Tuesday, November 29, 2011

REVISED! Concert Listings November 29 - December 5

Thursday December 1, 2011 7pm Alberta College Honour Band, Rita Burns, Director. Solo performances by woodwinds and brass students. Muttart Hall, Alberta College.

Thursday December 1, 2011 7:30pm Cheryl and Bruce Harding, An Advent Evening. Trinity United Church.

Thursday, December 1 and Friday, December 2, 2011 Time? The King's University College Chamber Choir - The Festival of Trees, Shaw Conference Centre.

Friday December 2 and Saturday December 3, 2011 The Tonus Vivus Festival of New Music. Performances by Allison Balcetis, saxophone, Daniel Gervais, violin, Catherine Norris, flute, Moni Mathew, viola, Don Ross, clarinet, Janet Smith, soprano, Andriy Talpash, conductor, Scott Smallwood, sound artist, Wijit, DJ, Reinhard von Berg, electronic artist, MUGBAIT, electronic artists. Alberta College, Muttart Hall. $20, $15 per night, $30, $20 festival pass. Day and evening events. For a full listing of the performance schedule, go to http://www.tonusvivus.com/ or CLICK HERE.

Friday December 2, 2011 8pm UofA Concert Choir - Winter Dances. Works by Britten, Daunais, Jasperse, Tormis and Whitacre. Convocation Hall, UofA

Friday December 2 and Saturday December 3, 2011 8pm A Merry Pops Christmas Bob Bernhardt, conductor, Mireille Lebel, mezzo-soprano, Greenwood Singers , University of Alberta Handbell Ringers, Tap dancers from Victoria School of the Arts. Winspear Centre.

Saturday December 3, 2011 4pm Il Duo - Ron Long, tenor, Clint Hagel, tenor and Gail Olmstead, piano. First Presbyterian Church, 10025 105 St. Fundraiser to fix the large stained glass window at the back of the church. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Saturday December 3, 2011 4pm Winter Treasures - from Chopin to Piazzola. Jerzy Kaplanek, violin, Stephan Sylvestre, piano. Presented by the Polish Culture Society. Music includes Chopin, Wjeniawski, Bacewicz, Piazzolla and "Omaggio a Johann Sebastian Bach by local composer Piotr Grella-Mozejko. All Saints Anglican Cathedral, 10035 103 St. Tix on the Square $22, $11.50.

Sunday December 4, 2011 2pm UofA Concert Band - Mostly Mediaeval for Winds. Admission by donation. Works include Variants on a Mediaeval Tune, Norma Dello Joio, Praetorius Suite, Jan Bach, Rhosymedre, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Come Sweet Death, J.S. Bach arranged by Alfred Reed, and Of Sailors and Whales, Francis McBeth. Convocation Hall, UofA.

Sunday December 4, 2011 2pm The Royal Canadian Artillery Band and the Richard Eaton Singers. Capt Eric Gagnon, director of music. $10 adults, $5 children. In support of the Make-A-Wish Northern Alberta. http://www.rcaband.ca/

Sunday December 4, 2011 2:30pm Edmonton Columbian Choirs, Celebration of Christmas. McDougall United Church. Tickets $15, call 780 430 6808.

Sunday December 4, 2011 3pm Concordia Christmas Concert – Concordia Concert Choir, Concordia Ringers, Concordia Community Chorus Chamber Ensemble. First Presbyterian Church, 10025 105 St.

Sunday December 4, 2011 3pm and 7:30pm Alberta Baroque Ensemble, Music for a festive season. Jolaine Kerley, soprano, Mark Wilkinson, bass, Robin Doyon, trumpet, and the Da Camera Singers. Handel, The Trumpet Shall Sound, Torelli, Christmas Sinfonia, Bach, Cantata Jauchzet Gott, Mozart, Missa Brevis in D. Robertson-Wesley United Church. Tix on the Square or the Gramophone.

Sunday December 4, 2011 3pm and 7:30pm Carols and Lullabies - Vocal Alchemy. Music by Victoria, Lauridsen, Gjeilo and Chatman. Saint Andrew's United Church, 9915 148 St. Tix on the Square.

Sunday December 4, 2011 7:30pm Edmonton Recital Society, New Orford String Quartet. Jonathan Crow, Andrew Wan, violin, Eric Nowlin, viola, Brian Manker, cello, with guest violinist Aaron Au. Music includes Blanc Dominant, by Canadian-Serbian composer Ana Sokolovic, Beethoven String Quartet op. 135 in F major, and Brahms String Quintet in G major, op. 111. Muttart Hall, Alberta College. Tix on the Square. $30-$20 and $10 student rush tickets one hour before the concert.

Monday December 5, 2011 UofA Monday Noon Music FREE 45 min, student concerts from western classical to world music. Don’t forget to bring your lunch! Convocation Hall, UofA.

Monday December 5, 2011 5pm FREE Hear's to Your Health concert series featuring Andrew Wan, violin, Brian Manker, cello and Patricia Tao, piano. Music includes Beethoven Trio in E-flat, op. 1, no. 1 and Ravel Sonate for violin and cello. Foyer to the Bernard Snell Auditorium, Walter MacKenzie Health Science Centre.

Monday December 5, 2011 7pm Masterclass with the New Orford String Quartet including Andrew Wan, violin and Brian Manker, cello. Room 3-46: Violin Masterclass with Andrew Wan, Room 1-29: Cello Masterclass with Brain Manker. Open to Dept of Music students.

Monday, December 5, 2011 8pm The King’s University College Choirs -"The King of Love". Dr. Melanie Turgeon, conductor, King's University College Concert, Chamber and Community Choirs with Vocal Alchemy, featured soloists and brass. Winspear Centre, $20, $15, $5 (children 12 and under).


Review - Guest Conductor Demonstrates Pro Coro's Real Worth

From Sound and Noise · University of Alberta Music Students on Music
November 24, 2011

Fully professional choirs are rare in Canada. Edmonton is home to one of only three throughout the country, Pro Coro Canada. The others, Toronto’s Elmer Iseler Singers and the Vancouver Chamber Choir, have undoubtedly achieved more of a household status than the Edmonton equivalent. This will change if guest conductor Michael Zaugg, who led the choir through a remarkable concert on Sunday, takes the helm next season.

Zaugg was the third of three conductors to be shortlisted for the position of the ensemble’s new Artistic Director. If Sunday’s concert was any indication, I would be remiss not to guess that Zaugg has an excellent chance of a successful application. In speaking to several colleagues and concertgoers, we all agreed that we had never heard such a sound from Pro Coro. The entire program had an unrelenting energy that kept the entire audience hooked from start to finish. The repertoire was varied, with a good combination of known and unknown pieces, and the quality of singing was first-rate. Zaugg featured several members of the ensemble in small solos throughout, and special mention goes to Catherine Kubash for her hauntingly peaceful performance in Lili Boulanger’s “Soir sur la plaine.”

Sunday afternoon’s concert was one that made me excited for the future of Pro Coro. I am glad that Edmonton has now witnessed the choir’s full potential. I believe strongly that such energy will catapult the choir to the household status of its fellow professional choirs in this chorally minded country.

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/11/24/guest-conductor-demonstrates-pro-coros-real-worth/

Review - Another Charming Early Music Concert in Edmonton

From Sound and Noise - University of Alberta Music Students on Music
November 23, 2011

Early music is thriving in Edmonton. Two of the most important figures in Edmonton’s early music scene, Josephine van Lier and Marnie Giesbrecht, presented a brief but enjoyable concert in Convocation Hall on Monday. The concert featured three key elements: the cello sonatas of Luigi Boccherini (nope, not the tasty cheese), the violoncello piccolo, and the University of Alberta’s new continuo organ.

Boccherini was a virtuosic cellist and this showed in his compositions. Using her violoncello piccolo (“small cello” in Italian), van Lier handled the two sonatas in A-major with ease. Her confident playing let the audience forget about the difficulty of the music and simply enjoy its beauty. She and Giesbrecht enjoyed themselves immensely on stage, evident in both their engaging collaboration and their friendly presentation to the audience. Giesbrecht, as always, played wonderfully and was a fine partner to van Lier.

Edmonton is lucky to have these two artists promoting the enchanting, pre-1800 repertoire.

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/11/23/another-charming-early-music-concert-in-edmonton/

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Did you know? mUse of A Continues to Change Lives

Imagine a room full of people, enthralled by the efforts and talent of the Department of Music's students for 30-60 minutes of free music? mUse of A proudly brings music into schools, hospitals, senior homes, shelters, blood banks and even prisons! A program which has deep roots in both the Department of Music and the Edmonton Community, mUse of A has been bringing together musicians and audiences in the most interesting settings for more than 10 years.

The impact of mUse of A's program touches both audiences and musicians. Following a recent performance at Grandview Capital Care Centre, Carlos, a student with the Department of Music, had this to say about his performance experience:

I performed at the Grandview Capital Care this afternoon, and the audience responded really well. I was expecting people to be not very attentive to the music, perhaps because of their health and mental condition or their physical pains, but they listened really well. Only minor noises made, which is to be expected from a social care institution, and I really lived great moments.

Once I arrived, someone was interested in my instrument and began asking questions, and when I technically finished my 40 minute performance, I announced that was finished my set, but offered to play another song if the audience really wanted it. I received positive applause and after I finished my 'encore' I offered to stay and talk to them, especially those who had any questions.

Many people including staff, residents and visitors were really grateful and complimenting. Even when I was practicing in the reception area before the performance, people were asking me if I was the performer, and said they were looking forward to the performance. The staff said it was so soothing for them to hear the music.

This experience helped me see not only that music does make a difference, but also that being kind, enthusiastic and respectful encourages your audience to want to hear you and get to know you as a person. I could see myself even being a full-time staff at a similar institution offering concerts once in a while for their well-being.

Thank you, Carlos

To learn more about the mUse of A program, or to arrange performances in your own organization, please contact program coordinator Gladys Odegard at (780) 487–4188.

http://www.music.ualberta.ca/Outreach/mUseofA.aspx
 Reprinted from the University of Alberta Faculty of Music newsletter "In Tune - Words on Music Winter 2011" Thursday November 17, 2011



http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/View.aspx?id=314712&p=6306

Monday, November 21, 2011

Concert Listings November 21 - 28

Wednesday November 23, 2011 12:10-12:50pm FREE McDougall Concert Association, David Grainger Brown, guitar. McDougall United Church, banquet hall, 101 street and one block south of Jasper Avenue (use Macdonald Drive entrance, faces the river). Bring your friends and your bag lunch – coffee and tea are also available.

Sunday November 20, 2011 5:30pm Opera Nuova Dinner Cabaret Series – Vibrant Verismo. Andrew Love, baritone, Michael Marino, tenor, Jessica Strong, soprano. Music by Puccini, Verdi, Bizet and Gounod. Location - Normands, contact www.operanuova.ca for tickets.

Monday November 21, 2011 UofA Monday Noon Music FREE 45 min, student concerts from western classical to world music. Don’t forget to bring your lunch! Convocation Hall, UofA.

November 23 and 24, 2011 7:30pm Moscow Ballet Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky). Jubillee Auditorium.

Thursday November 24 to Sunday December 4, 2011 Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure. Based on J.M. Barrie’s original play with permission from Great Ormand Street Hospital for Children. Music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, book by Willis Hall. St. Albert Children’s Theatre.

Friday November 25, 2011 All Aboard for 104 Underground with Mercury Opera. Pre-performance party at 6pm with various reception sites on 104 St and Jasper Av, performance on the platform of the Bay/Enterprise Square LRT Station. Darcia Parada, Artistic Director, Alicia Wojnarski, mezzo, Lauren Woods, soprano, Nevada Collins and Jill Hoogewoonink. Music from Saint-Saen's Samson and Delilah, Mozart's The Magic Flute, Delibes' Lakme, and a unique performance of Nessun Dorma by Puccini. Tickets $25 available from Devine Wines and Spirits, Eyecare Group and Armstrong 29 with $2.85 from each ticket to benefit the ETS Donate a Ride Program.

Friday, November 25, 2011 8pm UofA Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Wind Music from Around the World. Admission by donation. Works by Yasuhide Ito, Darius Milhaud, Johann de Meij and Roger Nixon. Convocation Hall, UofA.

Friday November 25, 2011 5:30pm The Foggy Streets of London - Cantilon Choirs 11th Annual Dessert Auction and Concert. Winspear Centre, $15.

Friday November 25, 2011 8pm Edmonton Classical Guitar Society, Johannes Moller, guitar. Winner of the Guitar Foundations of America competition. Muttart Hall, Alberta College. Contact Tix on the Square.

Saturday November 26, 2011 9am-4:30pm Workshop with Canadian recorder virtuoso Alison Melville exploring consort music from 16th century Europe. Registration 8:30am, hall of the Parish Church of Saints Faith and Stephen the Martyr, 11725 93 St. $50 for Edmonton Recorder Society members, and $60 for the general public.

Saturday November 26, 2011 1pm Fall Music Festival Concert - MacEwan University Music. Reception to follow. Muttart Hall, Alberta College.

Saturday November 26, 2011 2pm Edmonton Symphony for Kids, Lucas Waldin, conductor. Pre-concert Activities from 1 - 1:45 pm. Winspear Centre.

Saturday November 26, 2011 3pm Alberta Registered Music Teacher’s Association Edmonton, Contemporary Showcase Gala Concert. Muttart Hall, Alberta College.

Saturday November 26, 2011 4pm Music at First - Four Saturdays at Four. Music for bagpipes, organ and hand bells with David Trew, Joachim Segger, and the Hand Bell Ringers of First Presbyterian Church. Fundraiser to repair the historic stained glass window - admission by donation. First Presbyterian Church, 10025 105 St.

Saturday November 26, 2011 8pm World Music Sampler featuring the Indian Music, West African and Middle Eastern and North African Ensembles. Admission by donation. Convocation Hall, UofA.

Saturday November 26, 2011 8pm Edmonton Symphony, Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor , Juliette Kang, violin. Elgar, “Enigma” Variations, Hétu, Légendes. Winspear Centre. 2011 Carnegie Hall Info Session, Founder's Room, 6:30pm.

Sunday November 27, 2011 2pm The Bird Fancyer's Delight - Alison Melville, recorder. Music by J.S. Bach, Telemann, Boismortier, van Eyck, and traditional Scandinavian tunes. Parish Church of Saints Faith and Stephen the Martyr, 11725 93 St. $15 for Edmonton Recorder Society members, seniors and students, and $20 for everyone else.

Sunday November 27, 2011 2pm Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Senior and Intermediate Orchestras. Michael Massey, conductor. Double Concerto , Bach, Overture to Der Freischutz, Weber, Two Fairy Tales, Medtner-Massey, Symphony no 5 (Excerpts), Schubert-Massey, Springtide, Forsyth, Les Preludes, Liszt, Taras Bulba, Janacek. Winspear Centre, tickets $15 and $10. Tickets available from Tix on the Square or orchestra members.

Sunday November 27, 2011 8pm UofA Madrigal Singers - The Rose in the Middle of Winter. Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor, Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht, organ, Josephine van Lier, cello. Featuring music by Brahms, Britten, Chilcott, Hammerschmidt, Schütz, Sweelinck and Willian. Convocation Hall, UofA, admission by donation.

Monday November 28, 2011 noon FREE Enterprise String Quartet. Music includes the 'Lobkowicz' Quartets, Beethoven op.18 no. 3 and 1. Introductory remarks by Dr. Frank Szabo, Dept of History. Winspear Centre.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Mayor's Arts Visioning Committee Recommends the Creation of New Performing Arts Spaces

The Mayor's Arts Visioning Committee released their report Edmonton Arts 2040: Prosperity with Creativity this week which focused on the development of new arts space in Edmonton.

Here are some hightlights from the report:
  • The City of Edmonton is recommended to acquire and convert MacEwan University's west campus for a multi-use, multicultural arts incubator
  • Develop the former power plant site to a premier Aboriginal arts and cultural celebration centre and studio, exhibit and performance space for Edmonton artists
  • Endorse a landmark performing arts centre in the downtown
  • Establish a business and arts advisory committee to the work with the Edmonton Arts Council

A link to the document can be found here:

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/Arts_Visioning_Committee_Report_November_2011.pdf

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Concert Listings November 15-20

Wednesday November 16 to Saturday November 19, 2011 Alberta College Conservatory Fall Music Festival. Contact Alberta College for more information 780 633 3725
Wednesday November 16, 2011 12:10-12:50pm FREE McDougall Concert Association, Suzanne Langor, horn, Sylvia Shadick-Taylor, piano.  McDougall United Church, banquet hall, 101 street and one block south of Jasper Avenue (use Macdonald Drive entrance, faces the river). Bring your friends and your bag lunch – coffee and tea are also available.
Thursday, November 17, 2011 7:30pm New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia - Made In Canada. Myer Horowitz Theatre, UofA. $20-$15. Friday November 18, 2011 8pm Kevin Fox, celloArt Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron St. Contact the Arden Theatre for ticket information.
Friday November 18, 2011 8pm Sea of Sound Festival - new electroacoustic performances from Alberta featuring Jacek Sobieraj, The DADA Police, MUGBAIT, Gene Kosowan, Allison Balcetis, Zachary Polis, Wayne Defehr, and Shawn Pinchbeck and Gerry Morita. Catalyst Theatre, $8,$5

Saturday November 19, 2011 4pm FREE Sea of Sound Festival - Sound installation exhibit by Shawn Pinchbeck, Scott Smallwood and Ken Gregory. Ortona Armoury, 9722 102 St.

Saturday, November 19, 2011 Time? FREE The King's University College Chamber Choir - The Downtown Tree Lighting. Sir Winston Churchill Square.
Saturday November 19, 2011 7:30pm I Coristi Chamber Choir, Muses. Whitacre, Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine, Britten, Hymn to St. Cecilia, Burak, The Muses of Mount Helicon. Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037 84 Av. Tix on the Square.
Saturday November 19, 2011 7:30pm St. Albert Chamber Music Recital Series, Magda Adamek, piano, Tanya Prochazka, cello. Tickets $25,$20 available at Don’s Piano Warehouse (8 Riel Drive St. Albert ) or the Art Gallery of St. Albert. Each concert will be catered with fine wine and “tasty treats”.
Saturday November 19, 2011 8pm Sea of Sound Festival - New electroacoustic performances from Alberta part 2 featuring Jeannie Vanderkerkhove and Adam Tindale, Agaperaygunexperiment, Philip Dickau and Ryan Sowiak, Raylene Campbell, Clinker, Will Scott, and D. Andrew Stewart. Catalyst Theatre. $8-$5, festival passes $20-15, tickets available at YEGLive.
Saturday November 19, 2011 10pm Sea of Sound Festival - Late Night Electronic Music Concert featuring Trio Latitude, BEAMS All-Stars, and Wijit. New City Legion, 8130 Gateway Blvd. $8-$5, festival passes $20-15, tickets available at YEGLive.

Sunday November 20, 2011 2pm UofA University Strings. Copland, Appalachian Spring - the original version for 13 instruments. Convocation Hall, UofA, admission by donation.

Sunday November 20, 2011 2pm Edmonton Symphony William Eddins, conductor, Benjamin Beilman, violin, Jeremy Spurgeon, organ. Dvořák Violin Concerto, Resphighi, Suite for Organ and Strings, Reznicek, Overture to Donna Diana, Thomas, Overture to Mignon. Winspear Centre. Carnegie Hall Info Session, Studio (enter through stage door) 6:30pm.
Sunday November 20, 2011 12pm FREE Sea of Sound Festival - special seminar with Kevin Austin on recent trends in Canadian electroacoustic music. Catalyst Theatre.

Sunday November 20, 2011 2:30pm Pro Coro - Path of WonderMichael Zaugg, conductor. McDougall United Church. $30 Adults, $25 Seniors, $20 Students.

Sunday November 20, 2011 3pm Wendy Markosky, organ and harpsichord, and the Early Music Alberta Society. First Presbyterian Church.

Sunday November 20, 2011 7pm Sea of Sound Festival - Canadian Electroacoustic Community meet and greet with artists and CEC personalities in the lobby of the Catalyst Theatre. Performance includes works from the Jeu de Temps - Times Play Competition featuring Maxime Corbeil-Perron, Marc-Andre Perron, Dave Arango Valencia, Jullian Hoff, Guillaume Barrette and Guillaume Campion. $8-$5, festival passes $20-15, tickets available at YEGLive.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Edmonton Composer Vivian Fung New CD Release

Homegrown talent Vivian Fung, undoubtedly one of the most interesting new music composers of our time, and who was last here to witness the Canadian premiere of String quartet No. 2 with the Shanghai String Quartet, is planning to release a CD of her recent works on Naxos and is seeking donations. She'll even take a $1 minimum. To contribute and for details, check this link. The campaign ends in 7 days.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vivian/naxos-canada-debuts-the-inaugural-all-fung-album

Sea of Sound Festival Canadian Electroacoustic Community 25th Anniversary November 18-20, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Review - Ensemble Masques Fills Convocation Hall

From Sound and Noise · University of Alberta Music Students on Music

It is no secret that reviewers anticipate certain concerts more than others. The anticipation heightens when we are familiar with or are a fan of a particular artist or group. This was certainly the case for me when I walked into the packed house of Convocation Hall on Saturday evening to witness Ensembles Masques, a Montréal-based early music ensemble, under the auspices of the Edmonton Chamber Music Society. I have been listening to their discs with admiration for years, and Saturday’s live performance has cemented my appreciation for their beautiful playing, assured musicality, and enchanting collaboration.

Entitled “From Biber to Bach” (please, no Justin Bieber jokes allowed), the six musicians presented a program that considered the music that led to the likes of Bach and Telemann. I am particularly grateful that they decided to extend beyond the wall between performers and audience, explaining with welcome humour the history of both the repertoire and the Baroque instruments they were playing on. Several audience members conversed confusedly while the musicians tuned their instruments several times throughout the concert, until the ensemble’s founder, harpsichordist Olivier Fortin, mentioned that the gut strings were very sensitive to climate change. If classical music and, particularly, Baroque music have any hope for survival, Ensemble Masques’ accessible demeanour and professional quality are a good place to start.

The first half featured sonatas by Biber, Rosenmüller and Schmelzer, before finishing with a recognizable harpsichord concerto by J.S. Bach. The ensemble’s engaging and collaborative playing was immediately apparent. Each member was his or her own musician within one unit that never failed to impress. The Bach piece featured Olivier Fortin’s excellent playing on the University of Alberta’s own harpsichord. Special mention should go to Sophie Gent on first violin, whose performance was captivating throughout the evening.

The second half featured a work by Telemann, Burlesque Don Quixote, which showed off the ensemble’s flair for comedy amidst technical skill. Violist Kathleen Kajioka narrated the work between each movement. The clear favourite was the fifth movement, “Sanche Panche berné,” in which Sancho Panza is thrown into the air. The musicians used their faces and bodies to highlight the musical motives that suggested his being thrown into the air. It was a real treat for the audience.

When you like an ensemble’s recordings, it can be nerve-wracking to see the ensemble live in the hopes of not being disappointed. I have never been less disappointed by a live performance. There was no weak link in Ensemble Masques’ concert on Saturday evening in Convocation Hall. Each of the six musicians made the evening special, combining to create beautiful music together. No wonder it was packed house.

Upcoming Edmonton Chamber Music Society concerts can be found on the organization’s website: www.edmontonchambermusic.org.

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/11/07/ensemble-masques-fills-convocation-hall/

Review - Rare Chance to Hear Beethoven's Greatest Work Does Not Disappoint

From Sound and Noise · University of Alberta Music Students on Music

Edmonton had the rare opportunity to witness Ludwig van Beethoven’s self-proclaimed greatest work, Missa Solemnis, on Friday evening. The occasion was rare because the work is unrelentingly virtuosic throughout, requiring a huge choir and four talented soloists who can navigate through soaring high notes, all while being joined by a full orchestra with a concertmaster worthy of the beautiful violin solo. It was Leonard Ratzlaff and his Richard Eaton Singers, joined by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, who brought this masterpiece to the audience at the Winspear Centre.

The concert marked the Richard Eaton Singers’ 60th anniversary and Leonard Ratzlaff’s 30th anniversary as conductor of the ensemble. To celebrate, they began the evening with Haydn’s Te Deum in C, which was the first work that Dr. Ratzlaff conducted those 30 years ago. The piece featured the choir, the orchestra, and organist Jeremy Spurgeon. All musicians proved to be in fine form. With the Haydn complete, the entrance of the four vocal soloists signalled the start of the much-anticipated Beethoven work.

From Dr. Ratzlaff’s first cue, the audience knew that everyone was in for a treat. The choir admirably tackled the difficult music, and each member seemed to enjoy doing it. They attacked the high notes and wove their sound into that of the orchestra and soloists. Soprano Laura Whalen handled the notoriously difficult soprano solo with poise and elegance. Her voice had a crystalline quality to it, and she manoeuvred her sound through an endlessly legato line. Tenor Michael Colvin and Edmonton baritone Nathan Berg brought powerful, dramatic instruments to the stage. Mezzo-soprano Anita Krause had the richest voice on stage, which she used to deliver some beautifully touching moments; she truly seemed to be enjoying herself on stage.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra played beautifully, if not a little loudly at times. Special mention must go to violinist Eric Buchmann, the orchestra’s interim concertmaster, whose violin solo in the fourth movement was very touching. In fact, the fourth movement was the highlight of the evening; I felt that each musician on stage was part of one whole unit. It was truly beautiful.

The entire evening was magnificent. The Richard Eaton Singers marked their 60th anniversary with a Beethoven masterpiece that the Edmonton audience was only too happy to receive.

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/11/07/rare-chance-to-hear-beethoven%e2%80%99s-greatest-work-does-not-disappoint/

Da Camera Singers - Living Sound Sunday November 13, 2011

Kokopelli Choir presents Voices West

Concordia Symphony Orchestra Sunday November 13, 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Concert Listings November 8-13

Wednesday November 9, 2011 12:10-12:50pm FREE McDougall Concert Association, Megan Kan, harp. McDougall United Church, banquet hall, 101 street and one block south of Jasper Avenue (use Macdonald Drive entrance, faces the river). Bring your friends and your bag lunch – coffee and tea are also available.

November 11 and 12, 2011, 7:30pm and 8pm Edmonton Symphony, William Eddins, conductor, Jens Lindemann, trumpet, Richard Eaton Singers. Rachmaninoff, Second Symphony, Meechan, Apophenia for Trumpet (premiere), Forsyth, A Ballad of Canada. Winspear Centre.

Saturday November 12, 2011 7:30pm Kokopelli Choirs – Voices West. First Western Canada Youth Choir Festival. McDougall United Church. Tix on the Square.

Sunday November 13, 2011 2pm Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Senior Orchestra. Michael Massey, conductor. Les Preludes, Liszt, Taras Bulba (Symphonic Rhapsody ), Janacek. Banff Centre for the Arts, Eric Harvie Theatre. Tickets are available from members or from Tix on the Square.

Sunday November 13, 2011 3pm Admission by donation. Tanya Prochazka, cello, Magdalena Adamek, piano. Holy Trinity Anglican Church Concert Series, 10037-84th Ave.

Sunday November 13, 2011 3pm Alberta Registered Music Teacher’s Association Edmonton, Contemporary Showcase Young Composers Final Concert. Room 409, Alberta College.

Sunday November 13, 2011 2pm Concordia Symphony Orchestra, David Hoyt, guest conductor. Robert Tegler Student Centre, 7128 Ada Blvd.

Sunday November 13, 2011 3pm The Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, Czech and Slovak Society for the Arts and Sciences, Mazurka Musik and Art present “Legends of Central Europe” on the occasion of the 170th anniversary of Dvorak's birth. Piano duos and trios by Dvorak, Smetana, Brahms performed by Mikolaj Warszynski - Zuzana Simurdova Piano Duo from Montreal, Tatiana Warszynski-violin, Joanne Yu- cello. Muttart Hall, Alberta College. Tickets: $25 regular, $15 students and seniors at the Gramophone 780 428 2356, Camelot Travel 780 477 8747 or at the door.

Sunday November 13, 2011 3pm Da Camera Singers Living Sound. John Brough, conductor. Music by Durufle, Brahms, Thompson and Raminsh and works selected by the Tonus Vivus Society for new music and favourite Da Camera Singers commissions from the past 50 years. First Baptist Church, 10031 - 109 St, $20 - $15.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Concert Listings Nov 1-7

Tuesday November 1, 2011 7pm Maclab Centre for the Arts, Faust: A German Folk Legend. F.W. Murnau's 1926 silent film with live piano score by composer Robert Bruce. Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts, 4308 50 St, Leduc. Tix on the Square.

Wednesday November 2, 2011 12:10-12:50pm FREE McDougall Concert Association, Charles Austin, piano. McDougall United Church, banquet hall, 101 street and one block south of Jasper Avenue (use Macdonald Drive entrance, faces the river). Bring your friends and your bag lunch – coffee and tea are also available.

Friday November 4, 2011 8pm Richard Eaton Singers 60th Anniversary Gala Concert. Missa Solemnis, Op.123, L.v.Beethoven, Te Deum in C, Haydn. Laura Whalen, soprano, Anita Krause, mezzo, Michael Colvin, tenor, Nathan Berg, bass, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Len Ratzlaff, conductor. Winspear Centre.

Friday November 4, 2011 8pm Kilburn Memorial Concert Series, Afiara Quartet. Yuri Cho, violin, Adrian Fung, cello, David Samuel, viola, Valerie Li, violin. Works by Haydn, Abigaña and Dvorak. Convocation Hall, UofA. Tickets $20,$15,$10 at door only.

November 4 and 5, 2011 7:30pm Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Wonderland (a reinterpretation of Lewis Carroll). Jubillee Auditorium.

Saturday November 5, 2011 8pm Edmonton Chamber Music Society, Ensemble Masques - Sophie Gent, Tuomo Suni, violin, Kathleen Kajioka, viola, Mélisande Corriveau, bass viol, Benoît Vanden Bemden, violone, Olivier Fortin, harpsichord. Convocation Hall, UofA. Contact Tix on the Square.

Sunday November 6, 2011 3pm Alberta Baroque Ensemble, Baroque Chamber Music Treasures – A fundraising event for the Alberta Baroque Music Society. Susan Flook, Heather Bergen, Virginie Gagné, violin, Lidia Khaner, oboe, Colin Ryan, Ronda Metszies, cello, Tammy-Jo Mortensen, harpsichord and organ. Music by Corelli, Buxtehude, Handel and Telemann. Robertson-Wesley United Church. Tix on the Square or the Gramophone.

Sunday November 6, 2011 3pm Pergolesi Brass Quintet, Ken Read, Director. Holy Trinity Anglican Church Concert Series, 10037-84th Ave. Admission by donation.

Sunday November 6, 2011 7:30pm Cosmopolitan Music Society – Lest We Forget Remembrance Day Concert. Winspear Centre, tickets $20.00.

Monday November 7, 2011 UofA Monday Noon Music FREE 45 min, student concerts from western classical to world music. Don’t forget to bring your lunch! Convocation Hall, UofA.

U of A Department of Music Welcomes New Continuo Organ to Con Hall

From Sound and Noise · University of Alberta Music Students on Music


Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht, Professor of Organ and Early Music at the University of Alberta, welcomed the Department of Music’s new continuo organ to Convocation Hall at the October 24th Monday Noon Music concert. She and several graduate students presented a concert of organ works on both the new organ and Con Hall’s Casavant pipe organ.

A continuo organ, or ‘orgue positif’ in French, is nothing like the pipe organ you have seen in your local church. This instrument is no more than 5-feet tall, 5-feet wide and 2-feet deep. The manual has 50 keys and the organist tends to play these notes while standing. The pipes are within the instrument itself, compared to your standard organ whose pipes are located throughout the hall.

Though the Department gave the instrument its official welcome earlier in October, the intimate Monday Noon Music setting provided Dr. Giebrecht another opportunity to show it off. She played short pieces by Frescobaldi and Cynthia Luk played a Verso by Pachelbel. The rest of the works, which were mostly no later than Mendelssohn, came from Con Hall’s pipe organ. Hyejin Lee, Wendy Niewenhuis, Somang Lam and, once again, Cynthia Luk all played beautifully. Dr. Giesbrecht’s engaging comments on both the instruments and the repertoire were a great addition.

Future events involving organ students at the University of Alberta can be found at the Department of Music’s website: http://www.music.ualberta.ca/.

-Mark Wilkinson

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/11/01/u-of-a-department-of-music-welcomes-new-continuo-organ-to-con-hall/

Review-Immaginare un nuovo “Pinocchio”: Alberta Opera takes on the classic tale

From Sound and Noise · University of Alberta Music Students on Music

What: Pinocchio

Date & Venue: Running Oct 27-November 4 at the Transalta Arts Barns, tickets and further info here.

Directed by Farren Timoteo

Music by Jeff Unger

Starring Madeline Knight, Byron Martin and Christopher Scot

This is not the Disney version of Pinocchio. While the main theme may still be there, the story itself varies from what one may be used to. Pinocchio is still a children’s show—for the most part at least—but it also is a show for, well, everyone else. In three words, this play is creative, entertaining and engaging.

The actors were impressive. Madeline Knight (Pinocchio), Byron Martin (Geppetto) and Christopher Scot (Vincenzo) did an excellent job with each and every character they represented. The three of them carried out the 60 minutes of play flawlessly, and not only with their acting but also with their amazing voices—and I must say I particularly enjoyed the Italian accents.

The costumes were fascinating, and they had a very important role—with only three actors and at least 15 different characters, the costumes were crucial. Not only must they fit every character’s personality, they also had to be so different and distracting that the audience could easily ignore the familiarity that, as the play evolved, one started to feel with each actor. In this play, there was seldom a time in which was I taken out of the fantasy world that the play presented me with and thought “this is the same actor as before.” That, in my opinion, is quite an unusual reaction—especially since the actors were, in fact, easy to recognize.

It was the costumes, the setting and the amazing acting and singing the reason why this play was so entertaining—that, and the smart dialogues. When going to a kid’s show, it is easy to get bored by the simplicity in which some jokes and situations are presented, but this is not the case. While there’s still that playful aspect to the play, which seems to target mostly children, the dialogues were elaborated to be appealing to all audiences.

Another thing that made Pinocchio so interesting was the scenography. It is not very complex, but complexity, the play shows, is not always ideal. With only a couple of circus curtains, 3 buckets, 4 poles, and a wooden trunk, the narrative takes you from Italy to the bottom of the ocean (among other unique places). Of course, it was with the aid of the lightning and sound effects that such an outcome was easily achieved, but without a doubt, the creative use of the objects was impressive.

It is refreshing to see a play that does such a good job in exploring the power that imagination can have, and while it is nice to see exactly what the writers and directors want you to see, there is nothing better than what you can imagine for yourself. Nothing can top what is perfect for you.

All in all, going to Pinocchio is a great way to spend any 60 minutes of the day.

by Ana Osorio

http://thesoundandnoise.com/2011/10/29/immaginare-un-nuovo-pinocchio-alberta-opera-takes-on-the-classic-tale/