Please click here to view the 2010 guide. - Stratford Summer Music

poster designed by jay wilson | july 23 – august 3, 20032003Stratford Summer Music produced its first Guide in a magazine format andreceived a huge boost of credibility and attention from audiences and nationalmedia when tenor Ben Heppner performed four sold-out concerts in the CityHall Auditorium. Stratford Festival stars such as Lucy Peacock, Kyle Blair, ScottWentworth and Michael Therriault began to take part in the “late-night” cabaretswhich eventually softened their image by changing their name to “after theatre”cabarets at The Church Restaurant in order to attract more patrons. Norway’sOslo String Quartet and Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Symphony were two distinctlydifferent but equally entertaining ensembles. Ulrich Böhme, a Bach specialistfrom the great composer’s own Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig,Germany, was the featured organist. A young Canadian bass-baritone who wouldsoon astound the classical world of opera, Robert Gleadow, sang a recital in theMaureen Forrester series. The Perth County Pipe Band played the final concert onthe MusicBarge, beginning a tradition which continues to this day with pipes anddrums to close the free outdoor concerts.10 greatyears!2004poster designed by jay wilson | july 21 – august 1, 2004 >Violins, violas and cellos took centre stage this summer with the arrival offour historic instruments played by members of the Smithsonian Quartet fromWashington and the delivery of four brand new instruments created in our owncity by a recently arrived Stratfordite, Ziaodong Guan, and played for the firsttime by a newly formed ensemble, the Festival String Quartet. James Ehnesthrilled the morning audience in the City Hall Auditorium and Ashley MacIsaachad them cheering at night in Lower Queens Park. Canada’s two most prominentclassical string quartets, the St. Lawrence and the Molinai, offered theirown series, the latter presenting all the quartets of famed composer, R. MurraySchafer; on the MusicBarge, tourists and locals enjoyed the Creaking Tree StringQuartet as something quite fresh and different. From Ukraine and across NorthAmerica came the 50 thrilling voices and strummers of the Ukrainian BanduristChorus while from Salt Lake City, Utah came the season’s featured organist, JohnLonghurst, organist to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.the sun life financial guide to stratford summer music | 15