Temperatures are rising with summer now here and opening night for the Elora Festival’s 2013 concert series is fast approaching.
The festival’s first week of performances opens with Verdi’s Requiem on July 12 at the Gambrel Barn in Elora.
The Elora Festival Singers team up with The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and four talented guest soloists to celebrate Verdi’s 200th anniversary and launch the Festival with a triumphant tribute.
On July 13 the acclaimed New Zealand String Quartet is bringing its interpretations of string quartet repertoire to the intimate setting of Elora’s St. John’s Church. The quartet will be performing Three Transcriptions by New Zealand composer, Jack Body.
The aptly titled piece is a quartet in three movements using transcriptions of music for Chinese jaw harp, a Madagascan zither and the music of a Bulgarian village band. Also included in the program are two quartets by Brahms: String Quartet in A minor and String Quartet in C minor.
Next on the festival itinerary, the Juno award winning Leahy take to the stage at the Gambrel Barn on July 13. With a dash of Celtic folk, a sprinkle of country, and a dollop of Hungarian fiddling, these eight brothers and sisters from the small town of Lakefield, Ontario will create foot-stomping rhythms.
Back to St. John’s Church for a July 14 performance, the Elora Festival Singers and the Festival Chamber players bring Handel’s big chorus and orchestra work Dixit Dominus and the soprano showpiece Laudete Pueri.
Also on July 14, to close the festival’s first week organizers will welcome the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra with world-famous soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian for a musical journey through the evolution of chamber works at the Gambrel Barn.
For a complete festival line-up or to purchase tickets contact 519-846-0331 or visit www.elorafestival.com.
