UNews - Recital Hall

Summer Vocal workshop concerts on tap

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:30:08 +0000

The first of two season-ending concerts is on tap this weekend when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Intensive Summer Vocal workshops present Summer Serenade on Saturday, Aug. 14.

This concert caps off the Teen Program component of the Intensive Summer Vocal workshop. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Recital Hall (W570), Summer Serenade tickets are priced at $10 each and are available at the door. Tickets can also be reserved in advance by calling Breeanne Fuller at 403-329-2304.

On Saturday, Aug. 21, also at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, the Senior Program concludes with the presentation of Three's Company. This concert will feature vocal trios, and tickets are similarly priced at $10 each.

Snap, Crackle, Pop explodes on the 2010 scene

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:03:05 +0000

The new year comes in with a bang at the U of L Art Gallery as Snap, Crackle, Pop opens with a reception on Friday, Jan. 15, at 4 p.m. in the U of L Main Gallery.

This contemporary group exhibition, curated by Gallery Director/Curator Dr. Josephine Mills, showcases the work of past and present southern Alberta artists who explore the iconography, materials and visual aesthetic of popular culture.

The works Mills has chosen for the exhibition are light-hearted and accessible, while also calling to mind current events as portrayed by modern media.

"There are disaster-inspired and macabre themes throughout the works, but with element of optimism," explains Mills. "We live in a world surrounded by doom and gloom – from the economy to global warming – but the artists in this exhibition find optimism through playing with pop culture."

The exhibit includes work by U of L alumni Shanell Papp and Len Komanac.

"Shanell works with fabric and textiles and this exhibition features her embroidered life-size human skeletons and crocheted blood-pools," says Mills. "Len's pieces depict four disasters in a trailer park such as a giant squid rising from a kiddy-pool to angry trees seeking revenge for chopping one of their own into firewood."

"Art duo Dave & Jenn create fantastic landscapes by layering paint within acrylic resin and by drawing inspiration from the Group of Seven's famous imagery," she adds.

Dave & Jenn will give a talk in Art NOW on Jan. 15 at noon in the Recital Hall.

Other featured works include Christopher Moore's sculptures of military paraphernalia covered in hot pink flocking and Lisa Brawn's highly stylized woodcarvings of Canadian icons and macho men. A series of paintings entitled Erstaz Bats by Jason Mathis references both comic book culture and pop art's devotion to multiples; each panel depicts one of Mathis' friends, dressed in a Batman costume.

Snap, Crackle, Pop is on display in the U of L Main Gallery and Helen Christou Gallery from Jan. 15 through Feb. 26. The Main Gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.

Opera Goes to the Movies this weekend in Recital Hall

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:33:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Faculty of Fine Arts presents a unique twist on opera this weekend as it celebrates 10 years of the Opera Workshop. Opera Goes to the Movies runs Friday and Saturday nights at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall.

"Opera Workshop is celebrating its 10th anniversary this season," says musical director and Music faculty, Dr. Blaine Hendsbee. "This is an exciting and challenging season for us because of the number and variety of productions we are producing this year."

In addition to Opera Goes To the Movies (Oct. 23-24), Hendsbee and company will present Amahl and the Night Visitors (Dec. 5-6) and Dialogue of the Carmelites (Feb. 26- 27).

"I try to choose themes for our performances that are appropriate for students and that audiences can relate to," says Hendsbee. "Our first production, Opera Goes To The Movies, is a musical potpourri of operatic styles and themes from high drama to lighter comedic moments."

Challenging repertoire and lyrical melodies merge, creating an uplifting and varied program. Shows run Friday and Saturday, nightly at 8 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall.

"A lot of movies emphasize key moments in the script with famous opera repertoire such as La Boheme in Moonstruck or excerpts from Madame Butterfly in Fatal Attraction," he says.

Audiences can also look forward to familiar classics such as the Flower Duet, O Mio Babbino Caro and selections from The Marriage of Figaro and La Traviata. Charming, elegant and enlightening, Opera Goes To The Movies is first-class entertainment, something Opera Workshop audiences have come to expect over the past 10 years.

Tickets are $15 regular, $10 student/senior and on sale at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office (403-329-2616), open weekdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Vocal Experience at Recital Hall

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:09:48 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Recital Hall will come alive with the sounds of music Saturday as the Southern Alberta Vocal Experience will conclude its two-week study program with a public performance.

The Southern Alberta Vocal Experience program, conducted by the U of L's Department of Music, hosts 17 to 21-year old singers from across the country for a two-week study program.

Under the direction of artistic director Dr. Blaine Hendsbee, participants from across Canada develop skills in the primary areas of vocal study, including solo repertoire, choral literature and staged works from musical theatre, operetta and opera. The focus is intensive, one-on-one training with faculty in private voice lessons, coaching and master classes. Additionally, classes are offered in movement, lyric diction, acting techniques and stage make up.

The program culminates with Saturday's public performance, 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, W570. Tickets are priced at $10 and are available at the door, or in the Conservatory of Music office (W850, 403-329-2304).

Recital hall to host Windy Mountain Festival

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:42:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Recital Hall will welcome a bona fide "festival" when the Windy Mountain Music Festival kicks off its concert series here, Thursday, May 28.

Celebrating works by composers of the past and executed by musicians and performers of the present, Windy Mountain promises a variety of music and musicians across a variety of locations.

The Recital Hall is a new venue this year, hosting the first concert of the series. A pre-concert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. with the concert to follow at 8 p.m. An opportunity to meet the musicians follows the concert.

"We chose the U of L Recital Hall for the first performance for two reasons," says Gerard Gibbs, general manager, Windy Mountain Music Festival. "It is the finest recital space in the city of Lethbridge and it's also home to the Faculty of Fine Arts, a new partner in the music festival. The hall holds 200 guests, and we are sure you will agree it is a great fit to showcase the hard work and dedication of the performers featured at the festival."

The concert in the Recital Hall is entitled Glass Reflections and includes music from Italian composer Nino Rota, a work by American composer Phillip Glass (performed by special guests the Smith Quartet), a Rondeau for Glass Harmonica, violins, viola, cello and bass and music by Schubert.

The second and third concerts in the series allow patrons to take a step back in time, as they will be held in Fort Macleod's Empress Theatre.

"This venue is the province's oldest operating theatre, and is at the heart of Fort Macleod," says Gibbs. "Be sure to notice many of the original features from the past exhibited throughout the building while enjoying works performed by the wonderful guest performers of today."

The fourth concert, at the Anglican Christ Church of Fort Macleod, honours the rich history of southern Alberta with an inspirational piece written as a tribute to the life of Jerry Potts by composer Allen Bell. Throughout the performance, author Fred Stenson will also recite segments from his written work on the life of Jerry Potts.

The festival closes at a third new venue, Christ Church Elbow Park in Calgary.

"As a member of the Calgary classical music community, I've had the opportunity to perform in Christ Church Elbow Park numerous times and I'm very pleased we were able to add this as our final venue of the festival. Aside from being one of the most outstanding acoustic spaces in the city, it is located in a serene neighborhood that you might think is an extension of our customary rural settings," says Gibbs.

A Festival Pass for all five concerts is priced at $98, while tickets for individual performances are $26 for regular admission and $12 for students. To purchase tickets, call toll free 800-540-9229, or locally 403-553-4404 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.windymountain.ca

UNews - Recital Hall

Summer Vocal workshop concerts on tap

Related Topics

Snap, Crackle, Pop explodes on the 2010 scene

Related Topics

Opera Goes to the Movies this weekend in Recital Hall

Related Topics

Vocal Experience at Recital Hall

Related Topics

Recital hall to host Windy Mountain Festival

Related Topics