Interchanging Idioms

To kick off the 2011-12 season, Susan Graham – “America’s favorite mezzo” ( Gramophone magazine) – makes her much-anticipated Canadian Opera Company debut on Thursday, September 22, headlining the company premiere of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride with the role that has become her “calling card” (New York Times). October 30 sees the Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano, always “spellbinding” (Wall Street Journal) in Handel, return to the San Francisco Opera in the title role of the Baroque master’s Xerxes, in Nicholas Hytner’s Olivier Award-winning staging. A third title role follows in the new year, when Graham – “everybody’s dream Widow” (Variety) – joins the Paris Opera for Franz Lehár’s popular operetta The Merry Widow, which bows on February 29. Meanwhile, in January she embarks on a North American recital tour with her frequent collaborator, pianist Malcolm Martineau; that tour concludes with her return to Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium on February 1. As the New York Times ’s An...

“Susan Graham, one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of our time,…is in her absolute prime.” – Denver Post (July 2010) On December 9, “peerless American mezzo”* Susan Graham joins Maestro Edo de Waart and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for a performance of Berg’s Seven Early Songs at Carnegie Hall. Graham continues the holiday season on December 15-16 in “Christmas at the Basilica” with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, a concert that will be nationally televised in Canada. For this performance, she will also be joined by the Choeur des Enfants de Montréal and Maestro Kent Nagano in a program of holiday music. Graham kicks off the New Year at Teatro Real Madrid from January 13-25, starring opposite Plácido Domingo in the title role of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride , an opera on which she has already “put her own stamp” (Chicago Tribune). She takes the role to her home company, New York’s Metropolitan Opera, for several dates in February and March. At Houston Grand Opera, she reprises...

I'm not sure how I feel about this one... The Canadian Brass, one of the finest brass ensembles in the world, playing a host of "American" (read: United States) patriotic tunes. The original press release said the new CD is "chock full of patriotic songs" but patriotic to whom? I like the tunes of Stars and Stripes Forever , America the Beautiful , Battle Hymn of the Republic , Hail Columbia , Shenandoah and You’re A Grand Old Flag , but I think it's more of a marketing ploy than a show of patriotism. There are getting some great reviews, such as: “Wow, who knew the Canadians felt this way about us? Here are 16 over-the-top tracks, featuring replica drums from the Colonial and Civil War eras, all toasting America. The themes all get impressive, imaginative treatment with their dashing fanfares and imaginative touches. The flat-footed “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” gets a burst of panache from a few bars of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.”Hmm....

Founding Member Eugene Watts Continues in Key Role The CANADIAN BRASS is delighted to announce that trombonist Keith Dyrda is joining the group. Eugene Watts, co-founder of CANADIAN BRASS, introduces his successor: "I had been keeping my eyes and ears open for a replacement and then suddenly Keith Dyrda appeared -- he is young, charismatic, full of fun and one of the finest trombonists I have ever heard. I loved his presence, focus and personality and I think that he will be an ideal soul mate and partner for the other members of the group. Did I mention that he looks just like I did 53 years ago?” At just 21-years of age and still completing his studies in performance at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal, Keith Dyrda has already become a prominent presence in the performance scene in Canada, including a recent performance of the Tomasi Trombone Concerto with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. “This is a huge honour,” enthuses Keith Dyrda, citing the...

Antiphonal Brass Music by Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi and Samuel Scheidt The Canadian Brass, called “the world’s leading brass ensemble” by the Washington Post , brings its trademark virtuosity and artistic passion to an album of stunning antiphonal brass music by Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi and Samuel Scheidt, composers of the late Renaissance and early Baroque. Initially available through a limited release by ArkivMusic.com last October, Echo: Glory of Gabrieli is available everywhere on April 8, 2010 through E1 distribution. Reviewing the recording, ClassicsToday.com raved: “If you're not completely hooked by the strikingly realistic antiphonal sound or the breathtakingly virtuosic playing in the first 30 seconds of this remarkable recording, then check your equipment ... a brighter-than-ever sheen, an even better-defined edge that leaves you with no words, just the impression that you're in the presence of superhuman musicianship.” Audiophile Audi...

Twenty-four-year-old violist Juan-Miguel Hernandez was awarded first place in his instrument’s category at the prestigious International Johannes Brahms Competition earlier this month in Pörtschach, Austria . Each year, the International Johannes Brahms Competition draws more than 400 musicians from over 40 nations to compete in six instrument categories including viola, violin cello, piano, voice and chamber music. This year 54 violists traveled to Austria to compete in three rounds of competition, beginning August 30 with a final concert for the prize winners of each category held on September 6. Winners of the competition were chosen by a select committee of jurors and evaluated on the mastery of their instrument, musical artistry, expression and style. Mr. Hernandez adds this first place prize to a distinguished list of honors, including the Gold Achievement award of the 9th National Sphinx Competition and the 1st place award in the National Canadian Music Competition. As a solo...