I Concentrate on You:
An Intimate Evening of Song

with:
Janet Catherine Dea (soprano)
Brahm Goldhamer (piano)

The song recital is an intimate musical event of a bygone era, before the days of amplification, large halls and over blown productions. Our artists breath new life into this genre by presenting works where both the text and accompaniment weave together to create musical miniatures, each one greater than the sum of its parts.

The program opens with the aria “Se Pieta” from Handel’s opera Giulio Cesare. This sad lament, sung by Cleopatra after her lover, Cesare, has gone off to war, is sublimely evocative. Its beautiful melodic lines both in the vocal part and accompaniment set the tone for the evening.

Picking up a thread from Muzent Productions’ previous concert In the Mandarin’s Orchid Garden, Dea and Goldhamer are again including songs by Austrian Impressionist Joseph Marx. This little known composer is only now beginning to gain much deserved attention due in part to recent recordings and performances by Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson. The second half of the program will feature songs by composers who set their own lyrics to music. Of Claude Debussy’s many songs Proses Lyriques are unique in that they are the only ones in which the composer also penned the words. Miss Dea commented: “Debussy had been quite taken with the French symbolist poets and in this cycle he attempted his hand at their style. Critics have not always agreed about the success of the poetry but there is no doubt that the songs as a whole are very effective.” And noted Mr. Goldhamer: “The vocal sweep is almost operatic and the dense `orchestral’ writing seems to have been influenced by his recent visit to Bayreuth where he would have been immersed in Wagner’s music.”

Rounding out the program we come full circle from 17th century Europe to 20th century Broadway, with a selection of songs by Cole Porter. He partnered intelligent and witty lyrics with sophisticated music that continues to be entertaining and popular. In addition to our title song “I Concentrate on You,” Porter fans will enjoy the classic “Love for Sale” and other gems.

8:00 Saturday, May 14, 2005
at the Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto
Tickets: $25.00 available in advance and at the door
Call (416) 429-4502 or email muzentproductions@sympatico.ca

We recommend you order your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Muzent Productions’ last concert was sold out.