summer festival

The 2008 festival includes: Classical Series, Jazz & Popular Series, Chamber Concerts, Evensong & Church Services, Elora Festival Singers Choral Series, Starlight Series and Community Outreach.

Join us this summer! For full concert details and ticket information please call 519.846.0331.

Classical Series

Opening Night -- Handel's Solomon

Universally recognized as one of Handel's finest masterpieces, Solomon tells a powerful and eloquent tale of morality through rapturous and dignified music. What better way to open the 29th Festival than with the Queen of Sheba's arrival!

Karina Gauvin, soprano
Robin Blaze, countertenor
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor
James Westman, baritone
Elora Festival Singers
Elora Festival Orchestra
Noel Edison, conductor

Friday, July 11, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$65

Opening Night sponsored by Tom and Nancy Laurie
Elora Festival Singers supported by Max and Maureen MacIntyre
Karina Gauvin supported by Ken and Susan Edwards
Robin Blaze supported by Peter Partridge

Pre-Concert Talk with Jef Ten Kortenaar

Friday, July 11, 2008
7:15 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
Admission Free with Concert

Kiri Te Kanawa

From Convent Garden to the Paris Opera, from the Met to an audience of over 600 million for the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Dame Kiri's natural serenity and vocal beauty have beguiled concert and opera-goers since her sensational debut in 1971. After an incredible career she embarked upon her Farewell Tour last year, taking her around the world. For her final appearances she will be appearing at three North American music festivals this summer — Wolf Trap just outside Washington D.C., Chicago's Ravinia and our own Elora Festival! What more can we say?

Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano
Brian Zeger, piano

SOLD OUT
Sunday, July 13, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$45, $60, $90,
$150 (ticket price includes a $90 Ticket and a private post-concert reception with Dame Kiri)

Sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation, the Jim and Lorna Blair Charitable
Foundation and Miller Thomson LLP. Supported by Rudy and Sandra Chiarandini in
memory of Dr. William Ellis, Founding Chair of the Three Centuries Festival.

André Laplante

French-Canadian pianist Andre Laplante has firmly established himself as one of the truly great romantic virtuosos. He is often included in an elite circle with Ashkenazy, Horowitz and Serkin, all pianists who do not hesitate to take risks. Come and experience a masterful piano performance by a Canadian master -- in Noel Edison's words, "my favourite pianist ever!"

Friday, July 18, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Trinity in the Barn

As part of a North American tour, the Choir will make its Canadian debut in the Gambrel Barn with a programme of Baltic and British music featuring English composers Britten, Walton, Purcell, and Parry, and the contemporary Latvian composer, Ugis Praulins.

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton, Director

Friday, July 25, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Destino

Three celebrated young classically-trained talents with varied musical backgrounds including opera, gospel, R&B, soul, jazz, musical theater and pop have come together as DESTINO, Canada’s newest crossover vocal sensation. From Carnegie Hall and a performance for the Pope to a #1 radio single, this trio of tenors offers pop with an opera flair ... or is that opera with a popular flair?

Leon Leontardis
Joey Niceforo
Paul Ouellette

Friday, August 1, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Jazz & Popular Series

Black Umfolosi

Often compared to Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Black Umfolosi is an internationally acclaimed multi-disciplinary performing arts group from Zimbabwe. Their engaging and energetic performances are chock-full of harmonies, mixing intricate rhythms with clicking, clapping, and even stomping! Add to this their dynamic costumed dances showcasing the traditional dancing styles and rituals of the South African regions, and you have a world-beat experience not to be missed!

Saturday, July 12, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Sponsored by Grand River Raceway

Hot Fusion

Three young jazz talents together on one stage in what we are pleased to be billing as a ‘Fusion’ concert: Amanda Martinez, performing traditional folkloric melodies of Latin jazz giants, with bossa-infused Afro-Cuban and Mexican folk stylings, Justin Hines, an exciting young singer-songwriter whose lean, contemporary sound is reminiscent of James Taylor, and Vasyl Popadiuk
(Papa Duke) fusing it all together with a gypsy violin overlay. It just has to be the hottest Barn ticket of the season!

Saturday, July 19, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Sponsored by Smith Valeriote Law Firm

Ron Sexsmith

Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith, brings simple and elegant melodies to his popular folk stylings, all the while mapping the human heart with great compassion. His introspective melodies, immersed in emotional eloquence and genuine soul, echo the music of the Beatles and Neil Young. Come to hear why this musician’s musician is so well respected by his peers and so enthralling to his audiences. Come to have a great time!

Saturday, July 26, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Sponsored by Jean Prichard
Robinson & Company

Taiko!

Toronto’s Nagata Shachu has enthralled audiences across North America and Europe for over a decade with its mesmerizing and heart-pounding performances of Japanese drumming. The Ensemble is renowned for its exacting, yet physically demanding performances and diverse repertoire. Expect an unforgettable experience that is both powerful in its expression and heartfelt in its sincerity. Will the Barn rafters still be standing at the end of the evening?

Saturday, August 2, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Chamber Series

Triple Forte

Separately as soloists, violinist Jasper Wood, cellist Yegor Dyachkov and pianist David Jalbert, three young masters of their craft, have delighted audiences around the world – together they now make up Canada’s newest chamber music asset, Triple Forte. This string trio will offer a thrilling concert experience with performances of Beethoven’s Trio opus 70 no.2 in E-flat Major, Kelly Marie Murphy’s Give Me Phoenix Wings to Fly, and Ravel’s Trio. Mark your calendars!

Jasper Wood, violin
Yegor Dyachkov, cello
David Jalbert, piano

Sunday, July 13, 2008
4:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Duo Affinité

Individually, Nadina Mackie Jackson and Guy Few have performed as soloists and principals with orchestras throughout North America and at festivals worldwide.  This summer these two engaging virtuosos will join forces to present an innovative afternoon recital for trumpet, corno, bassoon and piano. Their commitment to exploring repertoire from the Baroque to the present will be evident in their renditions of the music of Paganini, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Von Weber and others.

Guy Few, trumpet, corno and piano
Nadina Mackie Jackson, bassoon

Saturday, July 19, 2008
2:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Die Shöne Müllerin

During the 19th century, poetry was often set to music in the Lieder style by German Romantic composers and presented as single multi-movement works called "song cycles." Arguably one of the most famous is Schubert's setting of Wilhelm Müller’s Die Schöne Müllerin. We welcome you to join us on a lovely summer afternoon to experience the sublimity of “The Lovely Maid of the Mill”.

Colin Ainsworth, tenor
James Bourne, piano

Saturday, July 19, 2008
4:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Harp Connections

An accomplished and innovative harpist, recording artist and composer, Sharlene Wallace will shake your belief that harp music has only one kind of sound. As she explores and crosses the boundaries of Celtic, South American and contemporary genres, she takes both the traditional and Celtic harps to places that give new meaning to the instruments of angels.

Sharlene Wallace, harps
Susan Piltch, flute, piano
Adrian Dolan, accordion, fiddle
Kevin Muir, bass

Sunday, July 20, 2008
4:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Vivaldi and his Secret Bride

Whenever one of Antonio Vivaldi’s operas was performed on tour, a particular soprano was always among the cast. Rumour spread quickly that she was the composer’s secret bride and confirmed in the public’s mind that the two were living in sin. Renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music, Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice will re-enact that musical era by performing the early music of Vivaldi, Sammartini, Handel, Caldara and Bach. Music can definitely be a risky business…

Ensemble Caprice
Marie Magistry, soprano

Sunday, July 27, 2008
4:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Matthew Larkin Organ Recital

Matthew Larkin has appeared as an organ recitalist throughout North America and Europe, and has been featured on Canadian, American, and British public radio. He has recorded extensively, both as accompanist and director to some of Canada's finest church and concert choirs, including our own Elora Festival Singers. A frequent visitor to this corner of the world from Ottawa, where he is Organist and Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral and the Director of the Ottawa Choral Society, we’re happy to welcome him to this year’s Festival for a mid-week recital of organ music of the Romantic Era.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008
5:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$20

Sponsored by The Co-operators

A Celebration of Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams is arguably the greatest composer Britain has seen since the days of Henry Purcell. In a long and extensive career, he composed music notable for its power, nobility and expressiveness, representing the voice and essence of 'Englishness'. Under the direction of James Mason, the Elora Festival Chamber Players will perform a series of three Thursday evening chamber concerts in a retrospective celebration of his music in this, the 50th anniversary year of his death. Different combinations of instrumentalists and vocalists will perform thematically linked repertoire by both Vaughan Williams and the composers who greatly influenced his work. Guest artists with the Elora Festival Chamber Players will include Kimberly Barber, soprano, members of the Elora Festival Singers and various instrumentalists. With the help of commentary by Jef Ten Kortenaar, you’re sure to gain insight into Vaughan Williams’ world.

RVW – Early Influences

Music of Max Bruch, Frederick Delius, Maurice Ravel and Vaughan Williams

Kimberly Barber, soprano

Thursday, July 17, 2008,
7:30 p.m.
Knox Presbyterian Church
$35

RVW – Vaughan Williams’ London

Music of Benjamin Britten, Gustav Holst and Vaughan Williams

Thursday, July 24, 2008,
7:30 p.m.
Knox Presbyterian Church
$35

RVW – Vocal Music

Vaughan Williams’ music set to the poetry of A. E. Housman, William Blake and
William Shakespeare

Thursday, July 31, 2008,
7:30 p.m.
Knox Presbyterian Church
$35

Sponsored by The Co-operators

Evensong & Church Services

Evensong

The office of Evensong Prayer is a model of liturgy, biblical imagery and poetic language. Little wonder composers have been attracted to the choral possibilities of Evensong from the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II. Join us on Thursday evenings throughout the Festival.

Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, conductor

6:00 p.m., St. John's Church
Freewill Offering

Thursday, July 17, 2008 (Michael Bloss, Organ)
Thursday, July 24, 2008 (Michael Bloss, Organ)
Thursday, July 31, 2008 (Matthew Larkin, Organ)

Sunday Morning Services

Join the Elora Festival Singers, Noel Edison and special guest organists on Sunday mornings during the Festival.

11:00 a.m., St. John's Church
Freewill Offering
July 13, 20, 27 and August 3

Choral Series

Elora Festival Singers Choral Series

The Canada Council for the Arts has acclaimed the Elora Festival Singers as one of the finest Chamber Choirs in Canada. Founded by Noel Edison in 1980 as the principal vocal ensemble for the Elora Festival, its activities include summer residency at the Festival, a Winter Series in Elora and Toronto, and touring across Canada and the United States, most recently in 2007 to Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. The Singers record regularly, with twelve releases on the international Naxos label. Since 1997, the Elora Festival Singers have formed the professional core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

Elora Festival & Singers sponsored by The Co-operators
Noel Edison sponsored by Deloitte

Bach to Bach

J. S. Bach, master of the baroque, drew upon some of the finest movements in his own cantatas for the Four Shorter Masses, or Missae Breves. The choir will perform two of these Lutheran masses with their very simple yet very beautiful chorale melodies: the Mass No. 3 in G minor and Mass No. 4 in G Major. Though neither well known nor often recorded, these splendid little gems are powerful works in their own right - ornate, florid, supplicating and always to the rhythm of a dance.

Elora Festival Singers
Elora Festival Chamber Players
Noel Edison, conductor

Sunday, July 13, 2008
2:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church
$35

Sponsored by Spaenaur, The Co-operators and Deloitte

Paradise Rediscovered

After last summer’s compelling Paradise Found choral concert, the Elora Festival Singers present its sequel, Paradise Rediscovered, with equally sublime a cappella music. Come experience the plaintive melodies of Poulenc’s Mass in G, a choral transcription of the Adagietto from Mahler’s 5th symphony, surely the most beautiful music he ever set to paper, and the dazzling dissonance of Eric Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine. Come rediscover Paradise!

Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, conductor

Sunday, July 20, 2008
2:00 p.m.
St. John's Church
$35

Please Note: this concert has been moved to St. Mary's Church.

Sponsored by Spaenaur, The Co-operators and Deloitte

Double Double

This afternoon brings together two fine choirs in a programme of music written for double chorus, combining intensely personal moments of fervent contemplation with outbursts of overwhelming glory. In this 50th anniversary year of Ralph Vaughan William’s death, we are pleased to be presenting his gothic Mass in G minor as part of this programme. Come experience choral splendour in our rural cathedral – the Gambrel Barn.

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton, director
Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, director

Sunday, July 27, 2008
2:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$38

Sponsored by Scotiabank

Broadway Bound

Noel Edison and the Elora Festival Singers unite with composer/conductor David Warrack at the keyboard in a magical tour of the masters of musical theatre.  From Kern, Berlin and Gershwin, to Rogers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe; from Bernstein and Sondheim to Mel Brooks – this and more will all be part of the magic. Join the tour and experience the laughter, beauty, joy and excitement of Broadway at its best.

David Warrack, piano
Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, director

Saturday, August 2, 2008
2:00 p.m.
St. John's Church
$35

New Venue!
Due to the overwhelming demand for this event, we have moved Broadway Bound to the GAMBREL BARN.
If you have already purchased tickets, please contact the office so we may exchange them for your tickets at the new venue. Current ticket holders will be given comparable seating. We are sorry for any inconvience!

Hymn Tasting

The Elora Festival ends with a programme of glorious music from many periods in the history of the church. Featuring the Elora Festival Singers and with informative commentary from Rev. Patrick Patterson and Canon Robert Hulse, this programme will also include a newly commissioned work by Peter Tiefenbach.

Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, director

Sunday, August 3, 2008
2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$35

Sponsored by RLB

Starlight Series – Jazz Divas

This year our Starlight Series will focus on three jazz singers who deserve their growing reputations as among Canada’s best, and plays host to these great talents in the Gambrel Barn, newly transformed into an indoor - outdoor cabaret for three evenings in July. Refreshments will be available through the courtesy of some of Elora’s fine restaurants -The Desert Rose, Alex’s, The Dragonfly and 13 Mill Street. Come spend your Thursday nights with the summer stars!

Laila Biali

Pianist, composer and singer Laila Biali is taking the jazz world by storm. Her sultry alto is perfect for jazz standards and her way with the ivories is simply mesmerizing. Comparisons to Diana Krall are inevitable, but we think you will find Biali even more compelling.

Laila Biali, piano and vocals
George Koeller, bass
Larnell Lewis, drums

Thursday, July 17, 2008
9:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$20

Sponsored by The Ostic Group

Elizabeth Shepherd

There are times when someone new comes along who is at once familiar and yet completely original - Elizabeth Shepherd is that someone. Pushing the boundaries of conventional jazz, she has created her own unique blend of jazz-funk, soul, blues and samba. The music making comes straight from her soul and will remain in yours long after the evening is over.

Elizabeth Shepherd, piano and vocals
Scott Kemp, bass
Colin Kingsmore, drums

Thursday, July 24, 2008
9:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$20

Sponsored by The Ostic Group

Sophia Perlman and the Vipers

Sophia Perlman is a Canadian vocal treasure. From opera to musical theatre to jazz, she does it all with style. She has performed with the Toronto All-Star Big Band, the Top Brass Orchestra and the Swing Gang and has charmed audiences in Germany, India and the United States. Her Starlight show was rained out last year and we heard only a smattering of what she is capable – come hear why we have asked her back!

Sophia Perlman, vocals
Howard Moore, trumpet
Pat Carey, saxophone
Robi Botos, piano
Mitch Lewis, guitar
Terry Wilkins, bass
Jeff Halischuk, drums

Thursday, July 31, 2008
9:00 p.m.
Gambrel Barn
$20

Sponsored by The Ostic Group

Community Outreach

Handel’s Solomon – Open Rehearsal

We welcome the community to sit in on the final rehearsal of the Opening Night concert and see that making magic takes a lot of hard work. But practice does make perfect!

Friday, July 11, 2008
Gambrel Barn
3:00 p.m.
$5

Fair in the Square

Main stage performances on the street by the Sultans of String, Junkyard Symphony and the Elora Festival Singers - buskers, clowns and magicians roaming the heart of the village – hands on arts and craft activities for children - African drumming and musical playgrounds - this will be a day of free family fun that you won’t want to miss! Offered in cooperation with the Elora Centre for the Arts, the Elora merchants and Elora Fergus Tourism.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Metcalfe Street and Mill Street West
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free

Festival Kids Camp

Our Festival Kids spend a full week learning about singing, acting, choreography, and building and painting sets as they prepare to perform in a musical theatre production. The camp runs from July 14–18 for children 8–13 years, and culminates with the performance on Friday afternoon. No previous experience is necessary and space is limited. Please contact the Box Office for registration details.

Registration: Thursday, May 15, 2008
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Elora Festival Office, 33 Henderson St.
$125 (plus $10 refundable deposit for score)

Performance: Friday, July 18, 2008
4:00 p.m.
Elora Public School
$5

Festival Kids Camp is made possible by a grant from the Township of Centre
Wellington and the support of Ken and Marilyn Murray

TD Canada Trust Young Performers Competition

FINAL ROUND

The Elora Festival encourages and promotes young musicians on the threshold of professional careers by offering strong competition, assessment by informed judges, financial support and the opportunity to perform in a major festival. In this final round of a three-step competition, cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 are awarded to the top three finalists, with the winner receiving a future engagement with the Elora Festival. Come hear the sounds of tomorrow and help choose the recipient of the Kathleen Deters Audience Favourite Award.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
8:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
Adults $15

Sponsored by TD Canada Trust Music

Conductors’ Workshop

Discover what happens before the baton rises in this 90-minute workshop. Three aspiring conductors will work with Noel Edison and Stephen Layton and their two world-renowned choirs – an outreach initiative of the Elora Festival.

Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Stephen Layton, director
Elora Festival Singers
Noel Edison, director
Ross Inglis, piano

Saturday, July 26, 2008
12:00 p.m.
St. John’s Church
$15

Jef Ten Kortenaar

Jef Ten Kortenaar wears many hats. Not only is he a teacher, youth orchestra conductor and member of the Emperor String Quartet, he is building a fine reputation as a musicologist and speaker. He is a frequent guest on CBC Radio 2 and with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. Jef will generously share his knowledge for the Opening Night Concert and the Vaughan Williams chamber series-- we guarantee informative and entertaining talks that will definitely heighten your enjoyment.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008

For the 2007 Summer Festival's programme and calendar of events please click here.