In the Mandarin’s Orchid Garden
After a long cold winter, an evening of art song to welcome and celebrate spring with the beauty, symbolism, and mystery of flowers.

Starring: Janet Catherine Dea (soprano) and Brahm Goldhamer (piano)

A program presenting musical gems from well known and beloved composers for the voice (Mozart, Richard Strauss) and songs from others (Serge Rachmaninoff and Joseph Marx) who are, only recently, receiving much deserved attention.  Soprano, Janet Catherine Dea, and pianist Brahm Goldhamer will perform an eclectic program of delightful vocal music that ushers in spring with songs full of the exquisite beauty and sensuality of flowers. Mozart’s joyful Exsultate Jubilate opens the program and sets the tone for the evening.  In Richard Strauss’s Mädchenblumen, set to the poems of Felix Dahn, each song describes a different flower as a loving portrait of a young maiden each casting her own heartbreaking spell.  Joseph Marx, who came to be known as the Austrian impressionist, through his very successful songs, written mostly 1906 and 1916, set poems to many of the most distinguished poets of his day.  Dea and Goldhamer have chosen a selection, by a number of these poets, which artfully show how flowers follow us through our life from innocent first love and the bliss of young lovers, through the wistfulness of old age, finally to adorn us in death.  Rachmaninoff, too, wrote songs in which flowers figured prominently; the program includes his beautiful “Lilacs” and the hauntingly evocative “Vocalise.”  An English group rounds out the concert featuring audience favourites “Roses from Tyrol” and the World War One hit “Roses of Picardy.”

Janet Catherine Dea, Artistic Director of Muzent Productions, Toronto’s newest and most exciting arts presenter commented:

“We are committed to promoting and supporting rising Canadian and local Toronto performing artists with an emphasis on the vocal chamber music literature.  We are overwhelmed by the initial support of individuals and the business community we have received thus far.  Our major sponsor Bequia Marketing came on board at the outset to help get this project off the ground.  And Music Authority, a long time supporter of local musicians, will be handling ticket sales.  Look for the next concert in our series which will be held in October 2004.” 

8:00 Saturday, April 17, 2004 at the Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto
Tickets: $25.00