Singers Visit a Range of Songs for pro series Appearance

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BRANDON, MB — Vocal artist and School of Music faculty member David Playfair will be joined for a pro series recital by tenor Blaine Hendsbee, an associate professor at the University of Lethbridge.

With more than 50 roles in his repertoire, Hendsbee has appeared with most of the opera companies in this country and many in the United States. He has lent his voice to a variety of productions ranging from Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion to Mozart’s The Magic Flute to Orff’s Carmina Burana to world premiere performances of contemporary works. He is also in demand as a contributor in oratorios as well as a soloist in various scenarios. Hendsbee’s performances have been aired on PBS and the CBC, including the latter’s “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera”.

Having graced the stage of the Lorne Watson Recital Hall on numerous occasions, Playfair, a baritone, has also performed in venues throughout North America, including on Broadway. In his three decades of performing, he has interpreted the lead roles in many works, ranging from Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera to Débussy’s Pélleas and Mélisande. His most recent performances were in this summer’s production of the Winnipeg historical musical entitled Strike!

The programme Playfair and Hendsbeen will present includes Purcell’s Duets arranged by Britten and Finzi’s Young Man’s Exhortation — a setting of Thomas Hardy poems. As well, Playfair will give the Canadian premiere of American composer Lori Laitman’s Holocaust 1944, which will also feature bassist Crystal Tait. Additionally, Canadian folksong duets arranged by John Greer will be performed. Pianist Kara Dixon will collaborate with the vocalists for this recital as well.

The pro series performance featuring the voices of Blaine Hendsbee and David Playfair will be held at 8 p.m., on March 15, 2011 in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall, in the Queen Elizabeth II School of Music at Brandon University.

The final performance of the 2010-2011 pro series season will be part of the International Clarinet Festival, for which Chinese clarinettist Fan Lei will give a recital. That will take place at 8 p.m., on April 23, 2011.

Tickets to all pro series concerts are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, alumni and students, and $8 for Conservatory students. Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at the School of Music main office. Seating is limited and programmes are subject to change.

The pro series and the School of Music gratefully acknowledge the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and of the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant from Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

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For more information, please contact:

Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB  R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
https://www.brandonu.ca

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