It has been a few weeks since I last wrote of some of the music festivals underway in Ontario, and there are some still going strong as we head to the mid-way point of August. First of all, though I wanted to write a few words of thanks about the Elora Festival, which concluded last weekend in the picturesque little town north-west of Guelph.
Sophie and I always look forward to our visits to Elora every season, and last weekend we made our annual pilgrimage to Elora for a concert at the Gambrel Barn Saturday night for a concert titled A Summer Evening on Broadway. Hosted by theatre critic and broadcaster Richard Ouzounian, the concert featured the Elora Festival Singers backing up soloists Adam Brazier, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Adrian Marchuk and Blythe Wilson. David Warrack was the pianist/conductor along with his wife, pianist Lona Davis, and instrumentalists Tom Hazlitt, bass; Bill Bridges, guitar; and Lorne Grossman, percussion.
The weather was not very cooperative, but the rain did hold off until after the concert, but boy was it stinkin' hot Saturday night! The music was, too, and the soloists were all great. Marchuk, incidentally, is best-known for playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys for three years. Dionisio was Kim in Miss Saigon for many years; Adam Brazier is currently the Artistic Director of Theatre 20, an artist-led Musical Theatre company in Toronto; and Blythe Wilson is well known for her musical roles at both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals over the years as well as two years with the national tour of Mary Poppins.
Elora is celebrating their 33rd successful year this season, and each year they manage to produce a wide variety of exceptionally varied programs at several venues around town. Going to Elora is always one of the highlights of the summer season for Sophie and I. But one thing I do each year as an add-on is to attend the Sunday morning service at the Elora Festival Singers' home base, St. John's Anglican Church in Elora, where a number of the smaller concerts are held each year. The service is mostly music, and what glorious music it is! The choir is always magnificent, directed by Noel Edison, Artistic Director for the Festival, and the organist each time I have been there has been Michael Bloss, who knows how to bring every nuance out of the organ at St. John's. This is one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have on the weekend, and it only takes an hour and a quarter of your time!
The sermon last week was by the retired Bishop of Niagara, Ralph Spence, who always offers a nicely balanced sermon of humour and knowledge, this time reflecting on his time spent recently in London taking part in the big celebratory barge procession on the Thames for Queen Elizabeth. He is such an engaging personality, and always entertains whenever he speaks in a public forum.
Elora was great again this year, but it is by no means the only musical event this summer. In fact, our local Music Niagara concert season winds up tonight in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a concert titled A Haydn Spectacular, featuring Edwin Outwater conducting the St. Mark's Orchestra and the Vocalis Chamber Choir from Buffalo. The concert, at 7:30 at St. Mark's Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, will feature Haydn's Mass for Troubled Times and his Farewell Symphony. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling the box office at 1-800-511-7429. You might also want to stick around after the concert tonight for the final Jazz on the Patio concert at The Epicurean Bistro starting at 9:30, tonight featuring Drew Jurecka on violin and vocals along with his trio. Again, tickets are available through the box office or tonight at the concert.
The Sunset Music Series continues at The Rotary Shell at Charles Daley Park in Lincoln every Tuesday evening at 7 until the end of August. This week there is a Johnny Cash Tribute Show with special guest Bill Culp, and a blues concert August 21st with Steve Burnside and The Marquis, and August 28th the series wraps up with Party Band, featuring Sandy Vine and The Midnights. All concerts are free of charge, food is available on site for a nominal charge, and you can bring your own chair or blanket for the event.
The Stratford Summer Music Festival continues for another couple of weeks in Stratford, and it is a great sidelight to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival or as a destination concert on its own. Still to come, you can take in a Harry Somers lecture & music event on Wednesday morning; The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra next Saturday morning, August 18th, and the regular Jazz at The Church event on August 24th featuring Jane Bunnett & the Spirits of Havana. Many more concert events are planned, so for complete listings go to www.stratfordsummermusic.ca, and for tickets you can purchase them through the site or by calling 1-866-288-4313.
There are many more musical events to come before the summer ends, many of which will be listed on the Calendar page of my website, at www.finemusic.ca. Enjoy some great music this summer!
August 11th, 2012.
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