultˆ© de Musique de l'Universitˆ© de Montrˆ©al. Le rˆ©cent film de Rodrigue Jean, Lost Song, dans lequel Suzie LeBlanc joue le rˆ¥le titre fˆ©minin a remportˆ© le Prix du meilleur long mˆ©trage canadien du Festival international du film de Toronto (FIFT) et le Prix de la meilleure ‰ìuvre acadienne moyen ou long mˆ©trage au Festival international de cinˆ©ma francophone en Acadie.

PROGRAMME

Cette annˆ©e, le programme fait place ˆÝ trois compositeurs baroques allemands majeurs et contemporains : J.S. BACH (1685 ’Äì 1750), C. GRAUPNER (1683 ’Äì 1760) et G.P. TELEMANN (1681 ’Äì 1767). Il met l'emphase sur le hautbois d'amour (un hautbois en la, c'est-ˆÝ-dire ˆÝ la tierce mineure infˆ©rieure par rapport au hautbois) dont la sonoritˆ© sombre et chaleureuse, douce et envoˆªtante, convient particuliˆ®rement au temps liturgique de la Passion. Son qualificatif "d'amour" provient de sa tendresse un peu mˆ©lancolique qui se marie si bien avec la musique ˆÝ caractˆ®re pastoral. Son ˆ©panouissement se fait surtout en Allemagne dans la premiˆ®re moitiˆ© du XVIIIe siˆ®cle et sa premiˆ®re utilisation rˆ©fˆ©rencˆ©e avec son nom est dans une cantate Graupner composˆ©e en 1717 (un an avant la cantate au programme).

C. Graupner

De C. Graupner, Les Idˆ©es heureuses interprˆ©tera une cantate composˆ©e en 1718 pour le quatriˆ®me dimanche du Carˆ�me, pour soprano solo, cordes et hautbois d'amour obligˆ©. Le poˆ®me de Conrad Lichtenberg est basˆ© sur le psaume 102. Il s'agit de la 26^e cantate de Graupner du rˆ©pertoire de l'ensemble depuis 2002. On entendra aussi des extraits de la cantate pour le Vendredi saint composˆ©e la mˆ�me annˆ©e pour la mˆ�me formation. Compositeur prolixe de musique d'ˆ©glise (mille quatre cent vingt-trois cantates), Graupner joue sur une grande intˆ©rioritˆ©, oˆ¼ l'ˆ©criture mˆ�le austˆ©ritˆ© et accents intimes.

G.P. Telemann

G. P. Telemann a ˆ©crit au fil de sa vie 46 Passions sur les textes des ˆ©vangˆ©listes Marc, Matthieu et Luc. Un air avec flˆªte ˆÝ bec obligˆ© et soprano de sa Passion selon saint-Luc de 1737 est au programme.

J.S. Bach

La suite en do mineur pour clavecin de J.S. BACH peut sembler hors-propos, mais ses diffˆ©rents mouvements (prˆ©lude ’Äì fugue ’Äì sarabande ’Äì gigue et double), intercalˆ©s entre les piˆ®ces vocales se rˆ©vˆ®leront ˆ�tre de vˆ©ritables moments de mˆ©ditation. Selon la brillante thˆ®se du musicologue quˆ©bˆ©cois Guy Marchand^[1], la fugue de cette suite serait en fait un microcosme de la Passion selon saint-Matthieu et le c‰ìur emblˆ©matique de la pensˆ©e musico-religieuse de Bach. Le ¬´ complexe thˆ©matique ¬ª de cette fugue illustre l'interprˆ©tation luthˆ©rienne de la Passion. Le thˆ®me de la sarabande s'avˆ®re par ailleurs une paraphrase du dernier ch‰ìur de la Passion selon Saint-Matthieu.

ˆâglise du Gesˆ¼

L'ˆ©glise du Gesˆ¼ (Jˆ©sus en italien), oˆ¼ Les Idˆ©es heureuses se produit pour la premiˆ®re fois, est la seule ˆ©glise entiˆ®rement de style baroque ˆÝ Montrˆ©al. Elle a ˆ©tˆ© construite en 1865. Ce cadre magnifique, dans le centre-ville de Montrˆ©al, convient parfaitement au moment de recueillement musical proposˆ© en ce jour de commˆ©moration de la mort du Christ.

Les Idˆ©es heureuses

Fondˆ© en 1987, Les Idˆ©es heureuses a produit plus de 100 concerts dans dans sa sˆ©rie rˆ©guliˆ®re au centre-ville de Montrˆ©al. Une centaine d'autres concerts ont ˆ©tˆ© diffusˆ©s dans les maisons de la culture de l'ˆÆle de Montrˆ©al, aux ˆâtats-Unis, ainsi que, depuis 2004, dans les plus importants festivals de musique baroques europˆ©ens (Bruges, Bruxelles, Ambronay, Pontoise, Picardie, Modena, etc.). Placˆ© sous la direction artistique et musicale de Geneviˆ®ve Soly, Les Idˆ©es heureuses se distingue par sa recherche de rˆ©pertoire baroque inˆ©dit, interprˆ©tˆ© devant un public sˆ©duit par la redˆ©couverte et par ses concerts commentˆ©s.

Oeuvres
C. GRAUPNER : Choral Jesus dein Kreutz will ich halten et Air Ans Kreutz zum Todt pour soprano, hautbois d'amour et continuo, extraits de la cantate Christus hat uns erlˆ�set - pour le Vendredi saint (Darmstadt, 1718) ; Herr, hˆ�re mein Gebet, cantate pour soprano, hautbois d'amour, 2 violons, alto et continuo pour le dimanche Laetare (1718) ;

J.S. BACH: Suite en do mineur (BWV 997) ;

G.P. TELEMANN : Aria Bringe mich zu deinen Herden pour soprano, flˆªte ˆÝ bec soprano, cordes et continuo, extrait de la Passion selon Saint-Luc (Hamburg, 1737).

Interprˆ®tes
Suzie LeBlanc, soprano, Hˆ©lˆ®ne Plouffe et Olivier Brault, violons - Jacques-Andrˆ© Houle, alto - Isabelle Bozzini, violoncelle - Nicolas Lessard, contrebasse - Natalie Michaud, flute ˆÝ bec - Matthew Jennejohn, hautbois d'amour - Geneviˆ®ve Soly, orgue continuo, clavecin solo et direction musicale.

ˆâglise du Gesˆ¼, 1202 rue de Bleury, mˆ©tro Place-des-arts

Billets : rˆ©gulier : 30 $ - aˆÆnˆ© (65 ans et plus) : 25 $ - ˆ©tudiant : 10 $

INFORMATION : 514 843 5881 - www.ideesheureuses.ca

NAC Orchestra musicians and Bursary winner perform Bursary Benefit Concert

NAC Orchestra musicians and Bursary winner perform chamber music at the NACO Bursary Benefit Concert on April 5

Ottawa, Canada ’Äì Ensembles of musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, including six principal musicians plus concertmaster Yosuke Kawasaki, will join together with last year’Äôs winner of the NACO Bursary Competition to perform an afternoon of chamber music favourites in the NAC Salon on Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m. The Bursary Benefit Concert is organized by the musicians of the NACO Bursary Committee to raise funds towards prizes for future Competition winners, some of whom will go on to pursue careers in professional orchestras.

The Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra have offered to match funds raised on the day up to $2,000, so those attending this musical matinee will know that the price of their ticket will go twice as far towards supporting talented local musicians.

PROGRAM:

ROSSINI: Duo for cello and double bass in D major

Carole Sirois, cello

Joel Quarrington, double bass

BOZZA: Image for Solo Flute, Op. 38

Amelia Lyon*, flute

* 2008 NACO Bursary recipient

RAVEL: Mother Goose Suite

Joanna G’Äôfroerer, flute

Charles Hamann, oboe

Kimball Sykes, clarinet

Lawrence Vine, French horn

Christopher Millard, bassoon

DVORˆÅK: String Quintet in G major, Op.77

Yosuke Kawasaki, 1^st violin

Jessica Linnebach, 2^nd violin

Jethro Marks, viola

Carole Sirois, cello

Joel Quarrington, double bass

(subject to change)

The first NACO Bursary Competition was in 1981. The Bursary provides recognition and financial support to help further the development of young Canadian orchestral musicians who have connections to the National Capital Region. The first year, one prize of $1,000 was awarded. Thanks to the generosity of additional organizations and individuals, other prizes have been added for a total in 2009 of $18,750.

Don’Äôt miss this fabulous concert and the special opportunity to contribute to the development of young musicians! Tickets for the Bursary Benefit Concert on April 5 are $15.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) and are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’Äôs web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Donations towards the NACO Bursary Competition will also be gratefully accepted at the door.

U of T Symphony Season Finale

Ivars Taurins conducts U of T Symphony Orchestra in season finale

TORONTO ’Äì On Thursday, April 9, 2009, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents the last concert of the season. Conducted by Ivars Taurins, the program includes Giovanni Gabrieli’Äôs Canzon primi toni a 8 (from Sacrae Symphoniae 1597), Beethoven’Äôs Symphony No. 2 in D major and Tchaikovsky’Äôs Symphony No. 5. The concert takes place at 7:30 pm at MacMillan Theatre in the Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’Äôs Park. Tickets ($18 adults and $10 seniors/students) can be purchased at the Faculty of Music box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Ivars Taurins conducts symphonic and choral repertoire with equal expertise. Founder and director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir since 1981, he was also principal violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for its first 23 years. Under his direction the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir has been widely praised for its clarity and brilliance, and in 1991 was awarded the Canada Council's Healey Willan Prize “Äåin recognition of the consistently high level of achievement by the choir and its unique contribution to choral art in Canada.“Äç
A passionate lecturer and teacher, Mr. Taurins teaches conducting and baroque ensembles at the University of Toronto. He is in demand as a guest lecturer, adjudicator and clinician. He was guest lecturer at Podium 2000, the conference of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors. He has been a guest teacher at the Universitˆ© de Sherbrooke in Quebec, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Alberta, and at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Mr. Taurins is director of the vocal/choral programme at the annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute.

Part of Canada’Äôs top university, the University of Toronto Faculty of Music has an illustrious history as one of North America’Äôs leading centres for the scholarly and professional study of music, offering a rich array of degree and diploma programs from the undergraduate to post-graduate levels. Many of this country’Äôs greatest musicians such as John Weinzweig, Lois Marshall, Elmer Iseler, Adrienne Pieczonka, Russell Braun, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet have studied or taught at the Faculty. With over 100 events featuring students, faculty and distinguished guests, the Faculty’Äôs performance season embodies its commitment to an education that champions diversity, depth and explorations. Highlights of the 2008-09 season include cellists Steven Isserlis and Shauna Rolston, baritone Sherrill Milnes, composer Maria Schneider, conductors David Briskin and Miah Im, jazz great Phil Nimmons, the Mirˆ„, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, the Gryphon Trio and Nexus.

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 ’Äì 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Phone: 416-978-3744
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’Äôs Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

Christina Petrowska Quilico Plays Music of Ann Southam & Honours Suzukis

Launch of 22^nd CD, Pond Life ’Äì Tuesday, May 12

PIANIST CHRISTINA PETROWSKA QUILICO

PLAYS MUSIC BY ANN SOUTHAM IN CONCERT

Pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, winner of the 2007 Friends of Canadian Music Award, will perform the music of Ann Southam in memory of visual artist Aiko Suzuki and in recognition of the work of The David Suzuki Foundation.

The concert features music from Petrowska Quilico’Äôs 22^nd CD, Pond Life, and takes place at the Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W., Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 p.m. At a reception following the concert, the Canadian Music Centre launches the CD, her sixth on the Centrediscs label.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the David Suzuki Foundation.

Petrowska Quilico describes the evening’Äôs experience as ’Äúthe underwater world of Ponds, Creeks and Rivers’Ķmesmerizing, sensual and hypnotic colors of water in serene, tranquil and sometimes virtuosic waves of music.’Äù

Pond Life is a two-CD set of music by Ann Southam. It includes new pieces written especially for Petrowska Quilico (Ponds, Creeks, Soundstill and Noisy River). The first of Southam’Äôs Ponds series was inspired by the painting Spatial View of Pond by the late Aiko Suzuki (1937-2005).

Petrowska Quilico recorded another water-themed CD of Southam’Äôs music for Centrediscs in 2005 ’Äì the acclaimed three-CD set, Rivers, on the Canadian Composers Portrait Series. She has also recorded Michel-George Brˆ©gent’Äôs Portraits, and Eclipse by David Mott, and appears on two other Centrediscs CDs ’Äì Chris Paul Harman (music by Harman), and So You Want to Write a Fugue?, a compilation of new Canadian compositions honoring Glenn Gould’Äôs 75^th anniversary.

Tickets for Pond Life: Ponds, Creeks, Soundstill and Noisy River are $20; $10 students, and are available from the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, 60 Simcoe Street, or online at www.roythomson.com/home.cfm -> Buy Tickets, or by phone at 416-872-4255. Tickets will also be sold just prior to the concert at the Glenn Gould Studio Box Office.

Further information is available at www.petrowskaquilico.com ’Äì which includes sound samples and links to 17 YouTube videos ’Äì and at Ann Summers International, www.sumarts.com/roster/petrowska.html.

For information on Aiko Suzuki, visit www.aikosuzuki.ca.

CHRISTINA PETROWSKA QUILICO

’ÄúAn extraordinary talent’Ķdazzling virtuosity’Äù ’Äì New York Times.

’Äú****’ĶShimmering’Ķ dazzling’Ķ.Amazing, for the amount of virtuosity and variety Petrowska Quilico has squeezed onto a mere two discs.’Äù ’Äì Globe and Mail review of her two-CD set, Ings, September 2008

Pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico has premiered hundreds of new works over an illustrious career, including over 20 piano concertos. Born in Ottawa, Petrowska Quilico studied with Boris Berlin at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where she made her debut, with orchestra, at age 10. She received a scholarship to study at New York’Äôs Juilliard School as a student of Rosina Lhˆ©vinne, Jeaneane Dowis and Irwin Freundlich. From them, she acquired the formidable technique that has allowed her to learn challenging new works in very short time, and to perform them with dazzling virtuosity. At 14, she made her New York concert debut with full orchestra at Town Hall as a co-winner with fellow student Murray Perahia of the High School of the Performing Arts Concerto Competition. After graduation, she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and later in Darmstadt and Berlin with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Gyˆ�rgy Ligeti. She is a Full Professor of Piano Performance and Musicology at York University.

Many of her 22 recordings are devoted to music of the 20^th century. As well, she has solo CDs featuring the likes of Chopin, Liszt and Debussy, and four recorded with her late husband, Metropolitan Opera baritone Louis Quilico. In recognition of her exceptional commitment to Canadian composers and their music, in 2008 the Canadian Music Centre and Canadian League of Composers presented Petrowska Quilico with their 2007 Friends of Canadian Music Award.

Christina Petrowska Quilico’Äôs CDs may be ordered through the Canadian Music Centre Boutique at www.musiccentre.ca, www.amazon.ca and www.indiepool.com.

Christina Petrowska Quilico is managed by Ann Summers International.

Y'fait chaud c'printemps !

Y'FAIT CHAUD C'PRINTEMPS avec JUAN SEBASTIAN LAROBINA!

Encore une fois cette annˆ©e, le talent de Juan Sebastian Larobina n'a pas ˆ©chappˆ© aux organisateurs de plusieurs ˆ©vˆ©nements importants qui auront lieu prochainement :

D'abord, dans le cadre du premier Forum sur la mise en oeuvre de la Loi sur les langues officielles du Nunavut, Juan Sebastian prˆ©sentera, le samedi 28 mars prochain, son spectacle ¬´ Norte-Sur ¬ª ˆÝ Iqaluit au Nunavut.

De retour ˆÝ Montrˆ©al, il reprendra la scˆ®ne des Bobards le vendredi 3 avril ˆÝ 21h30.

Juan-Sebastian participera ˆ©galement aux Syli d'or prˆ©sentˆ© par les productions Nuits d'Afrique. Son spectacle aura lieu le 21 avril ˆÝ 22h sur la scˆ®ne du Balatou. Les Syli d'or offrent au public 18 soirˆ©es de spectacles GRATUITS. Les votes du public pourraient permettre ˆÝ Juan Sebastian d'atteindre la finale du concours le 30 avril au Kola-Note.

Finalement, on lui a confiˆ© les commandes du grand spectacle de clˆ¥ture de Musique et Monde prˆ©sentˆ© par le Festival MMM (Musique MultiMontrˆ©al). ˆÄ voir au Cabaret des festivaliers de la Maison de la culture Ahuntsic, samedi le 25 avril 2009 ˆÝ 22 h. Le musicien au parcours peu commun prˆ©sentera donc son spectacle NORTE SUR accompagnˆ© de ses cinq musiciens multi-instrumentistes.

Juan-Sebastian Larobina est nˆ© en Argentine, a grandit au Mexique et a ˆ©migrˆ© en Gaspˆ©sie en 1997. Rˆ©cipiendaire du prix du public du Festival en chansons de Petite-Vallˆ©e en 2002, du prix ˆâtoile-Galaxie en 2006 et rˆ©cemment arrivˆ© ˆÝ Montrˆ©al, le sympathique auteur-compositeur propose un savoureux mˆ©tissage de ses origines sud-amˆ©ricaines et de ses influences quˆ©bˆ©coises.

Le rˆ©sultat est un mˆ©lange unique ¬´ 100% latino-gaspˆ©sien ¬ª qu'il nous offre par le biais de ses chansons aux rythmes chauds, dansants et enchanteurs. Impossible de rester assis durant un spectacle de Juan-Sebastian Larobina!

Actuellement en tournˆ©e, le spectacle NORTE-SUR a provoquˆ© l'enthousiasme des mˆ©dias et des spectateurs partout sur son passage, du Festival d'ˆ©tˆ© de Quˆ©bec au Festival des Rythmes du Monde ˆÝ Chicoutimi, de Mˆ©moires et Racines dans Lanaudiˆ®re jusqu'au Festival du Bout du Monde de Crozon en Bretagne.

C'est donc avec une belle ˆ©nergie et beaucoup d'enthousiasme que Juan-Sebastian Larobina vous convie ˆÝ ces grandes fˆ�tes de la musique :

- au Nunavut le 28 mars

- aux Bobards le 3 avril ˆÝ 21h30

- au Balatou le 21 avril ˆÝ 22h00

- ˆÝ la Maison de la culture Ahuntsic le 25 avril ˆÝ 22 h!

Pour plus d'information, visitez le http://www.myspace.com/juansebastianlarobina

Classissima : launch of the collaborative website dedicated to classical music and opera

e-media management launches Classissima.com, the collaborative website dedicated to classical music and opera

Classissima is a collaborative website dedicated to classical music and opera. It offers to music lovers and casual visitors possibilities to discover contents available on the Net, to share preferences and comments. As such, it can be called as a "social network".

Today, Classissima is an international directory of websites related to classical music: almost 6000 are already available. Classissima also incorporates editorial and multimedia contents produced daily by third parties for each language covered. For example, it provides access to more than 7,000 biographies and dozens of news flows about classical music and opera.

Classissima opens in English and French. Other languages will be available soon: Spanish, Italian, German, ... Classissima is completely free for users. Innovative information services will come soon.

The vocation of Classissima is to support all audiences of classical music and opera in their use of the Internet. Without bias, Classissima is the site of all those interested in classical music, in all their diversity.

Internet and music settle in a sustainable way in all the cultural universes. Our vision is that Classical music and opera should particularly benefit from the opportunities of the web: diversity of works and artists, diversity of knowledge and expectations, importance of the quality of information, need to share and exchange, absence of frontiers...

Classissima is provided in total independence. e-media management ensures full funding. The advertising revenue of the site will contribute to its development and give resource to develop all the information services required by classical music and opera.

La Traviata Closes Edmonton Opera Season

Verdi's

LA TRAVIATA

Closes the 2008-2009 Edmonton Opera season

La Traviata, the heartbreaking and tragic masterpiece, closes Edmonton Opera's 2008-2009 season with Verdi's acclaimed score April 25, 28 and 30 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster, call 780-451-8000 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca. La Traviata is sung in Italian with English supertitles projected above the stage.

Violetta Valˆ©ry, the notoriously beautiful and vivacious courtesan, is the toast of glittering Paris salon-life. While Violetta hosts the French ˆ©lite at a party celebrating her recovery from a recent illness, Alfredo, a young nobleman, confesses his long-time adoration of her. Preferring her freedom to the confines of a romantic relationship, Violetta at first rejects Alfredo's advances. She is soon persuaded by his romantic declarations, and the couple settles into life at her country home. Furious that his son's affair is disgracing the family, Alfredo's father, Germont, demands she let Alfredo go. Although her health is failing, Violetta, in the grip of consumption, rejects him at Germont's request, sending Alfredo into a jealous rage. Will the lovers reconcile before tragedy strikes?

"I am not alone in counting La Traviata as one of the greatest of all operas, for so many reasons," says Artistic Director Brian Deedrick. "The beauty of the piece, the richness of the characters, the glorious evocations of another time and the tissue-essential heartbreak make Traviata, a must-see for everyone."

Alberta-born soprano Laura Whalen, who last graced the city's stage as Filumena, sings the role of Violetta, with Quˆ©bec tenor Marc Hervieux as Alfredo, and Edmonton favourite Theodore Baerg as Germont. Thomas Macleay (Gastone), Doug MacNaughton (Douphol), Brian McIntosh (Dr. Grenvil), Krista de Silva (Flora), Alexander Dobson (Marquis d'Obigny) and Renˆ©e Brad (Annina) join Conductor Steven Osgood and past Edmonton Opera Artistic Director Michael Cavanagh in closing the opera season. The Edmonton Opera Chorus and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra lend their talents to this much-loved production.

All performances of La Traviata begin at 7:30pm and run at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Single tickets, which range from $28 to $160, are available at Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information, please visit www.edmontonopera.com.

Pour la FCCF : la couverture rˆ©gionale culturelle en sort fragilisˆ©e

Pour la FCCF : la couverture rˆ©gionale culturelle en sort fragilisˆ©e

Ottawa, le 26 mars 2009 : ˆÄ la suite des compressions ˆÝ Radio-Canada, la FCCF rˆ©agit. ¬´ Nous avions craint des coupures beaucoup plus importantes dans les rˆ©gions et celles-ci sont relativement ˆ©pargnˆ©es. Dans ce contexte budgˆ©taire particuliˆ®rement difficile, l'effort qui a ˆ©tˆ© fait est saluˆ© par la FCCF. Cependant, la disparition d'ˆ©missions culturelles telles ¬´ Les arts et les autres ¬ª en Ontario, ¬´ TamTam en Acadie ¬ª, ainsi que la dˆ©cision de mettre en veilleuse l'ˆ©mission ¬´ Zeste ¬ª dans l'Ouest, et de rˆ©duire le nombre et la frˆ©quence d'ˆ©missions spˆ©ciales, comme le Chant'Ouest, sont accablantes et viennent dˆ©finitivement fragiliser la couverture rˆ©gionale culturelle et la prˆ©sence des artistes franco-canadiens sur le rˆ©seau de la SRC. Bien que nous comprenons les impˆ©ratifs de la SRC, aujourd'hui est une journˆ©e bien sombre pour les milieux artistiques et culturels des communautˆ©s francophones et acadiennes. ¬ª dˆ©clare Mme Raymonde Boulay LeBlanc, Prˆ©sidente de la FCCF.

Pour la FCCF, la SRC est et doit rester un partenaire essentiel pour les arts et la culture de la francophonie canadienne. ¬´ C'est un incontournable ˆÝ notre appropriation des ondes et un lieu de diffusion privilˆ©giˆ© pour les artistes, les produits de nos industries culturelles et nos grands ˆ©vˆ©nements d'antenne, reflets de notre imaginaire collectif et de notre culture francophone. ¬ª insiste Mme Boulay LeBlanc.

La FCCF estime que la SRC doit demeurer un vˆ©ritable espace mˆ©diatique francophone, distinctif et rassembleur, porteur d'identitˆ© pour les francophones et acadiens, avec des ˆ©missions culturelles de qualitˆ©. ¬´ Il faut lui donner les moyens et le cadre qui lui permettront de mener ˆÝ bien ce rˆ¥le. Il importe donc d'accorder ˆÝ la SRC les fonds et la latitude nˆ©cessaires pour maintenir sa force de frappe. Si le gouvernement fˆ©dˆ©ral considˆ®rait qu'un diffuseur public fort est une nˆ©cessitˆ© pour l'affirmation et la promotion de notre culture, il devrait se commettre en faveur d'un financement pluriannuel stable et suffisant. L'existence d'un diffuseur public ne doit en aucun cas rˆ©pondre aux seuls impˆ©ratifs du marchˆ©, la SRC doit rester encore et avant tout un service public engagˆ© qui partage les responsabilitˆ©s de la sociˆ©tˆ© qui la finance et qu'elle dessert. VoilˆÝ pourquoi, il est essentiel que des fonds adˆ©quats, prˆ©visibles et rˆ©guliers soient consentis ˆÝ cette institution. Le gouvernement fˆ©dˆ©ral doit prendre des initiatives pour prˆ©server le service public canadien qui aujourd'hui doit faire face ˆÝ des dˆ©fis ˆ©conomiques et technologiques de plus en plus importants. Enfin, et au-delˆÝ des questions de financement de la SRC, il y a ici des enjeux culturels qu'on ne peut ignorer. ¬ª de conclure Mme Boulay LeBlanc.

La FCCF est un organisme national dont la mission est de promouvoir l'expression artistique et culturelle des communautˆ©s francophones et acadienne. Elle rˆ©unit des reprˆ©sentants de sept regroupements nationaux en thˆ©ˆ¢tre, en littˆ©rature, en chanson-musique, en arts mˆ©diatiques et en arts visuels, ainsi que des reprˆ©sentants de onze provinces et territoires du Canada.

ESO Concertmaster to take leave of absence for 09/10 season

Martin Riseley to take leave of absence in 2009-2010

ESO Concertmaster to share extensive knowledge with new generation of musicians

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) Concertmaster Martin Riseley is taking a leave of absence for the 2009-2010 concert season.

’ÄúMy family and I are travelling to Wellington, New Zealand for one year in order for me to be Head of Strings at the New Zealand School of Music,’Äù Dr. Riseley says. ’ÄúI will see what I can do there to both help the school and its students, and to develop my own solo and chamber music playing. I am excited to take on a class of university-aged students again, as I have enjoyed teaching in the past, and passing on various 'guild secrets' to the new generations of musicians! Also, shaping the developing curriculum of the school is an exciting opportunity, one which does not come along very often. I also look forward to coming back to Edmonton during the year for solo engagements with both our Edmonton Symphony and the Alberta Baroque Society!’Äù

Mr. Riseley has previously served as the Interim Associate Concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra for the 2002-2003 season, and was Guest Concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra during 2003.

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

Mr. Riseley assisted Dorothy DeLay as a teaching fellow in the Pre-College Division of Juilliard while in New York. He was also Soloist and Concertmaster with the Chamber Players of the Juilliard School in their Merkin Hall debut, and in Alice Tully Hall as part of the Mozart Bicentennial celebrations at Lincoln Centre.

Martin Riseley has been Concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since 1994, giving his first performance on November 30^th of that year. Highlights of Martin’Äôs term as ESO Concertmaster include the North American premiere of the violin concerto ’ÄúThe Bully of Bashan’Äù by Gavin Bryars, and the premiere of a concerto by former ESO Composer in Residence Allan Gilliland in 2002.

Mr. Riseley will return next season to perform with the ESO in both the Classic Landmarks Masters and Lighter Classics series. On September 18 & 19, 2009, he will perform Red Violin Chaconne by John Corigliano. On January 14, 2010, Martin will present some of his favorite ’Äúparty pieces’Äù for violin and orchestra, including music by Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Saint-Saˆ´ns, Kreisler, Khachaturian, and Wieniawski. Music Director William Eddins will conduct both programs.

The ESO wishes Martin and his family all the best in their new endeavours. In the meantime, the ESO has begun the process of finding a Guest Concertmaster for the 2009-2010 concert season.

The ESO and local choirs embrace powerful and evocative scenic cantata - Apr. 4 & 5

Classic Landmarks Masters

The ESO laments lost love, the coming of spring, and fickle fate in epic cantata Carmina Burana

Saturday, April 4^th ’Äì 8:00 pm; Sunday, April 5^th ’Äì 2:00 pm

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ An overwhelming feeling of rhythmic energy will pulsate through Enmax Hall at the Winspear Centre as the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) brings to life the primitive tales of love, lust, the pleasures of drinking, and the heightened moods evoked by springtime. The towering epic and 20^th century masterpiece Carmina Burana is a compelling drama that explodes with its expressive intensity and stirring poetry.

Joining the ESO and Music Director William Eddins in this grand production are Allene Hackleman (ESO Principal horn), tenor Bonaventura Bottone, soprano Ilana Davidson, baritone Hugh Russell, plus the amalgamation of voices from the Kokopelli & ˆíran choirs, Cantilon Chamber Chorus, and the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton. Over 200 performers will powerfully denote events of foreboding nature and the capriciousness of fate in O Fortuna, one of the most widely heard and recognized classical music themes of our time.

’ÄúEverything I have written to date, and which you have, unfortunately, printed, can be destroyed. With Carmina Burana, my collected works begin.’Äù ~ Carl Orff, 1937

Ticket prices for this performance range from $20-$69 (agency fees apply). Student and senior $20 rush tickets are on sale, subject to availability, two hours prior to performance time. Learn more about the performance on Saturday at Symphony Prelude: 7:15 pm in the Upper Circle (Third Level) Lobby with D.T. Baker.

The next performance of the Masters series will take place on May 8^th and 9^th, as conductor Jacques Lacombe leads the ESO and Richard Eaton Singers Women’Äôs Chorus in A Space Odyssey. Celebrate the heavenly bodies in this, the International Year of Astronomy.

This series is generously supported by Classic Landmarks Master Builder.

Saturday evening’Äôs performance is generously sponsored by Finning Canada.

Media Sponsors: The Edmonton Journal and CKUA Radio Network

Guest Artist Sponsors: Dr. & Mrs. G. Tertzakian & Dr. James Timourian

Sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Marc Carnes, Director of Development, at (780) 401-2518.

Hornist Jamie Sommerville and Symphony Nova Scotia

Hornist Jamie Sommerville conducts and performs with Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax, Wolfville and Liverpool

Halifax, NS ’Äì Jamie Sommerville, principal horn with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Hamilton Philharmonic, joins his former colleagues at Symphony Nova Scotia for four performances featuring music by Mozart, Sibelius, and Canadian composer Gary Kulesha.

First, Sommerville will perform on Thursday, April 2 at 7:30 pm at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax. Then, he and the orchestra will travel to Liverpool on Friday, April 3 to perform at the Astor Theatre at 7:30 pm. On Saturday, April 4, they will perform in Wolfville's Festival Theatre at 8:00 pm; and then on Sunday, April 5, they return to the Rebecca Cohn in Halifax for a Sunday afternoon encore performance at 2 pm.

Sommerville was once the principal hornist with Symphony Nova Scotia, and this will be his first "homecoming" as conductor. "It's tremendously exciting for me to come back to the Rebecca Cohn stage after so many years away," he says. "I have such great memories of my years playing in Symphony Nova Scotia, and of life in Halifax, but most of all, the passion and talent of my colleagues in the orchestra.

"For this, my first re-appearance here as a conductor (though with horn in tow!), I have chosen a program that, above all else, features the Symphony's fantastic musicians. They are all pieces I've come to love, and I'm so looking forward to bringing the audience along as we discover them together."

All four performances will feature Sommerville in Mozart's Horn Concerto no. 3 on French horn, and Symphony no. 38 "Prague" as conductor. He will also conduct Sibelius' incidental music for the play Pellˆ©as et Melisande and Canadian composer Gary Kulesha's Beethoven-inspired Symphony no. 3. Kulesha will actually be traveling to Nova Scotia to attend the performance.

Get your tickets now! Tickets for the Halifax performances are available at 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or at www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca. Tickets for the Liverpool performance are available at 902.354.5250 or www.astortheatre.ns.ca, and tickets for the Wolfville performance are available at 902.542.5500 or 1.800.542.TICK (8425).

While in Nova Scotia, Jamie will also be leading two masterclasses. The first will be on Monday, March 30 at 6 pm at Dalhousie University's Arts Centre, Room 406. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students and seniors) and are available at the Music Department and at the door. The second will be on Saturday, April 4 at 1 pm at Acadia University's Festival Theatre. Tickets are $15 and are available by calling 421.1300, ext. 229.

About Jamie Sommerville

Jamie Sommerville joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as principal horn in January 1998. As a former hornist for the Toronto Symphony, the Montreal Symphony, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and as acting solo horn of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, he has traveled throughout the globe and recorded extensively as an orchestral player. Sommerville is heard regularly on the CBC network in various chamber music combinations, and has recorded the entire standard horn repertoire for broadcast over the past 20 years. He maintains an active and growing conducting career, presenting a full season of subscription and educational concerts in Hamilton each year.

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.

This concert is generously sponsored by Women for Music.

Opera Lyra Ottawa Presents Eugene Onegin by Pietr Ilych Tchaikovsky

Opera Lyra Ottawa Presents Eugene Onegin by Pietr Ilych Tchaikovsky

April 4 ’Äì 11, 2009 Southam Hall National Arts Centre

March 24 2009. Opera Lyra Ottawa (OLO) presents for the first time Tchaikovsky’Äôs great romantic opera Eugene Onegin April 4, 6, 8 and 11, 2009 at the National Arts Centre. Exquisite singing, beautiful dancing and gorgeous music will transport audiences to 19th century St. Petersburg.

For this production, Opera Lyra Ottawa has brought together a stellar cast of Canadian and international singers led by baritone Russell Braun in the title role. With a voice that has been described as thrilling, glorious, powerful, elegant, soft-grained, and spine-tingling, Russell first sang the role of Onegin in San Francisco in 2004. Russian-born soprano Inna Dukach takes on the role of Tatiana, a beautiful and innocent young woman who falls passionately in love with Onegin. Acclaimed for her ’Äúappealing emotional vulnerability’Äù’Ķcolourful shaping and shading’Äù (Opera News), this is Inna Dukach’Äôs first appearance with OLO. Richard Troxell brings an ’Äúintensity and sensitivity’Äù to the role of Lenski who, through jealousy, is doomed to die by Onegin’Äôs hand in a duel.

As Olga, ’Äúradiant and rich-voiced’Äù Ottawa-based mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Turnbull is doomed to lose her lover Lenski in a flirtatious moment with Onegin. New Yorker Peter Volpe, who appears as Prince Gremin, was ’Äúespecially impressive in both voice and stage presence’Äù (Opera) in the same role in the recent Vancouver Opera presentation of Eugene Onegin. Highly appreciated for her dramatic stage presence, Polish mezzo-soprano Agnes Zwierko, makes her Canadian debut as Madame Larina bringing to the role a ’Äúdark and homogenous voice’Ķand a well-established stage authority’Äù (operaclick.com). Rounding out this superb cast are Emilia Boteva in the role of the maidservant Filippyevna, Hugues Saint-Gelais as Triquet, and Alexander Savtchenko as Zaretski.

Stage Director Joseph Bascetta, choreographer Jean Leger, and lighting designer Louise Guinand, using Neil Patel’Äôs set design from the new Vancouver Opera, will recreate the luxury and elegance of 19^th century Russian high society on the stage of the NAC’Äôs Southam Hall. Opera Lyra Ottawa’Äôs Artistic Director and Conductor, Tyrone Paterson, will lead the National Arts Centre Orchestra and OLO’Äôs Chorus.

Sung in Russian, with English and French Surtitles, performances of Eugene Onegin will begin at 8:00 pm. Pre-opera chats are presented free of charge to all patrons one-hour prior to each performance in the lobby. These offer an opportunity to learn more about the composer, context and historical significance of the opera.

The Story

Based on the epic Russian novel by Alexander Pushkin, Eugene Onegin is the story of a melancholic young aristocrat whose restlessness and yearning for meaning in his life leads to heartbreak and death.

Through his best friend Lenski, Onegin is introduced to the young and innocent Tatiana who is captivated by this aloof and serious young man. She professes her love for him in a letter but is rejected by Onegin who admits he was touched by her letter but adds that he would tire quickly of marriage ’Äì the most he can offer is a brother’Äôs love. Crushed, Tatiana rushes away.

Some months later, Onegin and Lenski attend a party in honour of Tatiana’Äôs name day given by Madame Larina at her country estate. Onegin dances with Tatiana but is clearly bored by his fellow guests and their provincial sensibilities. To get back at Lenski for dragging him to the party, Onegin dances with Tatiana’Äôs sister Olga, who is betrothed to his friend. In a fit of jealousy, Lenski challenges Onegin to a duel. Although both men privately admit they would prefer to be laughing together than fighting a duel, pride does not allow them to back down; the duel is fought and Lenski is fatally shot.

Several years later, Onegin finds himself once again in St. Petersburg at a magnificent ball where he encounters Tatiana. She is no longer the girl he knew ’Äì she is now a confident, poised woman, married to Prince Gremin. This time it is Onegin who rights an impassioned letter, begging for Tatiana’Äôs love. In a meeting at the Gremin’Äôs town house, she finds the courage to reject him. As his pleas grow more ardent, Tatiana rushes from the room, leaving a distraught Onegin behind.

Background Notes:

In this era of email, Twitter, and text messaging, modern means of communication are seemingly endless’Äîwe are overloaded with digital ephemera’Äîbut in the nineteenth century the letter was the primary means of sharing news and gossip, and of cultivating friendships. So it is not surprising that letters play a pivotal role in our understanding of both the personal and public life of Tchaikovsky, especially in the writing of Eugene Onegin. It was in the late spring of 1877, during a social visit, that contralto Yelizaveta Lavrovskaya casually suggested to Tchaikovsky that he might write an opera based on Pushkin's beloved novel. This was a timely notion as he had been considering composing a vocal work on Tatiana’Äôs letter scene for some time. He enlisted the assistance of his friend Konstantin Shilovsky to help him construct the libretto and together the two of them worked out a text that maintains a great deal of Pushkin’Äôs original verses. Tchaikovsky exploited the episodic nature of the novel’Äîindeed he titled his work a lyric drama rather than an opera’Äîoffering up juxtaposed vignettes of pivotal moments in these lives for our scrutiny. Though flying in the face of dramatic conventions, the resulting work espouses the contemporary penchant for realism in opera, the Russian equivalent of Verdi’Äôs Traviata and Massenet’Äôs Manon.

Ticket Information:

Single tickets, from $39 to $165, are available from the NAC box office and all Ticketmaster locations (service fees will be applied). Visit Ticketmaster online or call 613-755-1111. DISCOUNTS: For groups of 10 or more please call Opera Lyra Ottawa at 613-233-9200 and ask about our group rates. Students with a valid Live Rush’Ñ¢ membership card may buy up to 2 tickets per performance at a discounted price. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at the NAC Box Office on the day of the performance from 2 to 6 pm. More information is available at www.liverush.ca.

About Opera Lyra Ottawa

Opera Lyra Ottawa is a not-for-profit organization with the mandate to produce and present opera in the National Capital Region of the highest quality and to promote opera as an art form, making it accessible to as large a segment of the population as possible through community outreach and education. Wherever possible, Opera Lyra Ottawa is committed to encourage, nurture and support Canadian artists. For more information please visit www.operalyra.ca.

Opera Lyra Ottawa gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors who make the 2008-2009 season possible. We thank Bell, Season Sponsor, as well as our other Principal Sponsors: Bel-Air Lexus, Rio Tinto Alcan, Sun Life Financial, and Ottawa Citizen; Major Sponsors: Arosa Suites Hotel, Custom Printers, Kolegram and Handa Travel. Opera Lyra would also like to thank the following agencies for their support: the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Ottawa.

Symphony Nova Scotia presents the 2009 Library Series

Symphony Nova Scotia presents the 2009 Library Series

Halifax, NS ’Äì Symphony Nova Scotia is once again back at the Halifax Public Library for a series of fun and informative chamber music performances. Please bring your lunch and join us for wonderful music and entertaining stories about the composers from host Max Kasper. All concerts are free of charge, and begin at 12:00 noon.

Still Movements

Wednesday, April 29 ’Äì Spring Garden Memorial Branch, Halifax

Friday, May 1 ’Äì Alderney Gate Branch, Dartmouth

In this concert, the Library Players explore the evolution of the "movements" of a piece of music. Most symphonies and quartets that we know all follow a familiar four-movement pattern. Using the music of Haydn, Mozart, Bach and Purcell, we will illustrate the differences and evolution of the string quartet movements.

The Library Players are:

Yi Lee ’Äì violin

Anita Gao-Lee ’Äì violin

Jane Levitt ’Äì viola

Max Kasper ’Äì bass

Christmas in May

Thursday, May 14 ’Äì Spring Garden Memorial Branch, Halifax

We're pleased to welcome back Halifax's own Rˆ©jouissance as they once again play at the Library. Join us for some festive Baroque music on period instruments. Though most of the music was written for the Christmas holidays, it's wonderful to hear anytime of the year (...and it's never too early to start preparing for Christmas!).

Rˆ©jouissance is:

Karen Langille ’Äì baroque violin
Ivor Rothwell ’Äì baroque bassoon, recorder
Shawn Whynot ’Äì harpsichord
Hilary Brown ’Äì baroque cello

The Best Music You've Never Heard of...

Thursday, May 28 ’Äì Spring Garden Memorial Branch, Halifax

Friday, May 29 ’Äì Alderney Gate Branch, Dartmouth

Most of us have only heard about 5% of the composers out there. Even the ones that were very famous in their time and wrote wonderful music have somehow become overshadowed by the "Greats." It's time to hear some of these composers again. The music is well worth it! Join the Gatto Dolce Duo as they perform music by Pleyel, Matthews, Aslan, Neher, Boismortier, Corrette and Romberg, to name a few!

The Gatto Dolce Duo is:

Colin Matthews ’Äì cello

Max Kasper ’Äì Bass

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!

Kyiv Chamber Choir Makes Awaited Return

Roy Thomson Hall: Friday, April 24 at 7:30PM

For Immediate Release ’Äì Toronto, March 24, 2009: Platinum Concerts International (PCI) proudly presents the world-renowned Kyiv Chamber Choir and conductor Mykola Hobdych at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday April 24 at 7:30 p.m. This concert is part of a Canadian tour which includes 12 Canadian cities and marks the much-anticipated return of this award-winning ensemble, which last appeared in Canada in 2006 to public and critical acclaim. The Toronto performance is unique however, as the Kyiv Chamber Choir joins forces with renowned choral ensembles Elmer Iseler Singers, Vesnivka Choir, and St. Michael’Äôs Choir School for an evening of classical Ukrainian choral works sung in the antiphonal style, with the sounds of these Choirs coming from around Roy Thomson Hall.

Kyiv Chamber Choir performances always bring audiences to their feet. Presenting programmes that combine choral works drawn from a rich Ukrainian musical history dating back over 1,000 years, the 21-voice ensemble has earned a world-wide reputation as the foremost proponent of Ukrainian choral music, and has won three Grand Prix awards in European choral competitions. Ukrainian folk music, arranged by the finest contemporary composers, is also a part of the Choir’Äôs dynamic performance, featuring costumes, instruments and choreography. The Kyiv Chamber Choir’Äôs outstanding performances are unlike anything else in the world of music. ’ÄúThis is an ensemble of rare quality, a purveyor of music at its transcendent best’Äù, wrote Bill Richardson in The Georgia Straight after the KCC’Äôs last Canadian visit.

In addition to their touring and concerts, the celebrated Kyiv Chamber Choir has recorded over 30 CDs, featuring the best music of their homeland, delivered with outstanding skill and overwhelming passion. The Kyiv Chamber Choir’Äôs 2009 spring tour (taking place April 22 to May 5) includes Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Kitchener-Waterloo and (for the first time) Victoria B.C. and St. Catharines, Ont.

Platinum Concerts International is a Toronto-based organization whose primary goal is to bring the ’Äòhidden treasure’Äô of great Ukrainian choral music to mainstream arts and music audiences in North America. For more details, please visit PCI’Äôs website - www.platinumconcerts.com

Kyiv Chamber Choir / Mykola Hobdych, conductor

With the Elmer Iseler Singers (Lydia Adams, conductor)

Vesnivka Choir (Halyna Kvitka Kondracki, conductor)

St. Michael’Äôs Choir School (Jerzy Cichocki, conductor)

Roy Thomson Hall ’Äì Friday, April 24 at 7:30PM

For tickets: $65, $55, $45 (incl. all sales taxes), please visit www.roythomson.com

or call the box office at 416-872-4255

Tickets are also available through PCI toll-free at 1-877-266-2557

30th Anniversary Concert: Elmer Iseler Singers

CELEBRATE!

30^th Anniversary Concert

Friday, April 17, 2009 at 7PM

Metropolitan United Church

For Immediate Release ’Äì Toronto, March 23, 2009: The Elmer Iseler Singers conclude their 30^th anniversary celebrations with a glorious concert entitled CELEBRATE! Founded by the late Dr. Elmer Iseler in 1979, the Elmer Iseler Singers are one of Canada’Äôs most illustrious professional choral ensembles. On Friday, April 17, the celebrated twenty-voice chamber choir shares the stage with mezzo-soprano Andrea Ludwig and EIS guest alumni for an evening of stunning music, all under the direction of Lydia Adams, who also celebrates her 10^th anniversary as Artistic Director and Conductor. This salute to the ensemble’Äôs 30 year journey (which has featured Canadian composers, the classics, folk, gospel and the first performance of an opera in Cree, among others) features works by Aaron Copland, Benjamin Britten, Imant Raminsh, Srul Irving Glick, Healy Willan and Arthur Honegger.

’ÄúThe choir’Äôs mastery of dynamics, attacks and the other paraphernalia of musical expression gives them the broadest possible palette of hue and colour from the palest tint to the most richly saturated hue.’Äù ’Äì Chronicle Herald

The legacy of the Elmer Iseler Singers has set standards for all choirs. For 30 years the organization has been a leader of excellence in choral singing, in creation and performance of new works and has led the way in touring, broadcasting, recording and performing throughout the small and large centers of Ontario, Canada and U.S. The Elmer Iseler Singers have recorded extensively and have had a profound impact on the international artistic field, with a discography of over 50 recordings. This has been the backbone of repertoire development for conductors and choirs throughout Ontario, Canada and worldwide. Known for the unique beauty of their sound, the Elmer Iseler Singers bring to life exciting repertoire that spans 500 years of great choral music.

Program: In the Beginning ’Äì Aaron Copland

Rejoice in the Lamb ’Äì Benjamin Britten

Magnificat ’Äì Imant Raminsh

Psalm Elegy ’Äì Srul Irving Glick

Lady Motets ’Äì Healy Willan

Laudate Dominum (final movement) ’Äì Arthur Honegger

CELEBRATE!

30th Anniversary Concert

Featuring Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano & Guest Alumni of the Elmer Iseler Singers

Lydia Adams, conductor

Friday, April 17, 2009 at 7PM

Metropolitan United Church: 56 Queen Street East, Toronto

For tickets ($35 Regular and $30 Seniors/Students), call 416 217-0537

http://www.elmeriselersingers.com/

Coco Love Alcorn's New Album

COCO LOVE ALCORN SPRINGS INTO 2009 WITH A JOYFUL NEW ALBUM!

Toronto, ON ’Äì Acoustic, jazz, folk, R&B, groove, pop and extraordinary vocals to name a few, have often been used to describe Coco Love Alcorn's incredible mix of musical talent. This Spring be prepared for some playful, soulful and compelling new music from Alcorn's sixth album Joyful (Sound of Pop / Fontana North) April 21, 2009. She is currently on tour and will be visiting cities nationally in support of her new album.

Joyful features new fan favourites "Intellectual Boys", "Revolution" and "I Got A Bicycle", all of which resonate Alcorn's 'joyful soul'. "Writing this album was yet another evolution for me", remarks Alcorn. "Inspiration was coming from everywhere as I traveled. I've finally stopped worrying about trying to fit my music into a neat and tidy genre box." Laced with themes of fun, love and social awareness, Joyful leaves the listener feeling happy and hopeful.

Alcorn has previously toured with an impressive roster of musicians including Ani DiFranco, Burton Cummings, 54.40, Chantal Kreviazuk, Steve Poltz, Matt Andersen and Jesse Cook. Her current solo tour travels coast to coast where you will be able to purchase Alcorn's new clothing line Simon +Coco which is made of up-cycle clothing with Coco-centric silkscreen designs.

Canadian Tour Dates:

March 27 South River, ON Renee's Cafe

March 29 Sault Ste. Marie, ON Shingwauk Theatre

March 30 Thunder Bay, ON Black Pirates Pub

April 2 Edmonton, AB Blue Chair

April 3 Canmore, AB Communitea

April 4 Nelson, BC North Shore Hall

April 5 Winlaw, BC House Concert

April 8 Nakusp, BC Bonnington Centre for the Arts

April 9 Revelstoke, BC The Village Idiot

April 10 Nelson, BC The Sugar Shack

April 11 Kaslo, BC Longham Theatre

April 17 Vancouver, BC The Rio Theatre

April 18 Pender Harbour, BC Pender Harbour Music Society

April 19 Courtenay, BC Joe's Garage

April 21 Ucuelet, BC Wild Heather Books

April 22 Duncan, BC Duncan Garage Showroom

April 23 Bowen Island, BC Cates Hill Chapel

April 24 Merritt, BC Capitol Soundstage

April 25 Rossland, BC Old Fire Hall

April 27 Lethbridge, AB The Slice

April 28 Calgary, AB The Ironwood

May 1 Saskatoon, SK Persephone Theatre Second Stage

May 2 Souris, MB Forbidden Flavours

May 3 Winnipeg, MB The Edge Gallery

May 4 Thunder Bay, ON Black Pirates Pub

May 7 ’Äì 10 Penticiton, BC Dream Cafˆ© (with Matt Andersen)

May 20 Montreal, QC St. Ambroise

May 23 Charlottetown, PEI Haviland Club

May 29 Antigonish, NS The Dragonfly

May 31 Halifax, NS The Carleton

June 5 Brookside, NS Moosehorn

June 6 Margaretsville, NS The Evergreen

June 7 Guysborought, NS Chedabucto Place

June 14 Toronto, ON Hugh's Room

Track List:

1. Compassion

2. I Got A Bicycle

3. Stranger

4. Revolution

5. Super Glue

6. Intellectual Boys

7. Where Do The Robots Go When They Die

8. Sleepless

9. Props

10. Hope For The World

11. Joyful

Weblinks: http://cocolovealcorn.com or http://www.myspace.com/cocolovealcorn

Jewish lawyer defends neo-Nazi in play CHERRY DOCS

Militant Right & Liberal Left Collide Head-On in "CHERRY DOCS"

Persephone Productions tackles complex social and racially charged issues in CHERRY DOCS, a taut psychological two-hander by Canadian playwright, David Gow from April 16^th to 26^th at Theatre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine East). Written more than 10 years ago, this is the first time a local company stages the play in Gow's hometown, though it gained renewed notoriety in 2006 with Steel Toes, the film version. Since its 1998 premiere, CHERRY DOCS has become one of the most successful dramas in Canadian theatre history, with twenty productions in a number of languages, firmly establishing it in the international repertoire.

The rhythmic text has Danny Dunkelman, a Jewish liberal-minded lawyer, assigned as public defender for Mike Downey, a neo-Nazi skinhead who has kicked an Asian man to death with his cherry red Doc Marten combat boots. "One of the play's issues is that of first impressions," says Director, Gabrielle Soskin. "Mike comes on as a militant bigot, navigating his world guided solely by race. Danny is a successful professional with a strong sense of his Jewish identity. Yet as the two square off for what they both consider a necessary but repugnant partnership, unexpected depths are revealed to themselves, the audience and each other. That peeling away, one layer of the onion at a time, is where the drama lies", she confides. Not one to shy away from tough, provocative subjects, Soskin continues to say, "The play also deals with the possibility of redemption. Can we forgive? Should we forgive? Is it possible for us to change ourselves and our perspective?" It connects with audience and artists alike, demanding a great deal of both, never trying to avoid the full repercussions and complexity of its subject matter. "There is an ambiguity in the conclusion of the play; we are left looking at both sides of the argument and our own personal sensibility will inevitably influence our perspective".

"’Ķa collision of primal and ideological forces [with] no moral high ground and no easy answers"

- Eye Magazine

Dan Jeannotte, a founding member of the improv group Uncalled For with Fringe hits Thunderspank! and Blastback Babyzap, as well as the hugely popular nightly Fringe show, The 13th Hour, plays the zealous neo-Nazi. Winnipeg native, Sean Carney, plays the middle-aged lawyer who gradually becomes obsessed with the case and the offensive delinquent he initially dismisses as a lost cause. Given the company's mandate of providing unique opportunities to new talent, though both actors are not new to the stage, certainly the high-octane role of the pugnacious skinhead is one of Dan's greatest acting challenges to date. For Sean Carney, an erudite McGill theatre professor who is customarily in the position of instructor and director, embarking on the lawyer's arduous journey as he examines his liberal ideology and consequently suffers great loss, is definitely a career highlight.

"This is an epic battle that will leave each man marked by the other's belief."

- The Toronto Sun

Ms. Soskin is assisted in her direction by John Abbott alumnus, Heidi Hawkins, last seen in The Real Inspector Hound. Mee Youn, a recent Concordia graduate who is one of the first to come out of the Segal Internship program under Norberts Muncs, designed the set and lighting. The sound design is provided by Rob Denton with stage management by Mary Davidson.

For additional details, please visit the web site at www.persephoneproductions.org

---

Dates & Times: April 16 - 26

Tues. through Sat. 20:00

Weekday Matinˆ©es (April 21, 22, 23 & 24) 12:30

Sunday Matinˆ©es 14:00

Monday DARK

Tickets:

General Admission $21

Seniors, Students, PWM, QDF/Equity $15

Groups (10 or more) $15

Discount Evenings (April 23 & 24) $12

Venue:

Theatre Ste-Catherine

264 Ste-Catherine East

www.theatrestecatherine.com/

Box Office:

514-481-1327

OCNA, le 28 mars : Le maestro Boris Brott dirige « Bravo Beethoven »

Le maestro Boris Brott dirige ¬´ Bravo Beethoven ¬ª ’Äì le prochain concert des Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust, le 28 mars

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì Le grand Ludwig Van Beethoven est ˆÝ l'honneur au cours du prochain concert de la sˆ©rie Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust avec l'Orchestre du Centre national des Arts sous la direction du premier chef des concerts jeunesse et famille Boris Brott, le samedi 28 mars ˆÝ 13 h 30 et 15 h 30. Le concert ¬´ Bravo Beethoven ¬ª met en vedette le comˆ©dien d'Ottawa Peter Duschenes, du Thˆ©ˆ¢tre Platypus, dans le rˆ¥le du compositeur, avec le violoniste Nikki Chooi, le percussionniste de l'OCNA Kenneth Simpson au synthˆ©tiseur et un rassemblement de ch‰ìurs de jeunes de la rˆ©gion et du secteur scolaire coordonnˆ© par Barbara Clark. Les Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust sont des concerts bilingues parfaitement adaptˆ©s aux enfants de cinq ans et plus accompagnˆ©s de leurs amis adultes.

Le billet inclut les activitˆ©s ¬´ Dorˆ©miville ¬ª prˆ©sentˆ©es avant le concert dans le Foyer du CNA par les Amis de l'Orchestre du CNA, 45 minutes avant le dˆ©but de chaque concert, soit ˆÝ 12 h 45 pour le premier concert et 14 h 45 pour le second.

Retrouvez Ludwig van Beethoven (incarnˆ© par Peter Duschenes) tandis qu'il redˆ©couvre sa propre musique grˆ¢ce ˆÝ une prothˆ®se auditive du XXI^e siˆ®cle. Les jeunes spectateurs pourront partager la joie de Beethoven ˆÝ l'ˆ©coute de chefs-d'‰ìuvre musicaux tels que la Cinquiˆ®me Symphonie, la Symphonie ¬´ Hˆ©roˆØque ¬ª, ¬´ La Bataille de Vitoria ¬ª et la tempˆ�te de la Symphonie ¬´ Pastorale ¬ª. Nikki Chooi, violoniste originaire de Victoria, ancien ˆ©lˆ®ve des conservatoires de Victoria et du Collˆ®ge Mount Royal, qui a ˆ©galement participˆ© ˆÝ l'Institut estival de musique du CNA, jouera un extrait du Concerto pour violon de Beethoven. ˆÄ la fin du concert, les membres de l'auditoire seront invitˆ©s ˆÝ chanter avec le ch‰ìur d'enfants le magnifique ¬´ Hymne ˆÝ la joie ¬ª de la Neuviˆ®me Symphonie!

Le Centre national des Arts Centre dˆ©die ces concerts ˆÝ la mˆ©moire de Mario Duschenes, cˆ©lˆ®bre flˆªtiste, compositeur et chef d'orchestre (et pˆ®re de Peter Duschenes) qui est mort un peu plus tˆ¥t cette annˆ©e. Mario Duschenes a dirigˆ© les tout premiers concerts de l'Orchestre du CNA destinˆ©s au public familial et a continuˆ© ˆÝ exercer ce rˆ¥le de 1973 ˆÝ 1988. Il a dirigˆ© l'Orchestre du CNA pour la derniˆ®re fois en 2001 pour la prˆ©sentation du spectacle musical Des rebuts et des rythmes, une commande du CNA qui a ˆ©tˆ© reprise en janvier dernier sous son nouveau titre : Musique au clair de lune.

Les activitˆ©s ¬´ Dorˆ©miville ¬ª prˆ©sentˆ©es ˆÝ l'occasion du concert ¬´ Bravo Beethoven ¬ª comprennent une exposition de la Bibliothˆ®que publique d'Ottawa sur le thˆ®me de Beethoven; un coin d'activitˆ© animˆ© par Musique pour Jeunes Enfants; une exposition touche-ˆÝ-tout d'instruments ˆÝ cordes prˆ©sentˆ©e par l'Acadˆ©mie des orchestres des jeunes d'Ottawa; un coin de bricolage pour fabriquer des signets inspirˆ©s par Beethoven et une zone pour rˆ©pˆ©ter l'Hymne ˆÝ la joie de Beethoven en vue du concert. Le Ch‰ìur des jeunes de la rˆ©gion d'Ottawa, le Ch‰ìur d'enfants d'Ottawa, l'Ottawa Catholic School Board Choir, le ch‰ìur de jeunes filles Cantiamo d'Ottawa et l'ˆâcole secondaire publique De La Salle disposeront de tables d'information.

Toutes les Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust bˆ©nˆ©ficient de l'OCNAtron prˆ©sentˆ© en collaboration avec la Tˆ©lˆ©vision Rogers. Cinq camˆ©ras de tˆ©lˆ©vision installˆ©es sur scˆ®ne et dans la salle enregistrent en direct des images vidˆ©o des musiciens pendant qu'ils jouent sur scˆ®ne et les transmettent sur l'ˆ©cran gˆ©ant surplombant la scˆ®ne, afin de permettre au public de suivre de prˆ®s tout ce qui se passe.

L'Ottawa Citizen est le mˆ©dia partenaire des Aventures familiales TD Canada Trust avec l'Orchestre du CNA.

Les billets pour ¬´ Bravo Beethoven ¬ª, spectacle prˆ©sentˆ© le samedi 28 mars ˆÝ 13 h 30 et 15 h 30, incluant les activitˆ©s ¬´ Dorˆ©miville ¬ª avant le concert, sont en vente dˆ®s maintenant ˆÝ 12 $ pour les enfants et 20 $ pour les adultes (TPS et frais d'ˆ©tablissement inclus dans les cas qui s'appliquent), ˆÝ la Billetterie du CNA (du lundi au samedi de 10 h ˆÝ 21 h) et par l'entremise du rˆ©seau Ticketmaster (frais de service en sus) au (613) 755-1111. Consultez le site Web du Centre national des Arts ˆÝ l'adresse www.nac-cna.ca .

Formez un groupe de 10 personnes et plus et ˆ©conomisez de 15 % ˆÝ 20 % sur le prix normal des billets pour l'Orchestre du CNA, la Danse et le Thˆ©ˆ¢tre. Pour rˆ©server, composez le 947-7000, poste 384, ou ˆ©crivez ˆÝ grp@nac-cna.ca.

U of T presents Grammy-winning composer Maria Schneider

University of Toronto Faculty of Music to present Grammy-winning composer Maria Schneider

"To call Schneider the most important woman in jazz is missing the point in two ways. She is a major composer - period." - TIME MAGAZINE

"...she puts together stories that speak with the clarity of Ernest Hemingway and the musical grace of Aaron Copland."
’Äì PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

TORONTO ’Äì The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto presents Grammy Award-winning composer Maria Schneider in a lecture and a concert with the U of T Jazz Orchestras. On Thursday, April 2, the Roger D. Moore Distinguished Visitor in Composition will present a lecture in Walter Hall as part of the Thursdays at Noon Series, and on Saturday, April 4, she will join the Faculty of Music’Äôs 10 O’ÄôClock and 11 O’ÄôClock Jazz Orchestras in a concert in MacMillan Theatre. Details of the events are as follows:

Thursday, April 2, 2009
LECTURE: MARIA SCHNEIDER
Roger D. Moore Distinguished Visitor in Composition
12:10 pm. Walter Hall, 80 Queen’Äôs Park. Free

Saturday, April 4, 2009
CONCERT with the U of T Jazz Orchestras
Maria Schneider conducts her own music with the U of T Jazz Orchestras
7:30 pm. MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’Äôs Park. Tickets: $14 ($8 seniors/students).
Box Office: 416-978-3744
Box office hours: 1 ’Äì 7 pm, Monday to Friday, with extended hours on performance nights.
Address: Lobby level, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’Äôs Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C5

Maria Schneider's music has been described as evocative, majestic, magical, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, and beyond categorization. Born in Windom, Minnesota, Schneider arrived in New York City in 1985 after studies at the University of Minnesota, the University of Miami and the Eastman School of Music. She immediately sought out Bob Brookmeyer to study composition, and at the same time became an assistant to Gil Evans, working on various projects with him.

The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra came into being in 1993, appearing at Visiones in Greenwich Village every Monday night for a stretch of five years. Subsequently, her orchestra has performed at festivals and concert halls across Europe as well as in Brazil and Macau. She's received numerous commissions and invites with American and Europeans orchestras, guest conducting in Brazil, Italy, Portugal, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Canada, Scotland, Australia, Greenland and Iceland, as well as across the U.S. Commissions include the Norrbotten Big Band's and Danish Radio Orchestra's commission to arrange and conduct concerts with Toots Thielemans. Other commissioning organizations include the Metropole Orchestra, Stuttgart Jazz Orchestra, Orchestre National de Jazz (Recapitulation), Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra (El Viento), Monterey Jazz Festival (Scenes from Childhood), University of Miami Concert Jazz Band (Three Romances), Hunter College (Concert in the Garden and Sky Blue), Jazz at Lincoln Center (Bulerˆ‚a, Soleˆ° y Rumba), Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (Aires de Lando) and Peter Sellars' New Crowned Hope Festival (Cerulean Skies). Maria was also the recipient of a Doris Duke award to compose a dance work (Dissolution) in collaboration with the Pilobolus dance group. It was performed with her orchestra at the American Dance Festival and Kennedy Center. Her latest major work, commissioned by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, debuted in October of 2008 Written to feature soprano, Dawn Upshaw, it is entitled Carlos Drummond de Andrade Stories.

Schneider has had a distinguished recording career as well. Her debut recording Evanescence, was nominated for two 1995 Grammy Awards. Her second and third recordings Coming About and Allˆ©gresse were also nominated for Grammys. Her third album, Allˆ©gresse was chosen by both TIME and BILLBOARD in their Top Ten Recordings of 2000, inclusive of all genres of music.

Concert in the Garden, released only through her website (an ArtistShare¬Æ site), was a watershed in her career when she won the 2005 Grammy Award for “ÄåBest Large Ensemble Album“Äç and became the first Grammy-winning recording with Internet-only sales. It also received“ÄåJazz Album of the Year“Äç by the Jazz Journalists Awards and the DOWNBEAT Critics Poll. Both also awarded her “ÄåComposer of the Year“Äç and“ÄåArranger of the Year“Äç and the Jazz Journalists also named her group “ÄåLarge Jazz Ensemble of the Year“Äç.

Her newest fan-funded ArtistShare¬Æ recording, Sky Blue, was released in July 2007 and received unanimous praise. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards, winning one in the category of “ÄåBest Instrumental Composition“Äç (Cerulean Skies). The album received the honor of “ÄåJazz Album of the Year“Äç from the VILLAGE VOICE Critics Poll as well as a Choc Award in France and was one of only two albums to receive a five-star review from DOWNBEAT in 2007.

Artist website: www.mariaschneider.com

Gala de la musique: Dˆ©jˆÝ 1 000 votes pour le Prix du public Quˆ©bec-Scope !

1^er Gala de la musique de Quˆ©bec

Dˆ©jˆÝ 1 000 votes pour le Prix du public Quˆ©bec-Scope !

Quˆ©bec, le 23 mars 2009 - Plus de 1 000 personnes ont dˆ©jˆÝ votˆ© pour dˆ©terminer le Prix du public Quˆ©bec-Scope et il reste encore trois semaines ˆÝ la pˆ©riode de votation, soit jusqu'au 14 avril prochain. Pour les membres de l'Association des professionnels de la grande rˆ©gion de Quˆ©bec (APMGRQ), le deuxiˆ®me tour de scrutin s'amorce aujourd'hui dans les cinq catˆ©gories qui contenaient le plus de nominations, soit album chansons francophones, album pop-rock, vidˆ©o clip, son studio et rˆ©alisation studio.

Notes on Composing

SHIFT

Movement and meaning between Canada and the Netherlands

A Festival of Canadian and Dutch Music, Film and Literature

NOTES ON COMPOSING

5 collaborations in film and music

Final Event of SHIFT Festival Marks Opening Night of the

2009 IMAGES FESTIVAL

April 2, 2009 at Isabel Bader Theatre

www.shift-festival.ca

For Immediate Release ’Äì Toronto, March 23, 2009: SHIFT is not over yet, but the big bulge of activity at the end of February -- swelling the city's cultural offerings like an early spring thaw -- has passed. After continuing on to Vancouver for a concert with Vancouver New Music Society, Ives Ensemble musicians (now great musical friends of many in Canada) have returned to the Netherlands; Quatuor Bozzini returned to Montreal before setting off on yet another European tour; having made their guerrilla hit, Toca Loca's musicians have again dispersed. But Continuum is hard at preparations for the final event.

On April 2 at the Isabel Bader Theatre, The Images Festival and Continuum present Notes on Composing: 5 collaborations in film and music. Premiered at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam, the event features works on diverse themes by well-known and emerging Canadian film and video artists with music by composers from Canada and the Netherlands: Clive Holden (CA) and Oscar van Dillen (NL) deal with the sea as the Pacific Ocean and the North Sea are juxtaposed on a split screen; Christina Battle (CA) and Martin Arnold (CA) treat the mutual invasion of the human and natural worlds as represented by clips from old movies intercut with highly processed images of birds and bats in flight; Vera Frenkel (CA) and Rick Sacks (CA) have created a poignant view of the loss of connection with water in Toronto's urban environment; DaˆØchi SaˆØto (CA) and Malcolm Goldstein (CA) muse on trees in Parc Mont-Royal in Montreal; and Guy Maddin (CA) and Richard Ayres (NL) present the story of an aging gangster's paranoid delusions, near death experience and revival through highly unconventional means.

NOTES ON COMPOSING ’Äì Opening Night of the 2009 IMAGES FESTIVAL

Thursday, April 2 at 8PM at Isabel Bader Theatre: 93 Charles Street West

Tickets: $15 adults / $12 students & seniors

Advance tickets available at: www.imagesfestival.com/store Info: (416) 971-8405

Composer/Filmmaker: Title

Martin Arnold/Christina Battle (Toronto/Toronto): Behind the Shadows

Richard Ayres/Guy Maddin (Renkum/Winnipeg): Glorious

Oscar van Dillen/Clive Holden (Rotterdam/Toronto): 2 Cameras @ Sea

Rick Sacks/Vera Frenkel (Toronto/Toronto): ONCE NEAR WATER: Notes from the Scaffolding Archive

Malcolm Goldstein/DaˆØchi SaˆØto (Montreal/Montreal): Trees of Syntax, Leaves of Axis

STATEMENT ON AGE RESTRICTION

Admittance to all screenings (except Youth Screenings) is restricted to those 18 years of age or older. The Images Festival believes in freedom of artistic expression and is against discrimination on the basis of age. However, under the Ontario Theatres Act, film and video festivals are required to adopt a blanket adult rating in order to hold public screenings without having to submit all works for prior classification. Film and video are the only forms of expression subject to this kind of censorship system in Ontario. The Images Festival complies with the Ontario Theatres Act under protest.

Continuum is supported through grants from The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the city of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council; the Metcalf Foundation's Strategic Initiatives programme; the SOCAN, Emerald and McLean foundations; by patrons Aurora Tewksbury Reford, Ann Southam and Christopher Des Brisay; by the accounting firm Newman & Sversky; and as well, through the generosity of many private donors. SHIFT is supported by The Canada Council for the Arts, Muziek Centrum Nederland, Muziekgebouw aan ’Äòt IJ, the Consulate-General of The Netherlands, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quˆ©bec, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Charles Street Video and a variety of individual and corporate donors.

For more information on SHIFT please contact Festival Coordinator Josh Grossman at (416) 924-4945 or josh@continuumusic.org , or visit www.shift-festival.ca .

Les Mˆ©lodˆÆnes de la Place des arts - Le piano et l'orgue ˆÝ l'honneur en avril

LES MˆâLODˆéNES DE LA PLACE DES ARTS

Le piano et l’Äôorgue ˆÝ l’Äôhonneur en avril

Les jeudis 2 et 9 avril 2009 de 12 h 10 ˆÝ 12 h 50

Montrˆ©al, le 23 mars 2009 ’Äì Pour terminer la saison en beautˆ©, Christian Parent, pianiste, et Pierre Grandmaison, organiste, deux artistes au sommet de leur art, sont au programme des MˆâLODˆéNES au mois d’Äôavril. Les Mˆ©lodˆÆnes sont coproduites par la Sociˆ©tˆ© Pro Musica et la Place des Arts.

Jeudi 2 avril de 12 h 10 ˆÝ 12 h 50 au Piano nobile de la Place des Arts

Belge d’Äôorigine, le pianiste Christian Parent reˆßoit sa formation musicale au Conservatoire royal de musique de Liˆ®ge. Plusieurs institutions et ˆ©vˆ©nements d’ÄôEurope soulignent aussitˆ¥t ses performances en lui octroyant prix et distinctions. Installˆ© en permanence au Canada, il perfectionne son art avec Irving Heller. La critique et le public vantent son jeu spontanˆ© et sa virtuositˆ© saisissante qui concourent ˆÝ donner une sonoritˆ© unique ˆÝ ses interprˆ©tations. Artiste accompli, il s’Äôintˆ©resse ˆ©galement aux techniques d’Äôenregistrement dans le studio qu’Äôil a crˆ©ˆ© et oˆ¼ il grave des CD de ses compositions et interprˆ©tations. Professeur de piano ˆÝ la Facultˆ© de musique de l’ÄôUniversitˆ© de Montrˆ©al et au collˆ®ge Vincent-d’ÄôIndy, il donne aussi des classes de maˆÆtre et participe, ˆÝ titre de jury, ˆÝ plusieurs concours. Il prˆ©sentera des piˆ®ces de Scarlatti, Beethoven, Medtner et Rachmaninov lors de ce concert du 2 avril.

Jeudi 9 avril de 12 h 10 ˆÝ 12 h 50 au Piano nobile de la Place des Arts

Pierre Grandmaison entreprend ses ˆ©tudes musicales en tant que pianiste et organiste. ˆÄ son retour de Paris, boursier du gouvernement du Quˆ©bec, il se consacre ˆÝ l’Äôorgue. En 1973, il est nommˆ© titulaire des grandes orgues de la basilique Notre-Dame de Montrˆ©al et, en 1977, il a le plaisir d’Äôinaugurer l’Äôorgue Casavant restaurˆ© de l’Äôˆ©glise de Saint-Hilaire. ˆâminent spˆ©cialiste de musique sacrˆ©e, il enseigne au Grand Sˆ©minaire de Montrˆ©al et participe ˆÝ d’Äôimportantes manifestations ˆÝ caractˆ®re religieux, notamment ˆÝ Notre-Dame de Paris et ˆÝ Saint-Pierre de Rome. Pierre Grandmaison est aussi compositeur. Citons, entre autres, son oratorio Plˆ©nitude et Rˆ©sonnances, crˆ©ˆ© en 2005 lors du centenaire de fondation de l’ÄôOratoire Saint-Joseph. En ce Jeudi Saint, qui ouvre le Tridium Pascal, le concert qu’Äôil prˆ©sente est une formidable occasion de relier le sacrˆ© et la beautˆ©.

Une production de la Sociˆ©tˆ© Pro Musica en collaboration avec la Place des Arts.

Entrˆ©e : 8 $ (taxes incluses) ’Äì Apportez votre lunch !

Rˆ©servations : Billetterie de la Place des Arts 514 842-2112 ou 1 866 842-2112 ou laplacedesarts.com

LES MˆâLODˆéNES AT PLACE DES ARTS

Piano and organ spotlighted in April

Thursdays, April 2 and 9, 2009 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m.

Montreal, March 23, 2009 ’Äì To close the season in style, pianist Christian Parent and organist Pierre Grandmaison, two artists at the height of their career, will perform on the program of LES MˆâLODˆéNES in April. The series is co-produced by the Sociˆ©tˆ© Pro Musica and Place des Arts.

Thursday, April 2 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Piano nobile of Place des Arts

The Belgian-born pianist Christian Parent trained at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique in his native city of Liˆ®ge. He was soon winning prizes and distinctions at competitions throughout Europe. After immigrating to Canada, Parent perfected his art with Irving Heller. Critics and public alike have praised his spontaneous style and astonishing virtuosity, which combine to give his performances a unique flavour. Recording is also a major part of Christian Parent’Äôs career: as the owner of his own studio, he is able to record his interpretations of masterworks for the piano, as well as his own compositions. Christian Parent teaches piano at the Universitˆ© de Montrˆ©al’Äôs faculty of music and at the Collˆ®ge Vincent-d’ÄôIndy; he also gives master classes at various institutions and serves on the juries of numerous competitions. In this concert on April 2, he will perform works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Medtner and Rachmaninov.

Thursday, April 9 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Piano nobile of Place des Arts

Pierre Grandmaison began his studies as a pianist before turning to the organ. Awarded a grant by the Quebec government, he studied in Paris for two years. On his return from France, he gave organ recitals throughout Quebec and in 1973 was named the regular organist at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. In 1977, he had the honour of inaugurating the restored Casavant organ at Mont St-Hilaire, one of the builder’Äôs first instruments. An eminent specialist in sacred music, he teaches at the Grand Sˆ©minaire de Montrˆ©al and performs at major religious events at such churches as Notre-Dame in Paris and St. Peter’Äôs in Rome. As a composer, he has written several masses, as well as the oratorio Plˆ©nitude et Rˆ©sonances, created in 2005 for the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Joseph’Äôs Oratory. On this Holy Thursday before Easter, he is a presenting a program combining the sacred and the beautiful.

A production of the Sociˆ©tˆ© Pro Musica in collaboration with Place des Arts.

Admission: $8 (taxes included) ’Äì Bring your lunch!

Reservations: Place des Arts box office 514-842-2112 / 1-866-842-2112 / laplacedesarts.com

NACO, March 28: TD Canada Trust Family Adventures presents "Bravo Beethoven"

’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù led by Maestro Boris Brott ’Äì the next TD Canada Trust Family Adventures concert on March 28

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The great Ludwig Van Beethoven himself is celebrated in the next TD Canada Trust Family Adventures series concerts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Principal Youth and Family Conductor Boris Brott on Saturday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the afternoon. ’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù features Ottawa performer Peter Duschenes of Platypus Theatre in the role of the composer, joined by violinist Nikki Chooi, NACO percussionist Kenneth Simpson on synthesizer, and a massed youth choir from community and school choirs coordinated by Barbara Clark. These bilingual TD Canada Trust Family Adventures are perfect for kids 5 and up and their grown-up friends.

The concert ticket includes ’ÄúTuneTown’Äù, pre-concert activities in the NAC Foyer organized by Friends of the NAC Orchestra 45 minutes prior to each concert, beginning at 12:45 p.m. for the first concert and 2:45 p.m. for the second concert.

Join Ludwig van Beethoven (played by Peter Duschenes) as he rediscovers the sounds of his music with the help of a 21^st century hearing device. Children can share Beethoven’Äôs delight in listening to such musical masterpieces as the Fifth Symphony, the ’ÄúEroica’Äù Symphony, ’ÄúWellington’Äôs Victory’Äù, and the Storm from the ’ÄúPastoral’Äù Symphony. An excerpt from Beethoven’Äôs Violin Concerto will feature Victoria-born violinist Nikki Chooi, a former student at the Victoria and Mount Royal College Conservatories and a participant in the NAC’Äôs Summer Music Institute. For the grand finale, audience members are invited to join with the children’Äôs choir in singing the magnificent ’ÄúOde to Joy’Äù, from the Ninth Symphony!

The National Arts Centre is dedicating these concerts to the memory of Mario Duschenes, the famed Canadian flutist, composer and conductor (and father of Peter Duschenes) who died earlier this year. Mario Duschenes led the NAC Orchestra’Äôs first-ever family concerts and continued to do so from 1973 to 1988. He last conducted the NAC Orchestra in 2001 in the NAC-commissioned score for Rhythm in Your Rubbish, which was reprised this January under its new title Music Under a Midnight Moon.

The ’ÄúTuneTown’Äù activities for ’ÄúBravo Beethoven’Äù include an Ottawa Public Library book display on the theme of Beethoven; an activity station by Music for Young Children; a string instrument petting zoo with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy; a craft station to make Beethoven bookmarks, and an area to sing along and rehearse Beethoven’Äôs ’ÄúOde to Joy’Äù in preparation for participating in the concert. There will also be information displays from the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, the Ottawa Children’Äôs Choir, the Ottawa Catholic School Board Choir, the Cantiamo Girls Choir of Ottawa, and ˆâcole secondaire publique De La Salle.

All TD Canada Trust Family Adventures feature NACOtron presented in collaboration with Rogers Television. Five television cameras positioned on stage and in the hall capture live video images of the musicians while they are performing, and these images are projected onto a giant screen above the stage allowing the audience to watch the action in close-up.

The Ottawa Citizen is the media partner of the TD Canada Trust Family Adventures with the NAC Orchestra.

Tickets for Bravo Beethoven on Saturday, March 28 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., including TuneTown Pre-Concert Activities, are $12.00 for children and $20.00 for adults (including GST and Facility Fee where applicable) and are on sale now at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Visit the National Arts Centre’Äôs web site at www.nac-cna.ca.

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

Jazz Piano Star Lynne Arriale Forms New Alliance to Release - "Nuance - The Bennet Studio Sessions"

"No question about it: Arriale is the most interesting - and underrated - jazz pianist around at the moment. Audiences at Ronnie Scott's finally had a chance to savour the American player's unfailingly melodic soloing a few weeks ago. Her latest release marks a dramatic change of direction as she forsakes her old trio for a new quartet featuring the dependable Randy Brecker on trumpet...her eye for unorthodox material - including a lyrical treatment of the Police tune Wrapped Around Your Finger - is as sharp as ever. The real meat, in a way, is to be found on the bonus DVD, recorded after the album itself." - 3/22/09 - The Sunday Times (London)

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

(New York, NY) Motˆ©ma 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.Motˆ©ma.com and at www.lynnearriale.com.

The project was recorded at the multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning BENNETT STUDIOS, just outside New York City, and includes video documentation of "behind the scenes" footage of the CD recording, a bonus DVD program of a live, private, "in-studio" audience concert, and up-close and personal interviews with each artist. The release displays a new creative direction for Arriale, as she continues her illustrious musical journey, which began with a ten-year run of her celebrated former trio. Arriale continues to garner praise in every configuration in which she chooses to play as an outstanding leader, including from The New York Times: "brilliant musicianship and bandstand instincts (which) place her among the top jazz pianists of the day." This new release, with iconic jazz masters Brecker and Mraz, brings even more heightened originality to Arriale's sound as evidenced in her six powerful, new compositions and inspired arrangements of covers by composers as disparate as Sting, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie and Tommy Wolf.

"This is music that really transports the listener into the wondrous world of Lynne's imagination," said Jana Herzen, President of Motˆ©ma 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.

Arriale's 2007 release, LIVE (Motˆ©ma), 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.

Symphony Nova Scotia rocks you with the music of Queen

Symphony Nova Scotia rocks you with the music of Queen ’Äì ALMOST SOLD OUT!

Halifax, NS ’Äì Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with rock group Jeans ’Äòn Classics, guest vocalist Michael Shotton, and the Soundtrax Choir on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 pm to bring the epic rock of Queen to the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

Conducted by Maestro Bernhard Gueller, the orchestra will be pulling out all the stops to bring its big, broad sound to Queen classics such as Another One Bites the Dust, Killer Queen, We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions, Who Wants to Live Forever, You Take My Breath Away, The Show Must Go On, Under Pressure, Somebody to Love, and many more.

As vocalist Michael Shotton says, ’ÄúThis won’Äôt be one of those shows where you sit in your seats quietly and clap and say, ’ÄòWasn't that sassy!’Äô’Äù

These concerts are almost sold out, so get your tickets now! Tickets are $32-47.50 (HST included) or pick up a subscription and save up to 30%. Student and group discounts are also available. Call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

About Jeans ’Äôn Classics
Jeans 'n Classics is a group of rock musicians who love orchestras and are committed to popular music. They have performed with symphony orchestras across the continent with arrangements that remain ideally poised between staying true to the original rocker spirit and creating a new, broader rock and roll sound.

About Michael Shotton
English-born Michael Shotton has led a life of rock and roll. The singer, drummer, composer and producer has recorded with rock icons such as Boston, Guns N’Äô Roses, Diamond Life, and Von Groove. He wrote and co-produced the 2007 anthem for the Canadian Special Olympics as well as a 9/11 fundraiser song featured on a compilation disc with Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney. Shotton’Äôs enormous vocal range, charismatic stage presence and lust for life have made him an international audience favourite and captivating performer.

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.

Duo Concertante to appear in Classical 96 lobby concert April 8 - launches "It Takes Two"

IT'S A TORONTO CD LAUNCH FOR NEWFOUNDLAND'S DUO CONCERTANTE;
CD RELEASE: "IT TAKES TWO"; LIVE PERFORMANCES AT
THE NEW CLASSICAL FM 96.3 AND THE COC'S FREE CONCERT SERIES

Toronto, ONTARIO - East coast violin/piano pair Duo Concertante (violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves) is thrilled to release its fourth CD, entitled "It Takes Two", a Marquis Classics/EMI Canada recording of encore chestnuts to please and delight any classical music fan. Excerpts from the CD will be performed and broadcast live at The New Classical 96.3 FM on Wednesday, April 8, at 1:20 PM and classical music fans can tune in or watch on the internet at http://www.classical963fm.com. The Duo will also perform on Tuesday, May 5 at the Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The uniqueness of this album originates with the arrangements. When violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves wanted to release an album of encore pieces, they approached Canadian composer Clifford Crawley for inspiration - and the collaboration was mutually rewarding. "We wanted to present encore pieces which featured both instruments equally," explain Nancy and Timothy. "When we approached Clifford about arranging some materials, we suggested some of our favourite opera arias, jazz tunes, and orchestral pieces. He had great ideas and for the next year created the 14 arrangements that comprise this disc. We are indebted to his great skill, enthusiasm, and generous spirit. The title of the disc should really be 'It Takes Three.'"

Duo Concertante's previous recordings, all under the ATMA Classique label, reveal the pair's wide range: "Wild Honey" (2003), highlighting Canadian composers Kelly-Marie Murphy, Chan Ka Nin, Omar Daniel, Jean Lesage, and Andrew Paul MacDonald; "Of Heart and Homeland" (2002), was a disc of JanˆÝcek, de Falla, Shostakovich, Michael Parker, Smetana, Dvorˆ°k, and Piazzolla; and "ˆÝ Deux" (1998), which featured Beethoven, Stravinsky, Ravel, and Brahms.

"It Takes Two" repertoire list: de Abreu: Tico Tico; Gershwin: Lady Be Good (medley); Saint-Saˆ´ns: Mon coeur s'ouvre ˆÝ ta voix; Khachaturian: Sabre Dance; Grieg: Solveig's Song; Gillespie: A Night in Tunisia; (trad): The Lark; Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet; Sibelius: Valse triste; Rodgers: "It's a Grand Night for Falling in Love with the Most Beautiful Girl on a Carousel"; Bonfˆ°: Black Orpheus; Tchaikovsky: June - Barcarolle; Mozart: Rondo alla Turka; and Puccini:
Humming Chorus.

"It Takes Two" will be available April 14, 2009 and available online at www.marquisclassics.com.

Since forming in 1997, Duo Concertante has been acclaimed for performances characterized by brilliance, subtlety, and passion, across North America and abroad. Hailed for their "artistry, poetry, impeccable technique", and "exceptional warmth and intimacy", violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves are renowned for their extraordinary teamwork and powerfully-charged performances which them apart from more conventional violin/piano collaborations. The San Francisco Classical Voice wrote, "Brilliant, saucy and soulful . . . you hear splendid sweet nuances everywhere; Duo Concertante makes a powerful case for thinking of violin/piano sonatas as duo music, rather than as music for a pianist and a violinist." www.duoconcertante.com

Clifford Crawley was born in 1929 and educated in England. Affiliated with the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre, he has over 80 published compositions. He believes "originality is not necessarily something new, but often [the result of] looking at the familiar in a different way," which perfectly sums up his contribution to "It Takes Two." He is Professor Emeritus at Queen's University, having taught composition and music education there from 1973 to 1993. He has worked as a music consultant in Central America and Asia, and participated in many Composer/Artist in the Classroom programs. He now lives and enjoys an active musical life in St. John's, Newfoundland. www.musiccentre.ca

Woodwind concert rounds out Chamber Music Series

TORONTO ’Äì The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto presents the final concert of the acclaimed Chamber Music Series. Titled Petite Offrande Musicale, the program features chamber music for 3 to 7 woodwind and brass players, including Petite Offrande Musicale (Nino Rota), Divertissement (Jean Francaix), Mladi ("Youth") (Leos Janacek) and Septet for Wind (Paul Hindemith). The performers are some of the top players in Toronto, including Harcus Hennigar, horn, Kathleen McLean, bassoon, Joseph Orlowski, bass clarinet, Stephen Pierre, clarinet, Clare Scholtz, oboe, Douglas Stewart, flute, and Barton Woomert, trumpet. The concert takes place on Monday, March 30 at 7:30 pm in Walter Hall, 80 Queen’Äôs Park. Tickets ($25 adults and $15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

Harcus Hennigar has been a member of the Toronto Symphony since 1986, and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. A native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Hennigar graduated from the University of Toronto, studying with Eugene Rittich, and further studied in Czechoslovakia with Frantisek Solc, Hungary with Ferenc Tarjani, and Russia with Vitali Bujanovsky.

Kathleen McLean received her musical training at the Curtis Institute of Music and has been associate principal bassoon of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1992 and was principal bassoon with the Canadian Opera Company. She was bassoon instructor at the University of Victoria until 1988 and since then has been on faculty at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Joseph Orlowski has been a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1988. Joseph has acted as Principal clarinettist with the Canadian Opera Company and was the Associate Principal Clarinettist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He teaches at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Joseph is also a Certified Personal Trainer, focusing on injury prevention and strengthening for professional musicians.

Stephen Pierre has been principal clarinet with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra for the last twenty years, a position he has also held with the Victoria Symphony. Stephen attended the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and studied with Robert Marcellus of the Cleveland Orchestra and Stan McCartney and Avrahm Galper of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Stephen is currently on the faculties of both the University of Toronto and McMaster University.

Clare Scholtz was principal oboe of the Saskatoon Symphony for four years, and taught at the University of Saskatchewan. Clare has performed with the National Ballet Orchestra in Toronto, Europe and across Canada, the Toronto Symphony, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Esprit Orchestra, Opera Atelier, Soundstreams, Arraymusic, Continuum, the International Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling and many other ensembles. She is on the faculties at the University of Toronto and York University.

Douglas Stewart is Principal Flute in the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and the Esprit Orchestra. He has studied with Albert Horch, Nick Fiore, Robert Aitken, Marcel Moyse, James Galway, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker and Samuel Baron. He teaches at the University of Toronto and has been Visiting Professor at the Freiburg Hochschule of Music in Germany.

Since 1982, Barton Woomert has been Associate Principal trumpet with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and trumpet instructor at Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. In addition to performing in the symphony and teaching at the University of Toronto, Barton maintains a busy private trumpet studio and performs as an associate member of the True North Brass. During the summer, he serves on the music faculties of the Interprovincial Music Camp and the Lancaster County Music Camp of Elizabethtown College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

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

La FCCF salue l'annonce du Fonds de dˆ©veloppement culturel

La FCCF salue l'annonce du Fonds de dˆ©veloppement culturel

Ottawa, le 20 mars 2009 : C'est aujourd'hui, lors d'une confˆ©rence de presse ˆÝ la Grande Bibliothˆ®que de Vancouver que le ministre de Patrimoine canadien James Moore a fait l'annonce du nouveau Fonds de dˆ©veloppement culturel inscrit dans la Feuille de route pour la dualitˆ© linguistique 2008-2013.

¬´La FCCF salue l'engagement du gouvernement fˆ©dˆ©ral avec les investissements qui viennent d'ˆ�tre annoncˆ©s dans le Fonds de dˆ©veloppement culturel. Cette annonce ˆ©tait attendue avec grand intˆ©rˆ�t par les milieux artistiques et culturels de la francophonie canadienne et c'est un premier pas encourageant. Pour autant, et comme la FCCF l'avait dˆ©jˆÝ indiquˆ© lors de la prˆ©sentation de la Feuille de route pour la dualitˆ© linguistique, le fonds d'un montant de 14 millions de dollars pour les quatre prochaines annˆ©es reste une mesure timide au regard des besoins concrets des arts et de la culture de la francophonie canadienne. Par ailleurs, les paramˆ®tres du Fonds tels qu'ils viennent d'ˆ�tre prˆ©sentˆ©s, nous interpellent d'autant plus que certaines interrogations persistent. ¬ª dˆ©clare Mme Raymonde Boulay LeBlanc, prˆ©sidente de la FCCF.

En fait, la FCCF s'interroge sur la notion de diversification du financement des projets avec un apport substantiel des gouvernements provinciaux et/ou territoriaux. ¬´ Concrˆ®tement cela doit se traduire par une politique plus volontariste ˆÝ l'ˆ©gard des arts et de la culture de la part des gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux. On connait parfaitement les disparitˆ©s actuelles dans le financement de nos secteurs ˆÝ la grandeur du pays, quelles seront donc les mesures d'incitation du gouvernement fˆ©dˆ©ral pour convaincre les autres paliers gouvernementaux ˆÝ s'investir dans l'ˆ©conomie crˆ©ative francophone et acadienne? Enfin, en matiˆ®re culturelle et de dualitˆ© linguistique, il ne faudrait pas assister ˆÝ une dˆ©responsabilisation du fˆ©dˆ©ral aux dˆ©pens des provinces et territoires.¬ª estime Mme Boulay LeBlanc.

¬´ Notre rˆ©seau artistique et culturel est prˆ�t ˆÝ dˆ©marrer avec des projets structurants et transversaux mais il reste des dˆ©fis permanents directement liˆ©s ˆÝ notre environnement pˆ©riphˆ©rique et minoritaire. ¬´ L'accˆ®s aux enveloppes budgˆ©taires du Fonds ne doit pas devenir un parcours du combattant, notre prˆ©occupation reste donc celle de voir la volontˆ© de Patrimoine canadien d'assouplir les modalitˆ©s administratives entourant l'injection des sommes. ¬ª ajoute la prˆ©sidente de la FCCF.

Enfin, la FCCF estime que, dans le cadre des prochains budgets fˆ©dˆ©raux, les budgets allouˆ©s dans ce fonds vont devoir dˆ©finitivement ˆ�tre rˆ©visˆ©s ˆÝ la hausse. Ainsi le Fonds de dˆ©veloppement culturel pourrait certainement devenir, ˆÝ long terme, une source vitale de financement pour notre infrastructure artistique et culturelle ˆÝ travers le pays, et ce pour soutenir pleinement l'expression artistique francophone. Mais la FCCF rˆ©itˆ®re sa position ¬´ il devient plus qu'urgent que le Canada ˆÝ l'instar d'autres pays industrialisˆ©s se dote d'une politique culturelle nationale et d'une vision qui reconnaisse mieux l'unicitˆ© que reprˆ©sente l'ˆ©cosystˆ®me artistique et culturel franco-canadien au sein de notre sociˆ©tˆ© canadienne. ¬ª de conclure Mme Raymonde Boulay LeBlanc.

La FCCF est un organisme national dont la mission est de promouvoir l'expression artistique et culturelle des communautˆ©s francophones et acadienne. Elle rˆ©unit des reprˆ©sentants de sept regroupements nationaux en thˆ©ˆ¢tre, en littˆ©rature, en chanson-musique, en arts mˆ©diatiques et en arts visuels, ainsi que des reprˆ©sentants de onze provinces et territoires du Canada.

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

From the 2009 World Theatre Day Message (March 27) by Augusto Boal

Theatre is the Hidden Truth. When we look beyond appearances, we see oppressors and oppressed people, in all societies, ethnic groups, genders, social classes and casts; we see an unfair and cruel world. We have to create another world because we know it is possible. But it is up to us to build this other world with our hands and by acting on the stage and in our own life. We are all actors: being a citizen is not living in society, it is changing it.

Hold the Dates!

Altera Vitae Productions

Presents

Death and the Maiden

By Ariel Dorfman

Directed by Jesse Corbeil

Mark these dates in your spring calendar

Wednesday, May 13 ’Äì Sunday, May 24, 2009

Years after the fall of a dictatorship, a woman gets the chance to confront her torturer.

Is this a time for forgiveness or revenge?

Altera Vitae ’Äì helping those who need to be heard

Each Altera Vitae production is partnered with a community organization whose mandate is similar to the theme of the play. For this production, Altera Vitae is proud to support RIVO, a network of therapists and community workers concerned with the well being of survivors of torture and other forms of organised political violence.

Death and the Maiden

Altera Vitae Productions

At MainLine Theatre

3997 Blvd. St. Laurent

Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 pm

Matinees: Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 pm

Pay-what-you-can: Wed. May 13 preview and May 8 and 9 matinees

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

www.alteravitae.com

Concours Syli d'or de la musique du monde - Olivier Laroche

OLIVIER LAROCHE PARTICIPE ˆÄ LA 3^ˆ®me ˆâDITION

DES SYLI D'OR DE LA MUSIQUE DU MONDE

Montrˆ©al, le 20 mars 2009 - Aprˆ®s son passage remarquˆ© en fˆ©vrier, Olivier Laroche sera de retour le mercredi 25 mars au Club Balattou dans le cadre des SYLI D'OR. Avec sa musique festive, ses textes bien ficelˆ©s et ses rythmes mˆ©tissˆ©s, Olivier Laroche offre des performances pleines de folie et de joie de vivre. Artiste charismatique et hors norme, il se situe ˆÝ la croisˆ©e des chemins entre la chanson franˆßaise, les musiques du monde et la pop.

Crˆ©ˆ©s par les Productions Nuits d'Afrique, les Syli d'Or est un concours qui rˆ©unit les meilleurs artistes ˆ©mergents de la musique du monde, le public est invitˆ© ˆÝ voter. Avec ses musiciens, Olivier Laroche se mesurera ˆÝ 35 autres formations qui se partagent la scˆ®ne du Balattou ˆÝ raison de deux par soir du 24 fˆ©vrier au 22 avril.

En attendant la sortie du premier album qu'il souhaite lancer en 2009, dˆ©couvrez cet artiste unique au Club Balattou le mercredi 25 mars ˆÝ 21H, 4372 boul. St-Laurent, coin Marie-Anne, Montrˆ©al.

www.myspace.com/olivierlaroche

Budget du Quˆ©bec 2009 : des mesures pour protˆ©ger les acquis du milieu culturel

www.culturemontreal.ca 19 mars 2009

Budget du Quˆ©bec 2009 : des mesures pour protˆ©ger les acquis du milieu culturel Montrˆ©al, le 19 mars 2009 ’Äì ˆÄ la suite du dˆ©pˆ¥t du budget du Quˆ©bec 2009-2010, Culture Montrˆ©al remarque que si ce dernier ne recˆ®le pas de grandes surprises pour le milieu culturel, il comporte des interventions importantes visant entre autres la prˆ©servation des emplois et le maintien des acquis au Quˆ©bec. Plus spˆ©cifiquement, Culture Montrˆ©al se rˆ©jouit du fait que la culture ait ˆ©tˆ© identifiˆ©e par la ministre des Finances, madame Monique Jˆ©rˆ¥me-Forget, comme l’Äôun des secteurs privilˆ©giˆ©s capables de contribuer ˆÝ l’Äôˆ©ventuelle relance de l’Äôˆ©conomie, cette conviction ˆ©tant appuyˆ©e par des mesures spˆ©cifiques. Soutenir le milieu culturel et reconnaˆÆtre son apport, c’Äôest l’Äôaider ˆÝ maintenir sa capacitˆ© d’Äôoffrir des emplois de qualitˆ©; de proposer une formation professionnelle reconnue mondialement; et de poursuivre ses efforts en matiˆ®re de diffusion internationale. L’Äôannonce d’Äôun investissement supplˆ©mentaire de 3 M $, destinˆ© au soutien ˆÝ la tournˆ©e, va en ce sens. Cette somme rˆ©pondra aux besoins urgents des organismes en arts de la scˆ®ne, qui pourront ˆ©galement bˆ©nˆ©ficier de bonifications au crˆ©dit d’Äôimpˆ¥t remboursable pour la production de spectacles. L’Äôindustrie audiovisuelle pourra pour sa part profiter de bonifications au crˆ©dit d’Äôimpˆ¥t remboursable pour la production d’Äôenregistrements sonores; et sa relˆ®ve se verra soutenue par le biais d’Äôune augmentation de 1 M $ du budget de l’ÄôInstitut national de l’Äôimage et du son, un geste que salue Culture Montrˆ©al. Si l’Äôensemble de ces actions traduit un dˆ©sir certain d’Äôaccompagner le milieu culturel en temps de crise, il ne rˆ©duit pas la menace planant sur un secteur qui, comme plusieurs autres, se voit fragilisˆ© par un contexte ˆ©conomique prˆ©caire. Bien que le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quˆ©bec dispose d’Äôune certaine marge de man‰ìuvre, il est souhaitˆ© que les organismes et entreprises culturelles puissent bˆ©nˆ©ficier de mesures s’Äôinspirant du nouveau Fonds d’Äôurgence de 500 M $ destinˆ© aux entreprises, crˆ©ˆ© en partenariat avec le Fonds de solidaritˆ© FTQ et la SGF. Le gouvernement annonˆßait ˆ©galement aujourd’Äôhui une hausse de 5 M $ du budget de Placements Culture pour l’Äôexercice 2009-2010. Ces nouvelles sommes permettront ˆÝ certains organismes ayant dˆ©jˆÝ complˆ©tˆ© une campagne de financement privˆ© et prˆ©sentˆ© une demande de subvention de contrepartie de recevoir le montant attendu. En novembre 2007, le gouvernement du Quˆ©bec s’Äôengageait ˆÝ participer ˆÝ la rˆ©alisation du Plan d’Äôaction 2007-2017 pour le dˆ©ploiement de Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle. Le maintien des sommes allouˆ©es ˆÝ la culture par le gouvernement du Quˆ©bec contribuera ˆÝ la poursuite des objectifs citˆ©s au plan. Pour sa part, le Plan quˆ©bˆ©cois des infrastructures pourrait permettre la mise en ‰ìuvre de projets culturels dont Montrˆ©al a grandement besoin pour continuer de rayonner localement et ˆÝ l’Äôˆ©tranger. Si elle est bien rˆ©elle et menace plusieurs secteurs de l’Äôˆ©conomie, la crise actuelle peut s’Äôavˆ©rer une occasion unique de faire valoir notre capacitˆ© d’Äôinnover et de trouver des solutions durables pour l’Äôensemble des collectivitˆ©s du Quˆ©bec. L’Äôinjection de fonds dans le milieu culturel et le soutien ˆÝ l’Äôaction citoyenne font partie de ces solutions. Culture Montrˆ©al espˆ®re que le dialogue engagˆ© par le gouvernement en amont de l’Äôannonce de ce budget se poursuivra avec des acteurs issus de tous les secteurs. Tˆ©lˆ©chargez le communiquˆ© : 090319_commBudgetQC.pdf

The VSO Presents the Legendary Judy Collins for One Night Only!

The VSO presents the legendary Judy Collins for One Night Only!

Vancouver BC ’Äì The iconic Judy Collins makes her debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and conductor Evan Mitchell, for one night only on March 30, 8pm, at the Orpheum Theatre. Known as one of folk music’Äôs pioneers, Ms. Collins has firmly established herself as a legend of the genre with a career that spans over four decades.

While Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos," at the age of 13, it was the music of traditional folk artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger that sparked Judy Collins’Äô love of lyrics. By 16, Ms. Collins moved away from classical piano and began her lifelong love of guitar. For nearly 45 years, she has galvanized a generation with more than 40 albums, numerous Top 10 hits, Grammy nominations and gold and platinum selling albums.

Ms. Collins is often noted in her career for her rendition of "Both Sides Now" on her classic album Wildflowers, a song which has since been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She was also awarded the "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy Awards for her version of "Send in the Clowns", a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical, "A Little Night Music". Without doubt, the definition of a living legend, Ms. Collins has seen her artistry influence music and politics over the decades and her vocal interpretations and charity work inspire millions around the world. Ms. Collins has also given inspiration to many who have felt the grief of loved ones lost too soon, with the release of her book, Sanity and Grace: A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength. This book is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In the depths of her suffering, Judy found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now, she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy.

Truly a unique, powerful and lasting performer, the inimitable Judy Collins appears for one night only with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on March 30th, 2009, 8pm at the Orpheum. Visit Ms. Collins online at www.judycollins.com.

CONCERT INFO

Specials:

Judy Collins in Concert with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra!

Monday, March 30, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Judy Collins, entertainer

Visit Judy Collins at: www.judycollins.com

Tickets: $35 to $55 (Senior, Student & Subscriber discounts available)

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

BIOGRAPHIES

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Conductor Evan Mitchell is proving to be one of Canada’Äôs most promising young conductors. Currently the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony, Evan is slated to play a key role in programming, artistic development and of course performance with the VSO, leading the orchestra through a wide assortment of concerts.

Equally at home with chamber music, opera and full symphonic masterpieces, Evan has enjoyed critical acclaim with recent operatic performances including Britten’Äôs Albert Herring, Ward’Äôs The Crucible, Hindemith’Äôs ’ÄúHin und Zuruck’Äù and the world premiere of Glenn James’Äô opera ’ÄúTo Daniel.’Äù Evan also won positions with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada for four consecutive years as both conductor and percussionist and now holds the title of Associate Mentor with the orchestra. Highlights include conducting violin soloist Elizabeth Pitcairn, the concertmaster of the New West Symphony and owner of the Mendelssohn Stradivarius 1720 ’ÄúRed Violin.’Äù

Evan is an advocate of contemporary music. Recently the resident conductor of NUMUS New Music Ensemble, he has premiered several new works, toured across Canada conducting a festival of contemporary Chinese music and recorded works for the CMC, collaborating with such Canadian artists as the Pentaedre Wind Quintet, Penderecki String Quartet and Dancetheatre David Earle. Evan has also conducted and performed works during the highly acclaimed Open Ears Festival.

As a percussionist Evan has enjoyed equal success. In demand as a recitalist and concert soloist (recent performances of the Rosauro Marimba concerto and the Mayuzumi Xylophone concerto), Evan’Äôs percussive performance has been hailed as ’Äúbreathtaking in (his) sensitivity’Äù as well as ’Äúwizardly’Äù and ’Äúawe-inspiring.’Äù Evan has toured Canada, the United States and abroad, including a memorable tour as Canadian ambassador during a concert tour with virtuoso composer/percussionist Nebojsa Zivkovic, during which he performed as concert soloist and along with the composer in a sold out performance of Zivkovic's celebrated ’ÄúTrio per Uno’Äù at the Stuttgart International Theatre. Evan is a frequent performer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and has performed with Orchestra London and the Toronto Symphony. Evan has also been a faculty member and guest lecturer with Wilfrid Laurier University, primarily as Music Director of the Flute Ensemble.

Awards include First Prize at the Werlde Musik Kontest in Kerkrade, Netherlands, finalist at the upcoming TD Canada Trust Elora Festival Competition and Winner in Marching category as part of the Kavaliers DCI Drum Corps. Evan is also the winner of the 2006 Pioneer Leading Edge Arts Award.

Evan is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where he completed an Bachelor of Music degree as a percussion major; he is also a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he studied on a full scholarship sponsored by Elmer Iseler and Victor Feldbrill, earning a Masters degree in conducting. His principal conducting teachers include Raffi Armenian, Doreen Rao, Paul Pulford and Boris Brott. Additionally, he has studied and performed in concert series with Denise Grant, Martin Fischer-Dieskau and most notably, Helmuth Rilling, in the inaugural Toronto Bach festival.

Judy Collins, entertainer

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos" but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics. She soon moved away from the classical piano and began her lifelong love with the guitar. In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22 and began a thirty-five year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records.

Judy Collins is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. "Both Sides Now" has since been entered into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy's Awards show was Judy's version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music."

Released on September 29th, Judy's new book, Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength, is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In the depths of her suffering, Judy found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now, she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy.

In a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, Judy performed "Wings of Angels," the heartbreaking ballad that she wrote about the loss of her son. The song is currently available on the newly released Judy Collins Wildflower Festival CD and DVD, which also feature guest artists Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen. This extraordinary concert was filmed at the famed Humphrey's By the Bay in San Diego, CA. The concert was the culmination of a 25 city national tour.

Judy Collins continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

Free Event: The Timekeepers

Fringe Theatre Adventures

presents

Ocean of Sugar's

THE TIMEKEEPERS

A powerful production about friendship and hope in a time of horror, The Timekeepers, by Israel's Ocean of Sugar, returns to Edmonton for an exclusive Canadian engagement. In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day April 21, Fringe Theatre Adventures invites new and returning audiences to experience this important, internationally-acclaimed drama free of charge, by donation only. The Timekeepers plays the TransAlta Arts Barns' Westbury Theatre April 14 to 19.

When Hans, an outrageous gay German, and Benjamin, a conservative Jewish horologist, are thrown together in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, they appear to have little in common. As they work to repair watches for the Nazis under the Capo's tyrannical eye, their mutual prejudice and mistrust slowly give way to a touching friendship.

Addressing the Holocaust with a combination of humour and sorrow, The Timekeepers accentuates the prisoner's private experience amidst a tragedy of millions. An audience favourite and Hold-Over at 2006 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, this award-winning production has met with rave reviews in London, Tel Aviv, New York and Vancouver.

Written by American playwright Dan Clancy, The Timekeepers is performed by Israeli actors Victor Attar, Roy Horovitz and Omer Etzion. Daniel Salomon composed the original score, with set and lighting design by Uri Ofir, costume design by Inge Barba, and vocal coaching by Professor Hanna Hacohen.

The Timekeepers runs April 14 through 19 at 8pm nightly, with matinee performances April 18 and 19 at 2pm. For more information about Fringe Theatre Adventures' presentation of The Timekeepers, please call 780-409-1910 or visit www.fringetheatreadventures.ca.

Warning: The Timekeepers deals with mature subject matter. Discretion advised.

Concert Party at the Old Mill: New Series of Cuisine and Concerts Begins April 15

Starting April 15 with the Grand Salon Orchestra

OLD MILL INN HOSTS CONCERT PARTY SERIES:

TO CANADA’ÄôS FINEST ARTISTS

Monthly Concerts Wednesdays in Spring and Fall

The Old Mill Inn and Spa, at 21 Old Mill Road, on the Humber River, is Toronto’Äôs premier place for great dance music and excellent cuisine in a party atmosphere. And a new series of six Wednesday evening Concert Parties with leading Canadian musicians is just the ticket’Ķand then some!

Live dance music has been a tradition at The Old Mill since 1921, and this year marks the 95^thOn Wednesday, April 15, Kerry Stratton is ’ÄúPuttin’Äô on the Ritz’Äù as he conducts his 18-piece Grand Salon Orchestra in an evening that evokes the elegant, sophisticated salon era of the 1920s and ’Äô30s, with the enduring music of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and the Gershwins, and energetic dances like The Charleston. anniversary of the Old Mill. What could be better than to revive the music and spirit of the age? The Grand Salon’Äôs irresistible rhythms will have audiences up and dancing all evening!

The Grand Salon ’Äì Canada’Äôs palm court orchestra ’Äì launches the new Concert Party at the Old Mill series. These evenings continue in the spring and fall, presenting some of Canada’Äôs finest musicians in repertoire sure to appeal to a wide range of music-lovers. The effervescent Maestro Stratton (host of Conductor’Äôs Choice, Sundays on Classical 96.3 FM) hosts the six concerts, talking about the music and recounting colorful anecdotes.

Following the Grand Salon’Äôs April 15 opening concert are soprano Mary Lou Fallis (’Äúthe fabulousest, Canadianest diva of them all’Äù ’Äì Toronto Star) pianist Peter Tiefenbach and the Amaro String Quartet (May 6); Jazz in a Classical Key with pianist Gene DiNovi, clarinetist James Campbell and bassist Dave Young (June 10); Quartetto Gelato (September 23); and Fiddle On Fire, with violin virtuoso Lance Elbeck, joined by a pianist and dancer (October 21).

Maestro Stratton and his Grand Salon return for the final concert, November 4. Mezzo-soprano Barbara Sadegur will be special guest in another evening of dining and dancing ’Äì a Remembrance Day salute to the songs of Vera Lynn that buoyed the Allies during World War II.

Concert Party dinners begin at 6 pm (ˆÝ la carte from the menu). Concerts ($39) start at 8 p.m. To reserve, call 416-236-2641 or e-mail info@oldmilltoronto.com. For more information, visit www.oldmilltoronto.com.

Michael Kalmar, President of The Old Mill Inn, comments, ’ÄúI enjoy the entire spectrum of music. Music and dancing are fabulous social activities that have a wonderful ability to make you feel great! I like to add the element of dining, in an up-close and personal experience that is hard to find today.’Äù

The following is description for each Concert Party (all Wednesday evenings):

April 15/09: Kerry Stratton’Äôs Grand Salon Orchestra ’Äì Puttin’Äô On the Ritz ’Äì Under the baton of its eloquent and effervescent founder, Kerry Stratton, the Grand Salon Orchestra recreates the elegant, sophisticated salon era of the 1920s and ’Äô30s, with irresistible music by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and the Gershwins. And remember The Charleston? A hit wherever it performs, the Grand Salon will inspire you with its infectious rhythms!

May 6/09: Mary Lou Fallis, soprano; Peter Tiefenbach, piano; & the Amaro String Quartet ’Äì Up for an evening of fun and great music? Canada’Äôs foremost musical comedienne, soprano Mary Lou Fallis ’Äì famed for her Diva Diaries on CBC Radio, and for her Primadonna series of one-woman shows ’Äì joins pianist Peter Tiefenbach and Toronto’Äôs versatile Amaro String Quartet for an evening of hilarity and delight. And from the brilliantly inventive mind of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Amaro String Quartet ’Äì led by violinist Amalia Canzoneri of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra ’Äì performs the great ’ÄúDissonant’Äù Quartet, K.465.

June 10/09: Jazz in a Classical Key ’Äì Gene DiNovi, piano, James Campbell, clarinet, Dave Young, bass ’Äì As Gene DiNovi says: The question is: ’ÄúDoes every great classical musician dream of being a great jazz musician, or vice versa?’Äù Magic occurs when two of Canada’Äôs jazz greats, Gene DiNovi and Dave Young, join forces with James Campbell (’ÄúCanada’Äôs pre-eminent clarinetist and wind soloist’Äù ’Äì Toronto Star). Together, they meld the classical and jazz worlds into a fascinating and entertaining musical program. Their joint CD Manhattan Echoes (Marquis Classics) is selling out on Amazon.com. You gotta hear what they do with tunes like Hoagy Carmichael’Äôs Stardust, or Fat Waller’Äôs Jitterbug Waltz!

September 23/09: Quartetto Gelato ’Äì Peter DeSotto, tenor/violin/mandolin; Alexander Sevastian, accordion; Kornel Wolak, clarinet; Carina Reeves, cello ’Äì Classical in intent, eclectic by design, Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with the mastery of six instruments, but also offers the wonderfully unexpected bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. Performed without scores, their shows radiate a sense of spontaneity and excitement rarely seen on the classical stage. Quartetto Gelato has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with its exotic blend of musical virtuosity, artistic passion and charismatic presence.

October 21/09: Fiddle On Fire ’Äì Lance Elbeck, violin, with accompanying pianist and dancer ’Äì A delightfully entertaining musical theatre presentation, Fiddle On Fire stars the versatile virtuoso Lance Elbeck as ’ÄúThe Fiddler’Äù with accompanying pianist, and a dancer performing in Celtic and modern dance styles. The great Leonard Bernstein recognized Lance’Äôs talents at an early age, and solo appearances with the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic followed, with Bernstein conducting. Elbeck’Äôs show, Fiddle on Fire, portrays the historical relationship of several famous violin virtuosi, while the ’ÄúFiddler’Äù dazzles the audience with a fascinating display of violin wizardry. It’Äôs entertaining, informative, and totally lighthearted!

November 4/09: Kerry Stratton’Äôs Grand Salon Orchestra ’Äì Vera Lynn: We’Äôll Meet Again ’Äì With Barbara Sadegur, Mezzo-Soprano ’Äì The songs of the Allied ’ÄúForces Sweetheart’Äù Vera Lynn buoyed the spirits of the entire free world during World War II. On the eve of Remembrance Day, Kerry Stratton conducts his Grand Salon Orchestra in enduring melodies from the 1940s. With her powerfully moving mezzo-soprano voice, Barbara Sadegur recreates the happier moments of those years, with such memorable Vera Lynn favorites as White Cliffs of Dover and We’Äôll Meet Again in an unforgettable close to our first season of the Concert Party at the Old Mill series.

Concert Party: Historical Notes:

The Concert Party concept originated in New York’Äôs ballrooms in the 1960s and lasted 30 years as the ’Äúin’Äù place to go. Celebrities, such as famed pianist/conductor Skitch Henderson, jazz pianist Billy Taylor, and journalist and broadcaster Alistair Cooke, read the program notes for the audience ’Äì much as Kerry Stratton will do at the new Concert Party at the Old Mill series.

The Old Mill became an entertainment hub as a tea garden and place of leisure on the first day of World War I, 95 years ago, in 1914. A destination for live dance music since the early 1920s, the Old Mill featured the resident duo of pianist Nelson Hatch and violinist Cec Ryder. After playing dance music for patrons since 1921 in the Print Room, in 1929 they expanded to a nine-piece live orchestra.

Music for all Seasons - 20 April 2009

MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS "CONVERSATIONS" SERIES FEATURES

THE JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET

WITH NEW MEMBER NICK EANET,

IN CONVERSATION WITH NANCY SHEAR

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009, 6:30 to 9 P.M. AT STEINWAY HALL

The Juilliard String Quartet, one of the most prominent and revered ensembles of all time, will appear before the public in its newest incarnation -- with new member Nick Eanet as first violinist -- in an interview with Nancy Shear, as part of Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed "Conversations" series. The event will be held on Monday, April 20, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Steinway Hall, 109 West 57^th Street (between Sixth and Seventh Avenues), the magnificent and historic flagship showroom of Steinway & Sons. The members of the Quartet will discuss the inner workings of the ensemble, from achieving instrumental balance to negotiating repertory and issues of interpretation, to the delights and trials of traveling and other rarely-discussed aspects of membership in this renowned ensemble.

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

Tickets to the Juilliard String Quartet event are $75 ($30 tax deductible). Seating is limited. For information and reservations, please call MFAS at 908-322-6300, or toll-free at 1-866-524-(MFAS).

Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed "Conversations" series is an innovative program that has an enthusiastic and devoted following. Guests who have appeared include Andrˆ© Previn, Lorin Maazel, Andrˆ© Watts, Steven Isserlis, Dawn Upshaw, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Richard Stoltzman, Peter Schickele, Barbara Cook and Marni Nixon. Each of the "Conversations" is held in an attractive, unusual venue in New York City. Current and past locations include Steinway Hall, CFM Gallery, Bond #9, Bˆ�sendorfer New York, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, and BMI.

MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS

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

The conversations, led by distinguished writer and broadcaster Nancy Shear, provide rare insights into the careers and lives of the guests and offer a behind-the-scenes look into the music world. The interviews benefit Music For All Seasons, which has received support from the NEA, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and donations and grants from corporations, foundations and individuals.

Additional Information

JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET

The Juilliard String Quartet is internationally renowned and admired for performances characterized by a clarity of structure, beauty of sound, purity of line and an extraordinary unanimity of purpose. Celebrated for its performances of works by composers as diverse as Beethoven, Schubert, Bartˆ„k and Elliott Carter, it has long been recognized as the quintessential American string quartet.

The current season sees the Juilliard String Quartet in performances throughout the U.S., with dates including its annual returns to Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, performing world premieres by Richard Wernick and Melinda Wagner; in concert at the Kennedy Center Baylor University, Cornell, and Oberlin Conservatory of Music; and at the Mikazaki International Music Festival in Japan. The JSQ also performs in New York City, Phoenix, Cincinnati, New Jersey and elsewhere. Appearances abroad include a tour of Australia and a European tour with dates in Istanbul, Vienna, Haarlem, Madrid, Helsinki and at the Konzerthaus Berlin.

In 2007/08, the Juilliard String Quartet offered special programming in recognition of Elliott Carter's 100th birthday ’Äì a composer with whom they have had a long and remarkable collaboration ’Äì with special celebrations of his work at the Ravinia Festival and the Juilliard School, where it performed the world premiere of his new Clarinet Quintet with Charles Neidich. As ardent advocates of Carter's complex and visionary string quartets, the Juilliard's landmark recording of Quartets Nos. 1-4 was released by Sony in 1991. The Quartet toured throughout the US, with notable appearances at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.; at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society; the La Jolla Music Society; Chamber Music Society of Detroit; in Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, and elsewhere. A tour of Europe featured performances at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, a performance at the Citˆ© de la musique in Paris with an accompanying two-day residency at the Conservatoire National Supˆ©rieur de Musique, and a return to Spain, where they performed, for the second time, on the Royal Family's matched set of inlaid Stradavari at the Palacio Real in Madrid.

In January 2008 Chamber Music America honored the Juilliard String Quartet with its highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service award, in recognition of the Quartet's artistry, dedication and exemplary influence in chamber music.

The 2006/07 season marked the Juilliard Quartet's 60th anniversary, with a year-long celebration distinguished by the Quartet's performance of seven complete Bartˆ„k cycles (The Juilliard Quartet played the American premiere of the Bartˆ„k cycle at Tanglewood in 1948) in major cities throughout the U.S. and Japan. The Juilliard Quartet also celebrated Mozart's 250th birthday, performing quartets K. 421, K. 428 and K. 465, newly informed by first-edition parts recently donated to the Juilliard School.

Other recent highlights include a pair of concerts presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Disney Hall; the world premiere of Ezequiel Viˆ±ao's Quartet II, "The Loss and the Silence," commissioned for them by the Juilliard School in honor of its 2006 centennial; and international performances of Bach's "Art of the Fugue."

At Carnegie Hall, the Quartet appeared in Maurizio Pollini's "Perspectives" series with pianist Martha Argerich, and in the Hall's 100^th anniversary gala. Annual guests at Tanglewood's Seiji Ozawa Hall, the Juilliards played in the Hall's opening concert and are the lead-off artists in the recent recording celebrating its 10^th anniversary. They are frequent guests at the Miyazaki Festival in Japan, and at festivals in Europe including the Lucerne Festival and the Schubertiade in Feldkirch. In a departure from the classical norm, the Juilliard Quartet has twice been the featured ensemble ’Äì comedic and musical ’Äì on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion."

As Quartet in Residence at New York City's Juilliard School, the Juilliard String Quartet is widely admired for its seminal influence on aspiring string players around the world. The Quartet continues to play an important role in the formation of new American ensembles, and was instrumental in the formation of the Alexander, American, Concord, Emerson, La Salle, New World, Mendelssohn, Tokyo, Brentano, Lark, St. Lawrence, Shanghai and Colorado string quartets.

In a momentous occasion at Tanglewood in 1997, the Juilliard String Quartet's founder and first violinist Robert Mann retired from the group after fifty years. Earlier that season, Musical America named the Quartet "Musicians of the Year."

In its history, the Juilliard String Quartet has performed a comprehensive repertoire of some 500 works, ranging from the great classical composers to masters of the current century. An ardent champion of contemporary American music, the Quartet has premiered more than 60 compositions of American composers, including works by some of America's finest jazz musicians.

The ensemble has been associated with Sony Classical, in its various incarnations, since 1949. With more than 100 releases to its credit, the ensemble is one of the most widely recorded string quartets of our time; and its recordings of the complete Beethoven quartets, the complete Schoenberg quartets, and the Debussy and Ravel string quartets have all received Grammy Awards. Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Academy for Recording Arts and Sciences in 1986 for its recording of the complete Bartˆ„k string quartets, the Juilliard Quartet was awarded the Deutsche Schallplattenkritik Prize in 1993 for Lifetime Achievement in the recording industry. In 1994, its recording of quartets by Ravel, Debussy, and Dutilleux was chosen by the Times of London as one of the 100 best classical CDs ever recorded.

The members of the Juilliard String Quartet are all American-born and trained.

NANCY SHEAR

Nancy Shear is well-known as writer, lecturer, producer, broadcaster and director of a performing arts production and public relations company. She has lectured for the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Caramoor Festival; has hosted broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Frick Collection series and Naumburg Foundation; had her own interview programs on WNYC; and has been a commentator for the American Public Radio Network. Her articles have appeared in major publications such as Musical America, Ovation, the New York Times, Lincoln Center Stagebill and Symphony Magazine. She wrote entries for the 1992 Encyclopedia of New York (co-published by Yale University Press and the New-York Historical Society), and has written a book on the cultural phenomenon of The Three Tenors. Ms. Shear has taught at New York University's School of Continuing Education, NYU's Vernon Center for Foreign Affairs and The New School, and frequently lectures at educational institutions such as The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College of Music on the business and art of music, and music in an historical context. She has hosted special events including benefits at the Rainbow Room and, with Andrˆ© Previn, co-hosted a gala at the Caramoor Music Festival. Her rich background includes almost two decades as orchestra librarian, for The Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute, and privately for Leopold Stokowski and other major figures of the current and recent past generations. Ms. Shear has also lectured on the life and work of Eleanor Roosevelt and on various travel subjects.

Edith Wiens Voice Masterclasses

Order of Canada soprano presents masterclasses at Faculty of Music

TORONTO ’Äì The Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto presents renowned soprano Edith Wiens in masterclasses with students of voice and opera. On Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24, the soprano will coach students singing opera, oratorio, and Lieder repertoire. Other stops on Wiens' 2009 teaching tour include masterclasses at Juilliard and the Royal College of Music in London.

*Edith Wiens was born in Saskatoon and educated at Oberlin, making her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1981. As a soprano in the concert field, Wiens has performed with such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit, Sir Neville Marriner, and Sir Georg Solti, and appeared at many major music festivals. She has sung with many major London and North American orchestras, as well as the Israeli Philharmonic, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Dresden State Orchestra. In Canada Wiens has sung with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic, the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Highlights of Wiens' busy recording career include Bach cantatas and the St. Matthew Passion with conductor Helmuth Rilling, multiple recordings of Mozart's Mass in C Minor, numerous discs of German song, and the album Ae Fond Kiss with CBC Records.

In recital, Wiens favoured works by Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, and Strauss, but her repertoire extended to Gershwin, Stephen Foster, and North American folksongs. She made her Toronto recital debut in 1994, a year in which she also gave masterclasses at the University of Toronto. She was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2000.

Monday, March 23, 12:10 pm, Walter Hall, and
Tuesday, March 24, 12:10 - 2:30pm, Geiger Torel Room
Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queens Park. Free admission.

*with materials from www.edithwiens.com and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada

Obsˆ®ques du Pˆ®re Fernand Lindsay

COMMUNIQUˆâ DE PRESSE POUR DIFFUSION IMMˆâDIATE

OBSˆàQUES DU PˆàRE FERNAND LINDSAY

FONDATEUR DU FESTIVAL DE LANAUDIˆàRE

Joliette, le 19 mars 2009 - Toute l'ˆ©quipe du Festival de Lanaudiˆ®re aimerait exprimer sa plus profonde gratitude pour les innombrables manifestations de sympathie qui ont affluˆ© hier suite ˆÝ l'annonce du dˆ©cˆ®s de son fondateur, le Pˆ®re Fernand Lindsay. Nous remercions sincˆ®rement tous les collaborateurs, les partenaires et les amis du Festival qui nous soutiennent en ce moment douloureux.

Lors de la prochaine saison du Festival de Lanaudiˆ®re, un hommage sera rendu au Pˆ®re Lindsay pour sa contribution inestimable ˆÝ l'institution et au domaine de la musique au Quˆ©bec. Grˆ¢ce aux bases trˆ®s solides jetˆ©es par son fondateur et au fidˆ®le soutien des nombreux mˆ©lomanes, le Festival est plus en mesure que jamais, de relever les nouveaux dˆ©fis qui se prˆ©sentent ˆÝ lui. Pour honorer la mˆ©moire du Pˆ®re Lindsay, le Festival de Lanaudiˆ®re continuera ˆÝ porter fiˆ®rement le flambeau de la musique classique au Quˆ©bec et dans le monde.

La dˆ©pouille du Pˆ®re Lindsay sera exposˆ©e mardi prochain ˆÝ la Maison provinciale des Clercs de Saint-Viateur et les obsˆ®ques seront cˆ©lˆ©brˆ©es le lendemain par monseigneur Gilles Lussier ˆÝ la Cathˆ©drale de Joliette. Selon la volontˆ© des Clercs de Saint-Viateur, la cˆ©rˆ©monie religieuse sera empreinte de la plus grande simplicitˆ© et les Chanteurs de la Place Bourget y rendront un dernier hommage ˆÝ leur directeur musical.

Exposition de la dˆ©pouille : Mardi 24 mars de 13 h 30 ˆÝ 17 h et de 19 h ˆÝ 21 h

Maison provinciale des Clercs de Saint-Viateur

132, rue St-Charles-Borromˆ©e Nord, Joliette

Obsˆ®ques : Mercredi 25 mars ˆÝ 10 h

Cathˆ©drale de Joliette

2, rue St-Charles-Borromˆ©e Nord, Joliette

Table ronde - Double voix double

Table ronde - Double voix double : le rapport entre l'artiste-cinˆ©aste et l'artiste-sujet avec les cinˆ©astes Rodolphe Caron, Marie Cadieux, Marlene Millar et Nadine Valcin

Le Front des rˆ©alisateurs indˆ©pendants du Canada prˆ©sente ˆÝ la Cinˆ©mathˆ®que quˆ©bˆ©coise une table ronde avec les rˆ©alisateurs Rodolphe Caron, Marie Cadieux, Marlene Millar et Nadine Valcin. Cette table ronde aura lieu le mardi 24 mars 2009 de 14h ˆÝ 16h ˆÝ la Salle Fernand-Seguin de la Cinˆ©mathˆ®que quˆ©bˆ©coise (335, boul. De Maisonneuve Est, Montrˆ©al). Elle aura comme sujet les rapports possibles entre l'artiste cinˆ©aste et l'artiste sujet/participant ˆÝ la rˆ©alisation. L'entrˆ©e est libre.

Quel rapport s'ˆ©tablit entre le cinˆ©aste et son sujet quand ce dernier est aussi artiste? Comment se dˆ©voile le rˆ¥le des deux artistes, comment le cinˆ©aste rˆ©ussit-il ˆÝ intˆ©grer la vision esthˆ©tique du sujet ˆÝ la sienne, de reprˆ©senter ˆÝ sa faˆßon le travail, la vie du sujet? Le film est-il un vˆ©hicule pour montrer la crˆ©ativitˆ© du rˆ©alisateur ou celle du sujet reprˆ©sentˆ©? Les participants tenteront de rˆ©pondre ˆÝ ces questions en puisant ˆÝ mˆ�me leurs expˆ©riences filmiques rˆ©centes.

Marie Cadieux (Moncton) termine en ce moment un troisiˆ®me long mˆ©trage documentaire L'ˆ©loge du chiac, Part two et vient de publier un premier recueil de nouvelles Enfance et autres fissures. En plus de rˆ©aliser ˆÄ double tour et Sentence vie, deux documentaires produits par l'ONF, elle a scˆ©narisˆ© quelques sˆ©ries documentaires et une sˆ©rie dramatique de 36 ˆ©pisodes pour TFO. Elle travaille parfois en ˆ©troite collaboration avec d'autres rˆ©alisateurs. C'est le cas pour Le matois ou L'effet Laurie Henri, prˆ©sentˆ© au FIFA en 2008, et Mon pays (portrait de Patrice Desbiens), primˆ© au FIFA en 1992.

Rodolphe Caron (Moncton) est nˆ© ˆÝ Lac Baker, au Nouveau-Brunswick. Il est membre fondateur de Cinˆ©marˆ©vie Coop Ltˆ©e (1980) et de Productions Appalaches (2004). Sa filmographie comprend notamment, ˆÄ cheval sur une frontiˆ®re, Avec le coeur, Au pays du Madawaska..., Le champion. En 2006, le Festival international du cinˆ©ma francophone en Acadie lui attribue le prix La Vague de la meilleure oeuvre acadienne pour son documentaire Lˆ©onard Forest cinˆ©aste et poˆ®te. Sa derniˆ®re rˆ©alisation est prˆ©sentˆ©e cette annˆ©e au FIFA: Marie-Hˆ©lˆ®ne en dialogue avec la pierre. Avec la prˆ©sence de Marie-Hˆ©lˆ®ne Alain.

Formˆ©e en cinˆ©ma, en danse et en design, Marlene Millar (Montrˆ©al) a conˆßu et prˆ©sentˆ© des oeuvres documentaires et expˆ©rimentales au Canada et aux ˆâtats-Unis depuis le dˆ©but des annˆ©es 1990. En 2001, Marlene Millar et Philip Szporer ont fondˆ© la maison de production Mouvement Perpˆ©tuel, pour crˆ©er et produire des documentaires axˆ©s sur l'art, ainsi que des films dansˆ©s: Au fils du mouvement, The Hunt, a soft place to fall, Butte, Byron Chief-Moon: le cavalier au cheval gris, The Greater the Weight. Ce dernier est prˆ©sentˆ© au FIFA cette annˆ©e.

Depuis plus d'une quinzaine d'annˆ©es, Nadine Valcin (Toronto) scˆ©narise, rˆ©alise et produit des ˆ©missions, des magazines pour la tˆ©lˆ©vision et des documentaires. Parmi ses rˆ©alisations, on retrouve les documentaires Black, Bold and Beautiful (1999), Une ˆ©cole sans frontiˆ®res (2005) et Derriˆ®re l'image, un portrait de Sylvie Bˆ©langer (2007). La cinˆ©aste aborde aujourd'hui la fiction. En 2008, elle s'est mˆ©ritˆ©e un des Drama Prize du National Screen Institute pour le court mˆ©trage bilingue Entre deux/In Between. Elle dˆ©veloppe aussi son premier long mˆ©trage intitulˆ© Trajectoires.

L'animation de la table ronde est assurˆ©e par Michel Coulombe.

Le Front des rˆ©alisateurs indˆ©pendants du Canada (FRIC) est un regroupement de rˆ©alisatrices et rˆ©alisateurs francophones venant de partout au Canada. Depuis 2004, le FRIC s'emploie ˆÝ reprˆ©senter ses membres sur la scˆ®ne politique et culturelle du Canada; il participe aux diffˆ©rentes initiatives de l'espace culturel francophone et travaille au dˆ©veloppement professionnel et au rayonnement de ses membres. www.fricanada.org

Le FRIC remercie le Festival international du film sur l'art, la Fˆ©dˆ©ration culturelle canadienne-franˆßaise et Patrimoine canadien pour leur appui ˆÝ l'organisation de cette activitˆ©.

Les Cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re

LES CULTURES GOURMANDES DE POINTE-ˆÄ-CALLIˆàRE

Sur la place Royale et aux abords du Musˆ©e
Le samedi 30 mai de 11 h ˆÝ 19 h
Le dimanche 31 mai de 11 h ˆÝ 18 h
ˆâvˆ©nement extˆ©rieur gratuit

Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re, musˆ©e d’Äôarchˆ©ologie et d’Äôhistoire de Montrˆ©al prˆ©sente le samedi 30 et le dimanche 31 mai prochain sur la place Royale et aux abords du Musˆ©e, Les cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re. ˆâvˆ©nement extˆ©rieur gratuit, Les cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re propose une vitrine de choix sur la rˆ©alitˆ© et la pluralitˆ© des nombreuses communautˆ©s culturelles montrˆ©alaises en proposant aux visiteurs des spectacles, de l’Äôanimation, des activitˆ©s pour les enfants, des kiosques de restauration, des prˆ©sentations de chefs culinaires reconnus, des produits typiques, des jeux, et plus encore.

¬´ J’Äôinvite tous les citoyens et les touristes de passage ˆÝ venir cˆ©lˆ©brer avec nous la richesse de Montrˆ©al et de ses communautˆ©s culturelles. Les cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re est un lieu de rencontre et de partage extraordinaire, une merveilleuse faˆßon de cˆ©lˆ©brer l’Äôˆ©tˆ© qui est ˆÝ nos portes! ¬ª, souligne Francine Leliˆ®vre, directrice de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re.

En avant la musique!
Des artistes de divers pays se produiront sur la scˆ®ne principale de la place Royale. Ces prestations animeront joyeusement les lieux laissant planer des rythmes envoˆªtants et une ambiance festive. Une deuxiˆ®me scˆ®ne animera la rue Saint-Paul, sous la forme d’Äôun cafˆ© bistro.

Des chefs vous livrent leurs recettes
La diversitˆ© culinaire des communautˆ©s culturelles de Montrˆ©al sera bien reprˆ©sentˆ©e sous le chapiteau des chefs. Des chefs montrˆ©alais rˆ©putˆ©s proposeront des dˆ©monstrations et des ateliers tout en partageant quelques-uns des secrets de leur cuisine respective.

Des spˆ©cialitˆ©s ˆÝ dˆ©guster
Plusieurs restaurateurs montrˆ©alais auront pignon sur rue prˆ®s du chapiteau des chefs pour vendre leurs spˆ©cialitˆ©s. Cuisine du Mexique, de l’ÄôAfrique et d’ÄôHaˆØti, desserts, sucreries et autres dˆ©lices, les participants auront la possibilitˆ© de stimuler toutes leurs papilles gustatives.

Des activitˆ©s pour les enfants
Les enfants auront une place de choix dans Les cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re. Contes, maquillage, jeux et ateliers de bricolage sauront les faire rire et sourire. Du temps prˆ©cieux passˆ© en famille ˆÝ faire le plein de dˆ©couvertes.

La cuisine du voyage en mer
Cette annˆ©e, un accent particulier sera mis sur la cuisine du voyage en mer, celle des pirates, corsaires et flibustiers. La toute nouvelle exposition Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers qui commence le 20 mai inspirera diverses dˆ©monstrations et activitˆ©s qui se tiendront durant toute la fin de semaine.

Un quartier animˆ© hautement colorˆ©
Des kiosques de jeux seront amˆ©nagˆ©s et proposeront aux visiteurs de tester leurs habiletˆ©s et leurs connaissances des passe-temps de diverses cultures. La pˆ©tanque, l’ÄôAwalˆ© et le Yotˆ© sont parmi les jeux ˆÝ dˆ©couvrir. De plus, l’Äôart de la table, les origines et les traditions de diverses fˆ�tes culturelles seront soulignˆ©s par des prˆ©sentations originales et fascinantes.

Cette activitˆ© bˆ©nˆ©ficie du soutien financier du ministˆ®re du Patrimoine canadien et de la Sociˆ©tˆ© de dˆ©veloppement commercial Vieux-Montrˆ©al. Les cultures gourmandes de Pointe-ˆÝ-Calliˆ®re remercie Loto-Quˆ©bec ˆÝ titre de commanditaire majeur ainsi que la Vinerie du Kildare et le Domaine Pinnacle. Le Musˆ©e tient ˆ©galement ˆÝ remercier La Presse, The Gazette, les hebdos Transcontinental et Radio Centre-Ville pour leur appui ˆÝ la promotion de l’Äôˆ©vˆ©nement.

Le Musˆ©e est subventionnˆ© par la Ville de Montrˆ©al.

CCOC in two COC productions this spring

Canadian Children's Opera Company

to appear with the

Canadian Opera Company this Spring!

The Canadian Children's Opera Company (CCOC) has already enjoyed a very full 2008/09 season. In addition to a number of Christmas concerts and their own production of A Dickens of a Christmas at the Enwave Theatre, they also participated in three Toronto Symphony Orchestra concerts. And they are just getting started . . .

Next on the schedule for these tremendously busy and talented young singers are two productions with the Canadian Opera Company: Giacomo Puccini's La bohˆ®me, which will run from April 17 to May 24, and Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, playing from May 5 to 23. Both productions take place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Puccini's ever-popular La bohˆ®me is a staple for every opera company and is one of the most frequently performed operas in the world. Twenty of the CCOC choristers will make their appearance in Act 2, as a great crowd gathers and the children clamour to see the wares of Parpignol, the toy seller.

Adapted from Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream, the opera of the same name is perhaps Britten's most enchanting work. It is full of beautifully crafted, dreamlike and atmospheric music. The chorus of 20 fairies, all of whom will be supplied by the CCOC, has a huge part in this opera, appearing at the very beginning during the opening scene, all the way until the very end. Four choristers will also have solo parts (Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom) and play musical instruments (2 recorders, woodblocks, and cymbals) on stage.

Being a part of the CCOC requires enormous commitment from the young singers, but nothing can compare to the thrill of being on stage for a major, full-scale production!

The Canadian Children's Opera Company, led by Artistic Director Ann Cooper Gay, is one of the world's few children's opera companies. The CCOC commissions, produces, records, and tours new operas and choral music, with children as principal performers. The company also regularly collaborates with other leading arts organizations and prominent individual performers, conductors, and directors. The Company contains six divisions, with over 200 children, and youth of ages 5 to 19. The newest division, OPERAtion Kids, is a non-auditioned program for ages 8-13.

Canadian Children's Opera Company and the COC

La bohˆ®me - April 17 to May 24, 2009

A Midsummer Night's Dream - May 5 to May 23, 2009

Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

145 Queen Street West, Toronto

Tickets available online at www.coc.ca, by calling 416-363-8231,

or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office

Special young people's tickets $30 to $109

(15 years of age or under, accompanied by and sitting next to an adult)

Beginning Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 10am, $20 tickets are available for patrons between the ages of 16 and 29 through the Opera for a New Age program

Valid photo ID is required upon pickup

Regular ticket prices range from $60 to $315

For more information, long on to www.canadianchildrensopera.com

NACO, March 25-26: Yefim Bronfman plays Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3

Yefim Bronfman tackles the formidable Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 led by Pinchas Zukerman on March 25-26

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The knuckle-busting Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3, an incredible unleashing of notes from beginning to jaw-dropping end, demands virtuoso piano technique which soloist Yefim Bronfman has in spades! Bronfman will tackle the ’ÄúRach 3’Äù (made infamous in the Oscar-winning movie Shine) in Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concerts with the National Arts Centre Orchestra led by Music Director Pinchas Zukerman on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. in the NAC’Äôs Southam Hall.

The programme opens with Weber’Äôs evocative Oberon Overture, followed by Le bourgeois gentilhomme Suite, Richard Strauss’Äôs clever musical adaptation of Moliˆ®re’Äôs classic comedy.

There are two ’ÄúMusically Speaking’Äù activities connected to these concerts. There will be a Pre-Concert Chat in French both nights at 7 p.m. titled ’ÄúRomantique ˆ©garˆ© au vingtiˆ®me siˆ®cle’Äù ’Äì a discussion with music critic Jean-Jacques van Vlasselaer led by NAC Artistic Attachˆ© Paul Lefebvre.

Then after each concert, audience members are invited to stay for a Post-Concert Talkback with conductor Pinchas Zukerman and piano soloist Yefim Bronfman hosted by Paul Lefebvre.

Sergei Rachmaninov was 6’Äô6’Äù tall with a hand span of 12 inches, which perhaps help explain why the New York Herald wrote that the Third Piano Concerto’Äôs ’Äúgreat length and extreme difficulties bar it from performances by any but pianists of exceptional technical powers.’Äù

Yefim Bronfman is widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso pianists performing today. His commanding technique and exceptional lyrical gifts have won him consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences worldwide, whether for his solo recitals, his prestigious orchestral engagements or his rapidly growing catalogue of recordings. As an ’ÄúOn Location’Äù Artist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2008-09 season, is performing orchestral and chamber music in LA as well as a tour of the Far East. Other highlights of this season include a duo recital tour with Emanuel Ax and a solo recital tour traversing the US and Europe. Bronfman debuted with the NAC Orchestra in 1988 and his most recent appearance was in June 2008 playing Mozart’Äôs Piano concerto K. 482. He won a Grammy award in 1997 for his recording of the three Bartˆ„k Piano Concertos with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Tickets for these Mark Motors Audi Signature Series concerts with pianist Yefim Bronfman, conductor Pinchas Zukerman and the NAC Orchestra on Wednesday, March 25 and Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. are on sale now at $19.00, $39.00, $49.00, $59.00, $69.00 and $86.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’Äôs website at www.nac-cna.ca.

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

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

JAZZ LIVES 2009

JAZZ.FM91 and Don Valley North Lexus present’Ķ

JAZZ LIVES 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009, 8:00PM
Convocation Hall

JAZZ.FM91 Celebrates 5th Anniversary of JAZZ LIVES

Toronto, Ontario ’Äì Celebrating its 5th year as Canada's premier jazz concert, JAZZ LIVES 2009 will continue its tradition for showcasing top local and international emerging and established jazz performers, Thursday, May 7, 2009 at Convocation Hall in Toronto.

Plans for the 5th Anniversary concert were announced today on JAZZ.FM91 by President and CEO Ross Porter who promised "a show to beat them all" when describing this year's spectacular line-up of acclaimed musicians and performers. "When we first started JAZZ LIVES we had no idea it would grow to become such a popular, groundbreaking event. The accolades we have received from the international jazz community and support we feel from our audience who continue to make the concert a sold-out event each year, is truly inspirational," said Ross Porter. "Our 5th anniversary show will be a tribute to all the musicians, sponsors, volunteers and of course the fans that have supported JAZZ LIVES for the last 4 years."

Headlining JAZZ LIVES 2009 are: guitar virtuoso, Larry Coryell; Order of Canada member and one of Canada's most popular jazz vocalists, Ranee Lee; legendary pianist, composer and jazz encyclopedia, Gene DiNovi; award-winning singer-songwriter, Jill Barber; pre-eminent jazz violinist and Juno Award winner, Lenny Solomon; crooner, Colin Hunter; the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band; trombone giant Russ Little; and a special performance by Joe Sealy and Dan Hill from Sealy's Juno Award-winning CD Africville Suite.

Tickets range in price from $20 - $60 and are available now from www.uofttix.ca, 416-978-8849 or by visiting the UofTtix Box Office located at Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle at the University of Toronto.

The Executive Producer of JAZZ LIVES 2009 is Ross Porter, Producer is Jaymz Bee and the Musical Director is Russ Little. JAZZ LIVES 2009 would not be possible without the support of Presenting Sponsor Don Valley North Lexus and secondary sponsors Northwest Mutual Funds, Robert Lowrey's Piano Experts and Sunwing Vacations.

JAZZ LIVES was created in 2005 to spotlight the leading jazz musicians of the past and present whose music and careers are promoted on Canada's Premier Jazz Station, JAZZ.FM91, and as a fundraiser for Canada's only registered not-for-profit radio station dedicated to the jazz community and music education.

Mikhail Simonyan's VSO Debut

The VSO presents the Vancouver debut of trail-blazing

Russian violinist Mikhail Simonyan

Vancouver BC ’Äì The VSO proudly presents Mikhail Simonyan ’Äì a violinist hailed as having ’Äúa flawless, liquid line and ravishing tone,’Äù by The Washington Post ’Äì performing Chausson’Äôs Poˆ®me and Ravel’Äôs Tzigane. The program, Fine French Fantasies, will be conducted by VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell and also features Berlioz’Äôs Le corsaire, Op. 21, Ravel’Äôs Mother Goose Suite and Dukas’Äô The Sorcerer’Äôs Apprentice. The concerts take place on Saturday, March 28 at 8pm and Sunday, March 29 at 2pm at the Orpheum Theatre and will mark Mr. Simonyan’Äôs debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Marking another debut, this concert features Evan Mitchell’Äôs 2008/2009 Musically Speaking concert debut. These two great young artistic talents team up for a beautiful concert of French repertoire.

Mikhail Simonyan, who hails from Novosibirsk (the same city that Vadim Repin and Maxim Vengerov call home), began to study the violin at the age of five. As part of the first generation of artists to forge careers in an era with substantially decreased government support, he has blazed a trail for young musicians in Russia. In 1999, at 13, Mr. Simonyan made his acclaimed New York debut at Lincoln Center with the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra (ARYO) and his debut in St. Petersburg, Russia at the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre in ARYO's joint concert with the Mariinsky Youth Orchestra, performing the Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1.

Mr. Simonyan has earned first prize awards at the all-Russia Competition in Saint Petersburg, the Siberian Violin Competition, the National Prize Prizvanie in Moscow, and the Salon de Virtuosi in New York. He is a winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation Award, and received the 2000 Virtuoso of the Year award in Saint Petersburg. In 2003, the National Academy of Achievement selected him for an award in the Performing Arts. In 2005, he received the highest level of recognition when President Putin received him at the Kremlin, in acknowledgment of his status as one of Russia’Äôs most promising young musicians.

Now in his early twenties, Mr. Simonyan is recognized as one of the great talents of his generation. Celebrated for his ’Äúbreadth, lyricism and fleet technique’Äù by The New York Times and compared to master violinist David Oistrakh ’Äúon a good day’Äù by The Miami Herald, Mr. Simonyan proves that he has the talent and dedication to be one of the great talents of our time.

CONCERT INFO

Musically Speaking Series & Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Fine French Fantasies: Simonyan Plays Ravel and Chausson

Saturday, March 28, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Sunday, March 29, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Mikhail Simonyan, violin

Berlioz Le corsair, Op. 21

Ravel Mother Goose Suite

Chausson Poeme, Op. 25

Ravel Tzigane

Dukas The Sorcerer’Äôs Apprentice

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:

Musically Speaking Series Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

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

Symphony Sundays Series Sponsor: Beltone

BIOGRAPHIES

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Conductor Evan Mitchell is proving to be one of Canada’Äôs most promising young conductors. Currently the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony, Evan is slated to play a key role in programming, artistic development and of course performance with the VSO, leading the orchestra through a wide assortment of concerts.

Equally at home with chamber music, opera and full symphonic masterpieces, Evan has enjoyed critical acclaim with recent operatic performances including Britten’Äôs Albert Herring, Ward’Äôs The Crucible, Hindemith’Äôs ’ÄúHin und Zuruck’Äù and the world premiere of Glenn James’Äô opera ’ÄúTo Daniel.’Äù Evan also won positions with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada for four consecutive years as both conductor and percussionist and now holds the title of Associate Mentor with the orchestra. Highlights include conducting violin soloist Elizabeth Pitcairn, the concertmaster of the New West Symphony and owner of the Mendelssohn Stradivarius 1720 ’ÄúRed Violin.’Äù

Evan is an advocate of contemporary music. Recently the resident conductor of NUMUS New Music Ensemble, he has premiered several new works, toured across Canada conducting a festival of contemporary Chinese music and recorded works for the CMC, collaborating with such Canadian artists as the Pentaedre Wind Quintet, Penderecki String Quartet and Dancetheatre David Earle. Evan has also conducted and performed works during the highly acclaimed Open Ears Festival.

As a percussionist Evan has enjoyed equal success. In demand as a recitalist and concert soloist (recent performances of the Rosauro Marimba concerto and the Mayuzumi Xylophone concerto), Evan’Äôs percussive performance has been hailed as ’Äúbreathtaking in (his) sensitivity’Äù as well as ’Äúwizardly’Äù and ’Äúawe-inspiring.’Äù Evan has toured Canada, the United States and abroad, including a memorable tour as Canadian ambassador during a concert tour with virtuoso composer/percussionist Nebojsa Zivkovic, during which he performed as concert soloist and along with the composer in a sold out performance of Zivkovic's celebrated ’ÄúTrio per Uno’Äù at the Stuttgart International Theatre. Evan is a frequent performer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and has performed with Orchestra London and the Toronto Symphony. Evan has also been a faculty member and guest lecturer with Wilfrid Laurier University, primarily as Music Director of the Flute Ensemble.

Awards include First Prize at the Werlde Musik Kontest in Kerkrade, Netherlands, finalist at the upcoming TD Canada Trust Elora Festival Competition and Winner in Marching category as part of the Kavaliers DCI Drum Corps. Evan is also the winner of the 2006 Pioneer Leading Edge Arts Award.

Evan is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree as a percussion major; he is also a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he studied on a full scholarship sponsored by Elmer Iseler and Victor Feldbrill, earning a Masters degree in conducting. His principal conducting teachers include Raffi Armenian, Doreen Rao, Paul Pulford and Boris Brott. Additionally, he has studied and performed in concert series with Denise Grant, Martin Fischer-Dieskau and most notably, Helmuth Rilling, in the inaugural Toronto Bach festival.

Mikhail Simonyan, violin

At just 22 years of age, Mikhail Simonyan is already recognized as one of the most celebrated talents of his generation. The New York Times has praised his, ’Äúbreadth, lyricism and fleet technique,’Äù and reported that ’ÄúMr. Simonyan play[s] as if every note counted.’Äù The Miami Herald has declared, ’ÄúMikhail Simonyan . . . played with the poise, perfection and inner burning fire of a master like David Oistrakh ’Äì in his prime on a good night.’Äù

Mr. Simonyan has performed with, among others, the Russian National Orchestra, the Kirov Orchestra, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Tonkˆºnstler Orchestra, the Novosibirsk Philharmonic, and the Moscow Virtuosi. He has worked with conductors including Valery Gergiev, Mikhail Pletnev, Constantine Orbelian, Vladimir Spivakov, Arnold Katz, Kristjan Jˆ§rvi, Leon Botstein, and the late Yehudi Menuhin.

Performance highlights for Mr. Simonyan include a solo appearance with Leonard Slatkin at the Kennedy Center's 35th Anniversary Gala in 2001, after which he made his official debut with Maestro Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra in 2002. Later that same year, he performed at the Davos World Economic Summit.

In 2004, Mr. Simonyan made his debut with the Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre under Maestro Valery Gergiev in Eduoard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE, and at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Also in 2004, he made his subscription debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Maestro Gergiev. He also soloed with Maestro Constantine Orbelian at the Moscow State Conservatory’Äôs Great Hall, and in Saint Petersburg with the Novosibirsk Philharmonic.

In addition, he was selected to appear at the Horatio Alger Awards Dinner in Washington DC. In spring of 2004, he performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at SUNY Performing Arts Center and with the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra.

In the autumn of 2004, after studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Mr. Simonyan returned to Russia and was immediately in demand by the leading Orchestra’Äôs of his home country. After his debut with the Russian National Orchestra, the Moscow Times wrote, ’Äú’Ķ he seems destined to be ranked on the same Superstar level as fellow Novosibirsk natives Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin.’Äù Highlights of the 2004-2005 season included his debut in Vienna’Äôs Musikverein as soloist with Maestro Kristjan Jˆ§rvi and the Tonkˆºnstler Orchestra, a highly acclaimed solo recital debut in Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center, as well as recitals and orchestral performances in New York and other cities across the US.

Other performance highlights of Mr. Simonyan’Äôs past seasons include a tour of the United States with the Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre under Maestro Valery Gergiev, concerts with Maestro Kristjan Jˆ§rvi and the Russian National Orchestra, his debut at the Prague Spring Festival under Maestro Pletnev, and recitals in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Highlights of Mr. Simonyan’Äôs current concert season include debuts at the Wigmore Hall in London and at the Berlin Philharmonie; his debut at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, performing the Bruch Violin Concerto; a recital during the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Musikfestival in Germany as part of the ’ÄúJunge Elite’Äù concert series; appearances with the Seoul Philharmonic, the Vienna Tonkˆºnstler Orchestra at the Musikverein, and the Vancouver Symphony; and recitals in the United States and Russia. In addition, his much anticipated debut recording of the Prokofiev Sonatas for Violin and Piano, recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Adam Abeshouse, will be released in 2008.

Mr. Simonyan continues to work with Victor Danchenko in the United States and now lives in Philadelphia. He performs on a Zygmuntowicz violin. He is managed worldwide by Tanja Dorn at IMG Artists.

Ondine Announces World Premiere Recording of Hindemith's Klaviermusik mit Orchester

Ondine announces world premiere

recording of major Hindemith Work

Klaviermusik mit Orchester, Op. 29

featuring pianist Leon Fleisher

with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra

led by Christoph Eschenbach

North American release date: April 28, 2009

Join Ondine and listen to excerpts: Facebook, Last.fm, MySpace.com or Dilettante

Ondine is proud to announce the April 28, 2009 release of the first-ever commercial recording of a long-lost major work by Paul Hindemith, the Klaviermusik mit Orchester, Op. 29 for piano left-hand and orchestra. The New York Times has called it, "a fantastic work that requires tremendous technique and stamina" (December 2, 2006). The disc also features Antonˆ‚n Dvo‰ôˆ°k's popular Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World").

Hindemith wrote this concerto in 1923 for the left-hand pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during the First World War. Wittgenstein never performed it, and it was only upon the death of his widow, in 2002, that the piece was discovered in a farmhouse in Pennsylvania; the work received an acclaimed 2004 world premiere in Berlin, with piano legend Leon Fleisher as soloist and the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle. Leon Fleisher, who is one of the most prominent specialists of left-hand repertoire, is the soloist on this recording.

Christoph Eschenbach, one of today's leading conductors, directs the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, an orchestra the Philadelphia Inquirer claimed, "that any city would be lucky to have as its professional ensemble."

The Curtis Institute of Music expresses its deep appreciation to the Neubauer Family Foundation, which has made possible and underwritten this recording of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.

CD INFORMATION:

Paul Hindemith (1895’Äì1963)

1’Äì4 Klaviermusik mit Orchester, Op. 29 (1923)

for piano (left hand) and orchestra

Leon Fleisher, piano (world premiere recording)

Antonˆ‚n Dvo‰ôˆ°k (1841’Äì1904)

5’Äì8 Symphony No. 9 in E minor,

Op. 95 "From the New World"

Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Christoph Eschenbach

Live recording [64'18]

Full price CD

LPN: ONDINE ODE 1141-2

UPC: 0761195114124

US STREET DATE: April 28, 2009

BIOGRAPHIES:

Leon Fleisher

Renowned pianist, conductor and teacher Leon Fleisher started piano lessons in his native San Francisco at age four, and gave his first recital at eight. A year later he began studying with the great German pianist Artur Schnabel, a fourth-generation Beethoven pupil, and by 16, in 1944, made his debut with the New York Philharmonic. He was the first American to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth of Belgium competition, in 1952. Fleisher's career was on a smooth upward trajectory for the next dozen years: he concertized all over the world with every major orchestra and conductor, gave recitals, and made numerous touchstone recordings, including the piano concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, Grieg, Schumann, and Rachmaninov, with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra.

Fleisher was suddenly struck silent when two fingers of his right hand became immobile in 1965. He was forced to "retire" when only 37 years old. This was the defining moment in his career until the late 1990's, when he began treatments that finally helped relieve the neurological affliction known as 'focal dystonia.' Fleisher has been playing infrequently with both hands again, and in 2004 made his first two-hand recording in 40 years called Two Hands. In the years since Leon Fleisher's keyboard career was so suddenly curtailed, he has followed two parallel careers ’Äì as conductor and teacher ’Äì while learning to play the extensive but limiting repertoire of compositions for piano left-hand.

Mr. Fleisher's reputation as a conductor was quickly established when he founded the Theatre Chamber Players at the Kennedy Center in 1967 and became Music Director of the Annapolis Symphony in 1970. He has since appeared as guest conductor with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestras of Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Montreal, and Detroit, among others. He also had a regular association with the New Japan Philharmonic as its Principal Guest Conductor, as well as with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

Teaching has been a crucially important element in Leon Fleisher's life. As a revered pedagogue, he has held the Andrew W. Mellon Chair at the Peabody Conservatory of Music since 1959, and also serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. From 1986’Äì97 he was Artistic Director of the Tanglewood Music Center. His teaching activities at the Aspen, Lucerne, Ravinia, and Verbier festivals have brought him in contact with students from all over the world. He has also given master classes at the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Paris Conservatory, the Ravel Academy at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Reina Sofia School in Madrid, the Mishkenot in Jerusalem, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Christoph Eschenbach

Held in high esteem by the world's foremost orchestras and opera houses for his commanding presence, versatility, and consummate musicianship, Christoph Eschenbach has also been acclaimed for his creative insight and dynamic energy, as a conductor, collaborator, and ardent champion of young musicians.

A prolific recording artist, Mr. Eschenbach has made numerous recordings on various labels as conductor, pianist, or both. His discography includes works of Bach, Bartˆ„k, Berg, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Mozart, Ravel, Schoenberg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. A champion of contemporary music, Mr. Eschenbach has also recorded works by such composers as Adams, Berio, Glass, Louriˆ©, Picker, Pintscher, Rouse, and Schnittke.

Before turning to conducting, Mr. Eschenbach had earned a distinguished reputation as a concert pianist. He began winning major competitions at the age of 11, and made his United States debut in 1969 with the Cleveland Orchestra. He learned the art of conducting under, among others, George Szell, who personally took him as his protˆ©gˆ©, and with whom he worked for over three years. In addition, Herbert von Karajan was his mentor for nearly 25 years, and he credits him as having had a tremendous influence on his development as a conductor.

Mr. Eschenbach made his conducting debut in Hamburg in 1972. In 1981 he was named principal guest conductor of Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra, and was chief conductor from 1982 to 1986. Additional posts include music director of the Houston Symphony (1988’Äì1999); chief conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony (1998’Äì2004); music director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (1999’Äì2002); music director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony (1994’Äì2003); music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra (2003’Äì2008); and music director of the Orchestre de Paris since 2000. In autumn 2010, he will assume the music directorship of the National Symphony Orchestra and the specially created position of music director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, both in Washington, D.C.

Among Mr. Eschenbach's most recent awards are the Lˆ©gion d'Honneur of France and the Officer's Cross with Star and Ribbon of the German Order of Merit. In 1993 he received the Leonard Bernstein Award, presented to him by the Pacific Music Festival, where he served as co-artistic director from 1992 to 1998.

Christoph Eschenbach has had a long and continuing association with the Curtis Institute of Music, working closely with its conducting, composition, and general student body, as well as conducting the Curtis Symphony Orchestra on a regular basis. www.christoph-eschenbach.com

The Curtis Institute of Music

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to share the extraordinary artistry of Curtis students with a worldwide audience. Over the past few years, Christoph Eschenbach has led the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in many outstanding performances, and this project captures their unique relationship on record." (Roberto Dˆ‚az, President of The Curtis Institute of Music).

The Curtis Institute of Music trains exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level. One of the world's leading music schools, Curtis provides full-tuition scholarships to all of its 162 students, ensuring that admissions are based solely on artistic promise. A Curtis education is uniquely tailored to the individual student, with personalized attention from a celebrated faculty and unusually frequent performance opportunities. This distinctive "learn by doing" approach to musical training has produced an impressive number of notable artists, from such legends as Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber to current stars Juan Diego Flˆ„rez, Alan Gilbert, Hilary Hahn, Jennifer Higdon, and Lang Lang.

Curtis Symphony Orchestra

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra, composed of more than one hundred players between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five, has been called "an orchestra that any city would be lucky to have as its professional ensemble" (The Philadelphia Inquirer). The orchestra performs a three-concert season in Philadelphia's Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, as well as programs elsewhere in the region and occasionally at Carnegie Hall. World-renowned conductors frequently lead the orchestra in reading sessions and in concert; recent visiting conductors include Charles Dutoit, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. This real-world training has enabled Curtis alumni to assume prominent positions in major orchestras across the United States, Canada, and abroad. www.curtis.edu

Concert Orchestre Symphonique de Laval mercredi 25 mars

Mozart ˆÝ tout vent

13 musiciens de l'OSL au service de Mozart et de Strauss

Le mercredi 25 mars ˆÝ 20 h ˆÝ l'ˆ©glise Sainte-Rose-de-Lima

Laval, le 17 mars 2009 ’Äì L'Orchestre symphonique de Laval offre ˆÝ son public un concert exceptionnel en prˆ©sentant une ‰ìuvre maˆÆtresse de Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. La Sˆ©rˆ©nade en si bˆ©mol majeur, K. 361, aussi appelˆ©e ¬´ Gran Partita ¬ª, est considˆ©rˆ©e comme le plus grand chef-d'‰ìuvre que Mozart ait ˆ©crit pour des instruments ˆÝ vent. Le talent des treize musiciens de la section des vents, qui forme pour l'occasion l'orchestre de chambre de l'OSL, mis en valeur par l'acoustique extraordinaire de l'ˆ©glise Sainte-Rose-de-Lima, permettra au public de mesurer l'ampleur du gˆ©nie de Mozart et de savourer toute la beautˆ© de cette ‰ìuvre immense. ˆâgalement au programme de ce concert commentˆ© par Alain Trudel, directeur artistique et chef de l'OSL, la Sˆ©rˆ©nade en mi bˆ©mol majeur, op. 7, et la Suite en si bˆ©mol majeur, op. 4, de Richard Strauss.

Le concert Mozart ˆÝ tout vent sera prˆ©sentˆ© le mercredi 25 mars ˆÝ 20 h, ˆÝ l'ˆ©glise Sainte-Rose-de-Lima, en plein c‰ìur du Vieux-Saint-Rose.

AU PROGRAMME

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Sˆ©rˆ©nade en mi bˆ©mol majeur, op. 7 (1881) pour 13 instruments ˆÝ vent

Suite en si bˆ©mol majeur, op. 4 (1884) pour 13 instruments ˆÝ vent

I Prˆ©lude ’Äì Allegretto

II Romance ’Äì Andante

III Gavotte ’Äì Allegro

IV Introduction et Fugue- Andante cantabile- Allegro con brio

Formˆ© dans la plus pure tradition pˆ©dagogique du XIX^e siˆ®cle, soit l'enseignement particulier de maˆÆtre ˆÝ ˆ©lˆ®ve, Strauss, grˆ¢ce ˆÝ son pˆ®re musicien, assiste dˆ®s sa tendre enfance aux rˆ©pˆ©titions de l'orchestre du thˆ©ˆ¢tre de la cour ˆÝ Munich. ˆÄ dix-sept ans, il entend Tristan ˆÝ Bayreuth : il en est si gravement intoxiquˆ© qu'il ambitionne dˆ©sormais d'ˆ©crire des opˆ©ras. Dˆ®s 1889, son poˆ®me symphonique Don Juan lui vaut l'estime de toute l'Allemagne qui voit en lui le plus prometteur de ses jeunes compositeurs et le successeur naturel de Wagner. Richard Strauss a abordˆ© tous les genres musicaux. Tout au long de ses sept dˆ©cennies de crˆ©ation, Strauss, l'un des derniers musiciens romantiques ˆ©garˆ©s au XX^e siˆ®cle, n'innove certes pas ˆÝ la maniˆ®re d'un Schˆ�nberg, d'un Bartok ou d'un Stravinski, mais il n'en demeure pas moins un compositeur ˆÝ la personnalitˆ© originale et au mˆ©tier ˆ©blouissant et ce, jusqu'ˆÝ la toute fin de sa vie.

Composˆ©es pour treize instruments ˆÝ vent et manifestement inspirˆ©es de Mozart, Beethoven et Schumann, la Sˆ©rˆ©nade en mi bˆ©mol majeur, op. 7, et la Suite en si bˆ©mol majeur, op. 4, appartiennent ˆÝ la toute premiˆ®re jeunesse du compositeur, moment oˆ¼ il hˆ©site encore ˆÝ s'ˆ©loigner du giron classique. Strauss avait d'ailleurs inaugurˆ© sa carriˆ®re de chef d'orchestre avec cet opus 4.

ENTRACTE

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Sˆ©rˆ©nade en si bˆ©mol majeur, K. 361, ¬´ Gran Partita ¬ª, pour 13 instruments

Largo ’Äì Allegro molto

Menuet

Adagio

Menuet- Allegretto

Romance-Adagio Allegretto

Thˆ®mes et variations

Rondo- Molto allegro

Mozart qui avait approfondi l'ˆ©tude des instruments ˆÝ vent au contact de l'orchestre de Mannheim, explore ici de nouvelles combinatoires audacieuses et cette ¬´ Gran Partita ¬ª dˆ©montre ˆÝ quel point le gˆ©nie mozartien peut mˆ©tamorphoser tout matˆ©riel musical en ‰ìuvre d'art de haut niveau. La premiˆ®re exˆ©cution publique qui nous soit connue de cette ‰ìuvre a eu lieu au Burgtheater de Vienne, le 23 mars 1784.

En rˆ©sumˆ©

Concert : le mercredi 25 mars ˆÝ 20 h, ˆÝ l'ˆ©glise Sainte-Rose-de-Lima de Laval (219, boulevard Sainte-Rose).

Le concert est une prˆ©sentation de Protectron

Les billets pour ce concert sont disponibles

En ligne : www.salleandremathieu.com.

Au guichet de la salle Andrˆ©-Mathieu : 475, boul. de l'Avenir, Laval

Par tˆ©lˆ©phone, billetterie de la salle Andrˆ©-Mathieu : (450) 667-2040

Via le Rˆ©seau admission : (514) 790-1245

Raquel Bitton releases hot new French/Latin Jazz recording "Boleros"

BOLEROS

Where Passion Meets Romance

French Jazz singer Raquel Bitton celebrates renowned Latin composers in her hot new French/Latin Jazz recording ’ÄúBoleros’Äù released today in the US and Canada.

’ÄúBoleros’Äù, Raquel Bitton’Äôs 7^th recording to date, sung in French and Spanish was engineered by 11x Grammy award winner Rafa Sardina and showcases the music of legendary Latin composers including Armando Manzanero, Consuelo Velasquez, Augustin Lara, Isolina Carillo and others.

Raquel Bitton is accompanied by a 28 piece orchestra featuring notable Latin Jazz musicians including: Ramon Stagnaro on acoustic guitar, (Andrea Bocelli, Shakira, Luis Miguel) Cuban percussionists Orestes Vilato (Santana, Celia Cruz, Rubˆ©n Blades) and Jesus Diaz (Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo Orchestra) and Rebeca Mauleon on Piano (Santana, Cachao, Joe Henderson)

The CD cover illustration is by award winning Martin French (Los Lobos, The Chronicles of Narnia)

Included is an exquisite 20 page booklet with Spanish and French lyrics and biographies of each composer as well as historical research on the birth of the Bolero.

’ÄúRomance intertwined with passion, this is the Bolero, a true expression of my heart said Raquel Bitton. I fell in love with the Bolero when I listened to the sultry voices of Tona La Negra and Maria Dolores Pradera. This music transported me back to my birthplace and the songs I heard growing up in Marrakesh where Spanish music was on everyone’Äôs lips, Spain being so close to then French Morocco’Äù

Bitton’Äôs journey in researching the composers and songs, led her to Mexico City where she met Armando Manzanero (composer of Elvis Presley’Äôs hit song ’ÄúIt’Äôs Impossible’Äù) who is widely considered the premiere Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era. ’ÄúRaquel Bitton’Äôs new CD Boleros is magnificent; her version of my song, "Adoro" is so beautiful!’Äù said Armando Manzanero

Raquel Bitton sings "Aranjuez mon amour" from Joaquin Rodrigo’Äôs "Concierto de Aranjuez", one of the most recognizable compositions in the Spanish Guitar repertoire in tandem with the extraordinary Acoustic Guitarist Ramon Stagnaro.

Classic songs including; Solamente una Vez by Augustin Laura or Dos Gardenias by Isolina Carillo, the song that helped revive Ibrahim Ferrer’Äôs career (Buena Vista Social Club) and Besame Mucho, by Consuelo Velasquez are sung with Bitton’Äôs captivating voice and set to an entrancing beat.

Boleros is available at Amazon, iTunes and leading retail outlets nationwide. To listen to selected tracks visit www.raquelbitton.com and click on the media player.

Concert-bˆ©nˆ©fice avec Michel Rivard

Michel Rivard et L’ÄôOrchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Mercredi 22 avril 2009 20 h Thˆ©ˆ¢tre Outremont 1248, avenue Bernard Ouest Concert-bˆ©nˆ©fice au profit de L’ÄôOrchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Montrˆ©al, le 16 mars 2009 ’Äî Michel Rivard, l’Äôun des auteurs-compositeurs-interprˆ®tes les plus prolifiques de la scˆ®ne quˆ©bˆ©coise, se joindra ˆÝ maestro Yuli Turovsky et ses Musici, pour cˆ©lˆ©brer ˆÝ sa faˆßon le 25e anniversaire de L’ÄôOrchestre. Pour un soir seulement, Michel Rivard revisite ses plus belles chansons enjolivˆ©es par les riches sonoritˆ©s de l’Äôorchestre de chambre mondialement reconnu. Des classiques revus et inspirˆ©s grˆ¢ce aux orchestrations originales de Blair Thomson procureront un bonheur certain. Et pour notre plus grand plaisir, ce concert-bˆ©nˆ©fice dˆ©voilera un Michel Rivard mˆ©lomane et passionnˆ© de musique classique. Ses piˆ®ces favorites du rˆ©pertoire de L’ÄôOrchestre seront interprˆ©tˆ©es par I Musici de Montrˆ©al. Michel Rivard Photographe: Jean-Franˆßois Gratton ¬´ Les musiciennes et musiciens d' I MUSICI DE MONTRˆâAL sont des virtuoses capables de mettre leur talent au service d'un formidable son d'ensemble. Je les ai d'abord connus sur disque et le coup de foudre initial ne s'est jamais estompˆ©. En concert, leur ˆ©clectisme est une force palpable. Chanter avec eux est non seulement un honneur, c'est aussi un plaisir que j'ai trˆ®s hˆ¢te de revivre.¬ª Michel Rivard Deux explorateurs qui s’Äôaventurent vers de nouvelles avenues musicales Michel Rivard, auteur-compositeur-interprˆ®te, comˆ©dien et ex-joueur de la Ligue nationale d’Äôimprovisation s’Äôest produit avec divers orchestres quˆ©bˆ©cois. Sur la scˆ®ne du Thˆ©ˆ¢tre Outremont nous retrouverons des incontournables de ce poˆ®te urbain tels que La lune d’Äôautomne, L’Äôoubli, Je voudrais voir la mer, Un trou dans les nuages, Le Privˆ©, Riviˆ®re et Les chemins de gravelle. Endossant l’Äôhabit de maˆÆtre de cˆ©rˆ©monie, Michel Rivard introduira ses coups de c‰ìur du rˆ©pertoire d’Äô I Musici de Montrˆ©al : Prˆ©lude et Scherzo de Chostakovitch, l’ÄôAdagio pour cordes de Barber et la Petite musique de nuit de Mozart. Rencontre de deux univers, les chansons de Rivard nichˆ©es dans de magnifiques orchestrations et de trˆ®s belles pages de la musique classique savoureusement interprˆ©tˆ©es par I Musici de Montrˆ©al. Depuis sa fondation, I Musici de Montrˆ©al multiplie les collaborations avec des artistes issus de divers horizons. Des aventures musicales inˆ©dites oˆ¼ maestro Turovsky et ses Musici ont partagˆ© la scˆ®ne avec, entre autres, Oliver Jones, Omara Portuondo, Michel Legrand, Nathalie Choquette, l’Äôensemble Kleztory ou encore avec les comˆ©diens Albert Millaire et Kim Yaroshevskaya. Rˆ©cemment, L’ÄôOrchestre participait aux spectacles de Ma vie avec Mozart de et avec l’Äôˆ©crivain et dramaturge franˆßais ˆâric-Emmanuel Schmitt (Festival Montrˆ©al en lumiˆ®re). Cˆ©lˆ©brez avec Michel Rivard les 25 ans de L’ÄôOrchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Le 22 avril, soyez de la fˆ�te, soufflez avec nous les 25 chandelles de L’ÄôOrchestre! Une soirˆ©e festive qui sera mˆ©morable ˆÝ souhait. Assistez au concert-bˆ©nˆ©fice et exprimez votre passion pour I Musici. Au Thˆ©ˆ¢tre Outremont, 1248, avenue Bernard Ouest. Coˆªt des billets : 46.75 $ (rˆ©gulier), 66,75 $ (donateur) et 101.75 $ (VIP). Renseignements et billetterie : 514 982-6038 ou ˆÝ info@imusici.com Pour en savoir davantage sur notre 25e saison : www.imusici.com I Musici de Montrˆ©al tient ˆÝ remercier Radio-Classique Montrˆ©al CJPX 99, 5 fm et Rock Dˆ©tente 107, 3 fm les partenaires mˆ©dias pour cet ˆ©vˆ©nement-bˆ©nˆ©fice Michel Rivard & L'Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8 PM The Outremont Theatre 1248 Bernard Avenue West Benefit Concert for the L'Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Montreal, March 16, 2009 ’Äî Michel Rivard, one of Quebec's most prolific writer-composer-musician, joins Maestro Yuli Turovsky and his Musici to celebrate the orchestra's 25th anniversary. For one night only, Michel Rivard will revisit his most beautiful songs embellished by the rich sonority of the world-renowned chamber orchestra. His classics, revisited and inspired by the original orchestration of Blair Thomson, will deliver certain happiness. And for our great pleasure, this benefit concert will reveal Michel Rivard as a passionate lover of classical music. His favourite pieces of the orchestra's repertoire will be interpreted by I Musici de Montrˆ©al. Michel Rivard Photographe: Jean-Franˆßois Gratton "The musicians of I Musici de Montreal are virtuosi capable of using their talent in service to a wonderful ensemble sound. I first knew of them on CD and the initial love at first sight has never dimmed. In concert, their eclecticism is a palpable force. Singing with them is not only an honour, but also a pleasure which I am very much looking forward to again." Michel Rivard Two explorers on an adventure towards a new musical destination! Michel Rivard, writer-composer-musician, actor and ex-player on the "Ligue nationale d'improvisation", has performed with various Quebec orchestras. On stage at the Outremont Theatre, we will find the wonderful songs of this urban poet such as La Lune d'automne, L'oubli, Je voudrais voir la mer, Un trou dans les nuages, Le Privˆ©, Riviˆ®re and Les chemins de gravelle. Playing the role of master of ceremonies, Michel Rivard will introduce his favourite pieces of I Musici's repertoire: Prelude and Scherzo by Shostakovich, Barber's Adagio, and A Little Night Music by Mozart. A meeting of two universes, Rivard's songs nested in magnificent orchestrations and very beautiful pieces of classical music interpreted deliciously by I Musici de Montrˆ©al. Since its beginning, L'Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al has been multiplying its collaborations with artists from various horizons. Musical adventures where Yuli Turovsky and his Musici have shared the stage, amongst others,with Oliver Jones, Omara Portuondo, Michel Legrand, Nathalie Choquette, Kleztory as well as actors Albert Millaire and Kim Yaroshevskaya. Recently, the orchestra participated in the show Ma vie avec Mozart with writer/playwright Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (Montreal Highlights Festival). Celebrate L'Orchestre de chambre I Musici de Montreal's 25th anniversary with Michel Rivard! On April 22nd, be part of the party! A surely memorable festive evening! Come express your passion for I Musici de Montrˆ©al at this Benefit Concert. Ticket prices: $46.75 (regular), $66.75 (donor) and $101.75 (VIP) Information and tickets: 514-982-6038 or at info@imusici.com To know more about our 25th season: www.imusici.com I Musici would like to thank media partners Radio-Classique Montreal CJPX 99, 5 fm and Rock Dˆ©tente 107, 3 fm for supporting this benefit concert.

Musique Nouvelle-France !

MariMusette prend l'air!

L'Atelier du conte en musique et en images ˆÝ Baie-Comeau, sur la Cˆ¥te et jusqu'au Nord du Quˆ©bec.

L'Atelier du conte en musique et en images prˆ©sente MariMusette mettant en vedette musiques et instruments, contes et traditions qui ont animˆ© la vie des colons franˆßais venus s'installer en terre d'Amˆ©rique. Offert aux jeunes du primaire le mardi 21 avril prochain au Thˆ©ˆ¢tre de Baie-Comeau, le spectacle s'envole vers Natashquan, Blanc-Sablon, Tˆ�te-ˆÝ-la-Baleine, Chevery et La Romaine et poursuit sa course jusqu'au 13 mai ˆÝ Lebel-sur-Quˆ©villon, Val-Paradis et Matagami!

Au son d'instruments d'ˆ©poque (cornemuse, dulcimer, vielle ˆÝ roue, flˆªte d'Allemagne et guimbarde) et par le jeu de plusieurs marionnettes, les artistes Philippe Gˆ©linas et Lise Dyke font revivre des musiques, chansons et contes populaires de la Nouvelle-France.

Interprˆ®te spˆ©cialisˆ© en musique ancienne, Philippe Gˆ©linas prend part ˆÝ plusieurs tournˆ©es en Amˆ©rique et en Europe, et fonde l'Atelier du conte en musique et en images, organisme artistique vouˆ© au jeune public et ˆÝ la famille depuis 1989, dont il assure la direction artistique. Parmi les diverses crˆ©ations rˆ©alisˆ©es par la compagnie, Le Mˆ©nˆ©trier rˆ©colte un Prix Opus dˆ©cernˆ© en 1999 par le Conseil quˆ©bˆ©cois de la musique. Inspirˆ© de ce concert-dˆ©monstration, l'album intitulˆ© Philippe Gˆ©linas ’Äì Mˆ©nˆ©trier (OLCD 9545) est nominˆ© au Gala de l'ADISQ 2003. Travaillant en ˆ©troite collaboration avec Philippe Gˆ©linas depuis 1993, la pˆ©dagogue Lise Dyke est spˆ©cialiste en arts visuels. Scˆ©nographe, elle conˆßoit et rˆ©alise avec lui dˆ©cors et marionnettes pour six des productions de l'Atelier du conte en musique et en images, et occupe le poste de marionnettiste dans quatre d'entre elles.

Mentionnons que MariMusette a entre autres ˆ©tˆ© prˆ©sentˆ© cet ˆ©tˆ© au Festival Juste pour rire ainsi qu'au Festival Mˆ©moire et Racines, et que les Jeunesses musicales du Canada l'ont intˆ©grˆ© ˆÝ leur programmation en fˆ©vrier dernier.

Cette tournˆ©e, rendue possible grˆ¢ce au soutien financier du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quˆ©bec et une commandite d'Air Labrador, ainsi que dans le cadre du programme La Culture ˆÝ l'ˆ©cole, permettra ˆÝ prˆ®s de deux mille jeunes spectateurs de renouer avec la musique et les coutumes d'autrefois.

Pacific Opera Presents The Magic Flute

THE MAGIC FLUTE
THE GREATEST ADVENTURE EVER SUNG
APRIL 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 AND 27, 2009

Pacific Opera Victoria is proud to present its first "Magic Flute", in over twenty years. Mozart's enchanting adventure for all ages, THE MAGIC FLUTE is presented at The Royal Theatre in Victoria, April 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 27, 2009.

Mozart's final opera, THE MAGIC FLUTE (Die Zauberflˆ�te) was written in 1791 to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, and it has become one of the most beloved masterpieces in the repertoire. The young lovers, Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina, the imposing Sarastro, the tempestuous Queen of the Night, and the whimsical bird-catcher Papageno have been entertaining audiences for over 200 years in a work that is both playful and profound.

What transforms this sophisticated, joyous adventure into one of the most prodigious masterworks in the repertoire is, of course, Mozart's music. Encompassing infectious folk airs, sonorous majesty, and coloratura pyrotechnics, it is stunning in its variety and beauty. And with a story and characters that inspire and amuse, THE MAGIC FLUTE has something for everyone. Sublime and bewitching, it is an opera to grow up with and to grow old with.

Award-winning Maestro Timothy Vernon and Director Glynis Leyshon team up with designer John Ferguson and local artists Miles Lowry and David Ferguson to present a Magic Flute infused with the graceful spirit and elegance of turn-of-the-century Vienna.

An exceptional ensemble cast includes Shannon Mercer, a Juno-award nominee who makes her company debut as Pamina, Colin Ainsworth as Tamino, and Canadian coloratura Aline Kutan in her signature role of The Queen of the Night. Uwe Dumbrach as Sarastro and Hugh Russell as
Papageno are joined by Marilyn Arsenault (Papagena), Michel Corbeil (Monostatos) and Bruce Kelly (High Priest).

Also featured in this production are members of Pacific Opera Victoria's Resident Artist Program, which offers advanced operatic training to outstanding young professional singers. Making their POV debuts are Resident Artists Lucia Cesaroni, Leticia Brewer, and Erin Lawson as the three ladies, with Joseph Schnurr and Alexandre Sylvestre as the two priests.

Kids love opera and a special 6th performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE is presented with children and their favourite grown-ups in mind. The April 27th performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE begins at 7pm (an hour earlier than other performances), and tickets are offered to children and youth aged 17 and under for half price.

Sung in German with English dialogue and surtitles, Pacific Opera Victoria's production of THE MAGIC FLUTE runs April 16, 18, 21, 23, 25 and 27, 2009 at the Royal Theatre in Victoria. All performances begin at 8pm, except for the April 27 performance which begins at 7pm. Priced between $25 and $110, tickets are available from the Royal and McPherson Box Office at 250-386-6121 or www.rmts.bc.ca.

Student RUSH tickets for those presenting valid student identification are available at the door of the theatre, 45 minutes prior to each performance, subject to availability. RUSH tickets are $15, inclusive of all box office charges.

For more information, please contact Pacific Opera Victoria at (250) 385-0222 or visit www.pov.bc.ca.

COC Fine Wine Auction

THE COC'S ANNUAL FINE WINE AUCTION TURNS 10!

Toronto, Ontario ’Äì Canadian Opera Company's successful Annual Fine Wine Auction celebrates its 10th anniversary this year bringing wine lovers together as they raise their glasses and bidding paddles on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at the newly-renovated Crush Wine Bar and Restaurant. Returning to lead the live auction is Auctioneer Stephen Ranger of Ritchie's Auctioneers and Appraisers. The evening's events include a live auction, where wine enthusiasts and ardent collectors can either add to or begin a collection of some truly notable treasures. Guests can also bid in a silent auction that offers an assortment of exclusive and exciting items including a trip for two to Quebec City, Niagara winery tours, and dinner packages for some of Toronto's top restaurants. Wine and

hors d'oeuvres are served at 6 p.m. with the live auction beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.coc.ca or by calling 416-363-8231.

This year's Fine Wine Auction offers bidders a chance to purchase from a wide variety of incredible wines from around the world including a 1989 Chˆ¢teau Lˆ©oville-Las Cases, 1989 Chˆ¢teau Mouton Rothschild, 1995 Chˆ¢teau Lafite Rothschild, 2001, 2002, 2003 Harlan The Maiden, and 1996 Domaine de la Romanˆ©e-Conti Echezeaux.

Last year, the COC's Fine Wine Auction raised over $86,000, and all proceeds are in support of the COC. For more information please contact Sarah Jarvis at 416-306-2305.

COC's 10th ANNUAL

FINE WINE AUCTION

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Crush Wine Bar

455 King St. W.

Reception at 6 p.m.

Auction at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $50

www.coc.ca ’àô Call 416-363-8231

Presented in part by Crush Wine Bar and Restaurant, the Austrian Trade Commission, The Cheese Boutique, as well as CTV and The Globe and Mail.

About the Canadian Opera Company

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

Canadian Opera Company Website

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

Lancement du premier album de Louise Vautour

Traces

Un premier album de Louise Vautour

La violoniste Louise Vautour lance Traces, un premier album solo composˆ© entiˆ®rement de piˆ®ces originales. L’Äôalbum aux sonoritˆ©s celtiques mˆ®ne en voyage au-delˆÝ de diverses frontiˆ®res avec une musique ˆÝ la fois douce et rythmˆ©e qui rappelle de bons souvenirs, un coup d’Äôarchet passionnˆ© qui porte au-delˆÝ de l’Äôocˆ©an ou qui parfois, nous ramˆ®ne ˆÝ la maison.

¬´ Quand je dˆ©couvre de nouveaux endroits, de nouvelles cultures et de nouvelles personnes, mon inspiration est toujours avec moi, affirme l’Äôartiste qui propose des compositions qui ont vu le jour en Espagne, en France et aux ˆéles-de-la-Madeleine. J’Äôai de la difficultˆ© ˆÝ laisser mon violon ˆÝ la maison, mˆ�me lorsque je voyage pour le plaisir ¬ª, affirme-t-elle.

L’Äôalbum propose des compositions parfois personnelles dont la douce et mˆ©lodique Grandpa’Äôs Waltz, une piˆ®ce qui honore la mˆ©moire du grand-pˆ®re maternel de l’Äôartiste. L’Äôartiste a composˆ© cette premiˆ®re piˆ®ce ˆÝ l’Äôˆ¢ge de 15 ans suite au dˆ©cˆ®s de celui qui l’Äôa profondˆ©ment inspirˆ©e dans son choix de carriˆ®re. La piˆ®ce Lament for the Boys in Red, qui a ˆ©tˆ© ˆ©crite en mˆ©moire des sept joueurs de basket-ball de Bathurst High dˆ©cˆ©dˆ©s en janvier 2007, est une collaboration entre Louise et son pˆ®re, Daniel Vautour. Par ailleurs, Pas perdus a ˆ©tˆ© composˆ© par Louise avec son conjoint, Christian KIT Goguen, lequel signe aussi la piˆ®ce Cowboy Tune.

Une histoire de famille

Louise Vautour est originaire d’Äôune famille oˆ¼ les violoneux abondent ; elle sera la premiˆ®re fille ˆÝ adopter l’Äôinstrument ˆÝ l’Äôˆ¢ge de 13 ans sous les conseils de son pˆ®re. Elle dˆ©veloppe rapidement une passion pour la musique celtique qui la mˆ®nera jusqu’ÄôˆÝ Dublin oˆ¼ elle ˆ©tudiera les origines irlandaises du violon. De retour chez elle ˆÝ Bathurst, au Nouveau-Brunswick, elle dˆ©cide de transformer son amour du violon en gagne-pain et met sur pied l’Äôˆâcole de violon Louise Vautour. Pendant deux annˆ©es, elle enseigne le violon ˆÝ des ˆ©lˆ®ves de tous les niveaux d’Äôˆ¢ge.

Au cours de sa jeune carriˆ®re de violoniste, Louise Vautour a fait partie de diverses formations incluant le groupe Vilajoie du Village Historique Acadien qui assurait les soirˆ©es musicales au Chˆ¢teau Albert. Au fil des ans, elle est montˆ©e sur scˆ®ne avec l’ÄôEnsemble Adˆ©laˆØde, la Belle Amanchure, Bourasque, la Famille Basque et bien d’Äôautres. En 2004, elle joint les rangs d’ÄôOde ˆÝ l’ÄôAcadie, spectacle qui rend hommage ˆÝ la chanson acadienne d’Äôhier et d’Äôaujourd’Äôhui. Avec Ode, Louise continue ˆÝ faire chanter son violon comme elle l’Äôa fait un peu partout dans les Maritime, au Quˆ©bec, en Ontario, aux ˆâtats-Unis, en Europe et mˆ�me en Afrique. Dans le cadre du spectacle Carte blanche aux artistes d’ÄôOde, elle fait connaˆÆtre certaines de ses compositions originales en plus de faire dˆ©couvrir au public une trˆ®s belle voix douce et mˆ©lodieuse.

L’Äôalbum Traces englobe les ˆ©motions de diverses aventures sur la route lors de voyages. ¬´ On a vraiment voulu conserver l’Äôidˆ©e du voyage ˆÝ travers tout le processus de crˆ©ation ¬ª, explique-t-elle.

C’Äôest en 2007 et 2008 que l’Äôalbum Traces a ˆ©tˆ© enregistrˆ© dans les villages de Barachois et Maisonnette au Nouveau-Brunswick, ainsi qu’Äôaux ˆéles-de-la-Madeleine, par Franˆßois ˆâmond, et au Studio 126 de Rogersville par Denis Roy.

Louise s’Äôest entourˆ©e de musiciens de grand talent : Christian Kit Goguen et Rˆ©mi Arsenault aux guitares, ˆÝ la basse et au cajon ; Pastelle LeBlanc ˆÝ l’Äôaccordˆ©on ; Patricia Richard au bodhran ; Luc Roy aux percussions ; et Nicolas Basque ˆÝ la guitare. Le graphisme de la pochette est de Julie Arsenault et la photographie de Karine Wade. Traces est une production de Louise Vautour qui a travaillˆ© ˆÝ la rˆ©alisation en collaboration avec Christian Kit Goguen et Rˆ©mi Arsenault. Le mixage est de Franˆßois ˆâmond et Christian Kit Goguen et le matriˆßage de Mike Bourgeois.

Traces de Louise Vautour est distribuˆ© par Distribution Plages et l’Äôalbum peut ˆ�tre achetˆ© dans plusieurs points de vente et au http://www.plages.net/.

PREMIER EXTRAIT POUR LES RADIOS

La piˆ®ce Gilbratar (Gilbratar Jig / Quenn Ysable Reel) est suggˆ©rˆ©e comme premier extrait pour les radios. Le CD arrivera dans les radios cette semaine. Gilbratar a ˆ©tˆ© composˆ© par Louise Vautour au retour de l’Äôun de ses voyages les plus mˆ©morables, soit un voyage en Espagne.

Prochain The Music Scene, La Scena Musicale, La SCENA

[English version]

C’Äôest un mois de mars occupˆ©, alors que nous prˆ©parons trois magazines : le numˆ©ro de printemps de The Music Scene Ontario, le numˆ©ro d’Äôavril de La Scena Musicale et le numˆ©ro de printemps de La SCENA dont la une sera consacrˆ©e ˆÝ Robert Lepage, rencontrˆ© pour une entrevue.

Le numˆ©ro de printemps de The Music Scene Ontario sortira le 24 mars et comprendra notre Guide annuel des camps d’Äôˆ©tˆ© en art et en musique ainsi que notre Guide international des festivals d’Äôart, deux outils utiles pour organiser l’Äôˆ©tˆ©. En couverture, le quatuor St. Lawrence, qui cˆ©lˆ®bre son 20e anniversaire, fait un bilan de son incroyable parcours; Joseph So se penche sur l’Äôhistoire derriˆ®re L’ÄôIncoronazione di Poppea de Monteverdi et sur la production prochaine de l’ÄôOpera Atelier; et Jeanne Lamon parle de l’Äôapproche de Haydn de Tafelmusik, qui prˆ©sentera bientˆ¥t sa Crˆ©ation. ˆâgalement, le Quartetto Gelato, qui repart en tournˆ©e avec deux nouveaux membres, et un regard sur le dynamique Calgary Opera. De plus, nos choix dans les festivals internationaux, les concerts vocaux et instrumentaux ˆÝ venir dans le sud de l’ÄôOntario et nos critiques de disques. The Music Scene Ontario sera distribuˆ©e ˆÝ Toronto et ˆÝ Ottawa ainsi que dans des ˆ©coles ailleurs au Canada. La date de tombˆ©e pour les annonces est le 17 mars.

En vedette dans La SCENA, le metteur en scˆ®ne de Quˆ©bec Robert Lepage discute de sa nouvelle production thˆ©ˆ¢trale Le Dragon bleu et de son travail ˆÝ l’Äôopˆ©ra. L’Äôentrevue sera complˆ©tˆ©e par des critiques du Dragon bleu et de la mise en scˆ®ne de Lepage de La Damnation de Faust de Berlioz. Le numˆ©ro d’Äôavril de La Scena Musicale (insˆ©rˆ© dans La SCENA) prˆ©sentera une ˆ©toile montante, la violoniste Caroline Chehadˆ©, et le CD Dˆ©couverte d’Äôavril contiendra un rˆ©cital inˆ©dit de Schubert de la soprano canadienne Colette Boky, qui vient de publier son autobiographie. Ce numˆ©ro combinˆ© comprendra ˆ©galement notre 2e Guide annuel des festivals internationaux d’Äôart et de musique classique. La date de tombˆ©e pour les annonces est le 23 mars.

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

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

Salutations cordiales,

Wah Keung Chan

ˆâditeur et rˆ©dacteur en chef fondateur
La Scena Musicale
La SCENA
The Music Scene

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Printemps 2009 The Music Scene Ontario

• En page couverture : le Quatuor St. Lawrence
• L’Äôincoronazione di Poppea de Opera Atelier
• Tafelmusik sur la Crˆ©ation de Haydn
• Calgary Opera
• Guide: International Music and Arts Festivals

GUIDE

• Camps d'ˆ©tˆ© en arts et en musique
• Guide international des festivals d’Äôart

Distribution

• 2000 exemplaires : envois aux abonnˆ©s et membres du milieu artistique
• 3000 exemplaires : ˆ©coles de musique et d'arts pour faire un pont entre musiciens et artistes visuels
• Toronto: 15,000
• Ottawa: 5,000

Dates de tombˆ©e

• Sortie : 24 mars
  
• Date de tombˆ©e publicitaire : 17 mars
  
• Maquettes : 18 mars

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Printemps 2009 La SCENA / Avril 2009 La Scena Musicale

• En page couverture : Robert Lepage
• Calendrier des arts 3-mois. Envoyez vos ˆ©vˆ©nements ˆÝ artscal@scena.org
• plus d'autres articles (en dˆ©velopement)
• 
  
• En page couverture de LSM : Caroline Chehadˆ©
• L'article de CD Dˆ©couverte : la soprano Canadienne Colette Boky
• plus d'autres articles (en dˆ©velopement)

GUIDE

• Guide international des festivals d’Äôart et de musiques classiques

Distribution au Quˆ©bec de La Scena Musicale (25 000 exemplaires ; 90 % distribuˆ©e avant le 10 du mois)

• 2000 exemplaires : envois aux abonnˆ©s et membres du milieu artistique
• 4000 exemplaires : ˆ©coles de musique et d'arts pour faire un pont entre musiciens et artistes visuels
• 2000 exemplaires : kiosques ˆÝ journaux ˆÝ travers la province de Quˆ©bec (prix au dˆ©tail : 5,35 $)
• 2000 exemplaires : dans la ville de Quˆ©bec par distribution directe lors de manifestations culturelles
• 15000 exemplaires : en ville (Montrˆ©al) ˆÝ diffusion contrˆ¥lˆ©e (salles de concerts et spˆ©ctacles, magasines, etc)
  

Dates de tombˆ©e

• Sortie : 1 avril
  
• Date de tombˆ©e publicitaire : 23 mars (Info : http://ads.scena.org)
  
• Maquettes : 24 mars
  

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Pˆ©tition pour le rˆ©tablissement du financement par le Conseil des Arts du Canada en faveur des pˆ©riodiques ˆÝ diffusion contrˆ¥lˆ©e

Le Conseil des Arts du Canada, dans ses procˆ©dures de demande de subvention pour 2009, a abandonnˆ© le soutien qu'il accordait aux pˆ©riodiques ˆÝ diffusion contrˆ¥lˆ©e. Donc, La Scena Musicale (LSM), The Music Scene Ontario et La SCENA n’Äôont plus droit ˆÝ cette source de financement.

En 2007-08, le Conseil des Arts du Canada a subventionnˆ© 106 magazines d’Äôart et littˆ©raires pour un total de 2 661 900 $. D’Äôaprˆ®s nous, il faut traiter tous les pˆ©riodiques consacrˆ©s ˆÝ l’Äôart et ˆÝ la littˆ©rature de maniˆ®re juste et ˆ©quitable, ce qui signifie notamment que leurs demandes de soutien devraient ˆ�tre ˆ©tudiˆ©es par un jury. C’Äôest pourquoi La Scena Musicale a dˆ©cidˆ© de lancer une campagne visant ˆÝ faire annuler ce changement de politique.

Nous vous prions de manifester votre soutien ˆÝ l’Äôˆ©gard de tous les pˆ©riodiques d’Äôart ˆÝ diffusion contrˆ¥lˆ©e (y compris les nˆ¥tres) en signant la pˆ©tition et en la faisant circuler.

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

Pˆ©tition en ligne :

• Petition en franˆßais sur Mesopinions.com
  
• http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/restore-canada-council-funding-to-controlled-circulation-magazines
  
• 
  
• Groupe sur Facebook : Restore Canada Council Funding to Controlled-Circulation Magazines

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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 ˆÝ consulter pour trouver les festivals de musique et des arts internationaux et canadiens en 2009 (en imprimˆ© et en ligne). Les numˆ©ros suivants couvriront tous les festivals de 2009 :

• Festivals internationaux de musique classique et des arts : numˆ©ro de printemps 2009 de The Music Scene et numˆ©ro de printemps 2009 de La SCENA (comprenant le numˆ©ro d’Äôavril de La Scena Musicale).
• Festivals canadiens de jazz, de musique du monde et folk (plus festivals internatinonaux de jazz) : numˆ©ro de mai 2009 de La Scena Musicale. C’Äôest un numˆ©ro national (distribution doublˆ©e ˆÝ 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
• Festivals canadiens de musique classique et des arts : numˆ©ro d’Äôˆ©tˆ© 2009 de La SCENA (comprenant le numˆ©ro de juin de La Scena Musicale). C’Äôest un numˆ©ro national (distribution doublˆ©e ˆÝ 50 000 exemplaires) et les tarifs publicitaires sont 1,5 fois les tarifs habituels.
• Voir http://ads.scena.org pour plus d’Äôinformation.

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Guides 2008-2009

La Scena Musicale est reconnue comme un chef de file dans l’Äôinformation sur la musique et les arts. Visiter http://guides.scena.org pour notre liste de guides en 2008-2009

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Nouveau ˆÝ 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 aisˆ©e, informˆ©e et urbaine de 35 ans et plus, ou encore les musiciens et artistes professionnels ou ˆ©tudiants ?

La Scena Musicale vous invite chez 100 000 Canadiens parmi les plus instruits, avertis en matiˆ®re de culture et de consommation. Nos lecteurs sont passionnˆ©s de musique, de danse, de thˆ©ˆ¢tre, de cinˆ©ma et d’Äôarts visuels, et ils s’Äôintˆ©ressent ˆÝ la nourriture, la mode, la dˆ©coration.

Nos revues renommˆ©es La Scena Musicale, La SCENA et The Music Scene publient des articles et critiques qui font rˆ©flˆ©chir. La Scena Musicale et La SCENA sont les seules publications bilingues ˆÝ Montrˆ©al consacrˆ©es ˆÝ la musique (classique, jazz et musiques du monde) et aux arts (danse, thˆ©ˆ¢tre, cinˆ©ma et arts visuels). En plus, notre calendrier culturel est le plus complet au Canada et assure des lectures rˆ©pˆ©tˆ©es (plus de 225 000 par mois). Distribuˆ©es gratuitement dans certains foyers aisˆ©s (100 000 $ +), nos publications tiennent leur promesse. Nous sommes lus, et lus souvent.

ˆÄ NOTER:

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

Profil des lecteurs

• aisˆ©es, haute niveau d'instruction, 35 ans +, mˆ©lomanes
• Musiciens, artistes et ˆ©tudiants

Renseignements :

• Trousse mˆ©dia : http://ads.scena.org
• 514-948-0509
• sales@scena.org

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Faites mieux travailler votre budget !

Laissez LSM vous aider ˆÝ obtenir des prix plus concurrentiels pour vos imprimˆ©s (affiches, dˆ©pliants, brochures, programmes, etc.).

Forte de ses 15 annˆ©es d’Äôexpˆ©rience en achat d’Äôoutils de marketing chez des imprimeurs de partout au pays, LSM peut vous ouvrir un accˆ®s aux meilleurs prix d’Äôimpression existants. Investissez l’Äôargent ˆ©conomisˆ© dans de meilleures surfaces publicitaires (annonces plus grandes ou mieux placˆ©es) parmi les divers produits mˆ©dias de LSM.

ˆâCONOMISEZ dans vos imprimˆ©s et PROFITEZ d’Äôune meilleure visibilitˆ© !

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Dons et bˆ©nˆ©voles demandˆ©s

La Scena Musicale/The Music Scene est un organisme de bienfaisance enregistrˆ© 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 communautˆ© artistique, les mˆ©lomanes et les amateurs d’Äôart. Aidez-nous ˆÝ poursuivre notre travail avec un don (d'argent ou de biens) ou par du travail bˆ©nˆ©vole.

Communiquer avec nous au 514-948-2520 ou ˆÝ info@scena.org

Donnez ˆÝ CanaDon.org

N^o d’Äôorganisme de bienfaisance ˆÝ l’ÄôARC : 14199 6579 RR0001

L'Amour courtois et l'art des troubadours au Palais Montcalm - 21 mars

Une production du Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes

L'Amour courtois et l'art des troubadours au Palais Montcalm

Le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes prˆ©sente ¬´ Amour courtois ¬ª le samedi 21 mars 2009, ˆÝ 20 h, au Palais Montcalm. Sous la direction musicale et artistique de David Romprˆ©, le tˆ©nor Dominique Gagnˆ©, les luthistes Alexis Risler et Guy Ross, la claveciniste Anne-Marie Bernard et les soixante choristes du Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes proposeront les plus belles chansons d'amour des troubadours et des trouvˆ®res, composˆ©es ˆÝ la Renaissance pour se mˆ©riter la faveur des belles. Cette musique raffinˆ©e sera parfaitement servie par l'acoustique du nouveau Palais Montcalm.

Le jour de l'arrivˆ©e du printemps, le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes transforme le Palais Montcalm en cour d'amour d'un chˆ¢teau de la Renaissance. Le Ch‰ìur et les solistes invitˆ©s interprˆ©teront les magnifiques pages de la Renaissance franˆßaise et anglaise, que chantaient les troubadours lors des soirˆ©es d'amour courtois.

Sous la direction de David Romprˆ©, le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes, le tˆ©nor Dominique Gagnˆ©, les luthistes Alexis Risler et Guy Ross, et la claveciniste Anne’ÄëMarie Bernard feront revivre les plus belles pages de William Byrd, John Dowland, Orlande de Lassus, Guillaume Costeley et Clˆ©ment Jannequin. Une soirˆ©e raffinˆ©e, pour les amoureux de l'art vocal et des instruments d'ˆ©poque.

Le concert ¬´ Amour courtois ¬ª est prˆ©sentˆ© avec l'appui de STEAMATIC.

La saison 2008-2009 du Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes

Le 30 mai 2009, le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes prˆ©sentera Les Saisons de Haydn, pratiquement deux siˆ®cles jour pour jour aprˆ®s la mort du grand compositeur. Pour interprˆ©ter le cˆ©lˆ®bre oratorio seront rˆ©unis au Palais Montcalm prˆ®s de deux cents choristes, solistes et instrumentistes, sous la direction de Louis Lavigueur et David Romprˆ©. Ce concert est prˆ©sentˆ© avec l'appui de Assurances et Services Financiers des Amˆ©riques et INDUSTRIELLE ALLIANCE Valeurs mobiliˆ®res inc.

La saison 2008-2009 du Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes est produite en partenariat avec Assurances et Services Financiers des Amˆ©riques et INDUSTRIELLE ALLIANCE Valeurs mobiliˆ®res inc. L'ensemble de la saison 2008-2009 est commanditˆ© par VOYAGES FUNTASTIQUE et L'INSTITUT CANADIEN DES PRODUITS PˆâTROLIERS. Le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes bˆ©nˆ©ficie de l'appui du Service de la culture de la Ville de Quˆ©bec, du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quˆ©bec, du Conseil des Arts du Canada, de Patrimoine canadien, de Placements Culture, du ministˆ®re de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition fˆ©minine et de la Facultˆ© de Musique de l'Universitˆ© Laval.

ˆÄ propos du Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes

Le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes prˆ©sente en 2008-2009 sa 47^e saison. Il compte soixante choristes placˆ©s sous la direction musicale et artistique de David Romprˆ© depuis 2000. Le Ch‰ìur Les Rhapsodes est reconnu comme l'un des organismes musicaux majeurs de la Capitale nationale. Il a pour mission de promouvoir l'art musical et en particulier le chant choral, de dˆ©velopper de nouveaux publics et de favoriser le dˆ©veloppement des nouveaux talents ˆÝ Quˆ©bec en engageant ˆÝ chacun des concerts de sa saison des solistes et instrumentistes professionnels de la rˆ©gion. Pour plus d'information, visitez le site Internet du Ch‰ìur, www.lesrhapsodes.com

Ontario Music Centre 2009

Attendees at 2009 Ontario Music Centre music camp will make music, dine daily with Juno Award nominees

Everyone who attends the 2009 Ontario Music Centre (OMC) music camp this summer will have an opportunity that most amateur and professional musicians can only dream of: to make music, learn from and dine on a daily basis with several 2009 Juno Award nominees.

Michael Occhipinti, a guitarist and the artistic director of the camp’Äîwhich runs this year from August 2 to 16 in Lakefield, Ontario’Äîrecently was nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, for the recording 'Sicilian Jazz Project.' This is the eighth time Michael's musicianship has been honoured in this way. With his band The Sicilian Jazz Project, Michael creates contemporary works based on the traditional pieces, incorporating new voicings, rhythms and harmonies. Also an extraordinary music educator, Michael will be teaching guitar and composition at the music camp.

Barry Romberg is a drummer who, with his Random Access Large Ensemble, also has been nominated this year in the category of Contemporary Jazz Album, for the CD 'Existential Detective.' Last April, the band won the Best Electric Band Award at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. Barry will teach percussion during the first week of the OMC music camp, August 2-9. That week focuses on jazz, world and folk traditions.

Vocalist Maryem Tollar and saxaphone and Arabic flute player Ernie Tollar have been nominated for the World Music Album of the Year for their CD 'Cairo to Toronto.' They will be instructors during the first week of the music camp.

Michael, Barry, Maryem and Ernie will perform at a concert on August 6. The rest of the OMC's faculty members will perform at concerts August 3 and 10. The concerts are open to camp attendees and anyone from Lakefield and beyond; a small fee is charged to people who are not attending the camp.

WHAT: Ontario Music Centre's Summer Camp, Lakefield College School, Lakefield

WHO: Faculty members include Juno Award nominees Michael Occhipinti, Barry Romberg, Maryem Tollar and Ernie Tollar

WHEN: August 2-9 (Jazz, World and Folk Traditions) and August 9-16 (Classical, Chamber, World and Folk Traditions)

WEBSITE: www.cammaclakefield.ca

March 2009 - Next The Music Scene, La Scena Musicale and La SCENA

[Version franˆßaise]

It’Äôs a busy March as we work on three magazines: The Music Scene Ontario Spring 2009 issue, La Scena Musicale April 2009 issue and La SCENA’Äôs Spring 2009 issue featuring on the cover an exclusive interview with Robert Lepage.

The Music Scene Ontario’Äôs Spring issue comes out March 24 and features our annual Guide to Summer Music and Arts Camps, as well as our Guide to International Arts Festivals, both essential tools to organize the summer. On the cover, The St. Lawrence String Quartet celebrates their 20th anniversary and looks back at their incredible career. Joseph So looks into the history behind Monteverdi’Äôs L’Äôincoronazione di Poppea and its period production by Opera Atelier, and Jeanne Lamon talks about Tafelmusik’Äôs approach to Haydn with their upcoming performance of his Creation. Also featured is Quartetto Gelato’Äôs reentrance into the touring scene with their two newest members, and a look into the dynamic Calgary Opera. In addition, our International Festival picks, Southern Ontario Vocal and Instrumental Previews and CD Reviews. The Music Scene Ontario will be distributed in Toronto and Ottawa and music schools across Canada. The deadline for advertising is March 17.

On the cover of La SCENA is Canadian director Robert Lepage who discusses his new theatre production The Blue Dragon and his operatic staging. Reviews of Blue Dragon and Lepage’Äôs staging of Berlioz’Äôs Damnation of Faust will also accompany the feature. La Scena Musicale’Äôs April issue (inserted in La SCENA) will feature young Canadian violinist Caroline Chehadˆ© and the April Discovery CD is an unpublished Schubert recital of Canadian soprano Colette Boky who recently published her autobiography. The combined issue will also contain our 2nd annual guide to International arts and classical music festivals. The deadline for advertising is March 23rd.

Reach over 50,000 readers with 25,000 copies distributed in Montreal and the province of Quebec. La Scena Musicale/La SCENA 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 225,000 viewings per month. The Music Scene also features excellent editorial and 50,000 readers, only without a detailed calendar.

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, please visit http://www.scena.org/LaSCENACard

Yours sincerely,

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

____________________________________________________________

Upcoming Issues:

The Music Scene Ontario: Spring 2009 Issue

• On the cover: St. Lawrence String Quartet at 20
• Opera Atelier's L’Äôincoronazione di Poppea
• Tafelmusik on Haydn's Creation
• Calgary Opera
• Guide: International Music and Arts Festivals

Circulation: 25,000 copies in Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa) and schools across Canada

• Toronto: 16,000
• Ottawa: 4,000
• Schools across Canada: 3000
• Mailing: 2,000

Appearance: March 24
Ad Deadline: March 17
Artwork deadline: March 18

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Spring 2009 La SCENA / April 2009 La Scena Musicale

• On the cover: Robert Lepage
• Guide: International Music and Arts Festivals
• 3-month calendar and Event picks, send listings to artscal@scena.org
• plus more features in development
• Theme: Careers
• 
  
• On the cover of LSM: Canadian violinist Caroline Chehadˆ©
• Discovery CD Feature: Canadian soprano Colette Boky
• Other features in development
• Plus our regular features: regional calednar, jazz and world music sections.

GUIDE

• International Classical Music and Arts Festivals (International Jazz festivals will appear in the May National Jazz issue)

Distribution (25,000 copies; 90% distribution by the first 7 to 10 days):

• 2000 copies: mailed to paying and non-paying subscribers (including the music and arts industry)
• 15000 copies: controlled circulation at cultural venues, record stores, schools, etc. in Montreal
• 4000 copies: Music and Arts Schools targeting students and educators in Montreal and the province of Quebec.
• 2000 copies: Quebec City
• 2000 copies: newsstands in Quebec

Deadlines:

• Distribution: April 1, 2009
• Display ad reservations: March 23 (info : http://ads.scena.org)
  
• Materials: March 24
  

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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

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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 and the Spring 2009 issue of La SCENA (including the April issue of La Scena Musicale).
• 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: Summer 2009 issue of La SCENA (including the June 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.

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

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Guides / Directories 2008-2009

La Scena Musicale has proven to be a leader in providing music and arts information. Visit http://guides.scena.org for our list of guides for 2008-2009

_______________________________________________________________________________________

New LSM Online Feature:

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

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Advertise with us and reach Canada’Äôs 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’Äôs 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.org or 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’Ķ).

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 ’Äòreal estate’Äô (larger ads and/or better ad positioning) in LSM through its varied media product offering.

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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

Rainer Hersch with the WSO

Rainer Hersch presents new orchestra show:

Last Night of the Proms...Ever!

Rainer Hersch, musician, comedian and conductor

Lindsay Sutherland Boal, soprano soloist

Friday, March 27 at 8pm

Saturday, March 28 at 8pm

Sunday, March 29 at 2pm

’ÄúYou really have to see (Hersch) live to appreciate how skillfully he can weave together music and mirth. And the beauty of it is that you don't have to know your Bach from your Elgar to appreciate the punch lines."

- Evening Standard Comedy Choice

A perennial favourite of Winnipeg Symphony and Fringe Festival audiences, Rainer Hersch (click for bio) returns to the river city, following a year hiatus, to perform a brand new show with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The Last Night of the Proms’ĶEver! pokes fun at all things British and musical and parodies the jewel of the British concert season, the BBC Proms**.

Though Britain has no official national anthem, several songs have made their way in to the heart of British patriotic repertoire ’Äì Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, God Save the Queen, Danny Boy and Scotland the Brave ’Äì and Rainer (respectfully) takes aim at them all.

With the help of the top-notch WSO musicians and soprano Lindsay Sutherland Boal (click for bio), Rainer will navigate the world of ’Äòpomp and circumstance’Äô that is British classical music. Whether you know anything about classical music or not makes no difference ’Äì maestro Rainer Hersch presents a program of truly classic comedy.

Caring for the Caregivers

This concert, an uplifting mix of music and comedy, is also an opportunity for the WSO to honour Winnipeg healthcare workers for their outstanding contributions to our community. Thanks to generous support from Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Great-West Life and Manitoba Artists in Healthcare, the WSO has invited these caregivers to the Friday night performance.

Ticket Info

Tickets for Rainer Hersch’Äôs Last Night of the Proms range from $28.50 to $65.00 and are available through the WSO box office at 949-3999, online at www.wso.mb.ca or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

As a thank-you for their hard work and dedication to our community, Winnipeg firefighters, police and paramedics may purchase tickets for any of the three performances for $25 (best available seats, excluding loge).

**The BBC Proms is an eight-week concert series featuring daily classical music events throughout London that has been a tradition for over one hundred years. The Last Night of the Proms concert features light classics and the most well-loved and patriotic of British music, including Elgar’Äôs Pomp and Circumstance Marches.

Symphony Nova Scotia

Symphony Nova Scotia announces its 2009-10 season

Halifax, NS ’Äì Symphony Nova Scotia is delighted to announce its 2009-10 concert season! This season the orchestra brings you more of the music you love ’Äì more classical heavyweights, more Canadian and Maritime content, and more of Nova Scotia’Äôs best artists and bands.

’ÄúWe enter our next quarter-century of music-making with a bang, and what a bang ’Äì from the complete Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream by Mendelssohn to ABBA!’Äù says Music Director Bernhard Gueller.

’ÄúWe are proud to present exciting and celebrated soloists in exciting and celebrated works. Our 2009-10 concerts include the Dvo‰ôˆ°k Festival, where we’Äôll perform his cello and violin concertos with the Eighth and Ninth symphonies. We will also welcome back Anton Kuerti, along with Suzie LeBlanc, JoAnn Falletta, John McDermott, Jeanne Lamon, Ashley MacIsaac, and Howard Cable.’Äù

Subscriptions are available now for 2009-10. Highlights include:

CELEBRITY SERIES: nine incredible classical music concerts

• The 2009-10 season kicks off with Mendelssohn’Äôs A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream ’Äì complete with narrator and expanded orchestra ’Äì on the 200^th anniversary of the composer’Äôs birth.
• Canadian pianist extraordinaire Anton Kuerti joins the orchestra to perform Mozart’Äôs Piano Concerto K. 271.
• Audiences will have a rare opportunity to hear Schubert’Äôs Death and the Maiden, one of Maestro Gueller’Äôs personal favourites, arranged for full orchestra and conducted by JoAnn Falletta.
• And then, the annual composer festival continues with the music of Dvo‰ôˆ°k. Symphony Nova Scotia performs some of this brilliant composer’Äôs greatest works, including the New World Symphony and the beautiful Cello Concerto.

POPS SERIES: eight lively Trad and Maritime Pops performances

• Maestro Gueller conducts the greatest hits of ABBA with six-piece Finnish ensemble Rajaton.
• One of Canada’Äôs most exciting and innovative violinists, Owen Pallett (a.k.a. Final Fantasy), joins the orchestra as part of the Halifax Pop Explosion.
• Howard Cable calls big band music the ’Äúmost memorable and evocative sounds of the 20^th century.’Äù He conducts a huge salute to the ’Äúswing years’Äù with Peter Appleyard in Symphonic Swing.
• Local favourites and ECMA-winners like Jenn Grant, David Myles, and MIR light up the Maritime Pops series.

BAROQUE SERIES: three exquisite concerts in an intimate venue, plus Handel’Äôs Dublin Messiah

• Tafelmusik’Äôs incomparable Jeanne Lamon joins the orchestra once again to perform selections from the Baroque masters, including Bach’Äôs Wedding Cantata and Handel’Äôs brilliant Concerto Grosso.
• Virtuoso violinist David Greenberg performs ’ÄúDelirium Amoris’Äù ’Äì a concert full of the most passionate Baroque music ever written.
• The orchestra performs Bach’Äôs magnificent Mass in b minor for the first time in more than a decade.
• Baroque specialist Kevin Mallon conducts Handel’Äôs Dublin Messiah. To honour the 250^th anniversary of Handel’Äôs death, the orchestra will perform the original version of Messiah.

SYMPHONY SUNDAYS: this matinee series returns with three encore performances

• Symphony Nova Scotia’Äôs principal oboist Suzanne Lemieux performs one of the most beautiful pieces in the oboe repertoire, Strauss’Äô Oboe Concerto.
• Irish tenor John McDermott will warm the heart with beloved favourites from years gone by.
• Hear a concert of contrasts as Janina Fialkowska joins the orchestra for a performance featuring both Chopin and Beethoven.

AND MORE’Ķ

• DRUM! comes to the Symphony this fall. Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with this incredible production to create a show-stopping DRUM! extravaganza.
• The All-Ages (formerly Family) concerts include our annual holiday hit The Nutcracker, along with Holly’Äôs Magic Brush, a very special multisensory concert for adults and children and everyone in between.
• The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra joins Symphony Nova Scotia for a performance of three spectacular works by Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Britten.

A brochure describing Symphony Nova Scotia’Äôs 2009-10 season is available by calling the box office at 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or by visiting the Symphony Nova Scotia website at http://www.symphonynovascotia.ca/.

Single tickets for Symphony Nova Scotia’Äôs 2009-10 season go on sale August 1, 2009. Subscriptions ’Äì including U-Pick subscriptions ’Äì are available now.

Subscribers receive a host of rewards, including savings of up to 30%, the best available seats in the house, a free open rehearsal pass, free e-programs, and an exclusive subscriber rewards card. And if you're under 30, you can save even more ’Äì up to 60% ’Äì with the Symphony's Under-30 U-Pick.

To purchase a subscription, call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669 today!

About Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’Äôs orchestra ’Äì and we play the music Nova Scotians love, from baroque and classical to pop and rock and folk. Each year our 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 us in 2009-10!

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.

Faculty of Music presents Darryl Edwards voice recital

Faculty of Music presents Darryl Edwards in recital

TORONTO ’Äì The University of Toronto Faculty of Music presents Earth, Water, Wind and Fire, a vocal recital featuring faculty artists Darryl Edwards, tenor, with Liz Upchurch, piano, Friday, March 20, 7:30 pm, in Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queens Park. Tickets ($25 adults and $15 seniors/students) can be purchased at the box office in person or by calling 416-978-3744.

This is the final concert in the Faculty Artist Series, featuring tenor Darryl Edwards and pianist Liz Upchurch in a widely varied program showcasing art song, Shakespeare songs with lutenist John Edwards, and a dramatic cantata with mezzo-soprano Erin Crooks. Operatic selections round out the program, from Mozart's Idomeneo to Toronto composer Raymond Luedeke's I Confess, I Have Lived, based on the stormy poetry of Nobel winner Pablo Neruda. Each selection portrays vivid human emotions ’Äì fear, love, longing for home ’Äì experienced and described in terms of the visceral, concrete world around us, made of earth, water, wind and fire.

Tenor DARRYL EDWARDS has appeared to critical acclaim in oratorio, recital, and opera in England, Germany, France, Italy, Corsica, the United States, and across Canada. His recent and upcoming engagements include Kodˆ°ly's Psalmus Hungaricus with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Verdi Requiem at Dalhousie University: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Orff's Carmina Burana with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Mozart Requiem with the Toronto Philharmonia, and Handel's Messiah with the Elmer Iseler Singers.

Darryl Edwards is the Artistic Director of the Centre for Opera in Sulmona, Italy, and the Concert Opera Group. His voice students appear with major companies and orchestras across Canada, the United States and Europe (Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, New York City Opera, Philadelphia Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Bavarian State Opera’Äì Munich, Zurich Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Greek National Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company). He has served as the Ontario District Governor of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and is the voice columnist for the Canadian Music Educator.

Critics praise him as a "rich-voiced, cultured tenor who mastered the high notes effortlessly" (Coburg Tageblatt, Germany), and an "effective communicator who expressed the text with sensitivity and fervour" (Hamilton Spectator). His recordings and broadcasts include performances with American National Public Radio (NPR), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Radio 2), and the Canadian Music Centre (Centrediscs).

LIZ UPCHURCH is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, where she won several prizes as solo pianist and accompanist. As a music director, vocal coach and repetiteur she has worked in 21st-century and traditional opera, music theatre and theatre. She has also covered a wide range of working techniques with singers, actors and instrumentalists in community and educational projects. For many years she worked with young artists at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh where she played for masterclasses with artists such as Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Suzanne Danco, William Pleeth and Dame Joan Sutherland. Ms Upchurch has also worked at the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg festival in Germany and the National Theatre in London. She held a faculty position in the 20th-century Opera and Song program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and was repetiteur and chorus director at Edmonton Opera. As a pianist she has performed all over Europe and has been broadcast with the BBC, Norwegian Radio and the CBC. Ms Upchurch also appeared as a judge on Bravo’Äôs hit series, Bathroom Divas: So you want to be an opera singer!

Featuring music faculty members, the FACULTY ARTIST SERIES has a long tradition of presenting some of Canada’Äôs 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 http://www.music.utoronto.ca/ or contact the Box Office at 416-978-3744.

Local Composer and Professor to Present Pre-Concert Lecture at Elijah, March 31

Composer and Bowdoin Music Professor Elliott Schwartz to Present Pre-Concert Lecture on Mendelssohn's Elijah, March 31

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Felix Mendelssohn's birth, Portland's Choral Art Society will perform Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah in its full splendor on Tuesday, March 31, at Merrill Auditorium. Local composer and Bowdoin Professor of Music Elliott Schwartz will present a lecture in the auditorium before the concert, at 6:30 p.m.

Born and raised in New York City, Elliott Schwartz studied composition at Columbia University. In 1964 he began teaching at Bowdoin College, where he chaired the Music department for twelve 12 years, and is now the Robert K. Beckwith Professor of Music. A prolific composer, lecturer and author, Schwartz's works have been performed by orchestras around the world.

A hallmark among 19th century oratorios, Elijah depicts the dramatic story of the Old Testament prophet Elijah, who, according to the Book of Kings, raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended to Heaven in a whirlwind. Mendelssohn evokes the full power of this dramatic story in his setting for orchestra and chorus.

The Choral Art Society will perform Elijah under the baton of music director Robert Russell, with the 120 voice Masterworks Chorus, members of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, and guest soloists Lisa Saffer (soprano), Jennifer DeDominici (mezzo-soprano), John McVeigh (tenor) and Philip Cutlip (bass). Cutlip returns to Portland following his memorable performance in Brahms's Requiem in 2008. Portland resident Lisa Saffer is well known for her performances in the operas of Handel, many of which have been released on the Harmonia Mundi label.

Elijah will be performed at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m., with the lecture starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$47 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or http://www.porttix.com/. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle Street, Monday through Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m.

About The Choral Art Society:
The Choral Art Society is comprised of more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus; the mid-sized Choral Art Singers; and the intimate a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition. The Society offers an annual concert series and appears regularly as guests of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is the conductor and artistic director of The Choral Art Society.

For more information about The Choral Art Society and the 2008-09 performances visit http://www.choralart.org/ or call (207) 828-0043.

April Concert Listings

The VSO’Äôs April Concert Listings

Vancouver BC ’Äì Spring is in full swing in April, and so is the VSO! The month’Äôs journey begins in the Baroque era with a Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets matinee on April 2^nd, featuring host Christopher Gaze, conductor Evan Mitchell, and featured members of the VSO’Äôs cello section: Janet Steinberg and Zoltan Rozsnyai. Next up, we Stay Tuned with Five by Design ’Äì a trip down memory lane to the golden era of television in the London Drugs VSO Pops series. The same weekend sees the orchestra perform for children and families with Dandi Productions, in the Spectra Energy VSO Kids Koncerts series.

One of classical music’Äôs most exciting superstars performs with the VSO on April 17^th: Joshua Bell, hailed as the ’Äúgreatest American violinist active today.’Äù Bell will perform Lalo’Äôs Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra in an all-Spanish night also featuring Ravel’Äôs Bolero.

From Argentina, pianist Ingrid Fliter is a major star who makes her VSO debut playing Chopin on April 19^th and 20^th. The following weekend, another great pianist ’Äì local prodigy turned international star Avan Yu ’Äì takes a turn with the VSO performing Rachmaninoff’Äôs Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, one of the most popular piano works of all time. Avan Yu performs with the Symphony three times, April 25^th to 27^th.

Another great, action-packed month at the VSO!

CONCERT INFO

Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets Series:

The Best of Baroque

Thursday, April 2, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Janet Steinberg, cello*

Zoltan Rozsnyai, cello*

Gabrieli Canzona, Primi Toni

JS Bach Suite No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066;

Overture; Courante; Gavotte I; Minuet II; Passpied

Jeremiah Clarke The Prince of Denmark’Äôs March

Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor, RV531*

Gabrieli Sonata Piane Forte

Handel Water Music

Overture; Air; Minuet; Bouree; Hornpipe

Pachelbel Canon

Ah, Bach. The beautiful sounds of Baroque will weave their gossamer webs throughout the Orpheum. You will be enchanted by the music of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and of course, Pachelbel’Äôs Canon.

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:

Stay Tuned!

Friday & Saturday, April 3 & 4, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Five By Design, entertainers

Following in the tradition of the Modernaires, Manhattan Transfer and New York Voices, the extraordinarily talented singers of Five by Design present their latest show: Stay Tuned, a trip down memory lane ’Äì in Variety Show style ’Äì to the early days of television. Re-live the good times, unique characters, and great tunes of a truly golden era in entertainment.

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

April 4 Concert Sponsor: Craftsman Collision

Radio Sponsor: CHQM-FM

Spectra Energy Kids’Äô Koncerts Series:

Dandi Productions: The Mysterious Maestro

Sunday, April 5, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Dandi Productions, entertainers

The Mysterious Maestro is a concert-story about a little girl named Hannah who loves to sing..who moves to a town where music is forbidden; a town named Hamelin, about thirty years after the infamous Pied Piper led all Hamelin’Äôs children away. Her passion for music eventually wins out, and music is restored to Hamelin. A bewitching concert featuring the music of Verdi, Mendelssohn, Liszt and Villa-Lobos, with top notch performances by Dandi Productions.

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

Specials

Joshua Bell with the VSO!

Friday, April 17, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Joshua Bell, violin

Chabrier Espaˆ±a

Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccioso espagnol, Op. 34

Ravel Bolero

Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21

The VSO is proud to perform with Joshua Bell, hailed as one of the greatest violinists of the last fifty years. Thrill to a concert filled with music flavoured by the full-blooded passion of Spain. Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts.

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

Masterworks Diamond Series:

Great Classics: Ingrid Fliter Plays Chopin

Saturday & Monday, April 18 & 20, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor

Ingrid Fliter, piano

Mendelssohn Ruy Blas Overture, Op. 95

Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op. 21

Schumann Symphony No.1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38, Spring

Wherever award-winning Argentine pianist Ingrid Fliter goes, accolades follow. The world has caught on: this pianist is a major star. Hear her VSO debut, performing the beautiful music of Chopin.

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:

April 20 Concert Sponsor: Canadian Western Bank

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series:

Great Romantics: Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Stravinsky

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

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Avan Yu, piano*

Debussy Prˆ©lude ˆÝ L’Äôaprˆ®s-midi d’Äôun faune

Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini*

Stravinsky Petrouchka

Beauty, enchantment, and excitement: these words merely begin to describe the music of Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky. Hometown pianist Avan Yu’Äôs career is skyrocketing, and we are happy to have him on the Orpheum stage once again.

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

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

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

Beltone Symphony Sundays Series:

Great Romantics: Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Stravinsky

Sunday, April 26, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Avan Yu, piano*

Debussy Prˆ©lude ˆÝ L’Äôaprˆ®s-midi d’Äôun faune

Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini*

Stravinsky Petrouchka

Beauty, enchantment, and excitement: these words merely begin to describe the music of Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky. Hometown pianist Avan Yu’Äôs career is skyrocketing, and we are happy to have him on the Orpheum stage once again.

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

Symphony Nova Scotia presents Bach to Bach: A Choral Celebration

Symphony Nova Scotia presents Bach to Bach: A Choral Celebration

Halifax, NS ’Äì Conductor Jeff Joudrey and the Halifax Camerata Singers combine with Symphony Nova Scotia and soloists Shannon Mercer (soprano), Christianne Rushton (mezzo soprano), Ryan Billington (tenor), Peter Groom (bass), and Richard Simoneau (trumpet) to bring you the timeless choral works of J.S. Bach on Sunday, March 22 at 2:00 pm at St. Andrew's Church.

The program of music exclusively by Bach includes Cantata no. 4, Mass in G Major, and Cantata no. 51, "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen."

"I can't wait to share this incredible music with our baroque audience!" says chorus master Jeff Joudrey.

"The great Cantata no. 4 for Easter Sunday with its solos, duets, and fantastic choruses is a perfect contrast to Cantata no. 51 "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" (Praise God in every Nation), written for soprano soloist and trumpet. The Lutheran Mass in G major will round out the program perfectly."

Don't miss this opportunity to experience music that has stood the test of time, performed by world-class singers and musicians from across our region.

Get your tickets now! General admission seats to Symphony Nova Scotia concerts at St. Andrew's United Church are $47.50 (HST included), or you can pick up a subscription and save up to 30%. Student and group discounts are also available. Call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

About Jeff Joudrey

Conductor Jeff Joudrey is highly regarded for his vision, musical leadership, and standards of excellence in choral music. Founder of the First Baptist Girls' Choir (1983) and Halifax Camerata Singers (1986), his leadership has provided challenging and rewarding choral opportunities for many Nova Scotia singers. In addition to being Director of Music at First Baptist Church, Jeff is Chorus Master of the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus and is in demand as a guest conductor, choral clinician, teacher, and adjudicator.

About the Halifax Camerata Singers

The Halifax Camerata Singers are an auditioned ensemble of dedicated singers from across Nova Scotia. They are the province's leading chamber choir, performing an extensive repertoire covering all periods and styles. Camerata has a reputation for performance excellence that sets a high standard, even in a province known for its rich musical tradition.

About Shannon Mercer

Shannon Mercer is taking on the opera world as one of Canada's most promising young stars. Critically acclaimed by the international press for her musical artistry, she has been hailed as "one of Canada's most promising young sopranos" and a "Leader of Tomorrow" (Maclean's). She has been particularly praised for her performances of baroque and contemporary music.

About Christianne Rushton

Recognized as a rising talent in a new generation of Canadian artists, mezzo-soprano Christianne Rushton's recent performances have included the title roles of Orpheus in Gluck's Orpheus and Eurydice with Opera Nova Scotia and l'Enfant in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilˆ®ges, with the Juilliard Opera Center. Christianne is currently head of the voice faculty at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia where she teaches voice, vocal pedagogy and opera history.

About Ryan Billington

Ryan Billington is an assistant professor at St. Francis Xavier University, where he teaches voice, vocal improvisation, arranging, and vocal jazz ensembles, while conducting a growing family of university choirs. He is currently building a comprehensive performance program at St. FX for vocal musicians, which includes classes in voice pedagogy, diction for contemporary singers, vocal arranging, art song literature, and conducting.

Peter Groom, baritone

Baritone Peter Groom moved to Sackville, New Brunswick in 2006 from Regina, Saskatchewan, where he was head of the Voice Department at the University of Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts. A frequent performer in oratorio and recital, Peter has performed works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Vaughan Williams and others with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and other Western Canadian ensembles.

About Richard Simoneau

Principal trumpet with Symphony Nova Scotia since 1996, Richard Simoneau has become well-known as a soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia audiences. Born in 1970 in Quebec City, he pursued his studies at the Quebec and then Montreal Conservatories, graduating in May 1994. Richard has since played with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic and the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa before moving to his current position with Symphony Nova Scotia.

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.

Nomination de Robert Pilon au poste de secrˆ©taire gˆ©nˆ©ral

For English version, see below Nomination de Robert Pilon au poste de secrˆ©taire gˆ©nˆ©ral du comitˆ© de pilotage de Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle : un nouvel ˆ©lan pour la rˆ©alisation du Plan d'action 2007-2017 Montrˆ©al, le 13 mars 2009 - Dans la foulˆ©e de la premiˆ®re annˆ©e de mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action 2007-2017 nˆ© du Rendez-vous novembre 2007 - Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle, les membres du comitˆ© de pilotage ont nommˆ© un secrˆ©taire gˆ©nˆ©ral, M. Robert Pilon, qui aura pour mandat d'accˆ©lˆ©rer la rˆ©alisation des projets. ¬´ La Chambre de commerce du Montrˆ©al mˆ©tropolitain est trˆ®s heureuse que les partenaires responsables de la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action 2007-2017 se soient entendus pour l'embauche d'un coordonnateur de haut niveau, M. Robert Pilon. Le Plan d'action est ambitieux et exige de l'ensemble des acteurs publics et privˆ©s un engagement rˆ©el. Dˆ©jˆÝ, plusieurs projets ont vu le jour ou sont en cours de rˆ©alisation. Cependant, les dˆ©fis de la mise en oeuvre simultanˆ©e de multiples initiatives sont nombreux. Robert Pilon possˆ®de toute l'expertise et tout le dynamisme requis pour faire avancer rapidement les dossiers ¬ª, a dˆ©clarˆ© Michel Leblanc, prˆ©sident et chef de la direction de la Chambre de commerce du Montrˆ©al mˆ©tropolitain. ¬´ Robert Pilon est la personne toute dˆ©signˆ©e pour coordonner efficacement les efforts des nombreux collaborateurs impliquˆ©s dans la rˆ©alisation des diffˆ©rents projets mis de l'avant ˆÝ l'occasion du Rendez-vous novembre 2007 - Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle. Son excellente connaissance du milieu culturel ainsi que son expertise, associˆ©e ˆÝ celle des membres du comitˆ© de pilotage, contribueront trˆ®s certainement ˆÝ accˆ©lˆ©rer la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action 2007-2017. L'arrivˆ©e de M. Pilon donnera assurˆ©ment un nouvel ˆ©lan ˆÝ la mise en commun de nos forces collectives, et ce, pour le plus grand bˆ©nˆ©fice de notre mˆ©tropole et du plein dˆ©veloppement de sa vitalitˆ© culturelle ¬ª, a renchˆ©ri Simon Brault, prˆ©sident de Culture Montrˆ©al et prˆ©sident du comitˆ© de pilotage. ¬´ ˆÄ titre de membre du comitˆ© de pilotage, mais aussi ˆÝ titre de reprˆ©sentant de la communautˆ© des affaires, je tiens ˆÝ assurer Robert Pilon de mon entiˆ®re collaboration. ˆâconomie et culture sont les ingrˆ©dients d'une mˆ�me ˆ©quation pour quiconque a ˆÝ coeur la prospˆ©ritˆ© de Montrˆ©al. Je suis fermement convaincu que soutenir le dˆ©veloppement de la vitalitˆ© culturelle de notre mˆ©tropole, c'est aussi consolider les assises fondamentales de notre ˆ©conomie : le talent, la crˆ©ativitˆ© et l'innovation ¬ª, a ajoutˆ© Michel Leblanc. ¬´ Plusieurs leaders influents de la communautˆ© des affaires ont acceptˆ© de collaborer ˆ©troitement ˆÝ la mise en oeuvre du Plan d'action : Diane Giard de la Banque Scotia; Jacques Parisien d'Astral Media Radio et d'Astral Media Affichage; ainsi que Javier San Juan, de L'Orˆ©al Canada. Je suis trˆ®s fier de faire ˆ©quipe avec eux, et ce, tout particuliˆ®rement dans le contexte ˆ©conomique actuel, oˆ¼ nous devons redoubler d'ardeur ¬ª, a conclu Michel Leblanc. ˆÄ propos du Rendez-vous novembre 2007 - Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle En novembre 2007, la Ville de Montrˆ©al, les gouvernements du Canada et du Quˆ©bec, la Chambre de commerce du Montrˆ©al mˆ©tropolitain et Culture Montrˆ©al ont donnˆ© rendez-vous aux milieux de la culture et des affaires. Avec pour objectif d'accˆ©lˆ©rer le dˆ©veloppement de Montrˆ©al, mˆ©tropole culturelle d'envergure internationale, quelque 1 300 Montrˆ©alais se sont appropriˆ© un plan d'action construit sur un horizon de dix ans. Ce plan d'action comprend cinq grandes orientations : Amˆ©liorer l'accˆ®s ˆÝ la culture - Investir dans les arts et la culture - Enrichir la qualitˆ© culturelle du cadre de vie - Favoriser le rayonnement de Montrˆ©al au Canada et ˆÝ l'ˆ©tranger - Fournir ˆÝ Montrˆ©al les moyens d'une mˆ©tropole culturelle. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appointment of Robert Pilon as secretary general of the Steering committee for Montrˆ©al, cultural metropolis: New impetus for the 2007-2017 Action Plan Montrˆ©al, March 13, 2009 - In the wake of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the 2007-2017 Action Plan formulated during Rendez-vous November 2007 - Montrˆ©al, cultural metropolis, the members of the steering committee have named a secretary-general, Robert Pilon, whose mandate will be to accelerate the accomplishment of the projects. "The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is delighted that the partners responsible for implementing the 2007-2017 Action Plan have agreed to hire a high-level coordinator, Mr. Robert Pilon. The Action Plan is ambitious and requires a real commitment from all public- and private-sector players. Already, several projects have been accomplished or are under way. Nevertheless, there are many challenges involved in the simultaneous implementation of numerous initiatives. Mr. Pilon has the expertise and energy needed to quickly move these projects forward," declared Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. "Robert Pilon is the ideal person to efficiently coordinate the efforts of the many collaborators involved in carrying out the various projects proposed during Rendez-vous November 2007 - Montrˆ©al, cultural metropolis. His in-depth knowledge of the cultural milieu and his expertise, combined with that of the members of the steering committee, will certainly help accelerate the implementation of the 2007-2017 Action Plan. The arrival of Mr. Pilon will no doubt give fresh impetus to the pooling of our collective strengths for the greater benefit of our metropolis and the full development of its cultural vitality," added Simon Brault, President of Culture Montrˆ©al and Chair of the steering committee. "As both a member of the steering committee and a representative of the business community, I would like to assure Mr. Pilon of my full cooperation. Culture and the economy are part of the same equation for anyone committed to the prosperity of Montrˆ©al. I am firmly convinced that supporting the development of our city's cultural vitality will necessarily strengthen the cornerstones of our economy: talent, creativity, and innovation," added Leblanc. "A number of influential business leaders have agreed to work closely on the implementation of the Action Plan: Diane Giard, of Scotiabank, Jacques Parisien, of Astral Media Radio and Astral Media Outdoor, and Javier San Juan, of L'Orˆ©al Canada. I am very proud to team with them on this initiative, particularly given today's difficult economic situation, when we must redouble our efforts," concluded Leblanc. About Rendez-vous November 2007 - Montrˆ©al, cultural metropolis In November 2007, the City of Montrˆ©al, the governments of Canada and Quebec, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, and Culture Montrˆ©al brought the business and cultural sectors together for a two-day meeting. With the goal of accelerating the development of Montrˆ©al as a world-class cultural metropolis, some 1,300 Montrealers generated a 10-year action plan organized around five major objectives: improve access to culture, invest in culture and the arts, enrich the cultural quality of the living environment, enhance Montrˆ©al's reputation in Canada and internationally, and provide Montrˆ©al with the means of a cultural metropolis.

UNE EXPERTISE BRANCHˆâE SUR LE MONDE WHERE PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES CONNECT

Absinthe: concert d'Alex Cattaneo au MAI / Absinthe: a concert by Alex Cattaneo presented at the MAI

Spectacle Absinthe d'Alex Cattaneo : du 26 au 28 mars au MAI
Place ˆÝ l'improvisation !
(Musique arabe contemporaine)
English version will follow

Lancement de l'album Absinthe, jeudi 26 mars 2009, de 17h ˆÝ 19h au cafˆ© du MAI (entrˆ©e libre)
Concerts du jeudi 26 au samedi 28 mars ˆÝ 20h
Conversation avec les artistes vendredi 27 mars aprˆ®s le spectacle

Montrˆ©al, le 12 mars 2009 - Dans le cadre de sa sˆ©rie musique Circulation, le MAI (Montrˆ©al, arts interculturels) accueille dans son thˆ©ˆ¢tre le guitariste et compositeur de renom Alex Cattaneo pour le spectacle Absinthe, du jeudi 26 au samedi 28 mars ˆÝ 20h. Sur scˆ®ne, M. Cattaneo s'entoure de Sheila Hannigan au violoncelle, d'Annick Beauvais au hautbois, de Guillaume Bourque ˆÝ la clarinette ainsi que des trois percussionnistes Eric Breton, Bettil Schulrabe et Patrick Graham. Ce concert est prˆ©sentˆ© conjointement au lancement de l'album Absinthe qui aura lieu le jeudi 26 mars au cafˆ© du MAI, sous forme de 5 ˆÝ 7 (entrˆ©e libre).

Absinthe est nˆ© de la passion d'Alex Cattaneo pour la culture musicale du Moyen-Orient. Le polyvalent guitariste en intˆ®gre certaines caractˆ©ristiques - systˆ®me des modes, cycles rythmiques asymˆ©triques - dans ses compositions. Prˆ©sentˆ© pour la premiˆ®re fois en spectacle, ce rˆ©pertoire inˆ©dit est constamment enrichi sur scˆ®ne par le biais d'improvisations qui se jouent comme des conversations. Ainsi, chaque musicien contribue de faˆßon ludique et spontanˆ©e aux combinaisons formˆ©es au fil des diffˆ©rents rythmes et mˆ©lodies. Entiˆ®rement acoustique, Absinthe prˆ©sente une instrumentation ˆ©clectique et originale : les percussions ˆ©voquent les sonoritˆ©s arabes, le violoncelle et le hautbois sont plus typiques de la musique de chambre, la clarinette est omniprˆ©sente dans le rˆ©pertoire turque alors que la guitare rappelle le oud et le saz.

Alex Cattaneo a collaborˆ© avec la chanteuse Coral Egan sur l'album The Path of Least Resistance, nominˆ© en 2003 pour le Juno du meilleur album de jazz vocal. Son travail avec le percussionniste Ganesh Anandan l'a ensuite menˆ© ˆÝ rˆ©aliser l'album Asa Nisi Masa en 2005. ˆÄ titre de compositeur, M. Cattaneo a travaillˆ© avec Charles Papasoff sur le projet Catharsis, auprˆ®s de Luc Sicard sur la sˆ©rie tˆ©lˆ©visˆ© ¬´ Les Petites Vues ¬ª, ainsi qu'avec Isabelle Blais pour la sˆ©rie tˆ©lˆ©visˆ©e Nos ˆâtˆ©s III. Il est aussi fondateur et membre des Roturiers, un groupe country qui a reˆßu une nomination pour un Fˆ©lix en 2008. Alex Cattaneo a rˆ©cemment rˆ©alisˆ© un album hommage au chanteur franˆßais Nino Ferrer avec 12 artistes dont Mara Tremblay, Catherine Major et Alexandre Dˆ©silets, qui paraˆÆtra ce printemps sur ˆ©tiquette Spectra Musique.

http://t.ymlp109.com/usbuaaauwmakauqhsaoaumwj/click.php http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Cattaneo/21271598451?ref=s

Le concert Absinthe sera enregistrˆ© et rediffusˆ© prochainement sur les ondes de CBC Radio 2.

On peut se procurer les billets pour ce spectacle en se prˆ©sentant ˆÝ la billetterie du MAI, situˆ©e au 3680 rue Jeanne-Mance, en composant le (514) 982-3386 ou en visitant le site http://t.ymlp109.com/usbmaxauwmaaauqhsazaumwj/click.php

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Absinthe, a concert by Alex Cattaneo: March 26 to 28 at the MAI
Make way for improvisation!
(Contemporary Arabic music)

Absinthe CD Launch, March 26, 2009, 5-7 p.m. at the MAI Cafe (free)
Concerts: Thursday to Saturday, March 26 to 28 at 8 p.m.
Discussion with the musicians, March 27, after the show

Montreal, March 12, 2009 - The MAI (Montrˆ©al, arts interculturels) presents Absinthe, a concert by renowned guitarist and composer Alex Cattaneo, as part of Circulation, its music series - on Thursday, March 26 to Saturday, March 28 at 8 p.m. Cattaneo will be joined onstage by cellist Sheila Hannigan, oboist Annick Beauvais, clarinettist Guillaume Bourque, as well as three percussionists: Eric Breton, Bettil Schulrabe and Patrick Graham. This concert is presented in conjunction with the Absinthe CD launch, which will take place at a 5 ˆÝ 7, Thursday, March 26 at the MAI cafˆ© (free admission).

Absinthe is the fruit of Alex Cattaneo's passion for Middle Eastern musical culture. A versatile guitarist, he combines several elements of the Middle Eastern genre - modes, asymmetrical rhythm patterns - in his compositions. Presented for the first time on stage, his original repertoire is bolstered by a free-flowing improvisational interplay that is highly reminiscent of conversation. Each musician thus playfully and spontaneously adds impetus to the many combinations that emerge from the various rhythmic and melodic currents. Absinthe - a wholly acoustic performance - showcases eclectic and original instrumentation: the rhythms give it an Arabic tenor, while the cello and oboe bring chamber music to mind; the clarinet is a staple of Turkish music, and the guitar is reminiscent of the oud and the saz.

Alex Cattaneo worked with singer Coral Egan on the album The Path of Least Resistance, nominated for the Juno for best Vocal Jazz album in 2003. His work with percussionist Ganesh Anandan laid the groundwork for his album Asa Nisi Masa, released in 2005. As a composer, Cattaneo has worked with Charles Papasoff on the Catharsis project, Luc Sicard on the TV series¬´ Les Petites Vues ¬ª, and Isabelle Blais on the TV series Nos ˆâtˆ©s III. He is also a founding member of Roturiers, a country music group that was nominated for a Fˆ©lix award in 2008. Recently, he recorded a tribute album to French singer Nino Ferrer along with 12 other artists, namely Mara Tremblay, Catherine Major and Alexandre Dˆ©silets. The album will be released this spring on the Spectra Musique label.

http://t.ymlp109.com/usbuaaauwmakauqhsaoaumwj/click.php http://t.ymlp109.com/usbeavauwmanauqhsaraumwj/click.php

The Absinthe concert will be recorded and later broadcasted by CBC Radio 2.

Tickets for this concert may be purchased at the MAI's box office, 3680 Jeanne-Mance St., by calling (514) 982-3386 or online at http://t.ymlp109.com/usbmaxauwmaaauqhsazaumwj/click.php

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Beautiful Nubia En concert Exclusif au Quˆ©bec au Club Balattou

BEAUTIFUL NUBIA (NIGERIA)

En concert exclusif au Quˆ©bec

'Rare creator of rich sounds and gifted performers' (The Punch - Nigeria)

'Le roi de la mˆ©lodie Nigˆ©rian' (National Mirror)

Montrˆ©al, le jeudi 12 mars 2009 ’Äì Dans le cadre de la programmation annuelle les Productions Nuits d'Afrique, sont fiers d'accueillir en grande premiˆ®re Beautiful Nubia au Club Balattou pour un concert unique le dimanche 22 mars dˆ®s 21h. Chanteur nigˆ©rien engagˆ©, Beautiful Nubia cˆ©lˆ®bre la culture, l'ˆ©lˆ©vation sociale et l'instruction publique. Ces chansons ont inspirˆ© des millions de personnes dans son pays d'origine, le Nigeria, pour ensuite traverser les frontiˆ®res, commenˆßant ˆÝ rˆ©veiller le monde de sa voix pleine de sagesse et de courage. Il chante son rˆ©pertoire autant en anglais qu'en Yoruba (langue officielle du Nigˆ©ria).

Avec une incroyable capacitˆ© ˆÝ revisiter le passˆ©, rˆ©-inventer les rythmes anciens et les mixer avec des mˆ©lodies originales, Beautiful Nubia produit une musique dˆ©passant les clichˆ©s et les ˆ©tiquettes, dˆ©fiant la classification. Auteur, compositeur, interprˆ®te et leader du groupe Beautiful Nubia & The Roots Renaissance Band, il ˆ©volue dans un univers sans barriˆ®re faisant de sa musique une source d'inspiration pour toutes les catˆ©gories sociales. Tous les ˆ©lˆ©ments de la sociˆ©tˆ© se retrouve au concert de Beautiful Nubia et, comme il aime ˆÝ le dire : 'Tout le monde y est le bienvenue'.

Sa musique ˆÝ ˆ©tˆ© dˆ©crite par diffˆ©rentes critiques comme 'folk fusion', 'cousine de l'afrobeat' ou encore 'musique africaine moderne et sensˆ©e. L'artiste s'inspire de ses racines et s'ancre dans un style musical se dˆ©finissant comme une fusion entre le folklore nigˆ©rien et l'Afrique moderne. Ses paroles engagˆ©es et sa crˆ©ativitˆ© lyrique font le succˆ®s de ses albums.

Beautiful Nubia partage la majoritˆ© de son temps entre le Nigˆ©ria et le Canada depuis plus de 8 ans .En 2002, plus d'un million d'albums de ¬´Jangbalajugbu¬ª ont ˆ©tˆ© vendus au Nigˆ©ria. En 2009 avec son album ¬´Kilokilom¬ª il est en nomination pour le 9th Edition of the Canadian Independant Music Awards.

Beautiful Nuba diffuse des messages d'espoir et d'amour et invite le public ˆÝ venir partager ses mˆ©lodies originales. Une voix apaisante et des choeurs mielleux qui chantent aussi bien les faiblesses des politiques que les richesses culturelles de son pays natal et la beautˆ© de son continent. Beautiful Nubia viendra nous prˆ©senter les plus belles piˆ®ces de son rˆ©pertoire musical. Il prend la parole pour aider son peuple avec des chansons aux fortes implications sociales. Avec plus de 6 albums a son actif, Beautiful Nubia reflˆ®te la dˆ©termination de faire partie intˆ©grante, d'inspirer et d'initier la transformation sociale du Nigˆ©ria.

Un artiste rˆ©volutionnaire ˆÝ dˆ©couvrir, qui saura enflammer la scˆ®ne du mythique Club Balattou le 22 mars prochain.

Les Productions Nuits d'Afrique prˆ©sentent

BEAUTIFUL NUBIA

Dimanche 22 mars dˆ®s 21h00

au Club Balattou

4372, boul. St-Laurent (coin Marie-Anne)

514-845-5447

www.balattou.com

http://www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com/

24 Canadian pianists ready to compete in prestigious Honens International Piano Competition

The world’Äôs next generation of concert pianists take part in Honens Stage One

Stage One of the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition gets underway with recitals in Calgary (March 21), New York (March 26-31), and Munich (April 25’Äì27). Ninety-three concert pianists hailing from 26 countries will each perform a 40-minute solo recital before a live audience in one of the three concert venues: Calgary’Äôs Rozsa Centre, New York City’Äôs Peter Norton Symphony Space or Munich’Äôs Gasteig.

A total of 24 Canadians will participate in the competition: Michael Berkovsky (Toronto ON), Maxim Bernard (Quebec City QC), Tiffany Butt (North Vancouver BC), Sheng Cai (Toronto ON), Sonia Chan (Toronto ON), Tina Chong (Banff AB), Dmitri Levkovich (Toronto ON), Ang Li (Toronto ON),
Scott Meek (Winnipeg MB), Christopher Miranda (Mississauga ON), Eldon Ng (Toronto ON),
Ilya Poletaev (Toronto ON), Sergei Saratovsky (Vancouver BC), Elizabeth Schumann (LaSalle QC),
Isaac Seo (Toronto ON), Benjamin Smith (Chatham ON), Jean-Philippe Sylvestre (Ste-Julie QC),
Wayne Weng (Vancouver BC), Daniel Wnukowski (Windsor ON), Irene Wong (Mississauga ON),
Todd Yaniw (Edmonton AB), Zhenya Yesmanovich (Toronto ON), Avan Yu (Vancouver BC), and Darrett Zusko (Windsor ON).

All performances will be recorded on digital video by the Honens recording team, which consists of an audio-visual engineer and a Honens representative, who ensure that the conditions are as uniform as possible and note the state of instruments, the acoustical qualities of the performance rooms, and any unusual circumstances. The Stage One performances will be reviewed by the First Jury in June and 21 pianists will be selected to advance to the Quarterfinals in Calgary. Members of the First Jury are Angela Cheng, Chairwoman (Canada), Katherine Chi (First Laureate 2000 Honens International Competition; Canada), Matthias Kirschnereit (Germany), and Ronan O’ÄôHora (United Kingdom).

In Canada, Stage One recitals will take place at the University of Calgary’Äôs Rozsa Centre on Saturday, March 21 at 10 am, 2 pm and 7 pm, and feature performances by twelve pianists from seven countries. Tickets to each session are $10 or $25 for a day-pass and are available through the Honens Box Office by calling 403 299 0140 or online at honens.com. For a detailed performance schedule visit honens.com.

The triennial Honens International Piano Competition, founded in 1992, is ranked among the world’Äôs greatest music competitions. It is unique in its mission to find the ’Äúcomplete artist’Äù ’Äì one who possesses technical mastery as well as expressiveness in a wide range of musical forms and styles, and whose music-making possesses imagination, innovation and relevance in today’Äôs world. The Sixth Honens Competition takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. It is presented by Nexen Inc. and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd., MacLeod Dixon LLP, Enbridge Inc., and TransAlta. For more information about Honens, please visit honens.com.

Rampant greed and ambition fuel Monteverdi's Coronation of Poppea

Rampant greed, lust and ambition fuel Monteverdi’Äôs The Coronation of Poppea

Opera Atelier presents The Coronation of Poppea, Claudio Monteverdi’Äôs final masterpiece, at the Elgin Theatre April 25, 26, 28, 29, May 1 and 2, 2009. Set in the decadent court of the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD, the opera is based on the true story of the courtesan Poppea, Nero’Äôs fiercely ambitious mistress, who aspires to be Empress of the Roman Empire. Poppea will resort to any means ’Äì treachery, seduction, and murder ’Äì in order to realize her goal.

When The Coronation of Poppea premiered at the Venice Carnival in 1642, it was the first opera to be based on real historical figures rather than gods and goddesses of mythology and as such secured its place as a milestone in operatic history. Opera Atelier’Äôs production - a lavish spectacle of love, power and greed ’Äì first debuted at the prestigious Houston Grand Opera, and then played to sold-out houses in Toronto in 2002.

This production was originally conceived as a vehicle for the astonishing male soprano Michael Maniaci who returns to Toronto to reprise his role of Nero. Canadian mezzo-soprano Kimberly Barber makes her Opera Atelier debut in the role of Ottavia, and soprano Peggy Kriha Dye sings the role of Poppea. They are joined by Olivier Laquerre (Ottone), Laura Pudwell (Arnalta/Virtue), Joˆ£o Fernandes (Seneca) in his OA debut, Carla Huhtanen (Drusilla), Tracy Smith Bessette (Fortune/Venus), Vicki St. Pierre (Nurse), Curtis Sullivan (Liberto), Artists of Atelier Ballet, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir under the baton of conductor David Fallis.

The Coronation of Poppea is directed by Marshall Pynkoski and choreographed by Jeannette Lajeunesse-Zingg, Opera Atelier's co-artistic directors, with set designs by Gerard Gauci, costumes by Dora Rust-D’ÄôEye, and lighting by Kevin Fraser.

Performances are at Toronto’Äôs Elgin Theatre (189 Yonge Street) and begin at 7:30 p.m. with the exception of the April 26^th matinee at 3 p.m., and will be sung in Italian with English SURTITLES^TM .

Tickets for The Coronation of Poppea are $30 to $135 and are available by calling TicketMaster at 416-872-5555, on-line at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/ or at the Elgin Theatre box office. For more information visit http://www.operaatelier.com/ . Operatix are $20 and may be purchased by people under the age of 30 with valid I.D. in person at the Elgin Theatre Box Office (subject to availability). Group discounts (15 people +) are available by calling 416.703.3767 ext. 22.

Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Creative Trust, and Anna Guthrie.

2008/09 Season Sponsor: Sun Life Financial

Production Sponsor: BMO Financial Group

2008/09 Major Sponsors: Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust Music, The Dominion of Canada General Assurance Company

Michael Maniaci’Äôs appearance as Nero is generously underwritten by Jerry and Joan Lozinski.

PSO Presents a Tribute to Dance, April 4-5

PSO Pops! Presents Dance! Dance! Dance! April 4-5

Concert is part of the first national food drive sponsored by America's symphony orchestras

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì Music Director Robert Moody leads the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO), guest ensemble Neos Dance Theatre and tap dancer Fred Strickler in a dynamic PSO POPS! tribute to dance and dancers through the ages. Two performances of Dance! Dance! Dance! will be staged at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland, Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, April 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Dance! Dance! Dance! leads audiences through a tribute to dance and dancers throughout the ages, from the charlestons and foxtrots of Twentiana, to the razzle-dazzle of A Chorus Line. Along the way there will be a Tap Dance Concerto, showcasing the musicianship of the art of tap (composer Morton Gould notated all the rhythms for the dancer in the same way he would for a drummer), the "Hoe-Down" from Aaron Copland's classic American ballet Rodeo, music from Babes in Arms and My Fair Lady, plus plenty of fancy footwork, leaps, lifts, and more.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Wesner, the dancers of Neos Dance Theatre have performed all over the United States and abroad. Firmly centered in classical ballet technique, the Neos dancers have a modern versatility and sense of the eclectic in dance that allows them to move easily through the ages and styles of dance in a single show. Referring to the Neos dancers as "young and energetic," the Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "’Ķthey pull the audience into their performance with bright personalities, warm rapport and a palpable love of dance." Neos Dance Theatre has collaborated for over a decade with maestro Robert Moody for various symphony orchestra programs.

Having danced and choreographed since 1961 for film, television, musical theatre and the concert stage, Fred Strickler is a virtuoso tap dance artist acclaimed by audiences and critics for his originality and musicality. Equally at home in classical, jazz and modern styles, in his tap dances he revels in the complex interactions of rhythm, sound and movement. Mr. Strickler is the Artistic Director for Fred Strickler & Friends ’Äì New Ideas on Tap, which focuses on innovations in tap dance choreography and often includes nationally known guest dancers and musicians. In addition to his own dancing and choreography career, he is also a Professor of Dance at the University of California, Riverside, where he has taught since 1967.

During the Dance! Dance! Dance! performances, volunteers will be in the lobby of Merrill Auditorium collecting non-perishable food donations through the PSO's participation in Orchestras Feeding America, the first national food drive sponsored by America's symphony orchestras, inspired by the soon-to-be-released film The Soloist. All food collected will be donated to Preble Street. For more information, visit portlandsymphony.com.

Sponsored by MPX/Maine Printing Company and The Portland Press Herald, the Saturday evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $17-$62 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. New this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Phone and internet orders are subject to $5-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.

Concert 5 avril 2009 - Messe du Couronnement de Mozart k.317 - Paroisse de la Purification - Repentigny

Dans le cadre du 325^e anniversaire de la Paroisse de la Purification de la Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie (BVM), la Sˆ©rie Arts et Spiritualitˆ© prˆ©sente un Concert Gala Bˆ©nˆ©fice, le dimanche 5 avril 2009, en l'ˆ©glise de la Purification, situˆ©e au 445 rue Notre-Dame, ˆÝ Repentigny.

Au programme : les chefs d'‰ìuvres de la musique sacrˆ©e de W.A. Mozart, dont la Messe du Couronnement K. 317, les cˆ©lˆ®bres motets Ave Verum K.618, Laudate Dominum K.339, Exultate Jubilate K. 165, Sancta Maria K. 273, Regina Coeli K.276 et le Lacrymosa du Requiem K. 626. Ces ‰ìuvres seront interprˆ©tˆ©es par l'Ensemble vocal Vox Luminosa, les solistes Raphaˆ´lle Paquette (Starmania-opˆ©ra), Chantal Denis, Luc Arseneault, Philippe Martel et l'Orchestre des Jeunes de Joliette, le tout sous la direction de Monsieur Claudel Callender, organiste titulaire ˆÝ la paroisse et directeur musical de l'Ensemble vocal Vox Luminosa.

Cet ˆ©vˆ©nement se veut le point culminant des festivitˆ©s du 325^e anniversaire de la Paroisse. Pour l'occasion, des prix de prˆ©sence seront offerts au public sous forme de tirage pendant la pause. L'art et la spiritualitˆ© se donnent ˆÝ nouveau rendez-vous pour offrir ˆÝ la communautˆ© lanaudoise un moment unique et privilˆ©giˆ© de beautˆ©, de recueillement et de ressourcement. C'est donc une invitation ˆÝ toutes et ˆÝ tous.

On peut se procurer dˆ®s maintenant des billets au coˆªt unitaire de 25 $, au presbytˆ®re de la Paroisse (infos : 450 581-2484) ainsi qu'ˆÝ la Librairie Raffin, situˆ©e aux Galeries Rive Nord ˆÝ Repentigny et ˆÝ l 'ˆâcole de musique de Joliette.

The VSO collaborates with the innovative Kokoro Dance

Vancouver BC ’Äì The VSO presents its second Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Roundhouse Series concert of the season, a co-presentation with Kokoro Dance, on March 20, 8pm at the Roundhouse Theatre in Yaletown. VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell leads the concert which features in addition to Kokoro Dance, mezzo-soprano Viviane Houle, saxophonist Wallace Halladay, the VSO’Äôs Principal Violist Neil Miskey, and Principal Second Violin Brent Akins. This collaboration is set to the music of Scott Good’Äôs Babbitt’Äôs Concerto for Saxophone(s), Arvo Pˆ§rt’Äôs Tabula Rasa, and Gareth Farr’Äôs The Pagan Prayer.

Scott Good’Äôs Babbitt’Äôs Concerto for Saxophone(s) is a reflection of George F. Babbitt the character, rather than an attempt to relate the narrative of the Sinclair Lewis novel Babbitt (1922). Dr. Good explains, ’ÄúI find his character to be interesting, in that although he is a shallow conformist, whose self worth is always related to the status quo, he feels genuine emotions of love, loneliness, and despair. This multiplicity of character speaks well to a concerto for multi-instrumentalist, and I was able to focus each saxophone on a different quality of his personality. The baritone is a greedy salesman, the tenor is frustrated at everyone, the alto is the lonely hero, and the soprano dreams of the fairy child.’Äù

Avro Pˆ§rt’Äôs Tabula Rasa (Latin: blank slate) refers to an epistemological concept that suggests human beings are born without any thought content, and that their entire scope of knowledge is built over time. Tabula Rasa was originally composed in 1977 for violinist Gideaon Cramer. Within its two movements, Ludos (to play or deceive) and Silentium (Silence), the full maturation of Pˆ§rt’Äôs compositional technique ’Äútintinnabulation’Äù is reached. [Program Notes ¬© 2009 Scott Good]

Gareth Farr’Äôs the Pagan Prayer is a dramatic setting of two poems by Charles Baudelaire, Le Rebelle and La Priˆ®re d’Äôun PaˆØen. Farr’Äôs music is particularly influenced by his extensive study of percussion, both Western and non-Western. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be linked to the complex and exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion music of the Pacific Rim. In addition to his music for the concert chamber, Farr has written music for dance, theatre and television. On-stage, Farr also performs as his alter-ego percussion-playing drag queen, Lilith Lacroix.

CONCERT INFO

The Vancouver Sun Symphony at the Roundhouse Series:

the rebel

Co-presentation with Kokoro Dance

Friday, March 20, 8pm, Roundhouse Theatre

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Viviane Houle, mezzo-soprano

Wallace Halladay, saxophone

Neil Miskey, viola

Brent Akins, violin

Kokoro Dance, dancers

Gareth Farr the Pagan Prayer

Scott Good Babbitt-Concerto for Saxophone(s)

Arvo Part Tabula Rasa

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

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

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: The Vancouver Sun

Financial Support By: SOCAN Foundation

BIOGRAPHIES

Evan Mitchell, conductor

Conductor Evan Mitchell is proving to be one of Canada’Äôs most promising young conductors. Currently the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony, Evan is slated to play a key role in programming, artistic development and of course performance with the VSO, leading the orchestra through a wide assortment of concerts.

Equally at home with chamber music, opera and full symphonic masterpieces, Evan has enjoyed critical acclaim with recent operatic performances including Britten’Äôs Albert Herring, Ward’Äôs The Crucible, Hindemith’Äôs ’ÄúHin und Zuruck’Äù and the world premiere of Glenn James’Äô opera ’ÄúTo Daniel.’Äù Evan also won positions with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada for four consecutive years as both conductor and percussionist and now holds the title of Associate Mentor with the orchestra. Highlights include conducting violin soloist Elizabeth Pitcairn, the concertmaster of the New West Symphony and owner of the Mendelssohn Stradivarius 1720 ’ÄúRed Violin.’Äù

Evan is an advocate of contemporary music. Recently the resident conductor of NUMUS New Music Ensemble, he has premiered several new works, toured across Canada conducting a festival of contemporary Chinese music and recorded works for the CMC, collaborating with such Canadian artists as the Pentaedre Wind Quintet, Penderecki String Quartet and Dancetheatre David Earle. Evan has also conducted and performed works during the highly acclaimed Open Ears Festival.

As a percussionist Evan has enjoyed equal success. In demand as a recitalist and concert soloist (recent performances of the Rosauro Marimba concerto and the Mayuzumi Xylophone concerto), Evan’Äôs percussive performance has been hailed as ’Äúbreathtaking in (his) sensitivity’Äù as well as ’Äúwizardly’Äù and ’Äúawe-inspiring.’Äù Evan has toured Canada, the United States and abroad, including a memorable tour as Canadian ambassador during a concert tour with virtuoso composer/percussionist Nebojsa Zivkovic, during which he performed as concert soloist and along with the composer in a sold out performance of Zivkovic's celebrated ’ÄúTrio per Uno’Äù at the Stuttgart International Theatre. Evan is a frequent performer with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and has performed with Orchestra London and the Toronto Symphony. Evan has also been a faculty member and guest lecturer with Wilfrid Laurier University, primarily as Music Director of the Flute Ensemble.

Awards include First Prize at the Werlde Musik Kontest in Kerkrade, Netherlands, finalist at the upcoming TD Canada Trust Elora Festival Competition and Winner in Marching category as part of the Kavaliers DCI Drum Corps. Evan is also the winner of the 2006 Pioneer Leading Edge Arts Award.

Evan is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where he completed an Bachelor of Music degree as a percussion major; he is also a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he studied on a full scholarship sponsored by Elmer Iseler and Victor Feldbrill, earning a Masters degree in conducting. His principal conducting teachers include Raffi Armenian, Doreen Rao, Paul Pulford and Boris Brott. Additionally, he has studied and performed in concert series with Denise Grant, Martin Fischer-Dieskau and most notably, Helmuth Rilling, in the inaugural Toronto Bach festival.

Viviane Houle, mezzo-soprano

Musical maverick Viviane Houle is a vocalist, improviser, and songwriter who defies categorization. With her uncanny ability to mix musical styles as diverse as opera and avant-garde improvisation, Viviane captivates audiences wherever she performs.

In the opera house and concert hall she has performed with Vancouver Opera, Standing Wave Ensemble and pianist Leslie Uyeda. In the jazz world, she regularly collaborates with the lions of today's improv scene, including musicians like Jesse Zubot, Ron Samworth, Peggy Lee, and Coat Cooke. As a producer, she is co-artistic director of Pictures for the Sky and developed "gesture4," an acclaimed collaboration with Viviane and laptop artist Stefan Smulovitz, dancer and choreographer Noam Gagnon, and video artist jamie griffiths.

Viviane's appearances at such festivals as the Festival international de musique actuelle de Victoriaville, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and San Francisco's soundwave>series have been marked by a freshness and commitment to musical innovation. Her premieres of work by some of Canada's pre-eminent composers have brought life to new scores.

Upcoming highlights include a Vancouver performance with leading composer Louis Andriessen, a European tour with Stefan Smulovitz, and the release of a CD of duets with leading improvisers. For more information, visit Viviane at vivianehoule.ca.

Wallace Halladay, saxophone

Canadian saxophonist Wallace Halladay captures the qualities of the modern virtuoso, being at home in numerous styles, from the traditional to jazz and beyond. A specialist in the performance of contemporary music, Wallace has commissioned and premiered numerous works for saxophone. In addition to performances of concerti by Ibert, Schmitt, Husa, Scelsi and Donatoni, he has worked with composers Michael Colgrass, Mauricio Kagel and Scott Good on the Canadian premieres of their concerti, the latter a commission with the Esprit Orchestra. Wallace also inaugurated the Intersections Series with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in an entire concert of music for saxophone and orchestra entitled ’ÄúThe Story of the Saxophone’Äù.

Frequently broadcast on CBC Radio, Wallace has also recorded the two saxophone Sequenzas of Luciano Berio and the Colgrass concerto for NAXOS Records. He has been presented by and performed with new music groups across the country, including New Music Concerts, Continuum, Sound Symposium, CCMW, 5-Penny New Music, Kumquat, Earshot!, Contact, and Toca Loca. Wallace was the Artistic Director of the Scelsi Centenary, Franco Donatoni, and Gubaidulina Chamber Projects. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, and as a fellow of the Tanglewood Music Centre.

Wallace holds a Bachelor’Äôs degree in Performance and Composition from the University of Toronto, a Master’Äôs from New England Conservatory in Boston, and a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. Wallace also studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with internationally acclaimed virtuoso Arno Bornkamp with a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. He has previously taught saxophone, chamber music and theory at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Eastman School of Music, and presently teaches at the University of Toronto.

Recent and upcoming highlights include recitals with pianist Peter Tiefenbach; the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen; Karel Husa’Äôs Concerto; a duo concert of premieres with percussionist Ryan Scott; the concerto of Hanspeter Kyburz; the K-W Open Ears Festival; and festivals in New York, Philadelphia, Huddersfield (UK), and Aberdeen (Scotland).

Wallace is a Conn-Selmer Artist and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones.

Neil Miskey, viola

Currently Principal Violist with both the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra, Neil began his career in Vancouver after winning first prize in the CBC National Competition. He has appeared as soloist with the VSO, including performances of Berlioz's Harold in Italy, Vaughn Williams' Flos Campi, and Bramwell Tovey's Viola Concerto. He has also performed as soloist with the CBC Orchestra, and been featured on CBC radio broadcasts.

A native of Edmonton, he received music performance degrees from the University of Alberta and the University of Michigan, and has studied at the Banff Centre. As a recipient of a Canada Council Award, he also spent a year studying in Germany.

In addition to performing both in the orchestra and as a soloist, Neil enjoys performing as a chamber musician. He has appeared as a guest artist with the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Festival Vancouver, the San Juan Summer Music Festival, and also in various groups in Vancouver. A recent highlight was a string quartet rafting tour of the Grand Canyon.

Brent Akins, violin

Brent Akins is Principal Second Violin of the Vancouver Symphony and Concertmaster of the CBC Radio Orchestra in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Mr. Akins earned his Bachelor of Music/Performance degree at the University of Southern California, under Eudice Shapiro, violin, and Milton Thomas, viola. As a member of the Vuillaume String Quartet, he has performed and worked with the Tokyo String Quartet and Rapheal Hillier.

Before coming to Vancouver, Mr. Akins was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under Sir Neville Mariner, and was Assistant Principal Second Violin of the St. Louis Symphony, Leonard Slatkin, conductor. He has also served as Guest Concertmaster for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.

Mr. Akins has performed as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, CBC Radio Orchestra, Spokane Symphony, American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony and the Oregon East Symphony.

As a member of the Vuillaume Duo with Marka Wilcox, he gives numerous recitals and has recorded violin duo repertoire for CBC Radio Orchestra broadcasts as well as CBC Radio's Westcoast Performances. In 2000, the "Orpheum Masters" label released the Vuillaume Duo’Äôs first CD, "Sonatas for Two."

As a co-founder of Notes of Compassion: Symphony Musicians Reaching Out, he is involved in numerous benefit concerts throughout the Vancouver area.

Kokoro Dance, dancers

Kokoro Dance fuses the aesthetics of East and West in programs of dance that have earned critical acclaim across Canada and around the world.

When Kokoro Dance formed in 1986, Barbara Bourget brought to it her years dancing with such distinguished dance companies as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and Jay Hirabayashi drew upon his experiences dancing with the Karen Jamieson Dance Company and the Paula Ross Dance Company, competitive alpine skiing, and studying Buddhism. Both directors also carried the need to produce dances that stirred the heart, stimulated the mind, and moved the spirit of their audiences, and these intentions are perfectly reflected in the name of the company, Kokoro, a Japanese word meaning heart, mind, and spirit.

For Jay and Barbara, the approach to dance best reflecting these intentions is an unorthodox aesthetic called butoh.

BUTOH
Marked by both provocatively disturbing and evocatively spiritual physicality, the butoh aesthetic rose out of the post-nuclear demoralization of the Japanese psyche.

Kokoro Dance creates a Canadian hybrid butoh aesthetic that marries kinetic and visual elements from Japan and the West. Through workshops with butoh pioneers such as Koichi Tamano, Hiroko Tamano and Natsu Nakajima, Kokoro Dance gains insights about the butoh approach to motivating original movement expression. This information is then filtered through Kokoro’Äôs own grounding in western dance training and choreography.

Combining a choreographic structure that allows for a degree of improvisational choice with the interior imagery that conducts the butoh dancer, Kokoro Dance performs an intense, concentrated style of dance alive with sparks of spontaneity.

We love to dance. We live to dance. We dance to live. As simplistic as that may sound, that sums up our intent. We search continually through our creativity, our performances, and our teaching for a distillation through movement of our essential being. It is an impossible search without an end. There is no definitive, penultimate expression in dance. The path we have chosen combines interior poetic imagery with technical application. We have been inspired by our Japanese butoh masters. We have a lifetime heritage of western dance training. Our work fuses streams from Japan and Europe. Kokoro Dance is not one or the other of these streams, but a confluence of both.

Great Music for a Great City: World Water Day Musical Celebration - March 22

The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College presents
Great Music for a Great City:
World Water Day Musical Celebration
Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 4pm

The Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College presentstheir classical music series Great Music for a Great City: World Water Day Musical Celebration on March 22, 2009 at 4pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC. Admission is FREE, with reservations available at Ticket Central, 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com.

The United Nations General Assembly has designated March 22 as World Day for Water. This narrated concert will call attention to our international water crisis. The program will feature musical works that celebrate water,including works by Schubert, Copland, Brahms, spirituals & world music.

Featuring Eli Wallach, narrator, with Mayim Water music by Israeli Ensemble Rafi Malkiel; the Harlem Vocal Arts Ensemble; and Metropolitan Opera soloists Camellia Johnson, soprano, Terry Cook, bass baritone, and Sirena Huang, violin.

"We must treat water as if it were the most precious thing in the world, the most valuable natural resource. Don't waste it! We still have time to do something about this problem before it is too late."

- Mikhail Gorbachev

Since opening its doors in 1988, the Gerald W. Lynch Theater has been an invaluable cultural resource for John Jay College and the larger New York City community. The Theater is dedicated to the creation and presentation of performing arts programming of all disciplines with a special focus on how the artistic imagination can shed light on the many perceptions of justice in our society.

About John Jay College of Criminal Justice: An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York offers a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to upwards of 14,00 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College approaches justice as an applied art and science in service to society and as an ongoing conversation about fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu.

Great Music for a Great City: World Water Day Musical Celebration will be performed on Sunday, March 22 at 4pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC. Admission is FREE, with reservations available at Ticket Central, 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com.

For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu/theater.php.

Louise Harel, Claude Lafortune, et Claire Pimparˆ© donnent avec coeur !

Louise Harel, Claude Lafortune, et Claire Pimparˆ© donnent avec coeur!

C'est avec beaucoup d'enthousiasme que Louise Harel, femme engagˆ©e, Claude Lafortune, magicien du papier et Claire Pimparˆ©, comˆ©dienne, coprˆ©sideront le 14^e radio-don de Radio Ville-Marie. Cette grande fˆ�te des ondes se tiendra les 1-2 et 3 mai sur les cinq frˆ©quences du rˆ©seau de la station ˆÝ travers le Quˆ©bec.

Sous le thˆ®me ¬´ Donnons avec c‰ìur!¬ª, plus de 200 personnalitˆ©s se joindront aux porte-parole au cours des cinquante heures d'animation et de festivitˆ©s. Il y aura aussi des Coups de c‰ìur du public, des cadeaux et des prix ˆÝ gagner. Un ˆ©vˆ©nement unique sur le plan radiophonique, une fˆ�te pour les oreilles et le c‰ìur.

Radio Ville-Marie, la radio la plus culturelle du Quˆ©bec

Cette quatorziˆ®me ˆ©dition soulignera de faˆßon marquˆ©e la participation du public au maintien de cette radio unique au Quˆ©bec. Ce mˆ©dia spˆ©cialisˆ© aborde quotidiennement les grands enjeux sur les plans social, humanitaire, culturel et spirituel.

Radio Ville-Marie, la radio du c‰ìur et des valeurs

Tous les auditeurs des rˆ©gions desservies par la station, Montrˆ©al (91,3FM), Rimouski (104, 1 FM), Sherbrooke (100,3 FM), Trois-Riviˆ®res (89,9 FM), Victoriaville (89,3 FM), sont invitˆ©s ˆÝ participer activement et gˆ©nˆ©reusement ˆÝ cet ˆ©vˆ©nement magique. L'objectif est de recueillir 135 000$ au cours de la fin de semaine. Soyez de la fˆ�te!

Radio Ville-Marie, plus qu'une radio!

Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Festival, April 3 - 5, 2009 In Downtown Monterey

Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Festival

Hosts Country's Top Young Jazz Musicians

April 3 ’Äì 5, 2009 In Downtown Monterey

57 Big Bands, Combos, And Vocal Ensembles

From 6 States Compete For Spot On MJF Stages

47 Bands From 14 Counties In California Are Finalists

Special Appearances By Student Groups From Japan and England

Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra Members Saxophonist Sherman Irby

And Trumpeter Sean Jones Are Artists-In-Residence During NGF

All Competition Events and Activities Open To The Public, Free Of Charge

March 11, 2009; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival, a nonprofit leader in jazz education since its inception in 1958 and JazzTimes Readers’Äô Poll multi-year winner for world's Best Jazz Festival, is proud to announce the 5th Annual Next Generation Festival, April 3 - 5, 2009 in downtown Monterey. The weekend event, devoted to the future of jazz, includes the Next Generation Festival Jazz Competition with Big Bands, Combos, Vocal Ensembles, and individual musicians vying for a spot on the stages of the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival presented by Verizon.

A three-year grant from the Surdna Foundation supports the Next Generation Festival and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra's international tours. The Surdna Foundation’Äôs Arts Program is national in scope and supports the artistic advancement of teens, ages 12 - 18.

All Next Generation Festival competition events - from the Kick-Off Concert on Friday, April 3 to the exuberant and electric big band, vocal ensemble and combo competition on Saturday, April 4 and the College Big Band Vocal Jazz Ensemble finals on Sunday, April 5 - will be open to the public, free of charge. The Festival will also conduct clinics, workshops, jam sessions, and auditions in the heart of the historic Monterey, with music to be performed at the Monterey Conference Center, the host Portola Plaza Hotel, at Fisherman’Äôs Wharf, Cannery Row, and at Monterey Live.

For a complete schedule of activities and competition times, visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Attracting musicians from some of the most prestigious educational programs in the country, MJF's Next Generation Festival represents the largest gathering of young jazz talent on the Monterey Peninsula, outside of the Monterey Jazz Festival itself. Fifty-seven bands from six states, from Alaska to Texas, will participate in the prestigious event. California, one of the strongholds of music education, has schools from fourteen counties represented in the festival ’Äì including Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Madera, Monterey, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clara Counties.

In addition, the Next Generation Festival will present special guest groups from England and Japan throughout the weekend.

The Next Generation Festival will officially start with the annual Kick-Off Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 3 at the Monterey Conference Center. The opening night's activities will feature the Festival's annual Salute to Jazz Education, along with performances by the competition judges, including pianist George Duke, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, trombonist Ron Westray, saxophonists Billy Harper and Paul Contos, bassist Ray Drummond, and vocalists Matt Falker, Jennifer Barnes, and Michele Weir. Entry to the Salute to Jazz Education and Kick-Off Concert is open to the public, free of charge.

Also featured during the evening concert will be the Monterey Jazz Festival Artists-In-Residence, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra saxophonist Sherman Irby and trumpeter Sean Jones.

MJF's Next Generation Festival Jazz Competition starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 4 in downtown Monterey's Conference Center, with high-energy big bands, combos, and vocal ensembles creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

Throughout the day, participants in the High School Big Band, Vocal, and Combo divisions will put on their best performances before the judges, who will determine the top groups and outstanding soloists. The top groups of the day in the High School Vocal, Combo, and Big Band divisions will be announced at 6:15 p.m. Saturday evening from the Conference Center's Serra Ballroom stage. At 8 p.m. Saturday night, the top vocal ensembles, combo, and Big Band finalists will take the stage in the Next Generation Festival's Showcase Concert -- a preview of the bands to perform at MJF/52, a departure from the big band ’Äúplay-off’Äù in past years.

The Next Generation Festival will also host a variety of educational clinics on Saturday, April 4, including presentations by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra members Sherman Irby and Sean Jones, as well as a vocal clinic with Matt Falker on Jazz Solo Singing & Melodic Styling.

The Next Generation Festival continues through Sunday, April 5 with the country's top middle school, college, conglomerate big bands, and college vocal ensembles performing in the Conference Center's Serra Ballroom and Steinbeck Forum. The top college big band, college vocal ensemble, and conglomerate big band (to be announced during the day) will also earn a performance slot at MJF/52. New for 2009 will be the College Vocal Ensemble Division, another expansion of performance opportunities at the Next Generation Festival.

Auditions will also be held throughout the Next Generation Festival weekend for the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship to Berklee College of Music, and for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, MJF’Äôs national all-star high school band, which now includes a vocalist spot.

The Next Generation Festival is introducing two new partnership elements this year: an Instrument Showcase and College Fair. The Instrument Showcase will allow musicians an opportunity to play various instruments from participating partners. The College Fair will allow students an opportunity to visit with several colleges offering jazz and other music programs. Both activities will be offered throughout the Next Generation Festival weekend.

All Next Generation Festival competition activities from April 3 - 5 are open to the public, free of charge. More information on all Next Generation Festival activities and events is available on the MJF website, www.montereyjazzfestival.org and by phone at 831-373-3366.

Next Generation Festival partners and supporters include the Surdna Foundation and longtime MJF partner Yamaha, providing instruments for Next Generation Festival stages. Additional support for the Next Generation Festival comes from generous individuals and organizations such the City of Monterey, the Colton Hall Museum and the Cultural Arts Commission, the Community Foundation for Monterey County's Communities Advocating the Arts Fund, the D’ÄôAddario Music Foundation for the Performing Arts with support from D’ÄôAddario Strings, Evans Drumheads, Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Planet Waves Accessories, and Rico Reeds.

More information on all Next Generation Festival activities and events is available on the MJF website, www.montereyjazzfestival.org and by phone at 831-373-3366.

Florence K et le Mondial des Cultures de Drummondville

LA TALENTUEUSE FLORENCE K., NOUVELLE PORTE-PAROLE

DU MONDIAL DES CULTURES DE DRUMMONDVILLE

Drummondville, le mercredi 11 mars 2009 ’Äì ˆÄ quatre mois du dˆ©but des activitˆ©s de sa 28^e ˆ©dition, le Mondial des Cultures est trˆ®s fier d'annoncer son association avec la chanteuse Florence K. qui agira ˆÝ titre de porte-parole de l'ˆ©vˆ©nement. Dans un souci d'innovation et portˆ©e par le vent de changement qui soufflera sur l'entiˆ®re programmation du festival, la direction considˆ®re que l'annonce de cette collaboration marque le point de dˆ©part du renouvellement de son image.

¬´ Florence K. est une jeune artiste trˆ®s talentueuse, multidisciplinaire, ˆÝ l'aise d'ˆ©voluer ˆÝ travers plusieurs univers musicaux, polyglotte, ouverte aux autres cultures et passionnˆ©e des voyages. Elle reprˆ©sente exactement toute cette diversitˆ© et cette ouverture si caractˆ©ristique du Mondial des Cultures. Nous sommes trˆ®s heureux de l'accueillir au sein de notre organisation. ¬ª d'exprimer Marie-France Bourgeois, directrice gˆ©nˆ©rale et artistique de l'ˆ©vˆ©nement.

Les festivaliers auront d'ailleurs la chance de voir performer la chanteuse ˆÝ plusieurs occasions au cours du festival. Florence K. participera au dˆ©filˆ© international, qui se tiendra sur un tout nouveau parcours, le jeudi 9 juillet dˆ®s 19h30 dans les rues du centre-ville de Drummondville. Accompagnˆ©e des 600 artistes internationaux, qui seront alors prˆ©sentˆ©s au public, la chanteuse de 25 ans lancera les festivitˆ©s lors de cette premiˆ®re activitˆ© du festival 2009.

La soirˆ©e d'ouverture du vendredi 10 juillet ˆÝ 20h30 ˆÝ la Grande Place SAQ sera elle aussi teintˆ©e du charme, des couleurs, de la musique et des chansons de la nouvelle porte-parole. C'est dans un spectacle inˆ©dit, crˆ©ˆ© par le concepteur Steve Durepos, que Florence K. prˆ©sentera au public les piˆ®ces de la Historia de Lola, son nouvel album paru en novembre dernier, ainsi que les succˆ®s de son dernier opus Bossa Blue. Les 16 ensembles folkloriques internationaux prˆ©sents rejoindront l'artiste et ses musiciens sur scˆ®ne pour un spectacle dont l'unicitˆ© et la saveur multiculturelle raviront le public.

Florence K. participera aussi au ¬´ Spectacle pour la Paix ¬ª qui sera prˆ©sentˆ© le vendredi 17 juillet ˆÝ 21h00 ˆÝ la Grande Place SAQ. Membre du regroupement des artistes pour la paix, qui cˆ©lˆ®bre en 2009 son 25^e anniversaire, l'artiste joindra sur scˆ®ne plusieurs autres artistes de renom pour cette soirˆ©e vibrante de partage et de fraternitˆ© universelle. Plusieurs ensembles folkloriques internationaux performeront ˆ©galement sur scˆ®ne. La soirˆ©e se terminera par une magnifique pyrotechnie musicale.

C'est un rendez-vous, du 9 au 19 juillet 2009 ! www.mondialdescultures.com

Juno Award-Winning Canadian Composer John Burge

US Premiere of Juno Award-Nominated Composer John Burge’Äôs Mass for Prisoners of Conscience at Lincoln Center, April 5, 2009

’ÄúIn attempting to communicate the suffering of political prisoners, to pay tribute to Amnesty International’Äôs role in ending it and to write a large piece, the young composer set himself a challenging task’ĶJohn Burge’Äôs Mass for Prisoners of Conscience is a triumph.’Äù-- Kingston Whig Standard

A classical and a modern Mass

A recording of the music of John Burge, Flanders Fields Reflections, by the Sinfonia Toronto, conducted by Nurhan Arman, has been nominated for a 2008 Juno Award, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys, in the category of Best Canadian Classical Music Composition. The US premiere of the Burge Mass for Prisoners of Conscience will be presented in a performance dedicated to human rights organization Amnesty International, at Lincoln Center’Äôs Avery Fisher Hall, Sunday, April 5, at 2:00 PM. Conductor Laureate Doreen Rao will conduct musicians and singers from the University of Toronto, where she is Director of Choral Programs, and Queen’Äôs University in Ontario, where Dr. Burge is Director of the School of Music.

As a counterpoint to the Burge Mass, the evening will also feature the Mass No. 12 in B minor ("Theresienmesse") of Franz Josef Haydn, under the baton of Guest Conductor Eric Johnson. This work features the Distinguished Orchestra International and the Distinguished Singers International, which consists of vocalists from all corners of the United States and abroad. Guest soloists for this section of the program will be Orna Ariana, Soprano, Shannon McGee, Mezzo, John Tiranno, Tenor, and Samuel Smith, Baritone.

Previous recognition; First musical setting for world-famous poem

John Burge has written a large body of vocal, chamber, and orchestral compositions. His piece, Angels’Äô Voices, for choir and orchestra, received the 2006 Outstanding New Choral Composition Award from the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and was performed in New York City’Äôs Carnegie Hall in 2005. As a long-serving past-President of the Canadian League of Composers, Burge has been a passionate advocate for contemporary music and Canadian music in particular. His oeuvre contains many works that are inspired by Canadian poetry and landscape, such as One Sail, based upon a poem by Canadian poet Margaret Avison. Regarding the Juno-nominated Flanders Fields Reflections, based on the iconic poem by Canadian military officer John McCrae, conductor Nurhan Arman said, ’ÄúRecording these works was a real labour of love for us, and we are delighted that now people’Ķwill be able to listen to these remarkable compositions’Ķit’Äôs a great privilege to help pieces as beautiful as these become better known.’Äù

The Program

Mass for Prisoners of Conscience, commissioned in 1987 by Vancouver’Äôs Christ Church Cathedral Choir, is scored for baritone, mezzo-soprano and child soloists, accompanied by choir and a small instrumental ensemble of four solo woodwind instruments, two pianos and percussion. The text material for the soloists consists entirely of settings of first-hand accounts of political prisoners and their families sung in English. These accounts or testimonials are drawn from material provided by Amnesty International. The choir sings sections from the liturgical Mass in Latin, and comments on the emotions and situations expressed in the solo movements. Musically, the work is highly dramatic in the way that it combines percussively angular passages with lyrical vocal writing. The work was premiered by the University of Toronto Symphony Chorus, Dr. Doreen Rao, conductor, on November 9^th, 1990.

The Theresienmesse was composed following Haydn’Äôs tenure in England, where he had secured his reputation as the greatest living composer of his day. He would write no more symphonies, but did accept a commission from Nicholas II, the fourth of the Esterhˆ°zy princes whom he had served, to write a Mass each year celebrating the name day of Nicholas’Äôs wife. The Theresa Mass is written for four vocal soloists, chorus, and a somewhat unusual orchestra consisting of two clarinets, bassoon, two trumpets, timpani and strings.

Tickets

To obtain tickets or further information regarding this event, please visit the Distinguished Concerts web site, www.DCINY.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the DCINY box office, 212.707.8566, x 307 or directly from the concert venue.

Premiere works

In just two short years, DCINY has joined the ranks of major classical music production companies in America, nearly doubling its roster of participating ensembles and attracting talent from all over the globe. Among the events DCINY is honored to present this season are: one world and two US premiere performances of major new works by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, which took place on January 19, and the world premiere of a new choral piece by American composer Eric Whitacre on June 28. Please visit www.DCINY.org for details regarding other highlights of DCINY’Äôs 2009/2010 Season.

Interviews can be arranged by contacting Mindi Rayner Public Relations, at 718.377.4720, or mindirayner@cs.com. For press tickets please contact Gene Wisniewski of Distinguished Concerts International, at 212.707.8566, ext. 306, or Gene@DCINY.org.

Rˆ�ver de musique ˆÝ l'ˆ©cole Pierre-Laporte

RˆäVER DE MUSIQUE ˆÄ L’ÄôˆâCOLE PIERRE-LAPORTE

(Montrˆ©al, le 11 mars 2009) ’Äì Quelques places sont encore disponibles en 1^re secondaire au programme de musique de l’Äôˆ©cole Pierre-Laporte (Mont-Royal). Tant les ados curieux en quˆ�te d’Äôune passion que les jeunes musiciens qui dˆ©sirent parfaire leur art ont jusqu’Äôau 27 mars pour prˆ©senter une demande d’Äôadmission en 1^re secondaire. Le programme, principalement axˆ© sur la musique d’Äôensemble (orchestre, chant choral, harmonie, etc.), ne pose en effet qu’Äôune condition : aimer la musique’Ķ en rˆ�ver!

Ouvert sur le monde, s’Äôinspirant de multiples influences musicales et puisant dans divers rˆ©pertoires (classique, jazz, pop, ˆ©lectro, etc.), le programme de musique de l’Äôˆ©cole secondaire Pierre-Laporte prend appui sur une approche ¬´ collective ¬ª (musique d’Äôensemble et cours en groupe) propre ˆÝ susciter un fort sentiment d’Äôappartenance. Il aborde de plus la formation des jeunes sous l’Äôangle de l’Äôouverture des esprits. La musique y est la pierre d’Äôassise du dˆ©veloppement d’Äôune solide culture gˆ©nˆ©rale. Elle y est ˆ©galement source de motivation, de persˆ©vˆ©rance et de rˆ©ussite.

Une note parfaite

ˆÄ preuve, en 30 ans d’Äôenseignement musical au sein du rˆ©seau des ˆ©coles publiques, l’Äôˆ©cole secondaire Pierre-Laporte affiche une note parfaite : zˆ©ro cas de dˆ©crochage et un taux de diplomation de 100 %. Et si, au fil du temps, 20 % de ses finissants se sont inscrits au sein de l’Äôˆ©lite musicale, 80 % ont plutˆ¥t fait usage de la discipline, de la crˆ©ativitˆ© et de la confiance acquises dans les classes de musique pour orienter leur cheminement professionnel vers d’Äôautres horizons.

Le programme de musique de l’Äôˆ©cole secondaire Pierre-Laporte est offert en collaboration avec l’Äôˆâcole de musique Vincent-d’ÄôIndy. Les ˆ©lˆ®ves y ˆ©tudient la musique ˆÝ raison de 10 pˆ©riodes par neuf jours. Les instruments sont fournis et il en coˆªte entre 450 $ et 500 $ annuellement, selon l’Äôinstrument choisi. Les jeunes intˆ©ressˆ©s par une place en 1^re secondaire ont jusqu’Äôau vendredi 27 mars pour prˆ©senter une demande d’Äôadmission et doivent prˆ©voir se prˆ©senter ˆÝ une journˆ©e d’Äôexploration musicale le samedi 4 avril. Pour information : http://www.csmb.qc.ca/pierre-laporte (onglet Programme musique) ou
514 739-6311, poste 6143.

L’Äôˆ©cole secondaire Pierre-Laporte accueille prˆ®s de 1 000 ˆ©lˆ®ves, dont 150 inscrits en musique. Elle est sise au 1101, chemin Rockland, ˆÝ Mont-Royal. L’Äôˆ©tablissement est accessible aux les usagers du transport en commun par l’Äôautobus 119 (au dˆ©part des stations de mˆ©tro Cˆ¥te-des-Neiges, Universitˆ©-de-Montrˆ©al et ˆâdouard-Montpetit) et il est ˆÝ dix minutes de marche de la gare de train Mont-Royal ou de la station de mˆ©tro Acadie.

Final Programming for 2009 Ojai Music Festival (June 11-14) Announced

2009 OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL MUSIC DIRECTOR EIGHTH BLACKBIRD AND

OJAI ARTISTIC DIRECTOR THOMAS W. MORRIS ANNOUNCE

FINAL PROGRAMMING FOR OJAI’ÄôS 63^RD SEASON JUNE 11 TO 14

’Äúan electrifying confluence of artists, music, theater and ideas’Äù

(Thomas W. Morris)

March 11, 2009’Äì Ojai, California’ĶThomas W. Morris, artistic director of the Ojai Music Festival and Ojai’Äôs 2009 music director eighth blackbird have announced the final programming for the 2009 Ojai Music Festival, which takes place from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14, 2009. This season, the four-day Festival, which for six decades has become well known for its fearlessness in championing pioneering musical ideas and personalities, pushes the envelope again with programming that reflects the qualities that have made eighth blackbird a growing musical phenomenon’Äîgenre-defying variety in wildly collaborative and visually dramatic presentations.

Mr. Morris and eighth blackbird have gathered many of today’Äôs finest musicians, ensembles, and composers for what Mr. Morris describes as ’Äúa wild and diverse musical party of extraordinary talents.’Äù 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.

In programming the Festival, eighth blackbird flutist Tim Munro explains, ’ÄúVariety is important. We talk often about creating a well-balanced meal’Äînot too salty or spicy or sweet’Äîwhere all elements combine.’Äù The result is a Festival of music that is both fresh and familiar presented with a time-honored Ojai Music Festival aesthetic. The centerpiece of the Festival is the world premiere of a work co-commissioned by the Ojai Music Festival’ÄîSteven Mackey’Äôs Slide*’Äîa concert-length, multidisciplinary, music/theater work about the seduction and manipulation of the American psyche, which Mr. Eckert describes as ’Äúconcert theater, distinct from an oratorio for its involvement of the instrumentalists as theatrical role players.’Äù

Also featured in the Festival will be such treasured masterpieces of the repertoire as J.S. Bach’Äôs Goldberg Variations performed by Jeremy Denk in his Festival debut, the world premiere of a semi-staged performance of Schoenberg’Äôs Pierrot Lunaire directed by Mark DeChiazza with speaker Lucy Shelton doing sprechstimme, and Steve Reich’Äôs Music for 18 Musicians.

The Festival opens and closes with concerts that are distinctively the mark of eighth blackbird. The opening concert includes Thierry de Mey’Äôs Musique de Tables, John Luther Adams’Äôs Dark Waves, Takemitsu’Äôs Rain Tree, and George Crumb’Äôs Music for a Summer Evening. The Festival closes with a four-hour Marathon Finale in three parts, featuring all Festival artists in a visual and aural display of fearless virtuosity and unconventional music-making, highlighted by Reich’Äôs Double Sextet written for eighth blackbird, Lisa Bielawa’Äôs Kafka Songs performed by Tin Hat’Äôs Carla Kihlstedt; John Cage’Äôs Construction No. 3, as well as a new work by Nathan Davis for Trimpin and his sculptural creations. Capping the Festival will be Louis Andriessen’Äôs highly charged Workers Union.

Ara Guzelimian, dean of the Juilliard School and former artistic director of the Ojai Festival, will moderate the Festival Symposium, which takes place this year at the Matilija Auditorium. Mr. Guzelimian will discuss The Creation of Slide with Steven Mackey and Rinde Eckert, The Creation of a Festival with eighth blackbird, and finally, The Creation of a Performance with Jeremy Denk.

Trimpin, the innovative MacArthur Foundation Award-winning sound sculptor/composer/inventor, returns to Ojai with two interactive art and sound installations in Libbey Park’Äî’ÄúSheng High’Äù and ’ÄúGiuter-Toy.’Äù He will also be featured in one of three free Ojai bonus events at the Ojai Theater’Äîa sneak preview of an upcoming feature-length documentary. The two other bonus events are ’ÄúTrembling Air’Äù featuring flutists Tim Munro and Alexis Kenny in a concert showcasing the diversity of the flute and ’ÄúBREATHtaking’Äù with QNG in a concert of contemporary repertoire for recorders of all sizes and shapes, which includes the world premiere of a work commissioned for them from composer ˆâric Marty by the Canada Council for the Arts

Concerts will take place outdoors at the Libbey Bowl under a canopy of live oaks and safeguarded by the sacred ’ÄúWedding’Äù tree, a sycamore thought to have taken root when the first ’ÄúAmericans’Äù set foot on our shores. Other events will be held at Libbey Park, the Ojai Theater and Matilija Auditorium, the site of the original Festival concerts in 1947.

Concert Insights’ÄîMusicologist Christopher Hailey and featured artists will engage in a discussion about every Libbey Bowl concert one hour before each of those performances.

2009 Ojai Music Festival Programs

Thursday, June 11, 2009

6:00 p.m. Libbey Park

Trimpin will give the first of two free, live demonstrations of two new interactive sound sculptures created for the Ojai Music Festival. The first is ’ÄúSheng High.’Äù Based on the ancient Chinese instrument, the sheng, the music produced by ’ÄúSheng High’Äù is activated by a motion sensor. At the same time, an arm moving over an eight-foot disc on the floor of the instrument allows viewers to see and hear the composition simultaneously. The second instrument is ’ÄúGiuter-Toy,’Äù made from modified plastic toy guitars in all colors. The buttons on the toys are replaced with switches and then hooked up to a computer, producing compositions incorporating 80 different sounds, from musical notes to singing, talking, hip hop sounds, drumming, etc. The music is activated by inserting a coin.

8:00 p.m. Libbey Bowl ’Äì Opening Concert

The Ojai Music Festival opens with a program demonstrating how nature inspires the creation of beautiful music with John Luther Adams’Äôs Dark Waves; Takemitsu’Äôs Rain Tree, George Crumb’Äôs Music for a Summer Evening, and Thierry de Mey’Äôs Musique de Tables.

Friday, June 12, 2009

1:00 to Matilija Auditorium ’Äì Symposium-Session I

2:00 p.m. Ara Guzelimian in conversation with Steven Mackey and Rinde Eckert ’Äì The Creation of Slide

2:15 to Matilija Auditorium ’Äì Symposium-Session II

3:15 p.m. Ara Guzelimian in conversation with eighth blackbird ’Äì The Creation of a Festival

3:30 to Matilija Auditorium ’Äì Symposium-Session III

4:30 p.m. Ara Guzelimian in conversation with Jeremy Denk ’Äì The Creation of a Performance

8:00 p.m. Libbey Bowl ’Äì Tin Hat Sets Stage for Slide* World Premiere

Tin Hat sets the evening’Äôs stage with an eclectic mix of chamber music with their improvisational stamp. The world premiere of Slide follows. An Ojai Music Festival co-commission, composer/guitarist Steven Mackey, actor/singer Rinde Eckert, and eighth blackbird are featured in this audacious music-theater collaboration with the instrumentalists doubling as theatrical role players.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

11:00 a.m. Libbey Bowl ’Äì Jeremy Denk Contrasts Bach and Ives

In what he describes as ’Äúa painterly contrast,’Äù pianist Jeremy Denk will pair Bach’Äôs ’Äúluminous and serene’Äù Goldberg Variations with the ’Äúraucous’Äù Ives Sonata No. 1. Though written a century apart, Mr. Denk calls both ’Äúspartan and spiritual.’Äù

2:00 p.m. Ojai Theater ’Äì ’ÄúTrembling Air’Äù ’Äì Bonus Event

Flutists Tim Munro from eighth blackbird’Äôs and Australia’Äôs Alexis Kenny play a program that stretches the flute to unimaginable limits, even transforming it into a drumset in Harold Meltzer’Äôs Trapset.

4:30 p.m. Ojai Theater ’Äì Trimpin Private Screening ’Äì Bonus Event

A preview of an upcoming documentary about the life and work of Trimpin is a special presentation for Festival attendees only.

8:00 p.m. Libbey Bowl ’Äì Pierrot Lunaire and West Coast Premiere of Quasi Sinfonia

This concert opens with eighth blackbird performing the West Coast premiere of David M. Gordon’Äôs Quasi Sinfonia, a modern take on the traditional symphony, which includes such ’Äúalternate instruments’Äù as harmonicas; pitch pipes; kazoos; slide whistles; duck, deer, and goose calls and three melodicas. It follows with a semi-staged and costumed performance of Schoenberg’Äôs Pierrot Lunaire with speaker Lucy Shelton, directed by Mark DeChiazza and described by eighth blackbird as ’Äúa work of fevered intensity, dark gallows humor and touching pathos.’Äù

11:00 p.m. Ojai Theater ’Äì ’ÄúBREATHtaking’Äù ’Äì Bonus Event

QNG’ÄîQuartet for New Generation’Äîwill showcase the recorder in all its forms in an innovative program entitled ’ÄúBREATHtaking.’Äù The program includes two works by Fulvio Caldini, one of which is composed around the medieval melody Beata Viscera; Paul Moravec’Äôs Mortal Flesh, based on an ancient hymn; Wojtek Blecharz’Äôs Airlines incorporating unconventional sounds and articulations; and the world premiere of a work commissioned for QNG by the Canada Council on the Arts by composer ˆâric Marty in which the artists create a surreal soundscape.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

11:00 a.m. Libbey Bowl ’Äì Music for 18 Musicians

Music for 18 Musicians, Steve Reich’Äôs seminal chamber work of musical minimalism, will be performed by eighth blackbird and friends, a super ensemble created for this occasion by eighth blackbird, who call this work ’Äúa pivotal moment in 20^th-century music.’Äù

2:00 p.m. Libbey Park ’Äì Trimpin Returns

Trimpin returns to Libbey Park for a second free, live demonstration of his newest interactive sound installations ’ÄúSheng High’Äù and ’ÄúGiuter-Toy.’Äù

4:00 p.m. to Libbey Bowl ’Äì Marathon Finale in Three Parts

8:00 p.m. A fitting conclusion to the 2009 Ojai Music Festival is the Marathon Finale, incorporating all of this year’Äôs Ojai artists in performances that include Reich’Äôs Double Sextet, Lisa Bielawa’Äôs Kafka Songs, John Cage’Äôs Third Construction, and Louis Andriessen’Äôs Worker’Äôs Union, plus a newly commissioned work for Trimpin and his sculptural creations.

The Ojai Music Festival in California’Äôs Ojai Valley enjoys a worldwide reputation for providing artists with the freedom to present music they are passionate about in a place so idyllic that filmmaker Frank Capra transformed the area into Shangri-La for his 1937 film Lost Horizon. All concerts take place at the outdoor Libbey Bowl, once marked sacred by the ancient Chumash Indians, where inspiration and creativity still flourish. From its founding in 1947, a healthy spirit of eclecticism and musical daring produced concerts that were fun and inspiring. That spirit was reinforced in 1954 with the appointment of Lawrence Morton as the Festival artistic director. A man of broad musical tastes, Mr. Morton was a visionary whose constant curiosity and unwavering integrity shaped the festival’Äôs future direction. Under his leadership, the Ojai Music Festival developed an enduring concept whereby the artistic director engages a different music director each year, around whose musical ideas that year’Äôs Festival is built. Thomas W. Morris, the Festival’Äôs current artistic director, began his tenure at Ojai in 2004. Among the Festival’Äôs diverse music directors have been such renowned musical personalities as John Adams, Emanuel Ax, Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland, Ingolf Dahl, Peter Maxwell Davies, Lukas Foss, John Harbison, Oliver Knussen, Kent Nagano, Igor Stravinsky, Michael Tilson Thomas, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mitsuko Uchida, Robert Spano, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, and last year, David Robertson. The Ojai Music Festival is located in California’Äôs Ojai Valley, 75 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Grammy Award-winning sextet eighth blackbird is known for its provocative and engaging performances for ever-growing audiences. Combining virtuosity with a fresh sense of irreverence and panache, the sextet’Äîcomprising Tim Munro, flutes; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinets; Matt Albert, violin and viola; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Matthew Duvall, percussion+; and Lisa Kaplan, piano’Äîdebunks the myth that contemporary music is only for a cerebral few. The ensemble is praised for its performing style’Äîoften playing from memory with virtuosic and theatrical flair’Äîand for making new music accessible to wide audiences. Since its founding in 1996, eighth blackbird has commissioned and recorded new works from such eminent composers as Steve Reich, George Perle, Frederic Rzewski, Joseph Schwantner, Jennifer Higdon, Stephen Hartke, Derek Bermel, David Schober, Daniel Kellogg, and Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez. The ensemble has won numerous awards and honors, including the American Music Center’Äôs Trailblazer Award and a Meet the Composer Award in 2007, the 2000 Naumburg Chamber Music Award, and was the first contemporary music group to win the Grand Prize at the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Cedille Records has released four albums by eighth blackbird, including strange imaginary animals, which won the 2008 Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance. The group derives its name from the Wallace Stevens poem ’ÄúThirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.’Äù

Steven Mackey’Äôs first musical passion was playing the electric guitar in rock bands in northern California. He later discovered classical music and has composed for orchestras, chamber ensembles, dance and opera. The composer/guitarist/ music educator has received commissions from American Composers Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony, among others. He previously worked with Rinde Eckert on his monodrama Ravenshead, which has been performed over 100 times and was named ’ÄúBest New Opera of 1998’Äù by USA Today. Since the mid-1980s Mr. Mackey has resumed his interest in the electric guitar and regularly performs his own work. He recorded his own work on Lost and Found, and other recordings include Tuck and Roll conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. Both recordings made The New York Times year-end top ten list. Mr. Mackey is professor of music at Princeton University, and as co-director of the Composers Ensemble at Princeton he coaches and conducts new work by student composers.

Rinde Eckert, a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in drama, is a writer, composer, performer, and director. His opera/new music theatre productions have toured throughout America and to major festivals in Europe and Asia. A classically trained singer known for his flexible and inventive singing voice, Mr. Eckert is also a multi-instrumentalist, who has performed in multi-media theater pieces with the Paul Dresher Ensemble and the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, among others. But, in recent years, it is his work as a solo artist that has attracted increasing attention. His modern treatment of a variety of vernacular and classical music straddles the boundaries between time-honored and the new, the mysterious and the familiar, defying stylistic pigeonholes. Mr. Eckert begins a three-year residence at Princeton University in 2009.

Forging a new acoustic sound that defies categorization while striking universal chords, San Francisco-based, multi-instrumentalist Tin Hat makes freewheeling chamber music for the 21st century, combining many genres of music, including southern blues, bluegrass, neoclassical, eastern European folk music, and avant-garde. The ensemble ’Äì Carla Kihlstedt, Mark Orton, Ben Goldberg, and Ara Anderson - has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its five CDs and high marks for their captivating performances, sometimes including original soundtracks for classic silent film animation from Russia. Tin Hat’Äôs international audiences have grown over the years through many concert tours in the United States and in Europe. Hailed for "interweaving Old World Europe with post-modern America, south-of-the-border sensuality with concert-hall propriety, and odd-metered syncopation with deeply soulful grooves" (The New York Press), the ensemble has created an original American ethnic music.

QNG (Quartet New Generation) are four recorder virtuosos from Berlin who are known to mesmerize audiences with their theatrical flair and innovative programming that juxtaposes contemporary and early music, confirming the recorder’Äôs viability as a modern classical instrument. The members of QNG’ÄîSusanne Frohlich, Andrea Guttmann, Hannah Pape, and Heidi Schwarz’Äîperform on more than 20 different recorders of varying sizes and shapes and are continuously searching for new possibilities of sound and expression. With a large repertoire of European works, the collective has begun commissioning American composers, such as Stephen Taylor, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Gordon Beeferman and Nissim Schaul, among others. Founded in 1998 at the Amsterdam Conservatoire and the University of the Arts, Berlin, the quartet in numerous competitions, including the 1996 German Music and 2004 Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

Pianist Jeremy Denk commands a broad and challenging solo and chamber music repertoire ranging from J. S. Bach, through Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Messiaen, and Bartok, to Tobias Picker. Mr. Denk earned a Master’Äôs degree from Juilliard and is a double-degree graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory in chemistry and piano. Known for his interesting programming, his recitals have combined Ives’Äôs ’ÄúConcord’Äù Sonata with the final sonata of Beethoven, and a medley of Bach chorales and chorale-preludes with American Rags and Stephen Foster ballads. An avid chamber music artist, Mr. Denk, has collaborated with the Borromeo, Brentano, Mirˆ¾, St. Lawrence, Shanghai and Vermeer Quartets, and has appeared at all major chamber music festivals. He has played several recital tours with violinist Joshua Bell since their first performance together at Spoleto in 2004. Mr. Denk is also well known for ’ÄúThink Denk,’Äù his popular blog.

Trimpin, the Mac-Arthur ’Äúgenius grant’Äù award-winning sound sculptor, composer, musician, and inventor, describes his work as ’Äúan ongoing exploration of the concepts of sound, vision, and movement, experimenting with combinations that will introduce our senses of perception to a totally new experience.’Äù Although he uses the latest technology available, he works with ’Äúnatural’Äù elements’Äîwater, air, light, fire, etc.’Äîand reconfigures them in new and unusual applications, pushing them to the limits. Currently, an artist-in-residence at the California Arts Institute, Trimpin’Äôs sound sculptures, both whimsical and serious, have appeared all over the world. He previously exhibited his interactive Conloninpurple installation at Ojai’Äôs 60^th anniversary season in 2006

Pianist Amy Briggs is both a leading interpreter of the music of living composers and an artist who brings a fresh perspective to music of the past, with performances as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and Asia. As a pianist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’Äôs MusicNOW ensemble, she has worked with such major composers as Augusta Read Thomas, Pierre Boulez, Marc-Anthony Turnage, Oliver Knussen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Osvaldo Golijov. Her recordings include two critically acclaimed discs of David Rakowski’Äôs Piano Etudes on Bridge Records with a third to be released shortly; discs of solo and chamber music on the ART and Wergo Records label; and an upcoming album of solo piano tangos from the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Ms. Briggs earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at Northwestern University as a student of Ursula Oppens.

Soprano Lucy Shelton enjoys an international career of recital, chamber, opera and orchestral performances in repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the Contemporary. A foremost interpreter of today's composers, she has premiered more than 100 works, many of which have been written for her by such composers as Elliott Carter, Mario Davidvosky, Oliver Knussen, and Charles Wuorinen. International appearances include Pierre Boulez's Le Visage Nuptial under the composer's direction; Kurtag's The Sayings of Peter Bornemisza; Saariaho and Berio with the Ensemble InterContemporain; and staged performances of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. A native of California, her primary mentor was mezzo-soprano Jan de Gaetani. She has taught at the Britten-Pears School and in America at the Eastman School, Cleveland Institute, New England Conservatory of Music, and since 1996 has been a resident artist faculty member at the Tanglewood Music Center.

As the child of two Broadway and Hollywood dancer/actors, Mark DeChiazza grew up exposed to theater, dance, film, and the visual arts. Trained as a modern dancer and actor, he has performed all over the world in works of dance and dance-theater. A member of Susan Marshall’Äôs company, he contributed to the company’Äôs collaborative creation of work and also collaborated with her on the Leonard Cohen/Philip Glass production Book of Longing and on the eighth blackbird and Bang on a Can work, Singing in the Dead of Night. He has directed at Manhattan Theater Source; pilot episodes of the TV series Selectmen, and the short film Speck’Äôs Last. His one-act play The Dead Salesman was performed by Houston’Äôs Theater Southwest. and he has just completed his first full-length play Cut. Mr. DeChiazza is currently a member of Metropolitan Opera Ballet and is directing Phenomenon, which will premiere in 2010.

Thomas W. Morris, recognized as one of the most creative leaders in the music industry, assumed the position of artistic director of the Ojai Music Festival in 2004. His tenure extends through 2011. As artistic director, Mr. Morris is responsible for identifying and engaging each year’Äôs festival music director and working together with each, to create festival programming. In February 2004, Mr. Morris retired as executive director of The Cleveland Orchestra, a position he held since 1987. He served in a number of capacities, including general manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1969 to 1985, where he had overall responsibility for the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Tanglewood, and Symphony Hall. In addition to his Ojai post, Mr. Morris is active as a consultant, teacher, and writer.

Tickets and Information

Ojai Music Festival single tickets range from $35 to $95 for reserved seating; lawn seats are $15. (Reserved section tickets increase the week of the Festival.) Series tickets are also available and range from $150 to $309 for a full series and $125 to $255 for a mini series. Ojai concerts take place at the Libbey Bowl at East Ojai Avenue in downtown Ojai.

Tickets for the Festival Symposium on June 12 in Matilija Auditorium at Matilija Junior High School are $30 in advance or $35 the day of the event. Matilija Junior High School is located at 703 El Paseo Road.

The three June 13 bonus events all take place at the Ojai Theater at 145 East Ojai Avenue and all are free. For the 2 p.m. Trembling Air’Äù and 11 p.m. ’ÄúBREATHtaking’Äù events, subscribers and donors will be given first-priority seating, and the balance of the tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seating for the Trimpin private screening at 4:30 p.m. is available only to Ojai Music Festival attendees and donors.

To purchase tickets, to make reservations for the Trimpin bonus event, or for additional information, call 805-646-2094. Or visit www.OjaiFestival.org

Concierge Service

Ojai Music Festival provides a complimentary Festival concierge service for accommodations and assistance with other Ojai activities. The Festival also has special room rates for patrons at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and other participating hotel partners, including the Su Nido Inn and Casa Ojai. The direct line to the Festival concierge is 805-646-2094, Ext. 110.

*SLIDE is a co-commission of Stanford Lively Arts at Stanford University, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at University of Maryland, Meet The Composer’Äôs Commissioning Music/USA program, Charles C. Jett, Nancy R.G. Church M.D., and Herb and Belle Goldman, The Modlin Center at The University of Richmond

The 2009 Ojai Music Festival, Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University, Corporate Funding by The Boeing Corporation, and The Music Department at Princeton University

SLIDE was commissioned as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer's Commissioning Music/USA program, which is made possible by generous support from the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Francis Goelet Trust, the Helen F. Whitaker Fund, Target, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Go play outside!

GO PLAY OUTSIDE!

Musicians urged to take to the streets for Musequality ’Äì and set a busking world record

Musicians of every sort ’Äì professional, amateur, rock bands or baroque troupes ’Äì any age and wherever they are in the world are being urged to take part in the first annual Musequality World Busk. The location is a sidewalk (or any other public space) near you and the time is any time (in social hours) during Musequality World Busk Week ’Äì from Monday, 8 June to Sunday, 14 June.

Sunday will be a special day for young musicians to join in and will be the day Musequality aims to set a record for the largest simultaneous busk the world has ever seen.

Musequality, a UK-based charity, funds communal music projects for some of the poorest children in the developing world, giving them the chance to learn essential skills and discover the self-esteem and confidence they need to turn their lives around. It was founded in 2007 by professional violinist David Juritz, leader of the London Mozart Players and the London Tango Quintet, when he set off Round the World and Bach, playing Bach for solo violin in 50 cities in 24 countries on every continent except Antarctica. He takes his inspiration from El Sistema, Venezuela’Äôs world-famous youth music programme that has improved so many young lives, and other projects such as Buskaid in South Africa and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra set up by Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim.

The busk is open to any musician ’Äì singer or instrumentalist ’Äì and the only qualification is the ability to smile at passers by, nodding or thanking them if they donate, while continuing to play. Children playing a piece they need to learn are just as likely to draw a crowd as are well-practised professionals playing or singing together.

The money raised will help set up new projects ’Äì Musequality is actively fundraising for a string instrument project in Goa, India ’Äì and expand existing projects ’Äì the M-Lisada Brass Band and the Tender Talents choral project, both in Kampala, Uganda; the Melodi Music woodwind project in Soweto and the Hout Bay string, voice and drumming project in Cape Town, both in South Africa.

’ÄúBusking is great fun,’Äù says Juritz a seasoned busker who can’Äôt resist the chance to pick up his violin and play on the streets of London ’Äì or wherever he is performing. ’ÄúAll you need is a bit of bottle ’Äì and children, especially, will also need a bottler (someone who collects money from the audience) to accompany them and keep them safe.

’ÄúBusking is also a great leveller,’Äù Juritz continues. ’ÄúPeople make assumptions about you, just as they do about street children in the developing world. When I stood outside Zurich’Äôs famous Tonhalle concert hall playing to the audience as they went in, I earned just two Swiss Francs in 20 minutes, 400 times less than my fee the last time I’Äôd played there. The difference? This time I was standing on the steps rather than the stage.’Äù But many well-known musicians busked when starting out. ’ÄúIt’Äôs a great way to get better known and build confidence. If you can accept the indifference of some passers by and carry on performing, regardless of the rejection you’Äôll feel, the pleasure you’Äôll experience when someone stops to listen appreciatively is as good as a standing ovation in a world-class concert hall.

’ÄúChildren in our projects talk about the difficulties they face: the prejudice that because they have nothing they are worth nothing, and the assumption that they cannot possibly make a contribution to their society. Yet, when you ask them, their ambitions are the same as ours: they want to improve their lives and be known for being good at something. One young boy in one of our African projects wants to be a journalist so he can write about the problems of children and help them. Another, a girl, wants to be an economist. Without being given the chance to turn their lives around, many children in the developing world face a life on the streets and risk drifting into drug culture, violence and crime. These kids really want to build better societies for themselves. We’Äôd like to give them the chance they are looking for,’Äù Juritz explains.

Anyone who plays a musical instrument, or sings in a choir or group, knows that it teaches skills that are valuable in other aspects of life. In societies with entrenched gender inequalities, it challenges prejudices and gives girls a chance to express and assert themselves and be valued as equals.

’ÄúSocial exclusion and lack of opportunity are major factors in creating the corrosive mix of low self-esteem and under-achievement that plagues disadvantaged communities, Juritz continues. ’ÄúMusic programmes offer no miracle cure but they are a reliable and effective way of addressing those problems. When young people join a choir, band or an orchestra, they enter into a world where their contribution matters. Inappropriate behaviour spoils the experience not only for the group, but also for them ’Äì and the feedback is instant. As they tackle more complex music the children gain confidence and discover that, by working constructively, together with their peers, they can achieve something truly amazing.

’ÄúThe developing world desperately needs qualified and able teachers, doctors, farmers, lawyers, scientists, business people, decision-makers and leaders ’Äì drawn from their own communities. If it is to have those people in the future it needs ’Äì today ’Äì to help its young people develop the essential skills and qualities that will enable them to turn their lives around and fill these and other important roles. Communal music-making teaches those skills and qualities ’Äì and changes lives,’Äù David Juritz concludes.

If you want to join in with the Musequality World Busk, register at www.worldbusk.org where you will find all the tips and guidance you need for a safe, hassle-free busk.

Mendelssohn’Äôs ’ÄúElijah’Äù at Merrill Auditorium, March 31

Portland's Choral Art Society Presents a Special Production of Mendelssohn's Elijah with Special Guests and Full Orchestra, March 31

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì Almost exactly 200 years after the composer's birth, Portland's Choral Art Society will present Felix Mendelssohn's dramatic, moving oratorio Elijah in its full splendor on Tuesday, March 31 at Merrill Auditorium. Full of beatiful solos, Elijah depicts various events in the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. This production will include the Choral Art Society Masterworks Chorus, live orchestra and special guest soloists Lisa Saffer (soprano), Jennifer DeDominici (mezzo-soprano), John McVeigh (tenor) and Philip Cutlip (bass). The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

An oratorio is an elaborate musical presentation composed of an orchestra, choir and soloists. A sacred response to the secular, oratorio was popularized in response to the birth of opera in the early 1600s, but in a manner appropriate for church performance. The oratorio is similar to opera in the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters and arias; however, as opera is musical theater, an oratorio is strictly a concert piece, often dealing with sacred topics, with little or no interaction between characters and no props or elaborate costumes.

Widely known as the best oratorio of the 19th century, Mendelssohn did not shrink from the harshness of the Old Testament plots, and his music for Elijah is powerfully full of compelling scene-setting. Composed in the spirit of Mendelssohn's Baroque predecessors Bach and Handel, whose music he greatly admired, the style clearly reflects Mendelssohn's own genius as an early Romantic composer.

Scored for a full orchestra, a large chorus, and four vocal soloists, the part of Elijah is sung by the Philip Cutlip and is a major role. The soloists include:

• Lisa Saffer (soprano) ’Äì An internationally acclaimed operatic soprano based in Maine, Saffer has performed on concert stages with virtually all leading American orchestras and regularly throughout Europe. Particularly well known for her performances in the operas of Handel, she is a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Award and was nominated for an Olivier Award, London's equivalent of New York's Tony Award. She has thrilled local audiences in past performances with PORTopera and the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

• Jennifer DeDominici (mezzo-soprano) ’Äì A 2000 graduate of the USM School of Music, DeDominici is a resident of Denver and a mainstay in the performances offered by Opera Theatre of the Rockies. She performed the starring role in their production of Carmen in 2008. She has also performed for Opera Colorado, Central City Opera and the Santa Fe Opera, and was awarded first prize in the 2007 Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition.

• John McVeigh (tenor) ’Äì A resident of Portland, McVeigh has been a full-time professional opera singer since 1995. He has performed with countless symphonies and opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Grand Opera, NYC Opera and Los Angeles Opera, as well as concert stages around the globe. Locally he has performed on multiple occasions with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and played the role of Tybalt in last summer's PORTopera mainstage production of Romˆ©o et Juliette.

• Philip Cutlip (bass-baritone) ’Äì Established on both the concert and opera stage, Cutlip has performed with nearly every major North American orchestra, and his performances have been called "moving beyond words." A distinctive element in Cutlip's career is his ongoing collaboration with both well-established dance companies and avant-garde ensembles. He performed in the 2002 PORTopera mainstage production of Gounod's Faust, and was a tremendous sensation when he performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra at their March 2008 "German Requiem" concert.

The Choral Art Society's presentation of Elijah will be performed at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$47 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. (Phone and internet orders subject to $5 per ticket handling fee.) Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle Street, Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.

About The Choral Art Society:
The Society has more than 150 members who perform in three distinct ensembles: the symphonic Masterworks Chorus, the mid-sized Choral Art Singers, and the intimate a cappella Camerata. All singers are skilled amateurs, selected by audition. The Society offers an annual concert series and appears regularly as guests of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is the conductor and artistic director of The Choral Art Society.
For more information about The Choral Art Society and the 2008-09 performances visit www.choralart.org or call (207) 828-0043.

CMBV: Pierre Vachon

French Classical String Quartet of Pierre Vachon newly published by the CMBV

The Editions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles just published in full scores and set of parts the 6 String Quartet opus 11 by the French classical composer Pierre Vachon.

Pierre Vachon, born in Avignon in 1738, was known as a virtuoso violinist who performed on the most famous European stages, including Paris, London, and Berlin. He became Konzertmeister of the Royal Berlin orchestra in 1786. He was also a brilliant composer, particularly innovative for instrumental music: symphonies, sonatas, duets, trios, as well as about 30th skilfully crafted string quartets, among the best in late 18th century in France.

French music publishers from this time used the label "quatuor concertant" for pieces which maintain the balance between the players: the 2 violins, the viola and the cello. They were sold to the "amateur", from the aristocracy or upper middle-class, usually players of high level, who found in these scores music that they could enjoy playing together.

All the string quartets from this opus 11 begin with a Moderato and include 3 movements, with varied modes and tempi. They last between 10 and 20 minutes, and have no written figured bass, unlike the opus 7, the number 2 of which has been published by the ˆâditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles. This seems to indicate a performance without harpsichord. They could be played along with Gossec's string quartets, already available.
Each String Quartet is available both as condensed score (for 8 euros each) and set of parts (for 9,50 euros each).

For further information, see : http://editions.cmbv.fr

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)
And can be ordered in any music shop



Six Quatuors ˆÝ cordes de Pierre Vachon (1738-1803)

Les Editions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles viennent de publier en partition et en parties sˆ©parˆ©es les 6 Quatuors ˆÝ cordes opus 11 de Pierre Vachon.

Pierre Vachon naquit ˆÝ Avignon en 1738. Il fut un brillant violoniste qui se produisait sur les plus grandes scˆ®nes ˆÝ Paris, Londres et Berlin. Il fut nommˆ© en 1786 Konzertmeister de l'Orchestre royal de Berlin. C'est ˆ©galement un compositeur qui excellait dans la musique instrumentale : symphonies, sonates, duettos, trios et surtout une trentaine de quatuors ˆÝ cordes de trˆ®s belle facture, parmi les meilleures productions franˆßaises en cette fin de 18e siˆ®cle.

Les ˆ©diteurs parisiens signalaient sous le terme de ¬´ quatuor concertant ¬ª des ‰ìuvres plus particuliˆ®rement composˆ©es dans un souci d'ˆ©quilibre entre les deux violons, l'alto et le violoncelle, comme les 6 quatuors publiˆ©s ici. Ces ‰ìuvres mettent en valeur chacune des 4 parties dans une trˆ®s belle texture contrapuntique. Elles ˆ©taient destinˆ©s aux ¬´ amateurs ¬ª (terme qui dˆ©signait alors des instrumentistes souvent de trˆ®s bon niveau) qui prenaient plaisir ˆÝ jouer ensemble.

Les 6 quatuors de l'opus XI sont tous trˆ®s diffˆ©rents les uns des autres bien qu'ils soient tous en 3 mouvements faisant alterner les modes et les tempi et s'ouvrent sur un Moderato. Ces ‰ìuvres durent entre 10 et 20 minutes. Contrairement ˆÝ l'opus VII, dont le numˆ©ro 2 est publiˆ© aux ˆâditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, ils ne comportent aucun chiffrage ˆÝ la basse, ce qui semble privilˆ©gier une interprˆ©tation sans basse continue. On pourra rapprocher ces ‰ìuvres des quatuors dˆ©jˆÝ publiˆ©s de Gossec.

Chaque quatuor ˆÝ cordes est disponible sˆ©parˆ©ment, aussi bien en conducteur (ˆÝ 8 euros l'exemplaire) qu'en set de parties sˆ©parˆ©es (ˆÝ 9,50 euros le set).


Pour plus d'information vous pouvez consulter le site des Editions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles : http://editions.cmbv.fr


Les publications des ˆâditions du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles peuvent ˆ�tre commandˆ©es sur leur boutique en ligne (http://editions.cmbv.fr) et sont en stock dans le rˆ©seau des librairies partenaires (liste disponible : http://editions.cmbv.fr/lire/index.php?rubid=1). Elles peuvent par ailleurs ˆ�tre commander dans toute librairie musicale.

Annonce du nouveau Fonds des mˆ©dias du Canada par le ministre Moore

Annonce du nouveau Fonds des mˆ©dias du Canada par le ministre Moore - La production indˆ©pendante en milieu minoritaire y aura-t-elle sa place?

Ottawa, le 10 mars 2009 - Le ministre du Patrimoine canadien et des Langues officielles, l'honorable James Moore, a hier annoncˆ© la crˆ©ation du Fonds des mˆ©dias du Canada, qui rˆ©sulte d'une fusion du Fonds canadien de tˆ©lˆ©vision et du Fonds des nouveaux mˆ©dias du Canada. Il sera en vigueur dˆ®s avril 2010 et totalisera plus de 310 millions de dollars annuellement, en combinant l'investissement du secteur privˆ© et du gouvernement fˆ©dˆ©ral.

L'Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC) se dit satisfaite, d'une part, de voir que ce fonds demeure entier, et non scindˆ© comme le recommandait le CRTC en juin 2008. ¬´ En fait, le mandat ˆ©largi de ce fonds encouragera la crˆ©ation d'un contenu canadien qui intˆ®gre plusieurs plateformes, ce qui s'harmonise avec le dˆ©veloppement de l'industrie, ˆÝ l'heure actuelle ¬ª, affirme Mark Chatel, prˆ©sident de l'APFC. Un autre ˆ©lˆ©ment de cette annonce qui rassure l'APFC est l'affirmation du ministre Moore, lors de son discours, qu'il veillera ˆÝ nommer des membres du conseil d'administration qui connaˆÆtront les rˆ©alitˆ©s auxquelles font face les producteurs francophones en milieu minoritaire. ¬´ Nous espˆ©rons que ce nouveau mode de gouvernance prˆ©voira toutefois des mˆ©canismes de concertation directement avec notre organisme, car pour ˆ�tre efficace et rˆ©pondre ˆÝ ses objectifs, le Fonds des mˆ©dias du Canada devra dˆ©velopper des principes directeurs tenant compte de notre rˆ©alitˆ© et favorisant l'essor de notre industrie, qui a beaucoup progressˆ© au cours des derniˆ®res annˆ©es. ¬ª, ajoute Mark Chatel. ¬´ L'enveloppe pour les Projets de langue franˆßaise ˆÝ l'extˆ©rieur du Quˆ©bec (PLFEQ) a fait ses preuves, et nous nous attendons ˆÝ ce que le nouveau fonds conserve cette initiative spˆ©ciale. ¬ª

Toutefois, en bˆ©mol, l'APFC note que parmi les genres d'ˆ©missions oˆ¼ le fonds investira, on semble vouloir ajouter des dispositions plus contraignantes pour le financement de documentaires et d'ˆ©missions de variˆ©tˆ©s ou d'arts de la scˆ®ne, deux genres dans lesquels les producteurs hors-Quˆ©bec sont spˆ©cialisˆ©s. ¬´ Le nouveau conseil d'administration devra rˆ©aliser que pour les producteurs hors-Quˆ©bec, ces genres sont incontournables. Nos histoires et l'ˆ©panouissement de nos communautˆ©s passent beaucoup par ces ˆ©missions, qui permettent de raconter et de prˆ©senter une rˆ©alitˆ© qui nous est unique. Encore beaucoup de balises sont encore ˆÝ prˆ©ciser et l'impact de cette nouvelle formule ne peut encore ˆ�tre apprˆ©ciˆ© dans son ensemble, pour le moment.

L'APFC veillera donc de prˆ®s ˆÝ ce que le Fonds des mˆ©dias du Canada appuie comme il se doit la production indˆ©pendante francophone en milieu minoritaire. ¬ª, conclut Mark Chatel.

L'Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada se consacre au dˆ©veloppement de l'industrie francophone du film, de la tˆ©lˆ©vision et du multimˆ©dia ˆÝ l'ˆ©chelle canadienne. Elle reprˆ©sente 13 entreprises francophones de production tˆ©lˆ©visuelle, cinˆ©matographique et multimˆ©dia ˆ©tablies ˆÝ Vancouver, White Rock (CB), Edmonton, Winnipeg, Sudbury, Ottawa et Moncton. Tout en contribuant ˆÝ retenir les artisans, les artistes et les crˆ©ateurs dans leurs milieux respectifs, nos producteurs ont pour mission de donner une voix ˆÝ leurs communautˆ©s, de leur fournir un miroir dans lequel elles se reconnaissent et qui les reprˆ©sente dans le paysage tˆ©lˆ©visuel d'aujourd'hui.

Gala de la musique de Quˆ©bec : c'est le temps de voter

1^er Gala de la musique de Quˆ©bec

Le gala approche, maintenant il faut voter !

Quˆ©bec, le 9 mars 2009 - Le 1^er Gala de la musique de Quˆ©bec se tiendra le 16 avril 2009, ˆÝ 18h, ˆÝ la salle Multi du Complexe Mˆ©duse. Dans une formule cabaret, 15 prix (Les Champlain) seront remis aux artisans du milieu musical de la grande rˆ©gion de Quˆ©bec devant les membres de l'Association des professionnels en musique de la grande rˆ©gion de Quˆ©bec (APMGRQ), les partenaires et les gagnants du public. Enfin, un ˆ©vˆ©nement fera la part belle ˆÝ la musique populaire d'ici ; enfin une reconnaissance pour nos crˆ©ateurs dans notre rˆ©gion ! La pˆ©riode de votation est ouverte. Le public, les membres de l'APMGRQ, et les disquaires sont invitˆ©s ˆÝ voter au www.apmgrq.com.

www.apmgrq.com

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A Midsummer Night's Dream at the COC

NEW PRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE’ÄôS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’ÄôS Dream CLOSES THE coc’ÄôS 2008/09 SEASON

Toronto, Ontario ’Äì Closing the 2008/09 season is the COC premiere of Benjamin Britten’Äôs adaptation of William Shakespeare’Äôs enchanting play A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream. Making his COC debut is renowned American countertenor Lawrence Zazzo, ’Äúa countertenor of gorgeous tone and superb control’Äù (New York Times), with the illustrious American coloratura soprano Laura Claycomb, known to COC audiences for her portrayal of Gilda in 2004’Äôs Rigoletto. Leading the COC Orchestra and Canadian Children’Äôs Opera Company is internationally-renowned conductor and former music director of the Kansas City Symphony Anne Manson. This COC co-production with Houston Grand Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago is directed by Neil Armfield, a Dora Mavor Moore Award winner for 2001’Äôs Billy Budd. A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream runs May 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, and 23, 2009 and is sung in English with English SURTITLES’Ñ¢.

In an Athenian forest during a midsummer’Äôs night, four lovers and a bumbling group of amateur actors find themselves at the mercy of fairies as the fairy and mortal worlds collide. Lawrence Zazzo is Oberon, king of the fairies, and his queen, Tytania, is sung by Laura Claycomb, who recently sang the role in Houston. Irish soprano Giselle Allen, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and Austrian baritone Wolfgang Holzmair, Don Alfonso in the 2006 production of Cosˆ¨ fan tutte, return as the mismatched couple Demetrius and Helena. American mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong makes her COC debut as Hermia, and Ensemble tenor Adam Luther is Lysander, Hermia’Äôs lover. COC favourite, bass Robert Pomakov, who last appeared in both Don Giovanni and War and Peace is the irresistible Bottom. Former Ensemble bass Robert Gleadow, who also sings Colline in La Bohˆ®me this season, is Theseus, the Duke of Athens. His betrothed Hippolyta is sung by COC newcomer, mezzo-soprano Kelly O’ÄôConnor. Bass-baritone Thomas Goerz, BenoˆÆt in La Bohˆ®me, is Quince, and Ensemble graduate tenor Lawrence Wiliford is Flute. Ensemble members, bass Michael Uloth is Snug, tenor Michael Barrett is Snout, and baritone Alexander Hajek is Starveling. Actor Jamaal Grant appears as Oberon’Äôs servant Puck. Making their company debuts creating the magical landscape are Australian set and costume designer

Dale Ferguson and lighting designer Damien Cooper.

To celebrate the 1960 reopening of the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, Benjamin Britten wanted to compose a new opera, but with little time to write a new libretto, Britten chose to adapt Shakespeare’Äôs

A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream with the help of his long-time partner and celebrated tenor Peter Pears. With several alterations, it is still loyal to the spirit of the original, and is one of the most successful operatic adaptations of a Shakespeare play.

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

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

Presenting Sponsor of SURTITLESˆ§: Sun Life Financial

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

Jaguar Land Rover Canada

Official Media Sponsors: CTV and The Globe and Mail

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

COC ANCILLARY EVENTS AND INFORMATION:

BMO Financial Group Pre-Performance Opera Chats

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

Appetite for Opera: A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream

Appetite for Opera returns to Hilton Toronto’Äôs Tundra Restaurant on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 for Appetite for Opera: A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream, an evening that combines the cultural and culinary arts in an innovative gourmet event designed to delight and intrigue opera novices and seasoned fans. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:15 p.m. followed by a multi-course dinner at 7 p.m. and costs $89 per person. Each course is accompanied by a specially chosen wine, while COC Volunteer Speakers Bureau representative Robert Morassutti and the Hilton chef Kreg Graham provide fascinating links and insights between food, wine, and opera. Ticket and dinner packages can be purchased online at www.coc.ca.

Opera 101: A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream

The Canadian Opera Company’Äôs popular FREE series, Opera 101, takes an enthusiastic look at

the COC’Äôs production of Britten’Äôs A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream, on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at

7:30 p.m. Held at the culturally eclectic Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.), the event is designed to demystify opera by illuminating and illustrating different aspects of the art form. The session, including a question-and-answer period, features special guest, conductor Anne Mason, and host Brent Bambury from CBC Radio’Äôs GO!. Opera 101 is a friendly, interactive, and informal event where opera neophytes can enjoy a drink and snacks and get the scoop on what opera is all about. New this season, audience members are invited to stick around following the discussion to enjoy FREE, live entertainment.

The Opera Exchange

The Canadian Opera Company, in collaboration with the Jackman Humanities Institute, the Munk Centre for International Studies, and the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, presents the last instalment

of the Opera Exchange series: Antique Fables and Fairy Toys: Britten’Äôs A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream, held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The half-day symposium highlights the music in Benjamin Britten’Äôs transformation of William Shakespeare’Äôs A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream. Topics include: Shakespeare’Äôs romantic comedy and the adaptation’Äôs libretto and musical setting; the opera in the context of Britten’Äôs life and work; and, a performance-based workshop that explores the critical approaches to the music of Benjamin Britten. The Opera Exchange series: Antique Fables and Fairy Toys: Britten’Äôs A Midsummer Night’Äôs Dream takes place at Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, The Faculty of Music, 80 Queen’Äôs Park (at Museum subway station). Tickets are available by calling 416-363-8231, online at www.coc.ca, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W., Toronto). Tickets for the half-day session are $15, $10 for U of T faculty, $5 for students (with ID).

Canadian Opera Company Podcast Series

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

About the Canadian Opera Company

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

Canadian Opera Company Website

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

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra celebrates launch of 09/10 season with free concert

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra announces

2009/2010 season with FREE noon-hour concert!

Francis Winspear Centre for Music

Thursday, April 2^nd, 2009 ’Äì 12:00 pm

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) invites you to be among the first to hear details of their upcoming season! On Thursday, April 2^nd, 2009, the ESO will celebrate the launch of the upcoming 2009/2010 season with a free noon-hour concert for our patrons, sponsors, and the community of Edmonton. Leading the ESO into their 58^th season, and his fifth as Music Director, William Eddins and the orchestra will present a rousing selection of pieces live on the Winspear stage.

In the last 50-plus years, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has taken its place as one of Canada's foremost orchestral ensembles. Its current roster includes 56 musicians from Canada and around the world, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from the great classical masterworks to pops and children's concerts, bringing to the stage their unique experiences and incredible musical talents.

During the course of its rich first half-century, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has played a vital role in the cultural life and well-being of the city, and beyond. The orchestra's musicians contribute both as an institution and individually to the nurturing of Edmonton's artistic community ’Äì as performers, clinicians, and especially as teachers.

The magnificent Francis Winspear Centre for Music is the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's performance home. Located in the Arts District in the heart of downtown Edmonton, the intimate surroundings of Winspear Centre offer an up-close musical experience like no other. The incredible acoustics of the hall allow music to be performed 'unplugged' and are equal to the great concert halls of the world.

The presence of the orchestra and its enrichment of the community's quality of life are key elements in the stature and profile of Edmonton on the national and international scene.

Audiences are invited to experience the inspiration and indulge in the celebration of the new season on April 2^nd. No tickets are required for this free concert event.

General admission seating; lobby opens at 11:00 am.

Richard Tognetti's Australian Chamber Orchestra On Tour April-May 2009

Australian Chamber Orchestra with Violinist Richard Tognetti On Tour April and May 2009

Nine dates Coast-to-Coast Showcase ACO's Trademark Vitality and High Energy Performances

New York, NY ’Äì March 6, 2009 ’Äì This spring, the Australian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of violinist Richard Tognetti embarks on a nine city tour of the United States. With stops in Los Angeles at The Walt Disney Concert Hall, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Kansas City, Berkeley, Denver, Iowa, Princeton and New York at Carnegie Hall, this is one of the most ambitious US tours ever undertaken by the group, known as Australia’Äôs most dynamic and acclaimed musical ensemble.

For this tour, the ACO will perform works of Haydn, Vivaldi, Haas, Rameau and American premiere performances of Footwork by Roger Smalley. Concerts in Santa Barbara, Berkeley, Denver and New York will also feature a performance of Handel arias with countertenor Andreas Scholl. In San Diego, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Iowa and New Jersey, pianist Paul Lewis joins the ACO for Mozart’Äôs Piano Concerto No. 12 (K. 414). Complete program details are listed below.

Founded in 1975, the Australian Chamber Orchestra is a product of the country’Äôs vibrant, adventurous and inquiring spirit. Under the visionary leadership of violinist Richard Tognetti who celebrates his 20th year with the ensemble this season, these brilliant virtuosos are engaged with music at the highest level: seventeen minds ’Äúthinking and breathing as one’Äù (The Times). In performances around Australia, around the world and on many recordings, the ACO performs repertoire spanning four centuries with ’Äúunfailing virtuosity and unanimity of spirit’Äù (New York Times) unmatched by other ensembles. The ACO’Äôs unique artistic style encompasses not only the masterworks of the classical repertoire, but innovative cross-artform projects and a vigorous commissioning program.

The outstanding Australian musician Richard Tognetti, ’Äúone of the most characterful, incisive and impassioned violinists to be heard today’Äù (Telegraph) is considered a National Living Treasure in Australia. He was appointed Artistic Director and Lead Violin of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 1989. Tognetti is a noted soloist, composer, arranger, educator and an accomplished surfer (his documentary about the connections between music and surfing Musica Surfica was recently awarded best feature at the New York Surf Film Festival and was honored at the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival). While maintaining the highest artistic standards, Richard Tognetti has broadened the audience for classical music through collaborations with many non-classical entertainers like Barry Humphries (Dame Edna Everage) and Neil Finn (from Crowded House). For the 2003 film Master and Commander, Tognetti co-composed the soundtrack, performed as a soloist on the best-selling recording, and also taught Russell Crowe to play the violin for the film. Richard Tognetti plays a Guarneri Violin worth more than $10 Million that was lent to him by an anonymous donor.

Under Richard Tognetti’Äôs inspiring leadership, the ACO has performed as a flexible and versatile ’Äòensemble of soloists’Äô, on modern and period instruments, as a small chamber group, a small symphony orchestra, and as an electro-acoustic collective. In a nod to past traditions, only the cellists are seated ’Äì the resulting sense of energy and individuality is one of the most commented-upon elements of an ACO concert experience.

For more information about the Australian Chamber Orchestra, visit the website at www.aco.com.au.

CMQ - Alain Lefˆ®vre et le Concerto No.4

LE PIANISTE ALAIN LEFˆàVRE ET SON ENREGISTREMENT DU CONCERTO NO 4 D'ANDRˆâ MATHIEU DANS UNE DIFFUSION NATIONALE de performance today SUR LES RˆâSEAUX AMˆâRICAINS

Montrˆ©al, 9 mars 2009 ’Äì Performance Today, l'ˆ©mission radio de musique classique numˆ©ro 1 aux ˆâtats-Unis, met aujourd'hui en lumiˆ®re l'enregistrement Analekta saluˆ© d'Alain Lefˆ®vre du Concerto n^o 4 pour piano et orchestre d'Andrˆ© Mathieu, avec le Tucson Symphony Orchestra sous la direction de George Hanson. Cette ˆ©mission radio sera entendue lundi le 9 mars sur 245 stations publiques partout aux ˆâtats-Unis. La liste complˆ®te des heures de diffusion est disponible au www.performancetoday.org. L'ˆ©mission, suivie par 1,1 million d'auditeurs chaque semaine, sera ˆ©galement disponible sur le site Internet de Performance Today pendant sept jours.

Rappelons que l'enregistrement Analekta s'ˆ©tait hissˆ© au deuxiˆ®me rang du palmarˆ®s amˆ©ricain classique moins d'une semaine aprˆ®s son lancement en septembre 2008. Lefˆ®vre a crˆ©ˆ© le Concerto ˆÝ Tucson en mai 2008 et en a donnˆ© la premiˆ®re europˆ©enne en octobre dernier, lors d'une reprˆ©sentation triomphale au mythique Thˆ©ˆ¢tre des Champs-ˆâlysˆ©es ˆÝ Paris avec l'Orchestre National de Paris. De plus, le concert a ˆ©tˆ© diffusˆ© en direct partout en Europe par Radio-France. En dˆ©cembre, Lefˆ®vre partageait son amour pour la musique d'Andrˆ© Mathieu lors d'une entrevue tˆ©lˆ©visˆ©e avec le prestigieux Charlie Rose, entretien qui a ˆ©tˆ© diffusˆ© sur plus de 200 stations PBS affiliˆ©es partout aux ˆâtats-Unis. Pour consulter les archives vidˆ©o, visitez le www.charlierose.com

Avec passion et conviction, Alain Lefˆ®vre poursuit sa mission de diffuser la musique du compositeur quˆ©bˆ©cois Andrˆ© Mathieu (1929-1968), faisant revivre les ‰ìuvres du gˆ©nie oubliˆ© tant au concert que sur disque. La courte vie de Mathieu, le ¬´ Mozart canadien ¬ª, reste nimbˆ©e de mystˆ®re. Lefˆ®vre a ˆ©galement enregistrˆ© le Rhapsodie romantique de Mathieu, sur Rhapsodies, un enregistrement avec l'Orchestre symphonique de Montrˆ©al. Cet enregistrement Analekta a ˆ©tˆ© l'un des albums classiques les plus vendus au Canada en 2007 et BBC Music Magazine a considˆ©rˆ© son achat comme ˆ©tant ¬´ essentiel ¬ª.

Alain Lefˆ®vre enregistrera prochainement pour Analekta le Concerto n^o 1 pour piano et trompette de Chostakovitch et le Concertino n^o 2 de Mathieu, opus 13, avec les London Mozart Players. Le disque sera lancˆ© lors d'un concert au Cadogan Hall de Londres le 7 octobre 2009.

Un ¬´ interprˆ®te sensationnel ¬ª (Washington Post), le pianiste et compositeur Alain Lefˆ®vre mˆ®ne une carriˆ®re internationale ˆ©blouissante, en tant qu'invitˆ© des orchestres les plus rˆ©putˆ©s, dans plus de trente pays. Pour plus d'information, consultez le www.alainlefevre.com et www.analekta.com

NACO, March 16: Pinchas Zukerman and Marc Neikrug in recital

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The Bombardier Great Performers Series of recitals will feature the National Arts Centre Orchestra’Äôs Music Director Pinchas Zukerman, one of the world’Äôs great violinists and violists, together with his recital partner, the pianist and composer Marc Neikrug (pronounced NIKE-roog), on Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. in the NAC’Äôs Southam Hall. This recital ’Äì the first for Zukerman and Neikrug in Ottawa since 2005 ’Äì features music by Schubert, Janˆ°cek, Dvorˆ°k and Suk. Pinchas Zukerman and Marc Neikrug have performed together all over the world since 1975. This season alone, their recital schedule has taken them to Vienna, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago.

Pinchas Zukerman, described by Itzhak Perlman as the ’Äúgreatest violist that ever was’Äù opens the program on that instrument performing the Sonata ’Äúper Arpeggione’Äù in A minor. Then he switches to violin for Janacek’Äôs Sonata for Violin and Piano, Dvorˆ°k’Äôs Four Romantic Pieces and the final two of Suk’Äôs Four Pieces for Violin and Piano.

The two musicians describe their musical selections as follows: ’ÄúThe program was chosen for its wonderful variety of sounds and emotions. The first half highlights the sound of the viola alone, focusing on the single greatest piece played on that instrument. It is a work which can and begs to be heard in isolation. The second half is entirely Czech music. The Janˆ°cek Sonata is a work of tremendous originality, depth, and drama. It has a great impact on audiences and deserves to be played much more than it is. The remaining pieces are charming miniatures of particularly national character. The nice relationship is that Suk was not only a pupil of Dvorˆ°k but also his son-in-law.’Äù

Pinchas Zukerman was named Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1998, and he continues to guest conduct and perform with the world’Äôs finest orchestras. His current season comprises well over 100 concert engagements and travel to 17 countries including France, India, Israel, China, Turkey, Peru, New Zealand, Austria, Russia and the United Arab Emerates. He performs orchestra, solo recital and chamber music repertoire in 34 cities. He appears with London’Äôs Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he became Principal Guest Conductor in January 2009, in Moscow, Italy and Spain; the Dallas Symphony Orchestra on tour in the US; the Israel Philharmonic in New York’Äôs Carnegie Hall, Bombay and Israel; the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Philharmonique de Radio France and Gulbenkian Orchestra.

Marc Neikrug has performed worldwide as a pianist, for over thirty years appearing regularly at major festivals and concert halls. He is also an internationally renowned composer whose chamber music, symphonic music, music-theater and opera have been performed by major orchestras all over the world and by artists including Zubin Mehta, Loren Maazel, Christoph Eschenbach, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Alan Gilbert, David Zinman, Leonard Slatkin, Lawrence Foster, Oliver Knussen, James Galway, and the Emerson, Vermeer, Tokyo and Orion Quartets.

His music-theater work Through Roses has since its premiere in 1980, had hundreds of performances in fifteen countries and has been translated into 11 languages. Last July it was performed by members of the NAC Orchestra at the Canadian War Museum.

Tickets for this Bombardier Great Performers recital featuring Pinchas Zukerman and Marc Neikrug on March 16 are on sale now at $19.00, $39.00, $45.00, $49.00, $59.00 and $69.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’Äôs 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.

PSO Joins Orchestras Feeding America to Benefit Preble Street, April 4 & 5

Portland Symphony Orchestra to join Orchestras Feeding America to Benefit Preble Street, April 4 and 5
National food drive inspired by the upcoming film The Soloist

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will participate in Orchestras Feeding America, the first national food drive by America's symphony orchestras. Volunteers will collect non-perishable food at the PSO's "Dance! Dance! Dance!" concerts featuring Music Director Robert Moody conducting with Fred Strickler, tap dancer, and Neos Dance Theater on April 4 and 5 in the lobby of Merrill Auditorium. All food collected will be donated to Preble Street. For hours and collection details visit portlandsymphony.com.

To date, almost 200 orchestras have come together to combat hunger in their communities through Orchestras Feeding America, and the number of participants is growing daily. The project will take place in March and April, and is organized by the League of American Orchestras (representing the nation's professional, volunteer and youth orchestras) and Feeding America's network of over 200 food banks and 63,000 agencies. The drive was inspired by the true story characterized in the upcoming film The Soloist starring Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr.

Ari Solotoff, PSO's Executive Director, stated, "We all are feeling the effects of this economic crisis, but we cannot let that stop us from helping our neighbors in greater need. Our orchestra's music uplifts people, but with this project we can do more to support the community that has supported us for so long."

One in eight Americans is at risk of hunger. According to the USDA, there are 36 million people at risk of hunger in the U.S.; 12 million of them are children. Maine is one of the two most food-insecure states in the nation, and at Preble Street, the demand for emergency food assistance has increased 30%. The food pantry and soup kitchen have served a record number of meals in the past four months.

The Soloist, directed by Joe Wright, will be released by Paramount Pictures to theaters nationwide on April 24. A Dreamworks Pictures/Universal Pictures presentation in association with Studio Canal and Participant Media, the film is based on the true story of the relationship between Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player whose mental illness landed him among the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Their relationship expanded to include staff and musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Soloist, which also features the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is a testament to the redemptive power of music and a reminder of our connections to the most vulnerable among us.

Ticket prices for the "Dance! Dance! Dance!" concerts range from $17 to $62, with special pricing available for students, seniors and groups. All Portland Symphony Orchestra tickets are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. (Phone and internet orders subject to $5 per ticket handling fee.) Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.

Serving the city of Portland, the State of Maine, and Northern New England, the PSO is the largest performing arts organization in Maine. With critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement, the PSO is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. For more information visit portlandsymphony.com.

Preble Street works to make sure that youth, adults, and families who have no home will not go hungry, will not have to be on the street when they are tired or sick or cold, will not have to live in fear and danger, and will have a chance to move beyond homelessness. For more information visit preblestreet.org.

Concert anniversaire - Cantates de Bach

¬´Tellement frais ’Äì et professionnel. Et quel bon son! Bravo et grand merci pour les explications vivantes!¬Ý¬ª

¬´¬ÝQuel directeur artistique douˆ© d'humour! Chapeau!¬Ý¬ª

¬Ý¬´¬ÝSublime, quelle maˆÆtrise vocale et quelle musicalitˆ©! [’Ķ]¬Ý Merci pour ces instants magiques.¬Ý¬ª

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L'ensemble vocal VivaVoce de Montrˆ©al cˆ©lˆ®bre son 10^e anniversaire avec classe,

exploitant les cantates de jeunesse de Jean-Sˆ©bastien Bach

Qu'il mange du gˆ¢teau! L'ensemble vocal VivaVoce, sous la direction de Peter Schubert, cˆ©lˆ®brera son 10^e anniversaire ˆÝ la salle de concert Redpath, vendredi le 3 avril 2009 ˆÝ 19h30. Pour souligner cet ˆ©vˆ©nement commˆ©moratif, l'ensemble vocal invite son auditoire ˆÝ vivre avec lui une expˆ©rience unique, soit un concert mettant en valeur les cantates de jeunesse de Jean-Sˆ©bastien Bach, commentˆ©es de faˆßon instructive et divertissante, sans oublier le gˆ¢teau d'anniversaire qui sera partagˆ© pour conclure la soirˆ©e.¬Ý

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Le directeur artistique, Peter Schubert, dˆ©crit ainsi la dimension que prendra ce concert: ¬´Nous avons choisi de prˆ©senter au public quelques-unes des piˆ®ces composˆ©es par Bach alors qu'il ˆ©tait ˆ¢gˆ© dans la vingtaine. Ces ‰ìuvres exploitent remarquablement des transitions dramatiques entre diverses ˆ©motions et ce, contrairement aux ‰ìuvres avec lesquelles il s'est illustrˆ© au cours de sa carriˆ®re adulte. Nous apprˆ©cions exposer notre auditoire ˆÝ une variˆ©tˆ© de programmes, leur donnant ainsi l'opportunitˆ© de dˆ©couvrir de nouvelles balises musicales suscitant leur intˆ©rˆ�t. ¬ª

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VivaVoce se dˆ©marque d'autres chorales professionnelles canadiennes grˆ¢ce ˆÝ son rˆ©pertoire variˆ© et souvent audacieux, offrant des prestations dans divers genres musicaux, du chant grˆ©gorien ˆÝ la musique la plus fascinante du XXI^e siˆ®cle. L'approche originale adoptˆ©e par ce ch‰ìur lui a valu une fidˆ©litˆ© de son auditoire tout au cours de la derniˆ®re dˆ©cennie, ainsi qu'une reconnaissance dans le milieu de la musique classique¬Ý: VivaVoce a reˆßu neuf nominations dans six catˆ©gories diffˆ©rentes dans les Prix Opus, ayant remportˆ© un prix en 2004.

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TROIS CANTATES DE JEUNESSE DE BACH: Cantates 4, 131 et 182

Avec Marie Magistry, soprano; Josˆ©e Lalonde, alto; Nils Brown, tˆ©nor; Normand Richard, baryton; Hank Knox, orgue, Orchestre de chambre

VENDREDI LE 3 AVRIL 2009 ˆÝ 19h30

Salle de concert Redpath, Universitˆ© McGill, 3461, rue McTavish, Montrˆ©al

Billets disponibles ˆÝ la billetterie de l'ˆâcole de musique Schulich au 514-398-4547

ou ˆÝ ADMISSION au 514-790-1245, ou en ligne au www.admission.com

Pour plus de renseignements, priˆ®re de visiter le site www.vivavoce-montreal.com

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¬Ý"Spectacular crystal voices! Thank you!"

"I love the 'difference' from other choirs."

"Absolutely wonderful concerts! We love the music, professional singers & the commentary. We will be back for more! "

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Montreal's VivaVoce Chamber Choir celebrates 10^th birthday

with cantatas from Bach's early years

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Let them eat cake! Montreal's VivaVoce Chamber Choir, conducted by Peter Schubert, will be celebrating their 10^th anniversary at Redpath Hall, Friday April 3^rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm. To commemorate this milestone event, the celebrated chamber choir invites the audience to a night of Bach cantatas, humorous commentary, and, of course, birthday cake.¬Ý

Conductor Peter Schubert explains about this show: "For this show, we decided to go with some of Bach's earlier work from his twenties. It is more obviously dramatic than the later music that he is better known for. We like to expose our audience to different things, so they can discover something new that appeals to them."

VivaVoce stands out amongst other Canadian professional choirs for their varied and often daring repertoire; they perform commentated concerts tackling any musical genre from Gregorian chant to 21^st-century music. The choir's original approach has earned it a loyal following during its first decade along with recognition in the classical music milieu: it has received nine Opus nominations in six categories, winning a first prize in 2004.

BACH: THE EARLY YEARS Cantatas 4, 131 and 182

With Marie Magistry, soprano; Josˆ©e Lalonde, alto; Nils Brown, tenor; Normand Richard, baritone; Hank Knox, organ, chamber orchestra

Friday April 3^rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm

Redpath Hall, 3461 McTavish Street

Tickets available by calling 514-398-4547 (Schulich School of Music Box Office)

or ADMISSION: 514-790-1245 or online at www.admission.com

For more information, please visit www.vivavoce-montreal.com

18e ˆâdition Festival De Musique du Maghreb

Les Productions Nuits d'Afrique prˆ©sentent

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18^e ¬Ýˆ©dition

FESTIVAL DE MUSIQUE DU MAGHREB

19-20-21 mars 2009

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L'ˆ©vˆ®nement annuel transfrontalier qui arabise’Ķ

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Montrˆ©al, le 4 mars 2009- ¬ÝInitiˆ© par les Productions Nuits d'Afrique, le Festival de Musique du Maghreb cˆ©lˆ®bre cette annˆ©e sa 18ˆ®me ˆ©dition’Ķ

18 annˆ©es remplies de dˆ©couvertes, de mˆ©lange des genres, des styles et de sonoritˆ©s maghrˆ©bines...

18 annˆ©es au coeur des influences tant traditionnelles que contemporaines, oˆ¼ le Festival de Musique du Maghreb est devenu un ˆ©vˆ®nement majeur et l'un des premier a proposˆ© une vitrine montrˆ©alaise consacrˆ©e ˆÝ l'Afrique du Nord.

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A travers des sons de folklore, raˆØ, gnawa, berbˆ®re et andalou, le Festival de Musique du Maghreb est un rendez-vous annuel et incontournable pour tous les amateurs de la culture maghrˆ©bine. Au delˆÝ de la Mˆ©diterranˆ©e et des dunes du Sahara, la musique du Maghreb, oˆ¼ toutes les cultures se mˆ©langent... aux accents d'Oran, d'Alger, de Tunis, de Casablanca, de Fˆ®s.

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Cette annˆ©e encore, la programmation s'annonce des plus riche, originale et festive ! Pour cette nouvelle ˆ©dition, une soirˆ©e supplˆ©mentaire a ˆ©tˆ© ajoutˆ©e au programme, afin de profiter pleinement de la richesse de la Musique du Maghreb.

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En grande nouveautˆ©, le jeudi 19 mars, le Festival de Musique du Maghreb met l'honneur ˆÝ la soirˆ©e SLAM alikoum. Se partageront sur la scˆ®ne du mythique Club Balattou, deux artistes, dignes reprˆ©sentant de la vague ¬´¬ÝSlam¬Ý¬ª qui dˆ©ferle ces derniers mois.

Queen Ka, la reine du Slam, propose une poˆ©sie urbaine touchante et authentique. En plus de ses compositions originales issues de son spectacle ¬´¬ÝDelirium¬Ý¬ª, Queen Ka mettra en scˆ®ne des textes du cˆ©lˆ®bre poˆ®te tunisien¬Ý Abou El Kacem Chebbi, qui fˆ�tera cette annˆ©e le centenaire de sa naissance. Un slam exploratoire et unique en son genre, a travers lequel Queen Ka compte bien donner aux textes du poˆ®te toutes leurs oralitˆ©s.

Mohammed, assurera la premiˆ®re partie de la soirˆ©e, au rythme des mots et des rimes qu'il manie subtilement, abordant des thˆ®mes dˆ©passant les frontiˆ®res politiques et religieuses,¬Ý tel que l'amour, la solitude, l'incomprˆ©hension, l'amertume...

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En primeur, le vendredi 20 mars, au Kola Note, Le MAGHREB dans tous ses ˆ©tats, dans la grande mˆ©tropole, promet d'ˆ�tre un kalˆ©idoscope festif et inˆ©dit des cultures d'Afrique du Nord.

Initiˆ© par le groupe Bambara Trans, le plateau se veut reprˆ©sentatif de toute la richesse et la diversitˆ© de la musique du Maghreb. Six chanteurs, issus des groupes maghrˆ©bins les plus populaires ˆÝ Montrˆ©al, Nazir Bouchareb, Hassan El Hadi, Elyes Landoulsi, Abdel Karim Saada, Hamza Abouabdelmajid¬Ýsont invitˆ©s ˆÝ venir habiter la scˆ®ne collectivement.

Aux rythmes de la musique Chˆ¢abi, du RaˆØ, du Gnawa, de la musique Arabo-Andalouse, ils offriront aux spectateurs, avides de dˆ©couvertes, les multiples sons et couleurs du grand maghreb.

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En exclusivitˆ©, pour la soirˆ©e Aux Rythmes du RaˆØ, le samedi 21 mars, au Kola Note, les Productions Nuits d'Afrique sont fiˆ®res d'accueillir la star incontestˆ©e du RaˆØ venue tout droit d'Algˆ©rie : Hakim Salhi, accompagnˆ© pour la premiˆ®re fois ˆÝ Montrˆ©al de deux danseuses de ballets folkloriques algˆ©riens. Chorˆ©graphiˆ© par Hakim Sahli, l'ensemble nous fera danser toute la soirˆ©e sur des rythmes de chˆ¢abi et de raˆØ, reflˆ©tant la beautˆ©, l'originalitˆ© et la diversitˆ© culturelle de l'Algˆ©rie. En 2008, le spectacle d'Hakim Salhi a ˆ©tˆ© acclamˆ© par la foule lors du Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, et obtenu le coup de c‰ìur du Festival.

Le groupe Syncop assurera la premiˆ®re partie du spectacle, promettant aux spectateurs un voyage dans la chaleur enivrante du dˆ©sert et l'agitation contagieuse de la musique urbaine montrˆ©alaise.

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A dˆ©couvrir, voir et revoir, le Festival de Musique du Maghreb vous souhaite de fascinantes soirˆ©es en compagnies de tous ces artistes.

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Un oasis musical ˆÝ travers la mˆ©diterranˆ©e’Ķ’Ķ.

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Les Productions Nuits d'Afrique prˆ©sentent

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18^ˆ®me ˆ©dition

FESTIVAL DE MUSIQUE DU MAGHREB

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Jeudi 19 mars dˆ®s 21h00

au Club Balattou

4372, boul. St-Laurent (coin Marie-Anne)

514-845-5447

www.balattou.com

Vendredi 20 et Samedi 21 Mars dˆ®s 21h00

au Kola Note

5240 ave du Parc (coin Fairmount)

Info¬Ý: (514) 274-9339¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý ¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý

www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com

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OPERA America Celebrates Honorees at 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition Evening

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New York, NY’ÄîOPERA America, the national service organization for opera, honored the four recipients of its 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition award at a dinner and reception in New York City on Saturday, February 21. In its second year, the award honors trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audience building efforts on behalf of their respective companies.

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The 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition honorees are Mr. John T. Cody, Jr. of The Dallas Opera, Mr. Richard Holland of Opera Omaha, Mrs. Beth Ingram of Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Mr. C. Guy Rudisill, III of Piedmont Opera.

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In welcoming the evening’Äôs honorees and guests, OPERA America Board of Directors Vice-Chairman Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann said, ’ÄúWe initiated this program two years ago based on our first-hand knowledge that healthy opera companies are built on the foundations of strong boards. What we didn’Äôt know was that this year, in light of the economic turmoil, strong boards and dedicated trustees would be more important than ever. The winners of this year’Äôs awards demonstrate the highest standard of leadership, dedication and generosity.’Äù

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’ÄúThe guidance and generous support provided by dedicated board members are more valuable than ever, given the current economic conditions,’Äù stated Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. ’ÄúWe are pleased to recognize the long-standing achievements of these trustees as they continue to help ensure the cultural and economic vitality of our communities.’Äù

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Joining Dr. Lindemann and Mr. Scorca in honoring these exceptional trustees were the honorees’Äô respective General Directors, family and friends, the OPERA America Board of Directors, OPERA America Ambassador Circle donors and trustees and staff representing OPERA America member companies.

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In addition to the award presentations, the Trustee Recognition dinner and reception featured excerpts from Stephen Schwartz’Äôs Sˆ©ance on a Wet Afternoon, performed by baritone Michael Zegarski, and Lee Hoiby’Äôs Lady of the Harbor, performed by soprano Adrienne Danrich. Pianist Kelly Horsted accompanied the singers.

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OPERA America is committed to recognizing strong trustee leaders and to understanding the pivotal role they play in the success of their opera companies and the communities they serve. In acknowledging and celebrating the dedication of board members at the national level, the National Opera Trustee Recognition Program seeks to strengthen the relationships between opera companies and their trustees and to inspire exemplary service to opera companies across the United States.

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OPERA America’Äôs dedication to recognizing excellence in governance is shared by its sister organization Opera.ca, the Canadian national association for opera. During Saturday’Äôs reception, the Canadian Opera Company’Äôs Mr. J. Rob Collins was honored as the first recipient of Opera.ca’Äôs National Opera Directors Recognition Program.

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Photo: J. Rob Collins, Canadian Opera Company; Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann, OPERA America; Beth Ingram, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; C. Guy Rudisill, III, Piedmont Opera; and John T. Cody, Jr., The Dallas Opera. Photo by Jon Simon, courtesy OPERA America.

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To obtain a high-resolution version of this photo, please contact Patricia Kiernan Johnson at pkjohnson@operaamerica.org.

Conservatoire - L'ˆâcole du samedi

Le Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al
invite les musiciens et le public ˆÝ
l’Äôˆâcole du samedi !

Montrˆ©al, le 4 mars 2009 ’Äì ˆÄ compter du samedi 14 mars 2009 et durant quatre semaines consˆ©cutives, le Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al invite les musiciens et le public ˆÝ des cours de maˆÆtre donnˆ©s par ses professeurs. Offerts de 10 h ˆÝ midi, dans la nouvelle salle de concert du Conservatoire, ces cours sont une occasion unique de se familiariser avec diffˆ©rents instruments, et pour les curieux, ce sera aussi le moment de voir l’Äôampleur des travaux d’Äôamˆ©nagement effectuˆ©s depuis deux ans au Conservatoire de Montrˆ©al pour offrir aux ˆ©lˆ®ves un lieux d’Äôapprentissage unique et une vie ˆ©tudiante inspirante.

Samedi 14 mars 2009
de 10 h ˆÝ 12 h
Violon
Professeurs : Johanne Arel, Anne Robert, Sonia Jelinkova et Helmut Lipsky

Samedi 21 mars 2009
de 10 h ˆÝ 12 h
Violoncelle
Professeurs : Elizabeth Dolin, Carole Sirois et Denis Brott

Samedi 28 mars 2009
de 10 h ˆÝ 12 h
Piano
Professeurs : Louise Bessette, Suzanne Goyette et Andrˆ© Laplante

Samedi 4 avril 2009
de 10 h ˆÝ 12 h
Vent
Professeurs : Lise Beauchamp (hautbois), Marie-Andrˆ©e Benny (flˆªte) et Jean-Franˆßois Normand (clarinette)

Pour obtenir plus d'information, vous pouvez nous joindre au 514 873-4031
Vous pouvez aussi consulter le site Web du Conservatoire et vous connaˆÆtrez toutes nos activitˆ©s ˆÝ venir : http://www.conservatoire.gouv.qc.ca/montreal/

CMC Congratulates R. Murray Schafer

Canadian Music Centre Associate Composer
R. Murray Schafer honoured with
Governor General's Performing Arts Award

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MARCH 2, 2009, TORONTO, ON ’Äì The Canadian Music Centre congratulates Associate Composer R. Murray Schafer on being a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's most prestigious lifetime achievement award for the performing arts.¬Ý

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Over the course of his career, Schafer has achieved an international reputation as a composer, an educator, environmentalist, scholar and visual artist. His compositions are performed by soloist and ensembles across the country and around the world making Schafer a true icon of Canadian contemporary music.

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Schafer's honors include two Fromm Foundation prizes (1968, 1972), the Canadian Music Council Medal (1972), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1974), the William Harold Moon Award (1974), the Composer of the Year Award from the Canadian Music Council (1976), the Prix Jules-Lˆ©ger pour la nouvelle musique de chambre (1977, for String Quartet No. 2, 'Waves'). He has also received the Prix Honegger (1980, for String Quartet No. 1), the Glenn Gould Prize for Music and Its Communication (1987), the Canada Council Molson Prize (1993), the Louis Applebaum Composer's Award (1999), and the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts from the Canada Council for the Arts (2005).

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The Canadian Music Centre is proud to count R. Murray Schafer, one of Canada's most celebrated composers, among its Associates.

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To learn more about R. Murray Schafer and his work, click here and check out the CMC Centrediscs recording and documentary in the Canadian Composer Portraits series.

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The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) celebrates its 50^th Anniversary in 2009 and is the primary resource for musical works, parts, recordings and information on Canadian contemporary music and its creators.¬Ý Since 1959, the CMC has promoted the works of its Associate Composers through encouraging the performance and appreciation of Canadian music, and making its collection of more than 18,000 works available worldwide.¬Ý Centrediscs was created in 1981 as Canada's foremost label of Canadian contemporary concert music, recording the works of composers associated with the CMC.¬Ý Visit www.musiccentre.ca for more information.

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Le Compositeur agrˆ©ˆ© du Centre de musique canadienne

R. Murray Schafer

reˆßoit le Prix du Gouverneur gˆ©nˆ©ral pour les arts de la scˆ®ne

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LE 2 MARS 2009, TORONTO, ON ’Äì Le Centre de musique canadienne fˆ©licite le Compositeur agrˆ©ˆ© du CMC, R. Murray Schafer, qui a reˆßu le Prix du Gouverneur gˆ©nˆ©ral des arts de la scˆ®ne, la plus haute distinction accordˆ©e aux artistes canadiens de la scˆ®ne.

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Au cours de sa longue carriˆ®re, Schafer s'est acquis une rˆ©putation internationale comme compositeur, pˆ©dagogue, environnementaliste, chercheur et artiste visuel. Ses ‰ìuvres sont interprˆ©tˆ©es par des solistes et des ensembles de partout au pays et dans le monde, de sorte que Schafer est un vˆ©ritable symbole de la musique canadienne contemporaine.

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Parmi les distinctions dˆ©cernˆ©es ˆÝ R. Murray Schafer figurent deux prix de la Fondation Fromm (1968, 1972), la Mˆ©daille du Conseil canadien de la musique (1972), une bourse Guggenheim (1974), le Prix William Harold Moon (1974), le Prix du Compositeur de l'annˆ©e du Conseil canadien de la musique (1976), le Prix Jules-Lˆ©ger pour la nouvelle musique de chambre (1977, pour String Quartet No. 2, ¬´¬ÝWaves ¬ª). Il a ˆ©galement reˆßu le Prix Honegger (1980, pour String Quartet No. 1), le Prix Glenn-Gould pour contribution ˆÝ la musique et ˆÝ sa communication (1987), le Prix Molson du Conseil des Arts du Canada (1993) et le Prix Walter-Carsen d'excellence en arts de la scˆ®ne dˆ©cernˆ© par le Conseil des Arts du Canada (2005).

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Le Centre de musique canadienne est fier de compter R. Murray Schafer, l'un des compositeurs les plus rˆ©putˆ©s du Canada, au nombre de ses Compositeurs agrˆ©ˆ©s.

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Pour en savoir davantage sur R. Murray Schafer et sur son ‰ìuvre, cliquez ici et allez voir l'enregistrement et le documentaire parus chez Centredisques, l'ˆ©tiquette du CMC, dans la sˆ©rie Portraits de compositeurs canadiens.

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Le Centre de musique canadienne (CMC), qui cˆ©lˆ®bre en 2009 sont 50^e anniversaire, constitue la source la plus importante d'‰ìuvres musicales, de matˆ©riel d'orchestre, d'enregistrements et d'information sur la musique canadienne contemporaine et ses crˆ©ateurs. Depuis 1959, le CMC fait la promotion des ‰ìuvres de ses Compositeurs agrˆ©ˆ©s en encourageant l'exˆ©cution et l'apprˆ©ciation de la musique canadienne, et en mettant ˆÝ la disposition du public partout dans le monde sa collection riche de plus de 18 000 ‰ìuvres. Centredisques, crˆ©ˆ©e en 1981, l'ˆ©tiquette canadienne la plus importante vouˆ©e ˆÝ la musique de concert canadienne contemporaine, enregistre les ‰ìuvres des compositeurs membres du CMC. Visitez www.centremusique.ca pour plus de renseignements.

L’Äôaccordˆ©oniste franˆßais Norbert Pignol lance un album ˆÝ l’Äôˆéle-du-Prince-ˆâdouard

L'accordˆ©oniste franˆßais Norbert Pignol lance un album¬Ýet prˆ©sente des spectacles et des ateliers ˆÝ l'ˆéle-du-Prince-ˆâdouard

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(Le 4 mars 2009) - L'accordˆ©oniste arrangeur, compositeur et improvisateur franˆßais issu du milieu des musiques traditionnelles, Norbert Pignol, prˆ©sentera des spectacles ainsi qu'une sˆ©rie d'ateliers ˆÝ l'ˆéle-du-Prince-ˆâdouard dans le cadre de la semaine de la Francophonie en mars. Cet artiste de grand talent lancera par la mˆ�me occasion son 3^e album solo (et son 17^e album en carriˆ®re) en avant-premiˆ®re sur le territoire acadien de l'ˆéle.

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L'artiste offrira un premier spectacle au Centre Expo-festival d'Abramvillage le jeudi 19 mars et un deuxiˆ®me au Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean de Charlottetown le samedi 21 mars. Ce dernier spectacle sera prˆ©cˆ©dˆ© de sa participation ˆÝ l'enregistrement de l'ˆ©mission ˆÝ la Tˆ©lˆ©vision de Radio-Canada, Luc et Luc. Enfin, Norbert Pignol offrira des ateliers d'accordˆ©on ˆÝ divers groupe au cours de son sˆ©jour sur l'ˆéPˆâ.

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Fictions¬Ý: un 3^e album solo

Avec son tout nouvel album Fictions, Norbert Pignol opˆ®re une combinaison de ses deux premiers albums, soit Silence (1999) et Fˆ©line (2004). Sur son nouvel opus, les rythmiques et lignes de basse sont faites de simples issus d'objets quotidiens (clˆ©s, ballon, piˆ®ce de monnaie’Ķ) ou incongrus (avion dans le ciel) traitˆ©s en studio et remis en jeu sous forme de ¬´¬Ýmusifilms¬Ý¬ª. Cette matiˆ®re musicale constitue la trame de la ¬´¬Ýdeuxiˆ®me voie¬Ý¬ª explorˆ©e par l'artiste¬Ý: une route avant-gardiste qui prolonge et enrichit les expˆ©riences bruitistes de son deuxiˆ®me album Fˆ©line. Ici ce sont moins des ¬´¬Ýhistoires mˆ©lancoliques¬Ý¬ª racontˆ©es que des ambiances dˆ©voilˆ©es.

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Un coup de c‰ìur pour l'Acadie

L'artiste n'en est pas ˆÝ sa premiˆ®re visite en Acadie. Il a animˆ© en 2005 une classe d'ateliers d'accordˆ©on au Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean, ˆÝ Charlottetown. Il avait ˆ©galement pris part ˆÝ la FrancoFˆ�te en Acadie, ˆÝ Moncton, cette annˆ©e-lˆÝ. Lors de son dernier sˆ©jour en Acadie pour la crˆ©ation de son nouveau spectacle (coproduit entre autres, par le Thˆ©ˆ¢tre Capitol de Moncton et par de nombreuses structures culturelles en France), Norbert avait eu la chance d'ˆ�tre aux cˆ¥tˆ©s de Zachary Richard pour le soutien aux populations de la Louisiane frappˆ©es par l'ouragan Katrina. Quelques mois plus tard, le Maire de Grenoble proposait ˆÝ Zachary Richard, dans la continuitˆ© de cette solidaritˆ©, d'animer la cˆ©rˆ©monie des v‰ìux de nouvelle annˆ©e de la Ville en compagnie de Norbert Pignol devant une foule de 6¬Ý000 personnes.

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La venue de Norbert Pignol en Acadie est rendu possible grˆ¢ce ˆÝ la Coopˆ©rative d'intˆ©gration francophone de l'ˆéle-du-Prince-ˆâdouard.

Lalo, Poulenc et Berlioz au menu - OSJM

Lalo, Poulenc et Berlioz au menu du deuxiˆ®me concert de saison de l'OSJM

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Montrˆ©al, le 3 mars 2009 ’Äì Les pianistes Suzanne Blondin et Olivier Godin participeront au deuxiˆ®me concert de la saison 2008-2009 de l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montrˆ©al, sous la baguette du chef d'orchestre Louis Lavigueur. Ce concert aura lieu le 14 mars prochain ˆÝ 20¬Ýh, ˆÝ la salle Claude-Champagne de la facultˆ© de musique de l'Universitˆ© de Montrˆ©al (200, avenue Vincent d'Indy). Au programme¬Ý: l'Ouverture du Roi d'Ys de ˆâdouard Lalo, le Concerto pour deux pianos de Francis Poulenc, et de Hector Berlioz, la cˆ©lˆ®bre Symphonie fantastique.

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Suzanne Blondin - Suzanne Blondin obtient en 1970 le Premier Prix avec la plus haute distinction du Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al et poursuit ses ˆ©tudes ˆÝ New York ˆÝ la Juilliard School of Music. Elle est soliste avec l'Orchestre symphonique de Montrˆ©al et l'Orchestre Mˆ©tropolitain du Grand Montrˆ©al, donne plusieurs rˆ©citals aux ˆâtats-Unis, en France, en Suisse et enregistre pour les radios de Strasbourg, Genˆ®ve, Lausanne et Lugano. Pianiste raffinˆ©e et trˆ®s recherchˆ©e, elle participe rˆ©guliˆ®rement ˆÝ de nombreux concerts de musique de chambre avec des artistes renommˆ©s. Suzanne Blondin a enregistrˆ© des ‰ìuvres d'Otto Joachim, Jacques Hˆ©tu, Claude Vivier et Schubert. Elle est actuellement professeure au Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al, oˆ¼ elle accompagne diffˆ©rentes classes d'instruments et enseigne la musique de chambre.

Olivier Godin ’Äì Codirecteur du studio d'opˆ©ra du Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al, Olivier Godin reˆßoit de cette mˆ�me institution le Prix avec grande distinction en interprˆ©tation et en musique de chambre. Il est pianiste collaborateur ainsi que chef de chant aux facultˆ©s de musique de l'Universitˆ© McGill et de l'Universitˆ© de Montrˆ©al en plus de participer ˆÝ l'acadˆ©mie d'ˆ©tˆ© du Centre d'arts Orford. Comme rˆ©pˆ©titeur, il a travaillˆ©, entre autres, avec les chefs Kent Nagano, Charles Dutoit, Franz-Paul Decker, Raffi Armenian et Yannick Nˆ©zet-Sˆ©guin. Olivier Godin a enregistrˆ© plusieurs disques avec le baryton Marc Boucher, en plus de se produire en France ˆÝ plusieurs reprises, et a ˆ©tˆ© entendu avec Diane Dufresne et les Violons du Roy. En 2008 est paru le disque Orford six pianos, consacrˆ© ˆÝ ses propres arrangements d'‰ìuvres orchestrales pour six pianos. Plusieurs des productions auxquelles il a participˆ© comme chef de chant ont ˆ©tˆ© rˆ©compensˆ©es par un Prix Opus.

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L'OSJM ’Äì L'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montrˆ©al (OSJM) rˆ©unit une soixantaine d'instrumentistes ˆ¢gˆ©s en moyenne de 18¬Ýans, admis aprˆ®s audition. L'OSJM a effectuˆ© plusieurs tournˆ©es au Quˆ©bec, en Ontario, en Alberta, en ˆâcosse, en Grˆ®ce et en France. Il compte ˆÝ son actif plusieurs disques, dont la Symphonie n^o 3 avec orgue de Camille Saint-Saˆ´ns, Le Lac des cygnes et Casse-Noisettes de TchaˆØkovski et la Symphonie n^o 5 de Mahler.

Louis Lavigueur - Au pupitre de l'Orchestre symphonique des jeunes de Montrˆ©al depuis plus de vingt ans, le chef d'orchestre Louis Lavigueur est ˆ©galement chef-adjoint et coordonnateur de l'Orchestre du Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al depuis 1980, chef de l'Orchestre de Pierre-Laporte depuis 1985 et de l'Ensemble Sinfonia de Montrˆ©al depuis 2001. Pˆ©dagogue recherchˆ©, Louis Lavigueur a enseignˆ© aux universitˆ©s de Montrˆ©al, Laval et McGill, ainsi qu'au Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al oˆ¼ il est toujours actif. Il a signˆ© plusieurs disques de compositeurs quˆ©bˆ©cois avec l'Orchestre Mˆ©tropolitain, ainsi que des ‰ìuvres de Saint-Saˆ´ns et TchaˆØkovski avec l'OSJM, qu'il a menˆ© en tournˆ©e en Grˆ®ce et en France.

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Billets en vente dˆ®s maintenant¬Ý: 20¬Ý$ (rˆ©guliers); 10¬Ý$ (ˆ©tudiants et aˆÆnˆ©s)

Billetterie¬Ý: 514 645-0311 ou par courriel au osjmontreal@gmail.com

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Announcing the VSO's 2009/2010 Season!

Vancouver, BC ’Äì VSO Music Director Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the VSO are proud to announce the 2009/2010 Season! This season features a strong line-up of guest artists, mixing the next generation of stars with long-established superstars and local favourites (a VSO programming hallmark), great classical repertoire both new and old, hot Symphony Pops, matinees, and a range of concerts for children and families. And the VSO once again takes its show in the road, with concerts performed in fourteen different venues throughout the Lower Mainland.

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A Season filled with gems and treasures ’Äì and a few surprises! ’Äì awaits Lower Mainland audiences in the 2009/2010 Season. Please see the VSO’Äôs Media Room online at www.vancouversymphony.ca for bios and photos of all the great guest artists in the exciting 2009/2010 Season. PDF downloads of the new Season Brochure and complete concert listings are also available online.

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A few of the many Season repertoire highlights include:

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Mahler Symphony No.8 Symphony of a Thousand

Bruckner Symphony No.4 Romantic

Strauss An Alpine Symphony (Eine Alpensinfonie)

Szymanowski Violin Concerto No.1

Sibelius Symphony No.2

Mozart Requiem

Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 and No.2

Stravinsky Rite of Spring

Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade

Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 Emperor

R. Strauss Brentano Lieder

Mozart Symphony No.25 and Symphony No.41 Jupiter

Elgar Symphony No.1

Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations

Holst The Planets

Wieniawski Violin Concerto No.2

Grieg Piano Concerto

JS Bach Orchestral Suite No.3

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Haydn Symphony No.103 Drum Roll

Stravinsky/Pergolisi Pulcinella: Suite

Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances

Beethoven Symphony No.9

Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1

Clara Schumann Piano Concerto

Bruch Violin Concerto

Scott Good (VSO Composer-in-Residence) Between the Rooms for Trumpet and Orchestra

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The line-up of classical guest artists includes many established stars and exciting young stars representing the next generation of classical musicians:

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Itzhak Perlman violin

Lang Lang piano

Shlomo Mintz violin

Sir Andrew Davis conductor

Yevgeny Sudbin piano

Arabella Steinbacher violin

Barry Douglas piano

Vadim Gluzman violin

Measha Brueggergosman soprano

Nicola Benedetti violin

Garrick Ohlsson piano

Rachel Barton Pine violin

Julie Albers cello

Joyce Yang piano

Angela Cheng piano

Janina Fialkowska piano

Celena Shafer soprano

Stewart Goodyear piano

Adrian Anantawan violin

Martin Haselbock organ/conductor

Elizabeth Wallfisch violin/conductor

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In addition to all the great classical concerts, the 2009/2010 London Drugs VSO Pops series is an outstanding one. The series features exciting artists and conductors who have never before performed with the VSO, including Cirque de la Symphonie, extraordinary Cirque acrobats who perform their incredible acts on stage with live music performed by the VSO; young star-in-the-making Pops conductor Steven Reineke, protˆ©gˆ© of Erich Kunzel and newly appointed Music Director of the New York Pops; Dave Bennett, one of the world’Äôs very best jazz clarinetists performing a 100^th Anniversary Celebration of Benny Goodman; and Radiance, Motown superstars who bring to life the golden era of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Sister Sledge, and more. In addition, the VSO is happy to welcome back Pops legend Erich Kunzel, conducting his beautiful Music of the Night Broadway program; and we are very happy to continue our association with Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, one of the most in-demand Pops conductors and arrangers in North America.

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Matinee traditions continue to see audience growth every year: Symphony Sundays presents classical concerts in the afternoon, drawn from the main series classical series; and Tea & Trumpets, featuring VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell and narrator Christopher Gaze ’Äì with tea and cookies served in the lobby one hour before each concert ’Äì includes light classics mixed with narration.

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Concerts for kids and families are always popular, with Tiny Tots for the little ones from toddlers to age four or five at both the Playhouse Theatre in Vancouver and the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam, and Kids’Äô Koncerts, featuring the full orchestra and aimed at children from four/five to ten/eleven years of age.

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And of course, a Symphony Season would not be complete without presentations of great Special Concerts ’Äì and this upcoming Season contains a very Special line-up:

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• Itzhak Perlman with the VSO. The VSO is thrilled and honoured to present the legendary Itzhak Perlman, one of the greatest musicians of this or any era, performing Mendelssohn’Äôs Violin Concerto
• The Mendelssohn and Schumann Festival. The VSO celebrates the 200^th Anniversary of the births of Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann, two of classical music’Äôs greatest composers. This Festival includes pianist Angela Cheng performing Clara Schumann’Äôs Piano Concerto and Mendelssohn’Äôs Piano Concerto No.1, as well as superstar pianist Lang Lang performing Schumann’Äôs Piano Concerto
• Mahler’Äôs Symphony No.8 ’ÄòSymphony of a Thousand’Äô. The VSO partners with VANOC to present the flagship event of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad just two weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics. Mahler’Äôs 8^th is one of the largest, most spectacular live concert events one can imagine, with a large orchestra, eight vocal soloists, the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Vancouver Bach Children’Äôs Chorus
• A Traditional Christmas in many venues around the Lower Mainland with Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell and narrator Christopher Gaze of Bard on the Beach fame
• The Sinatra Project with Michael Feinstein. One of the most passionate advocates of the Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein and the orchestra perform Frank’Äôs greatest hits ’Äì and a few unknown gems ’Äì in an exciting, Pops-style special concert
• Nosferatu! The 1922 Silent Film classic starring Max Schrek’Äôs and his frightening and eerie performance as Count Orlock (the original film Dracula!) is shown with the full orchestra performing the score live on stage. A Hallowe’Äôen Special ’Äì come in costume!

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Ticket Availability:

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¬…¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý The Subscription Renewals Campaign runs from the first week of March through to the Renewals Deadline of April 24^th, 2009

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¬…¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý New Subscriptions can be ordered at any time through VSO Customer Service at 604.876.3434 or order online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

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¬…¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Single concert tickets go on-sale Monday, August 24^th at 10:00am through VSO Customer Service and online. Tickets are only available as Subscription packages until that date

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¬…¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Special Concert tickets can only be ordered by VSO Subscribers until Monday, August 24^th, as above

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¬…¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý There are fifteen different subscription packages available, including a ’ÄúMake Your Own’Äù package option. Subscribing saves customers up to 30% over purchasing the same concerts individually, and gives customers guaranteed seating throughout the Season

home. the body as place

HOME. The body as place

A site-specific performance (using the body as the site)

¬Ý¬Ý¬Ýby Noˆ©mie Lafrance

WHEN:¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý April 1-5, 8-12 at 7:30 & 9:30 PM (Wednesday - Sunday) WHERE:¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý For tickets & location - www.sensproduction.org TICKETS:¬Ý¬Ý $45 Priority, $30 Regular, $15 Student CONTACT:¬Ý (718) 302-5024¬Ý¬Ý info@sensproduction.org Brooklyn, NY ’Äî Site-specific choreographer Noˆ©mie Lafrance, known for her large-scale site-specific work staging urban architecture and public spaces, uses the body as the performance site in her new solo work: Home. The Home performances invite the audience to convene around the body, interact with the performer and explore the body as a place. Home is a progressive work that has evolved in open rehearsals and is in continuing development throughout this performance series with the participation of the audience. ¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Home introduces the audience members to an intimate experience of the human body, calling their attention to the physical confines of our inner and outer selves. Interactions with the audience construct a ritualized event, transporting the participants into a journey through the physical realm.¬Ý By way of a series of mise en scene that depict the micro and the macro body(ies), the subject and object body(ies), the body(ies) as public vs. private space, Home unfolds as a surreal and sensual voyage on the body’Äôs infinite landscapes.¬Ý Home is conceived, choreographed and written by Noˆ©mie Lafrance, produced by Natalie Galazka and presented by Sens Production. Performers include Noˆ©mie Lafrance, Marˆ© Hieronimus and Celeste Hastings, with original sound by Brooks Williams, lighting by Thomas Dunn and props by Carlos Ancalmo.¬Ý ¬Ý Site-specific Choreographer Noˆ©mie Lafrance is best known for having reopened the historic McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn with her ambitious works Agora & Agora II (2005-06) and for the choreography of the Grammy Award-nominated FEIST "1234" video.¬Ý Previous works include Noir (2004), part of the Whitney Biennial, staged in the Essex Municipal Parking Garage, and two-time Bessie Award winning Descent (2001-03), performed in the stairwell of the New York City Court Building Clock Tower.¬Ý Her work Melt, originally created in 2003 at the Black & White Gallery in Brooklyn has toured to festivals internationally.¬Ý In 2008, Lafrance was commissioned to create Rapture using the architecture of the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College in the Hudson Valley, NY. ¬ÝA series of Rapture performances sponsored by Tiffany & Co. is being developed by Ms. Lafrance to stage other Gehry designs worldwide.¬Ý ¬Ý SENS Production is an award winning non-profit experimental arts organization founded by Ms. Lafrance in 2001. SENS' mission is to create and produce innovative site-specific dance performances that both engage audiences in spatial participation and explore the dynamic of movement in public spaces by integrating choreography into urban landscapes.

Home is produced by Sens Production and is made possible, in part, by public funds from the Canada Council for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the support of many individuals.

Le Theater of Early Music en rˆ©sidence au Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al

Daniel Taylor et le Theater of Early Musicen rˆ©sidence au
Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al

Montrˆ©al, le 3 mars 2009 ’Äî Le directeur du Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al, Raffi Armenian, est trˆ®s heureux d’Äôannoncer que l’ÄôInstitut baroque du Conservatoire accueille une nouvelle collaboration, avec l’Äôarrivˆ©e en rˆ©sidence du Theater of Early Music (TEM). Ainsi, Daniel Taylor, directeur artistique et chef de ch‰ìur du TEM, apporte sa connaissance du chant baroque en se joignant ˆÝ Adrienne Savoie, Donna Brown et Suzie LeBlanc pour l’Äôenseigner au Conservatoire.

¬´ Le Theater of Early Music¬Ýexplore toutes les nuances et la substance des textes et de la musique qui constituent le rˆ©pertoire baroque. Toute notre passion pour cette musique est mise ˆÝ contribution pour la rˆ©vˆ©ler ˆÝ notre public; pour la comprendre, la communiquer et, mieux, la cˆ©lˆ©brer. Le Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al et son Institut baroque nous donnent une formidable occasion de partager notre connaissance avec ses ˆ©lˆ®ves ¬ª, de mentionner Daniel Taylor.

Les artistes qui composent le TEM sont les violonistes Adrian Butterfield, professeur au Royal College of Music de Londres, et Cynthia Roberts, professeur ˆÝ la Juilliard School of Music, ˆÝ New York, le violoncelliste Myron Lutske, professeur au Manhattan School de New York, les clavecinistes Laurence Cummings, qui enseigne au Royal Academy of Music de Londres, et le jeune chef Matthew Halls, qui dirige ˆÝ l’Äôoccasion le King’Äôs Consort, ˆÝ Londres.

Daniel Taylor sera donc aux cˆ¥tˆ©s de Suzie LeBlanc, dont nous annoncions l’Äôarrivˆ©e en rˆ©sidence au Conservatoire avec le Nouvel Opˆ©ra en septembre prochain, pour prendre part aux auditions de chant du Conservatoire, le 21 mars 2009, au Conservatoire, situˆ© au 4750, av. Henri-Julien, ˆÝ Montrˆ©al, 514 873-4031. Les personnes qui dˆ©sirent prendre part ˆÝ ces auditions doivent s’Äôinscrire auprˆ®s de Ghislaine Gasper au 514-873-4031, poste 221.

Raffi Armenian, directeur du Conservatoire de musique de Montrˆ©al, se fˆ©licite de l’Äôarrivˆ©e du TEM, ¬´ ce n’Äôest que le dˆ©but de notre Institut baroque, mais je suis trˆ®s heureux de le voir grandir si bien et si vite. ¬ª L’Äôarrivˆ©e du haute-contre Daniel Taylor est un ˆ©vˆ©nement dˆ©terminant pour le dˆ©veloppement de l’ÄôInstitut baroque. Rappelons que M. Taylor enseigne le chant dans plusieurs universitˆ©s canadiennes, dont celles d’ÄôOttawa et de Victoria, ainsi qu’ÄôˆÝ l’Äôuniversitˆ© McGill, et que le prolifique artiste ’Äî plus de 80 enregistrements ’Äî signait rˆ©cemment un contrat exclusif avec Sony Classical/BMG Masterworks.

PORTopera to Replace ’ÄúDon Pasquale’Äù with 15th Anniversary ’ÄúGrand’Äù Concert

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PORTopera to Replace "Don Pasquale" with 15th Anniversary "Grand" Concert

PORTLAND, Maine -- PORTopera, Maine's only professional opera company, will celebrate its 15th Anniversary with a series of events in the spring and summer of 2009, culminating in a grand opera concert featuring a full orchestra and singers from its past productions. The concert will take place at Merrill Auditorium July 30 at 7:30 pm.

This grand opera concert, scheduled for one night only, will replace the company's originally scheduled performances of Donizetti's Don Pasquale. The company's Board President, Donald L. Head discussed the decision, saying, "As we anticipate continuing financial uncertainty, we are eliminating the risk a full opera production poses, replacing it with an alternative event that celebrates our 15 years of producing world-class opera for audiences in Maine." Head also acknowledged that Maine's opera fans, the thousands who have attended PORTopera's productions over the years, would rightly expect a special event signifying that PORTopera will continue to be an important player in Maine's, and New England's, cultural scene.

"We plan to return for our 16th season with a fully staged production of an opera in 2010," added Head. "We will not lose track of our mission: to present great operatic masterpieces in Maine."

PORTopera's Artistic Director, Dona D. Vaughn, plans to announce the performers and program details as soon as they are finalized. Robert Moody, Music Director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, will conduct.

In addition to the grand opera concert on July 30, PORTopera will continue with its long-standing tradition of supporting Maine's operatic talent through its Maine's Emerging Artists program. This program, presented in five locations last year (Portland Museum of Art, Portland; University of Maine at Augusta; Salyard's Center for the Arts, Conway, NH; The Temple, Ocean Park; Deertrees Theatre, Harrison) is led by Ellen Chickering, the Director of the Opera Workshop at the University of Southern Maine School of Music. Auditions for the 2009 production have been held and plans are underway for this annual traveling production.

Other 15th anniversary events include an Anniversary Celebration kick off on April 3rd, a gala dinner-dance and auction on June 5th, the company's traditional President's Dinner on July 30, and summer and fall fund-raising recitals. For information on these events, call 207-879-7678 or visit www.portopera.org.

Raquel Bitton celebrates renowned Latin composers in her hot new French/Latin Jazz recording

BOLEROS

Where Passion Meets Romance

March 3, 2009, San Francisco, CA’ÄîFrench Jazz singer Raquel Bitton celebrates renowned Latin composers in her hot new French/Latin Jazz recording "Boleros" which will be released on March 17.

"Boleros", Raquel Bitton's 7th recording to date, sung in French and Spanish was engineered by 11x Grammy award winner Rafa Sardina and showcases the music of legendary Latin composers including Armando Manzanero, Consuelo Velasquez, Augustin Lara, Isolina Carillo and others.

Raquel Bitton is accompanied by a 28 piece orchestra featuring notable Latin Jazz musicians including: Ramon Stagnaro on acoustic guitar, (Andrea Bocelli, Shakira, Luis Miguel) Cuban percussionists Orestes Vilato (Santana, Celia Cruz, Rubˆ©n Blades) and Jesus Diaz (Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo Orchestra) and Rebeca Mauleon on Piano (Santana, Cachao, Joe Henderson)

The CD cover illustration is by award winning Martin French (Los Lobos, The Chronicles of Narnia)

Included is an exquisite 20 page booklet with Spanish and French lyrics, and biographies of each composer as well as historical research on the birth of the Bolero.

"Romance intertwined with passion, this is the Bolero, a true expression of my heart said Raquel Bitton. I fell in love with the Bolero when I listened to the sultry voices of Tona La Negra and Maria Dolores Pradera. This music transported me back to my birthplace and the songs I heard growing up in Marrakesh where Spanish music was on everyone's lips, Spain being so close to then French Morocco"

Bitton's journey in researching the composers and songs, led her to Mexico City where she met Armando Manzanero (composer of Elvis Presley's hit song "It's Impossible") who is widely considered the premiere Mexican romantic composer of the postwar era. "Raquel Bitton's new CD Boleros is magnificent; her version of my song, "Adoro" is so beautiful!" said Armando Manzanero

Raquel Bitton sings "Aranjuez mon amour" from Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez", one of the most recognizable compositions in the Spanish Guitar repertoire in tandem with the extraordinary Acoustic Guitarist Ramon Stagnaro.

Classic songs including; Solamente una Vez by Augustin Laura or Dos Gardenias by Isolina Carillo, the song that helped revive Ibrahim Ferrer's (the Buena VISTA Social Club) career and Besame Mucho, by Consuelo Velasquez are sung with Bitton's captivating voice and set to an entrancing beat.

Boleros will be available at retail outlets nationwide, Amazon, iTunes and most online music sites. To listen to selected tracks visit www.raquelbitton.com and click on the media player.

Andrˆ© Laplante, Chopin: Sonate No.2 , Fantaisie, Mazurkas et Nocturnes

Chopin¬Ý: Sonate n^o 2, Fantaisie, mazurkas et nocturnes

AN 2 9964

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Montrˆ©al, le 3 mars 2009 ’Äï ¬ÝVirtuose reconnu du grand rˆ©pertoire romantique, le pianiste Andrˆ© Laplante retrouve Chopin, compositeur emblˆ©matique de l'ˆ©poque, dans ce nouvel enregistrement Analekta.

Pour Chopin, la musique demeure essentiellement un langage, capable de tout exprimer¬Ý: pensˆ©es, sentiments, sensations. ¬´ Il ˆ©panche son ˆ¢me dans ses compositions comme d'autres l'ˆ©panchent dans la priˆ®re¬Ý: y versant toutes ces effusions du c‰ìur, ces tristesses inexprimˆ©es, ces regrets indicibles ¬Ý¬ª, ˆ©voque Franz Liszt. Cette poˆ©sie s'intˆ®gre avec naturel au jeu, le piano perdant tout statut d'instrument de percussion pour devenir pur chant. ˆâmotif, passionnˆ©, l'essence mˆ�me de l'artiste romantique, Chopin transcende ses interrogations et repousse les limites des genres musicaux qu'il aborde, aussi bien dans ses nocturnes que ses trois derniˆ®res mazurkas, vˆ©ritable journal intime du compositeur.

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Vˆ©ritable chef-d'‰ìuvre pianistique, la Sonate opus 35 dˆ©concerta ses contemporains ˆÝ plusieurs ˆ©gards. Pourtant, le dˆ©roulement de la pensˆ©e musicale s'y rˆ©vˆ®le d'une implacable logique, les quatre mouvements ˆ©tant tirˆ©s d'une mˆ�me trame expressive, notamment la cˆ©lˆ®bre marche funˆ®bre, jouˆ©e pour la premiˆ®re fois devant public aux obsˆ®ques du musicien. ¬ÝLa Fantaisie en fa mineur prolonge ˆÝ plusieurs niveaux l'atmosphˆ®re de la Sonate. Dans ces pages magnifiques et graves, Chopin expˆ©rimente avec les tonalitˆ©s et les atmosphˆ®res, du solennel ˆÝ l'exaltation, en passant par le lyrisme presque opˆ©ratique.

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Andrˆ© Laplante a retenu l'attention internationale aprˆ®s avoir remportˆ© des prix aux concours internationaux de Genˆ®ve et Sydney ainsi que la mˆ©daille d'argent du Concours international TchaˆØkovski ˆÝ Moscou. Les critiques l'ont comparˆ© ˆÝ Ashkenazy, Horowitz et Rudolf Serkin, le rangeant dans le cercle restreint des pianistes virtuoses qui osent prendre des risques. Rˆ©cipiendaire d'un Juno et de nombreux Prix Opus, il a rˆ©alisˆ© des albums consacrˆ©s ˆÝ Liszt, Ravel, Rachmaninov et Brahms. Ce dernier a ˆ©tˆ© saluˆ© en 2008 par le magazine Gramophone, qui le comparait avantageusement aux meilleures parutions de Michelangeli et Richter.

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www.analekta.com

I Musici de Montrˆ©al sur scˆ®ne, ˆÝ la radio et sur le Web!

L’ÄôOrchestre de chambre I Musici de Montrˆ©al Sur scˆ®ne, ˆÝ la radio et sur le Web Et portrait de Yuli Turovsky ˆÝ la tˆ©lˆ©vision Montrˆ©al, le 2 mars 2009 ’Äî Sous la baguette de Maestro Yuli Turovsky, L’ÄôOrchestre I Musici de Montrˆ©al proposera le 11 mars 2009 ˆÝ 20 h, ˆÝ la Salle Pollack, le concert Mangez, buvez et faites la fˆ�te! Au menu : les Inestimables Chroniques du bon gˆ©ant Gargantua de Franˆßaix et la Symphonie de chambre de Dvorˆ°k sauront assurˆ©ment sustenter les mˆ©lomanes. De plus, en cette deuxiˆ®me semaine de mars, nous invitons les auditeurs ˆÝ syntoniser Espace musique pour la diffusion du concert Charbons ardents ’Äî touches de feu avec, comme soliste invitˆ©, le laurˆ©at de prestigieux concours internationaux de piano : Richard Raymond. Et, comme troisiˆ®me rendez-vous ˆÝ l’Äôagenda, le public aura l’Äôoccasion de dˆ©couvrir un parcours peu connu de Yuli Turovsky sur la chaˆÆne tˆ©lˆ©visuelle HISTORIA. Sur scˆ®ne : Mangez, buvez et faites la fˆ�te! avec I Musici de Montrˆ©al Vˆ©ritable virtuose du piano, Jean Franˆßaix (1912-1997) nous a lˆ©guˆ© un volumineux catalogue d’Äô‰ìuvres de chambre. Celui qui composa pour la scˆ®ne et le cinˆ©ma se distinguait par une joyeuse fantaisie. Rien d’Äôˆ©tonnant que l’Äô‰ìuvre-phare de Rabelais, Gargantua, ait sˆ©duite ce compositeur d’Äôexception. ˆâcrite en 1971, Franˆßaix adapta le message humaniste du grand auteur de la Renaissance avec beaucoup d’Äôˆ©loquence. Son Gargantua, une transcription pour un narrateur et un orchestre ˆÝ cordes ˆ©pouse ˆÝ merveille le texte original rabelaisien, un chef-d’Äô‰ìuvre de la littˆ©rature satirique. Edgar Fruitier Pour dˆ©guster ˆÝ loisir les mots de l’Äôˆ©crivain plaisantin, l’Äôhomme de thˆ©ˆ¢tre et communicateur ˆ©mˆ©rite Edgar Fruitier assumera la narration. Comˆ©dien depuis plus de 50 ans et mˆ©lomane passionnˆ©, Edgar Fruitier est sans aucun doute une figure emblˆ©matique au Quˆ©bec. Nommˆ© ¬´ Chevalier de l’ÄôOrdre national du Quˆ©bec ¬ª en juin 2008, cet autodidacte ˆ©rudit s’Äôest associˆ© aux Productions Octave pour la rˆ©alisation de trois coffrets de musique classique : Les grands classiques d’ÄôEdgar. Les deux premiers coffrets ont connu un succˆ®s de vente phˆ©nomˆ©nal, plus de 150¬Ý000 copies ! ¬Ý ˆâgalement au programme de la soirˆ©e figure la Symphonie de chambre en la bˆ©mol majeur d’ÄôAntonˆ‚n Dvorˆ°k (1841-1904), une transcription de Yuli Turovsky du Quatuor ˆÝ cordes no 14, opus 105. Ce quatuor de Dvorˆ°k a ˆ©tˆ© ˆ©crit en 1835 ˆÝ son retour en Bohˆ�me ˆÝ la suite d’Äôun sˆ©jour de trois ans dans le Nouveau Monde. Derniˆ®re ‰ìuvre de musique de chambre composˆ©e par le compositeur, sa Symphonie ˆ©voque tantˆ¥t une danse traditionnelle tchˆ®que pleine d’Äôentrain, tantˆ¥t une construction symphonique ˆÝ la Bruckner. ˆÄ la tˆ©lˆ©vision : entrevue de Yuli Turovsky sur la chaˆÆne HISTORIA Depuis janvier, Nos familles, une sˆ©rie documentaire consacrˆ©e ˆÝ des personnalitˆ©s connues issues de diverses communautˆ©s culturelles, est ˆÝ l’Äôantenne de la chaˆÆne HISTORIA. L’Äôˆ©mission portant sur la Russie sera diffusˆ©e ˆÝ compter du lundi 9 mars. Maestro Yuli Turovsky, originaire de Moscou et ˆ©tabli au Quˆ©bec depuis une trentaine d’Äôannˆ©es, nous racontera son histoire personnelle et nous fera dˆ©couvrir la communautˆ© russophone de Montrˆ©al. Produite par Orbi-XXI, la sˆ©rie Nos familles est une rˆ©alisation de Marie-Hˆ©lˆ®ne Grenier. http://www.historiatv.com/emission/nos-familles/ep305114324/ Sur les ondes et sur le Web: Charbons ardents ’Äî touches de feu Les mˆ©lomanes auront le plaisir d’Äôentendre le concert de L’ÄôOrchestre I Musici de Montrˆ©al¬Ýdans l’Äôintimitˆ© de leur salon. Prˆ©sentˆ© dans le cadre des Soirˆ©es classiques sur les ondes d’ÄôEspace musique, la radio musicale de Radio-Canada (100, 7 FM ˆÝ Montrˆ©al), Charbons ardents ’Äî touches de feu sera diffusˆ© le mardi 12 mars ˆÝ 20 h. Enregistrˆ© le 18 dˆ©cembre dernier ˆÝ la Salle Pollack, le concert mettait en vedette le soliste Richard Raymond. Le pianiste virtuose a jouˆ© la Rapsodia sinfˆ„nica de Turina et le Concerto de chambre pour piano et cordes de Franck. Quant ˆÝ L’ÄôOrchestre, il interprˆ©tait ¬´ La Jeune Fille et la Mort¬ª de Schubert et les Danses paˆØennes sur des charbons ardents de Vania Angelova. Prˆ©sentˆ©e en premiˆ®re mondiale, cette crˆ©ation dˆ©peint un univers ancestral, paˆØen et mystique de la Bulgarie. Le concert Charbons ardents ’Äî touches de feu sera ˆ©galement disponible pour ˆ©coute sur demande sur la webradio Espace classique ˆÝ Radio-Canada.ca/espaceclassique. Animation : Michel Keable¬Ý¬Ý Rˆ©alisation ˆÝ l'enregistrement : Richard Lavallˆ©e Rˆ©alisation-coordination : Pascale Labrie¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Prise de son : Pierre Lˆ©ger Premiˆ®re directrice d'Espace musique : Christiane LeBlanc Horaires de diffusion ¬Ý¬Ý Lundi 9 mars ˆÝ 20 h : Nos familles, HISTORIA ¬Ý¬Ý Rediffusion: mardi 10 mars ˆÝ 6 h, mercredi 11 mars ˆÝ 10 h et 3 h,¬Ývendredi¬Ý ¬Ý¬Ý 13 mars ˆÝ¬Ý18 h, samedi 14 mars ˆÝ 5 h, dimanche 15 mars¬ÝˆÝ 19 h¬Ýet lundi¬Ý ¬Ý¬Ý 16 mars ˆÝ 4 h ¬Ý¬Ý¬ÝCharbons ardents ’Äî touches de feu¬Ý ¬Ý¬Ý¬ÝMardi 12 mars ˆÝ 20 h ¬Ý¬Ý Soirˆ©es classiques sur Espace musique (100, 7 FM) et sur demande ¬Ý¬Ý sur la webradio Espace classique Mangez, buvez et faites la fˆ�te! un concert ˆÝ ne pas manquer ˆÝ la Salle Pollack, le 11 mars 2009. Renseignements et billetterie: 514 982-6038 ou ˆÝ info@imusici.com Pour en savoir davantage sur notre 25e saison: www.imusici.com I Musici de Montrˆ©al Chamber Orchestra On stage, on the radio and on the Web ’Ķand a portrait of Yuli Turovsky on television Montrˆ©al, March 2nd, 2009 ’Äî Under the baton of Yuli Turovsky,¬ÝI Musici de Montrˆ©al Orchestra¬Ýpresents Eat, Drink and be Merry! on March 11, 2009 at 8 pm in Pollack Hall. On the menu: the Inestimables Chroniques du bon gˆ©ant Gargantua by Franˆßaix and the Chamber Symphony by Dvorˆ°k ’Äì a really interesting mix for music lovers. In addition, during this second week of March, we invite you to tune into Espace musique on the French network of CBC to hear the concert Hot Coals - Hot Key with the winner of many international prizes ’Äì pianist Richard Raymond. And, a third rendez-vous to put in your calendar, you will have an opportunity to discover some unknown sides of Yuli Turovsky on the HISTORIA television channel. On stage: Eat, Drink and be Merry! with I Musici de Montrˆ©al Veritable piano virtuoso, Jean Franˆßaix (1912-1997) left a huge catalogue of chamber works. Those that he composed for the cinema were distinguished by a joyful fantasy. It is not surprising that the most famous work of Rabelais, Gargantua, attracted this exceptional composer. Written in 1971, Franˆßaix eloquently adapted the humanist message of the great Renaissance author. His Gargantua, a version for narrator and string orchestra, is marvellous in its use of the original satirical Rabelaisian text along with music. Edgar Fruitier ¬ÝTo bring this humorous feast of words to us, the narrator is none other than our man of the theatre and a great communicator ’Äì Edgar Fruitier.¬Ý An actor for more than 50 years and a passionate music lover, Edgar Fruitier is, without doubt, a Quebec legend. Named ¬´ Chevalier de l’Äôordre national du Quˆ©bec ¬ª in June, 2008, this self taught erudite is now associated with Productions Octave in producing the boxed sets: Les grands classiques d’ÄôEdgar. The first two sets have had phenomenal success selling more than 150,000 copies! Also on the program is the Chamber Symphony in A-flat Major by Antonˆ‚n Dvorˆ°k (1841-1904), in a transcription by Yuli Turovsky of the String Quartet No 14, Op. 105. This quartet was written in 1835 on his return to Bohemia at the end of a three year stay in the New World. This was his last chamber music work ’Äì a work evokes at once the traditional Czech dance music full of melodic movement, and at other times displays the kind of symphonic structure that leans toward Bruckner. On television: an interview with Yuli Turovsky on the HISTORIA channel Starting in January, Nos familles, (Our families) is a documentary series consecrated to well known personalities in diverse cultural communities.¬Ý The program on Russia will be broadcast starting on Monday, March 9. Maestro Yuli Turovsky, originally from Moscow and now living in Quebec for thirty years, recounts his personal history and helps us discover the Russian community in Montreal. Produced by Orbi-XX1, the series Nos familles is directed by Marie-Hˆ©lˆ®ne Grenier. http://www.historiatv.com/emission/nos-familles/ep305114324/ On air and on the Web: Hot coals ’Äî Hot keys Music lovers will have the pleasure of hearing an I Musici de Montrˆ©al¬Ýconcert in the intimacy of their own living room. Presented in the series Soirˆ©es classiques on Espace musique ’Äì the music network of Radio-Canada (100,7 FM in Montrˆ©al). Hot coals ’Äì hot keys will be broadcast on Tuesday, March 12 at 8 pm. Recorded last December 18 at Pollack Hall, the concert featured piano soloist Richard Raymond. This native Montreal virtuoso played Rapsodia sinfˆ„nica de Turina and Chamber Concerto for piano and strings by Franck. I Musici de Montrˆ©al also performed Death and the Maiden by Schubert and the Danses paˆØennes sur des charbons ardents (Pagan dances on burning coals) by Vania Angelova. This world premier depicted an ancestral universe of pagan ritual in Bulgaria. The concert Hot coals ’Äì hot keys will also be available for listening on demand on web radio Espace classique at Radio-Canada.ca/espaceclassique Host: Michel Keable¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Producer and recording: Richard Lavallˆ©e Production coordination: Pascale Labrie¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Sound engineer: Pierre Lˆ©ger Broadcast schedule ¬Ý¬Ý Monday, March 9 at 8 pm: Nos familles, HISTORIA ¬Ý ¬ÝRerun: Tuesday, March 10, 6 am, Wednesday, March 11 at 10 am and 3 am, ¬Ý¬Ý Friday, March 13 at 6 pm, Saturday, March 14 a 5 am, Sunday, March 15¬Ý ¬Ý¬Ý at 7 pm and Monday, March 16 at 4 am. ¬Ý ¬ÝHot coals ’Äî Hot keys ¬Ý ¬ÝTuesday, March 12 at 8 pm ¬Ý¬Ý Soirˆ©es classiques on Espace musique (100, 7 FM) and on request ¬Ý¬Ý on web radio Espace classique. Eat, drink and be merry! a concert not to be missed at Pollack Hall, March 11, 2009 at 8 pm. Information¬Ý and tickets: 514 982-6038 or info@imusici.com¬Ý And to know more about our 25th anniversary season: imusici.com ¬Ý

Si vous avez de la difficultˆ© ˆÝ visualiser, visionner ce courriel dans votre fureteur. Vous n'ˆ�tes plus intˆ©ressˆ© ? Dˆ©sabonnez-vous ˆÝ l'instant. Ce courriel a ˆ©tˆ© propulsˆ© par l'outil de marketing relationnel mem.ca.

East Coast Music Awards Honours Jill Barber

EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS HONORS JILL BARBER!¬Ý

Toronto, ON ’Äì Fresh off her Ontario / Quebec tour, Canadian songstress Jill Barber is celebrating after winning two East Coast Music Awards last night.¬Ý Winners were announced at the East Coast Music Awards Gala held in Corner Brook, NL.

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Barber is thrilled to once again be recognized by the ECMA's for her musical talents.¬Ý "It means a great deal to me to receive these awards," remarks Barber. "I took a different approach and followed my heart with this album and I feel so fortunate that the response has been so positive." Barber and her recently released album Chances (Outside Music) won in the following categories:

¬… Female Recording of The Year

¬… Jazz Recording of The Year

"The most impressive thing about the album is Barber's songwriting. At first listen, Chances' 10 tracks come across as a collection of well-covered standards, familiar, but unidentifiable. It's not until you hit the liner notes that you realize Barber has written¬Ýthem all." The Hamilton Spectator.

Barber will be performing at the notable South by Southwest Music Conference held in Austin, Texas as well as two Canadian west coast dates this April.

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March 21st¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Austin, TX¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Habana Calle 6 (SXSW Showcase)

April 3rd¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Victoria, BC¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬ÝAlix Golden Hall

April 4th¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý¬Ý Vancouver, BC¬Ý¬Ý ¬Ý ¬Ý ¬Ý ¬Ý¬ÝThe Rio Theatre

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Weblinks: www.jillbarber.com and www.myspace.com/jillbarbermusic

Jeri Brown, soprano & Roddy Ellias, guitar

IN CONCERT FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Jeri Brown, soprano & Roddy Ellias, guitar

The Concordia University Department of Music is¬Ýproud to present Improvised Musical Journeys ¬‚ A Concert for Voice and¬ÝGuitar, with Jeri Brown & Roddy Ellias. The concert will take place at the¬ÝOscar Peterson Concert Hall (7141 Sherbrooke Street West) on March 11, 2009¬Ýat 8:00 p.m.

Internationally acclaimed jazz vocal artist Jeri Brown teams up with poetic¬Ýguitarist Roddy Ellias for the first time in a long overdue collaboration of¬Ýimprovised musical journeys. Repertoire will be drawn from compositions of¬Ýcontemporary composers, songs from the great American songbook as well as¬Ýoriginal compositions. Sound designer Mark Corwin will record the concert¬Ýfor future CD release.

Tickets for Improvised Musical Journeys ¬‚ A Concert for Voice and Guitar are
available on the Admission network (514-790-1245 ’Ǩ www.admission.com) and at¬Ýthe concert hall box office: $15 regular, $10 for University staff, $5 for¬Ýseniors and non-Concordia students, and free for Concordia students with ID¬Ý(service charges applicable). For more information, call 514-848-4848.

Accordionist Joseph Petric performs with Symphony Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS ’Äì Critically acclaimed virtuoso Joseph Petric joins Symphony Nova Scotia on Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 pm at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax and on Friday, March 13 at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB¬Ýfor a rare performance on a beautiful but often-neglected instrument ’Äì the accordion.

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The evening will feature the world premiere of award-winning Canadian composer Brian Current's Accordion Concerto, commissioned by the prestigious Koussevitzky Foundation especially for Petric and Symphony Nova Scotia. The Koussevitzky Foundation only funds the world's top composers, so this commission is a very special occasion. ¬Ý

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"I'm thrilled to explore this exciting new concerto by one of Canada's most dynamic composers with local and national audiences ’Äì both live in concert and in future CBC broadcasts," says Petric. "It offers yet another rich texture to the accordion's history and narrative on the Canadian east coast."

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"The accordion is one of my favourite instruments," adds Maestro Gueller, who will be conducting the performance. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

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Also on the program are Grieg's Holberg Suite and Robert Schumann's uplifting Symphony no. 2.

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Get your tickets now! Prices range from $32-47.50 (HST included), or you can pick up a subscription and save up to 30%. Student and group discounts are also available. Call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

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This concert will also be the launch of Symphony Nova Scotia's 2009-10 season! Audience members will be the first to hear the inside scoop on the orchestra's plans for 2009-10, including new collaborations, huge Maritime and Canadian stars, and the return of some of our most beloved guest musicians.

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Join CBC host Heidi Petracek at 7:30 pm for the pre-concert season announcement, and stay after the concert for a free audience reception. Audience members will also have the opportunity to renew or purchase Symphony Nova Scotia subscription packages at the concert. For more information, visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

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Composer Brian Current will give a composition lecture at Dalhousie University's Arts Centre (Room 111) on Wednesday, March 11 at 1:30 pm. Admission is $5, and tickets are available at the Music Department or at the door.

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About Joseph Petric

Laureate of the BBC3 Radio and CBC National Radio Auditions, JUNO and Prix Opus nominee, and first instrumentalist recipient of the Friend of Canadian Music Award, accordionist Joseph Petric has enjoyed a distinguished international career in more than 20 countries since 1986. A recitalist of choice, Petric was the first accordionist to offer European and American debuts to critical acclaim. He has commissioned more than 207 works and has been invited to give master classes, lectures, and recitals at conservatories around the world.

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About the Koussevitzky Foundation

The Koussevitzky Music Foundation of New York and the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation, established in 1942 and 1950, respectively, perpetuate Serge Koussevitzky's lifelong efforts to encourage contemporary composers. Koussevitzky was appointed conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1924, a post he held for 25 years. Works commissioned by him and the two foundations include such established masterpieces as Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" and Bˆ©la Bartˆ„k's "Concerto for Orchestra."

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About Brian Current

A 2005 Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the 2003 Barlow Prize, Brian Current has established himself as one of North America 's leading young composers. His music, lauded and performed internationally as well as broadcast in over 35 countries, is renowned for its energy, wit and daring bravado.

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Raised in Ottawa , Current studied music at McGill University in Montreal with Bengt Hambreaus and John Rea. He later completed his PhD in composition on full fellowship from the University of California at Berkeley in 2002. He has since been featured conducting with New Music Concerts, Soundstreams, CBC's In Performance and the Esprit Orchestra's New Waves Festival. Recently, the Royal Conservatory of Music appointed Brian conductor and artistic director of its New Music Ensemble.

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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!

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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.