Selections from Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch at CD release concert
TORONTO, September 16, 2010 − Distinguished classical singer, mezzo-soprano Catherine Robbin launches the Faculty Concert Series in York University’s Department of Music on October 5. Guest artists, bass-baritone Daniel Lichti and pianist Leslie De’Ath will join Robbin on stage in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall in a program featuring selections from Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch (Italian Songbook). The concert celebrates the launch of their CD of the same title on the Analekta label.
One of the great lieder composers of the Romantic period, Wolf (1860-1903) was heavily inspired by the expressive, chromatic and dramatic musical innovations of Richard Wagner. The Italienisches Liederbuch, a suite of 46 songs set to poems translated from Italian by Paul von Heyse, was Wolf’s last major composition. Focusing on a wide array of male/female relationships, the rich emotional territory covered by the songs encompasses passion, anguish, sensuousness, humour, lightheartedness and frivolity. The composer considered them to be his finest works, asserting in a letter: “my Italian songs are the most original and artistically the most perfect of all my things.”
Robbin, Lichti and De’Ath previously performed several songs from Wolf’s renowned cycle as part of a widely toured duo recital program titled Songs of Venus and Mars. To prolong the magic felt on the concert stage, they decided to record the entire collection and took advantage of the recording studio attached to the same York U stage where they are performing their live CD release concert. Their repertoire on October 5 will include more than 30 songs from Italienisches Liederbuch.
One of Canada’s best-known mezzos, Catherine Robbin established an international reputation over her illustrious 30-year performance career. She has appeared with leading conductors including John Eliot Gardiner, Bernard Labadie, Christopher Hogwood, Trevor Pinnock and Andrew Davis in concert halls from Rome toTokyo. Her extensive discography features more than 30 recordings, and she is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including a Juno Award, a Grand Prix du Disque and a Grammy nomination. In 2002, she joined the faculty in York’s Music Department, where she heads the classical vocal studies program.
Acclaimed as one of Canada’s finest concert and oratorio singers, bass-baritone Daniel Lichti performs across North America and internationally with prominent orchestras and choral organizations. He has been heard frequently with Toronto's Opera in Concert and in CBC, BBC and NPR broadcasts. He was nominated for a best classical album Juno in 1992 for his recording, Songs of Hugo Wolf.
Leslie De’Ath is a Canadian pianist, conductor, author, chamber player, vocal coach and accompanist, who enjoys a varied career as performer and pedagogue. He has shared the stage and recording studio with many of Canada’s finest singers.
Robbin’s recital is the first of five performances in the 2010-11 Faculty Concert Series, spotlighting faculty artists in York’s Music Department. The series continues with the Al Henderson Quintet on November 2, the Sundar Viswanathan Ensemble on Jan. 18, a classical trio featuring cellist Mark Chambers, violinist Jacques Israelievitch and pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico on Feb. 8, and the Ron Westray Ensemble on March 1.
York University Faculty Concert Series
Catherine Robbin, mezzo soprano with Daniel Lichti, bass-baritone and Leslie De’Ath, piano
When: Tues. Oct. 5, 2010, 7:30pm
Time: 7:30pm
Where: Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St. [Map]
Admission: Single tickets $15 | students & seniors $5 | Series tickets: three-concert package $30
Box Office: 416.736.5888 | www.yorku.ca/perform/boxoffice
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Media Contact:
Amy Stewart, Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University
416.650.8469 | amy.stewart@yorku.ca
