FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Mr. Handel” Takes the Stage to Lead WSO Sing-Along Messiah Dec. 12th and Traditional Performance Dec. 13th

Winnipeg, MB –December 4, 2014 – Renowned Canadian conductor Ivars Taurins returns to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) to conduct two versions of Handel’s Messiah: Messiah Sing-Along, Dec. 12, where the whole audience becomes part of the performance; and Taurins Conducts Messiah, Dec. 13, a traditional performance of the work.

“Taurins is a consummate Handelian, and he gives you the most of Handel’s supreme score.” – The Globe and Mail

Ivars Taurins is the founding director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and is known for conducting symphonic and choral repertoire. In 2012, he gave one of the most exhilarating Messiah concerts the WSO ever had and was immediately invited back. On Dec. 12th he will lead the WSO and Mennonite Festival Chorus in a Sing-Along version of the Messiah where the chorus will join the audience in a massive choir of over one thousand voices. On Dec. 13th Taurins will lead the WSO and Chorus in a traditional performance of the work.

Both evenings feature a cast of young up-and-coming soloists including soprano Lesley Bouza, mezzo-soprano Aidan Ferguson, baritone Geoggrey Sirett, and Winnipeg’s own tenor Justin Odwak. Expect these young singers to shine under Taurins’ inspiring leadership and up-beat approach to Handel’s classic oratorio.

Messiah

Known as the most celebrated oratorio of all time, no work in the history of music transmits the urge to want to sing more than Handel’s Messiah. The ongoing flow of beautiful arias, ensembles and magnificent choruses have made Messiah the only major Baroque work that has an unbroken performance tradition from the time of its creation to the present day.

Rumour has it that Handel confined himself to his room for just over three weeks to complete the piece. It is reported that when Handel’s assistant called to him he did not answer, so, after several minutes the worried assistant entered the room and found Handel in tears. Holding up the score to the Hallelujah Chorus, Handel said, "I thought I saw the face of God."

Messiah Sing-Along

Ivars Taurins is the creator of the Messiah Sing-Along, where he dresses like Handel and incorporates acting, comedy and story telling into the performance. The choir, in this case the Mennonite Festival Chorus, sits amongst the audience in their vocal range sections and encourages singing. Audience members don’t have to sing of course, but it’s a lot more fun if they do!

Messiah Sing-Along* Friday, December 12 – 7:30 PM Taurins Conducts Messiah Saturday, December 13 - 8:00 PM Centennial Concert Hall George Frideric Handel,* conductor; Ivars Taurins, conductor; Lesley Bouza, soprano; Aidan Ferguson, mezzo-soprano; Justin Odwak, tenor; Geoffrey Sirett, baritone; Mennonite Festival Chorus, Rudy Schellenberg & Janet Brenneman, co-directors

PRE-CONCERT PERFORMANCE Musicians in the Making on the Piano Nobile. Friday, 6:45 pm - Maples Collegiate Chamber Choir

Pre-concert chat on Saturday, December 13 on the Piano Nobile of the Centennial Concert Hall begins at 7:15 pm.

*Concert Sponsor:

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra acknowledges the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra for the use of the portative organ in tonight’s performance.

Tickets start at $29.00 on Friday, $34.60 on Saturday and are available through the WSO Box Office: 204.949.3999 or wso.ca or Ticketmaster: 1.855.985.ARTS and Ticketmaster.ca

The WSO is integral to Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 40,000 students annually and tours to communities across Manitoba.

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MEDIA CALL: Wednesday, December 10 10:15 am – 10:45 am Centennial Concert Hall; Media to arrive at back stage entrance Lily Street

MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Sarah Panas, Marketing & Communications Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 f. (204) 956-4271 e: [email protected]

SUPPORT MATERIALS - Biographies

George Frideric Handel

We are thrilled to welcome ‘George Frideric Handel’ as guest director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s Sing- Along Messiah. It was Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra that first asked Mr. Handel to take on this role 28 years ago, undaunted by the fact that he'd been dead some 227 years.

That first performance of the Sing-Along Messiah caused quite a stir in the artistic community — it marked not only Mr. Handel's Toronto debut, but also his first performance in North America. Eleven years ago Mr. Handel was invited to take the helm in a similar fashion in Calgary, and now is in pleased to add the fair city of Winnipeg to his roster.

Unlike the many crates of fine vintage claret that are a significant bargaining point in his contract, Mr. Handel has not mellowed with age, and his legendary rapier wit and fiery Saxon temper are as sharp as they were over 260 years ago.

Any resemblance of Mr. Handel to any persons living and/or dead, in particular conductor Ivars Taurins, is unintentional, but not entirely coincidental.

Ivars Taurins, conductor

Equally at home conducting symphonic or choral repertoire, Ivars Taurins is the founding director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. He was also principal violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for its first 23 years. Under his direction, the choir has been praised for its clarity, nuance and brilliance. Principal Baroque Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001-2011, Ivars also appears as guest director with orchestras and choirs across Canada, from Victoria to Halifax. His work with young musicians is also well known: he was director of the 2012 National Youth Choir, the Ontario and Nova Scotia Youth Choirs, and the London, Calgary and Nova Scotia Youth Orchestras. A passionate lecturer and teacher, Ivars Taurins teaches orchestral conducting and directs the baroque ensemble at the University of Toronto, and has been a guest teacher/conductor at universities across Canada.

His most recent recording with Tafelmusik, a live- performance recording of Handel’s Messiah (Tafelmusik Media), received widespread critical acclaim. In 2011 he was nominated for a Gemini Award for his performance as George Frideric Handel in Sing-Along Messiah, filmed by 90th Parallel Productions for Bravo! Television and released on DVD by Tafelmusik Media.

Lesley Bouza, soprano

Lesley Emma Bouza is a graduate of The University of Guelph where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in music as a saxophone major. During her time at Guelph, Lesley discovered singing and chose to pursue her post- graduate studies in voice at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales, where she earned her Artist Diploma. Lesley is a versatile singer who is equally comfortable performing jazz, classical repertoire and opera. In the past few years her accomplishments have included competing in the Ricardo Zandonai Competition in Italy where she was the recipient of the Riva del Garda Festival Prize, winning the Classical Music Consort’s Handel Competition and touring Taiwan with the Swingle Singers. Recent and upcoming engagements include performances with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Elora Festival singers and Les Violons du Roy.

Aidan Ferguson, mezzo-soprano

An Alumna of Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier Lyrique, mezzo-soprano Aidan Ferguson has joined Theater Basel in Switzerland where she appears as Nicklausse in Les Contes D’Hoffmann, the title role in the Rape Of Lucretia and Zweite Magd in Strauss’ Daphne. As a cover artist, her duties include Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte and Emilia in Otello. Aidan is pleased to be joining the Winnipeg Symphony for Messiah this year. Engagements for last season included Palmeri’s Misa A Buenos Aires at the Lanaudiere Festival in Québec, Messiah for the Edmonton Symphony, Weihnachtsoratorium for the Victoria Symphony and Dryad in Ariadne Auf Naxos for Pacific Opera Victoria. Further credits include Flora La Traviata and Marcellina in Le Nozze Di Figaro for l’Opera de Montreal, Carmela in La Vida Breve with the Toronto Symphony, and Mozart’s Requiem for Edmonton’s Pro Coro. She completed both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and has received grants from the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation.

Justin Odwak, tenor

Tenor Justin Odwak is an emerging artist in Canada's classical music scene. He has performed as soloist with organizations such as Winnipeg's premier choir, the Winnipeg Singers, Canzona, and with the Winnipeg Philharmonic choir for the 2013 Tchaikovsky Festival presented by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with the University of Manitoba singers for Soundstreams at Toronto's Koerner Hall along with the Latvian Radio Choir, and has also performed as soloist with the group for the Rocky Mountain Music Festival at the Banff Centre. He has recently made his solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in A Prairie Christmas Celebration in 2013. Justin also appeared with the Little Opera Company in Opera for Dummies last season. Upcoming and recent performances include soloist in Zalis’ I Believe with the Winnipeg Youth Choir, and in Messiah with Orchestra London, under the baton of Ivars Taurins. He is currently studying his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education at the University of Manitoba, under the direction of Mel Braun.

Geoffrey Sirett, baritone

Baritone Geoffrey Sirett continues to impress musicians and audiences in debut performances in opera, concert and recital repertoire. He recently premiered James Rolfe’s Open Road for Soundstreams and later appears in the company’s production of Brian Current’s Airline Icarus. His season also includes the Canadian Opera Company tour of Pergolesi’s La Serva Pardona and The Brothers Grimm, Bach’s Johannes Passion for Kitchener’s Grand Philharmonic, Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium for Choeur St. Laurent, Messiah for the Winnipeg Symphony and Against the Grain in Toronto, Mozart’s Krönungsmesse for the Ottawa Choral Society and Stankar in Stifellio for Voicebox: Opera in Concert.

His past season included Messiah with the Amadeus Choir, From The House Of Mirth with Coleman- Lemieux Compagnie and Zoroastro in Handel’s Orlando for Voicebox: Opera in Concert. The Kingston native is the winner of the Jim and Charlotte Song Prize and was presented in recital with pianist Martin Katz. Aspen Opera Theater Center roles include Il Conte in Le Nozze Di Figaro, Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Diesel in West Side Story. Geoffrey holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Music and Artist Diploma from the University of Western Ontario. Vagabond, a disc of English art songs with pianist Stephen Ralls is now in release.

Mennonite Festival Chorus, Rudy Schellenberg & Janet Brenneman, co-directors

The Mennonite Festival Chorus (MFC) made its debut in 1985 under the distinguished leadership of Robert Shaw, together with the WSO in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem. Following that auspicious beginning, it twice appeared at the International Choral Festival in Toronto with the TSO: in 1989 with Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis (Robert Shaw) and in 1993 with Britten’s War Requiem (). Together with the WSO, the choir has performed works by Mahler, Handel, Bach, Dvofiák, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schoenberg, Orff and Arvo Pärt. MFC is a highly select core of choristers from Winnipeg and surrounding communities, many of whom are regular members of other choirs, including those of Canadian Mennonite University.

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has the good fortune to be located in a culturally vibrant city with a history of supporting cultural and community activities with enthusiasm and discernment. The WSO has been a vital component of the community since its incorporation on February 13, 1947. The debut concert was held on December 16, 1948 in the Civic Auditorium to an audience of 3,000 with Walter Kaufmann conducting. Subscription prices for the first season of five concerts ranged from $3 to $8 with single tickets starting at $0.75.

Walter Kaufmann was the orchestra’s first music director and following him came , George Cleve, , , Bramwell Tovey, , and since 2005, . Under their guidance, the orchestra has both earned a place among the ranks of major Canadian symphony orchestras and has come to be regarded as among Canada’s most innovative. Some of the eminent soloists who have appeared with the WSO include conductors Pierre Monteux, John Barbirolli and Arthur Fiedler; violinists David Oistrakh and Itzhak Perlman; pianists Glenn Gould, Byron Janis, Gary Graffman, Leon Fleisher; singers Marilyn Horne and Maureen Forrester; cellists Zara Nelsova and Jacqueline du Pré and many others.

The WSO has toured throughout Canada, and made a first appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1979. The orchestra has worked very closely with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation since 1954 when the CBC began broadcasting portions of WSO concerts. The orchestra has released numerous recordings on the CBC label and has given thousands of national radio broadcasts since its inception. In addition to its own extensive season of concerts and educational activities, the WSO functions as the official orchestra of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Manitoba Opera Association.

The WSO has developed an international reputation for its annual New Music Festival. Founded in January 1992 by Music Director Bramwell Tovey and the WSO’s first composer-in-residence, Glenn Buhr, the New Music Festival has provided an environment rich in exploration and discovery of new works by composers from Canada and around the world. It was in the New Music Festival that programming proposed for the Spring for Music Festival was first programmed and performed for the loyal New Music Festival audiences in Winnipeg. This appearance at Carnegie Hall on May 8, 2014 was a success for the WSO artistically, financially and on a community level. Hundreds of Manitobans travelled to New York to attend the concert and the celebratory after party at The Russian Tea Room that was attended by 720 people.