more Norway
For several years I had hoped to find the opportunity to delve into Grieg's incredibly rich song repertoire; of his 181 songs for voice and piano, there are so many that could be considered among the greatest songs of the art song repertoire, yet so few are known and sung outside of Scandinavia.
These past months and in the months ahead, I finally find myself with several great opportunities for working with this repertoire! In November and December of 2014, with generous grants and community support, I did an in-depth study trip in Norway. Now, to further this study I am making another trip to Bergen to the International Grieg Society conference and workshop on Grieg's songs. I will be presenting a paper at the conference, on Grieg's setting of Henrik Ibsen's "Spillemænd", and as well I will be taking part in the song workshop, collaborating with a Japanese singer and an American singer, both of whom share my love for Grieg.
After the IGS events, I will be staying on in Bergen for some rehearsal time with Norwegian soprano, Hilde Haraldsen Sveen, in preparation for our recording project and our Ontario tour this fall, in which we will present recitals and workshops on Grieg's song repertoire.
Before I leave for this next trip, I will be presenting a recital in Stratford, on Saturday, May 23. This event is going to be partially a benefit concert for earthquake relief in Nepal. I will play a program of some of Grieg's lesser known piano music, along with a few of arrangements for oboe, bassoon, & piano as well. My great friends Donna-Claire McLeod (oboist) and Jill Solomon (bassoonist) and I used to play chamber music together in a group called Trio Roseau. May 23rd's concert will be a fun opportunity for "Trio Roseau: the Reunion!"
If you'd like to make an investment in my ongoing Grieg songs project, I am continuing the community funding initiative as outlined here - postcards and house concerts! Your interest and investment are humbly received with great gratitude.