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

poster illustration created by eric beddoesdesigned by sharon morrice, über design | july 20 – august 16, 20092009With its individual performances, the Portrait concept was introduced thisyear, featuring soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and including her tango cabaret,Armenian heritage music sung with the Elmer Iseler Singers, a solo recital accompaniedby Serouj Kradjian, a master class, and a stunning finale with the NationalYouth Orchestra of Canada. Equally stunning was Cameron Carpenter, happiestwhen an electronic organ arrived for his dynamic performances. Guerillamusicians again roamed the streets and a playful quartet of Quebec musicians– the Sax-O-Matics – somehow got loose from the MusicBarge to wander amongtraffic. Four beautiful women, the Made in Canada Piano Quartet, representedthe classics but four “old” characters sprang to life under Bach’s personalleadership to perform his Coffee Cantata (1733) at, appropriately, Balzac’s, agenuine coffee house. Dr. David Goldbloom’s Somers Lecture focused on Creativity,Mental Health and Mental Illness; the Maureen Forrester Next GenerationYoung Artists concert uncovered New Music played by Saskatchewan trumpetessAmy Hovey with electronic manipulation by Saskatchewan composer JeffMorton. A Tribute to America completed the season with The Nathaniel Dett10Chorale, Jackie Richardson, Andrew Craig and Hon. Lincoln Alexander bringingthe audience to its feet.2010greatyears!poster illustration created by john pennoyer >designed by sharon morrice, über design | july 19 – august 22, 2009We leave this season to you, our patrons and readers, to note your own highlights.the sun life financial guide to stratford summer music | 23