Prairie Debut 2008-2009 Season

Download 2008-2009 Brochure [PDF ~2MB]

TOUR #1

Les Boréades de Montréal

Baroque music ensemble Les Boréades de Montréal imparts a rare sense of vivaciousness and freedom to every piece it performs. Founded by Francis Colpron (recorder, baroque flute) in 1991, Les Boréades plays on period instruments using period techniques. Critics and audiences alike in Canada and abroad have been unanimous in hailing the group’s energy and spontaneity as well as its theatrical, expressive and elegant playing, indicative of a unique flair for Baroque aesthetics.

Each year, Les Boréades gives a series of concerts at Montréal’s historic Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours chapel with international guest artists including Skip Sempé, Nathaniel Watson, Mark Bleek and Karina Gauvin. The group has toured extensively in Canada and Europe, taking part in several renowned festivals. The musicians have performed also at the Frick Collection (New York), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), the Salle Gaveau (Paris), the Vancouver Festival, Musikfest Bremen and at the Alter Musik Festival in Regensburg.

In 1999, Les Boréades won the Conseil québécois de la musique’s ‘Prix Opus for best performance of the 1998-1999 season’ as well as the prize for Best Recording of the Year in Early and Classical Music. The ensemble boasts 15 recordings on the ATMA label featuring artists such as Hervé Niquet, Skip Sempé, Manfredo Kraemer, Alex Weimann, Eric Milnes and Karina Gauvin. In 2006, the Hyver recording with Karina Gauvin was nominated for a JUNO award for Best Classical album of the year: Vocal or Choral performance and is also nominated for an award at the ADISQ gala (Quebec’s equivalent to the JUNOs).
Les Boréades de Montréal – indulge in Baroque elegance and boldness!


“They would be irresistible even if they were not top-notch instrumental virtuosi. But they are. And more. The ensemble itself is virtuosic. Together they play with the kind of freedom with the style you would expect from a soloist. They are effortless, relaxed and cultivated to such a degree of perfection each is a flowering branch on the same tree”. - The Vancouver Sun

“Les Boréades revived these short pieces in grand fashion. Such variety, such dynamism in a cleverly crafted programme …” - Ottignies (Belgique)

www.boreades.com
www.bmuse.ca

Les Boréades de Montréal is represented by bmuse, Montreal, Quebec.

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Les Boréades de Montréal will tour with Prairie Debut in October/November 2008.

Showcase Performance

 

TOUR #2

Allen Harrington, saxophone and David Moroz, piano

A native of Saskatoon, Allen Harrington is one of Canada’s leading young saxophonists.

In November 2006, he became the first Canadian and only the second North American to ever reach the final round of the International Adolphe Sax Competition, the world’s most important competition for saxophonists. He finished fourth from a field of 144 of the finest young saxophonists in the world. The competition is held once every four years in Dinant, Belgium - the birthplace of the saxophone’s inventor. He has also won two of Canada’s most prestigious competitions, taking First Prize at the 2004 International Stepping Stone Competition, as well as the Grand Award at the 1999 National Music Festival of Canada.

Last season Allen Harrington made his solo debut with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, and next season he will be guest soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and Thunder Bay Symphony. In 2006, his performances took him to the United States, Slovenia and Belgium, and in February of 2007 he gave a 7-concert recital tour of Atlantic Canada under the auspices of the Debut Atlantic series.

Presently, Harrington is the youngest faculty member at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Music, where he teaches saxophone, bassoon and chamber music.

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A graduate of the Juilliard School, Winnipeg-born pianist David Moroz enjoys a career as one of Canada’s most versatile artists. As a soloist he has performed in every major Canadian city, and as a collaborative artist he appears regularly in recital with Canada’s most distinguished musicians. Twice nominated for Manitoba’s Artist of the Year, he is a frequent guest of CBC Radio and is a veteran performer at Canada’s most important music festivals. He has performed for the Governor General of Canada, and was a featured soloist in a Celebratory Concert marking the Golden Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which was performed in her presence and telecast live across Canada. In the 2003-2004 season he gave a 17-concert tour of Western Canada with violinist Erika Raum under the auspices of Prairie Debut.

David Moroz was awarded a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Montréal, and holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the celebrated Juilliard School in New York City. He has been Artistic Director of The Winnipeg Chamber Music Society since 1987, and served as Assistant Program Director for Music & Sound at The Banff Centre from 1995-99. He was appointed to the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Music in 1999, where he heads the Piano Department, and teaches piano, piano repertoire and chamber music. He also serves as Coordinator of the Piano Department at The Morningside Music Bridge, an international summer program featuring the finest young violinists, cellists and pianists from across Canada, China, the United States and Europe.

David Moroz made his debut in Shanghai in the summer of 2006, performing a recital with the acclaimed American cellist Lynn Harrell and the Dvorak quintet with the Shanghai String Quartet. Most recently, he made his debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, performing as solo pianist in Alexander Scriabine’s legendary score Prometheus.

In order to present as much variety as possible for the audience, Allen Harrington and David Moroz have designed a program that not only features duos for the artists, but also includes works that spotlight the soprano saxophone, alto saxophone and solo piano in turn.

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Allen Harrington, saxophone and David Moroz, piano will tour with Prairie Debut in Manitoba throughout the 2008/09 season and in Saskatchewan and Alberta in February 2009.

Showcase Performance

 

TOUR #3

Bellows & Brass

Bellows & Brass is a trio comprised of three of Canada's most successful soloists: Guy Few (trumpet, piano), Joseph Petric (accordion) and Eric Vaillancourt (trombone).

A powerful and engaging ensemble, Bellows and Brass have performed for series and festivals including Community Concerts USA, Debut Atlantic Encore, Chappelle de Bon Pasteur, Festival of the Sound, and The Winnipeg Contemporary Music Festival. Individually these three artists have been invited to perform as concerto soloists throughout North America including the Orchestra of Saint Lukes, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A concerto written for the trio by Boyd McDonald was debuted with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 2006.

Bellows and Brass make music that is challenging, pleasing and above all-fun. Their concerts have been described as “vividly emotional ... passionate ... a revelation.”

For their Prairie Debut tour, Bellows & Brass will be presenting SONG AND DANCE, an event that is not to be missed! Stunning tangos blend with opera inspired and traditional repertoire. An evening of musical fire works!!

FEATURING:

THE PERFECT CAKE - Bellows and Brass present their tongue-in-cheek take on romantic opera, enacted by “instrument-sock puppets”. Includes music by Puccini, Wagner, Verdi and Strauss, put to purposes the composers never imagined in their wildest dreams!!

"buoyant showmanship" - Globe & Mail

"... superb ... eye popping playing" - American Record Guide

"... astounding ... their engaging sense of humour appealed to all ..." - Peterborough Examiner

www.greatconcerts.com

Bellows & Brass is represented by Richard Paul Concert Artists, Toronto ON.

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Bellows & Brass will tour with Prairie Debut in January/February 2009.

Showcase Performance

CONTACT Event Showcase Performances

Prairie Debut will participate at the following western Canada provincial Showcase CONTACT events with Showcasing artists and participation in the CONTACT Room.

Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta Showcase 2007

Les Boréades de Montréal will showcase in Banff AB on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the Eric Harvie Theatre at the Banff Centre.

Manitoba Arts Network Manitoba Showcase CONTACT

Allen Harrington, saxophone with David Moroz, piano will showcase in Thompson, MB on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 7:30PM in the Letkemann Theatre at R.D.Parker Collegiate.

OSAC Saskatchewan Showcase of the Arts

Bellows & Brass will showcase in Lloydminster, SK on Saturday, October 27, 2006 at 9:40PM in the Vic Juba Community Theatre at Lakeland College.