A quartet of glamourous, gifted, and immensely versatile women will celebrate the advent of spring with a revitalizing shot of fine music at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, in the Grace United Church, Thornbury, as the Beaver Valley Concert Society (BVCS) presents the third concert in its 18th season.
The Madawaska String Quartet, featuring Sarah Fraser Raff, violin; Rebecca van der Post, violin; Anna Redekop, viola; and Amy Laing, cello, have mastered a classical repertoire from Mozart to Mahler with virtuosic flair, but have also played with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Diana Krall, K-OS, Andrea Boccheli, Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, and Anne Murray.
Equally, not many quartets have played and danced at the same time, but this has been the role of the Madawaska String Quartet, when they performed their most famous piece, catChe by the composer/choreographer team of John Gzowski and Julia Apin, at the Music Gallery in 2003.
They have done it all and have earned a reputation as trailblazers of contemporary and experimental music, while continuing their careers as classical musicians. They are also deeply committed to music education and teach workshops for the Royal Conservatory's Young Artists' Performance Academy and for the Canadian Brass' String Book series for children.
The final concert of the season, Page Two & Friends, will take place on Sunday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. For those who may have already bought tickets, or marked this concert in their calendar, we apologize for the change of time and date and hope that you can still join us.
Entitled If Music be the Food of Love, this evening will explore the eternal springtime theme of romantic love through words and music, from Shakespeare to Sondheim, performed by Garry Page and Friends. Garry and his wife Anne Marie have appeared in musical theatre in the London's West End, and Garry has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-on-Avon.
Garry and Anne Marie will be joined by soprano Jamie Ray-Farrar, and Stratford, Ontario, actor Xuan Fraser. Their programme promises a delightful bouquet of poetry and song to mark the end of winter and another successful season for the BVCS.
Subscriptions for the 2008-09 season are now available. Season tickets for next year's season are offered at substantial savings if bought in advance -- $80 for adults, $70 for seniors, $40 for students. There is a family rate of $170, for parents and children, plus a special group rate of $20 per person for parties of 10 or more. For information call 519-538-2453.
Tickets cost $25 for a single performance (students $15) and are available at a number of local outlets, (Crow's Nest, Collingwood (519-599-7361); Stuff to Read, Meaford (519-538-1662); Jessica's Book Nook, Thornbury (519-599-7361).
