The Elora Festival is pleased to announce the stellar lineup for the 2011 Festival. Now in its 32nd year, the Elora Festival runs from July 8 to 31, and brings the world of music to the scenic village of Elora.
Artistic Director Noel Edison has chosen a wide range of music for this summer, featuring our traditional classical fare, along with concerts that will appeal to younger music lovers.
With the finest local, national, and international talent, music patrons will be sure to want to join them this season.
Our opening concert features Mozart’s brilliant Symphony No. 40 in G minor, “a work full of human expressions”, as well as his beloved Requiem, “the most enigmatic pieces of music ever composed”. Guest soloists for the evening are soprano Karina Gauvin, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Enns Modolo, tenor Christopher Mayell, and baritone Matthew Cassils. The opening night festivities concluded with a reception which offers delectable samples from local restaurants and a spectacular fireworks display.
International star soprano Karina Gauvin returns for a solo recital at 2pm on Saturday July 9 in the intimate surroundings of St. John’s Church. Travel back to the golden age of swing with the big band sounds of the Spitfire Band at the Gambrel Barn at 8pm.
The Festival will feature our own Grammy nominated Elora Festival Singers in 8 performances this year including Israel in Egypt, one of Handel’s most entertaining oratorios. Other performances include the moving Passio by Arvo Pärt, the Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein, and a program of romantic works for unaccompanied choir by Strauss and Mahler. The Festival Singers will also take part in three Evensong services, and four Sunday morning services at St. John’s Church.
Guest artists this summer include the Madawaska String Quartet with Leslie Kinton, and the award winning Cecilia String Quartet. Other classical highlights include young virtuoso cellist David Eggert, and Bach’s Goldberg Variations, performed by one of the new generation of Bach interpreters, David Jalbert.
Legendary performers Michael Burgess (Les Miserables) and Rebecca Caine (Phantom of the Opera) will present the first performance of their Dream Concert, a program of Broadway classics that they will tour across North America. The 1920 silent film classic The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks will be screened with accompaniment by an instrumental ensemble, paired with a delectable offering by Sensational Elora. Two young Canadian award winning stars, Sarah Slean and Matt Dusk, join the performances for concerts at the Gambrel Barn.
Taking a break from very busy independent musical careers, our own Local Legends, singer-songwriter Gwen Swick, world-renowned celtic guitarist Tony McManus, and virtuoso guitar player Kevin Breit will spend a night in their home town to perform together at the Gambrel Barn on July 22.
For toe tapping rhythms, close harmonies and astonishing vocal techniques, few can outdo the Swingle Singers. On July 30th, this British vocal sensation will take the stage at the Gambrel Barn. For over four decades, this international a cappella phenomenon has defined the art form and thrilled audiences around the globe.
The 2011 Festival has grown since 1979 when it was a two-week event based on 16th, 17th, and 18th century music aptly named “Three Centuries Festival”. Artistic Director Noel Edison has personally overseen the changes since he began in 1983, and has also increased the scope of music to include a wide array of genres. One thing remains the same – the Elora Festival Singers is still one of the biggest draws of the Festival. Through regular concerts, recordings, broadcasts and touring, the Elora Festival Singers has established its reputation as one of the finest chamber choirs in Canada and beyond. The hallmark of the Singers’ style is their rich, warm sound and clarity of texture, as well as their ability to perform an amazing range of repertoire. With this year’s Grammy nomination, Noel and the Singers received well deserved recognition for their recording of Eric Whitacre’s choral music.
Tickets and a complete detailed concert listing for the 2011 Elora Festival is available online at www.elorafestival.com or by calling 519-846-0331 or 1-888-747-7550, or in person at the Festival office, 33 Henderson St., Elora.
