ELORA – With opening night fast approaching, it’s time to get tickets for the Elora Festival, that runs over three weekends from July 5 to 20.
The box office has been very busy and pre-sale tickets have been strong, officials state.
And the production crew is preparing the Gambrel Barn – the principal venue for the festival – for audiences beginning July 5.
The glorious sounds of Haydn’s The Creation opens this year’s festival.
Haydn’s masterpiece will feature Canadian soloists Claire de Sévigné, Isaiah Bell and Tyler Duncan, the Elora Singers and musicians of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, under the direction of Mark Vuorinen.
Ensemble-in-Residence, the Elora Singers perform in 10 additional concerts including a program featuring the music of Benjamin Britten, a candle-lit twilight program of music for the end of day, a tribute to the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach and the always popular, Unplugged!
The Elora Singers also collaborate with guest ensembles Constantinople, Corsican singing group A Filetta, and Juno-winner Laila Biali.
British a cappella sensation, The King’s Singers, make their only Canadian stop for a concert on July 7.
The Gryphon Trio and clarinetist James Campbell will give a performance of one of the most significant pieces of 20th century chamber music Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.
And star cellist, Cameron Crozman has invited several A-list friends to perform chamber music by Gabriel Fauré.
Family programming
Family programming this year includes a performance of Shoestring Opera’s The Magic Flute and a return of the Elora Festival Barn Dance with the Barrel Boys and the Elora Singers.
“Music in the Woods,” an early morning hike with musical performances by the Elora Singers and instrumentalists, starts the day on July 11.
Free programming
Free programming includes the “Music in the Village” series in the Village Green Space, beginning on July 5 with a performance by the University of Waterloo Balinese Gamelan Ensemble.
The Elora Festival website has a full list of dates and times of free programming.
45th birthday
This year’s festival closes on July 20 with a joint birthday party for the Elora Festival and Festival of the Sound (Parry Sound), both of which are celebrating their 45th anniversaries this year.
A bombastic performance of Carmina Burana will feature soloists Leslie Fagan, Andrew Haji and Russell Braun, piano duo James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton, percussionists led by Beverley Johnston, the Elmer Iseler Singers and, of course, the Elora Singers.
The following day, the concert will be repeated at Parry Sound’s Festival of the Sound.
A full listing of the Elora Festival program can be found at elorafestival.ca.
Artistic Director Mark Vuorinen:
“We look forward to welcoming you to more than twenty concerts at this year’s Elora Festival,” says artistic director Mark Vuorinen.
“Beautiful music abounds at the Elora Festival with performances from guest artists Constantinople, The King’s Singers, the Gryphon Trio and more.”
“We are so grateful to our sponsors, donors and government funders for their vital support to bring great music and musicians from around the world to the village,” said board chair Julie Wilson.
“We are looking forward to connecting with our loyal patrons again this summer, as we also welcome new audience members to the Elora Festival. Join us – your seats are waiting!”
Tickets for the 2024 Elora Festival are on sale now at www.elorafestival.ca or by calling the box office at (519) 846-0331 from Monday to Friday, between 10am and 3pm.
