Welcome the gathering darkness of November through storytelling, poetry and riveting music as the High River Gift of Music presents a performance of A Poe Cabaret.
Set for Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at High River United Church, the performance tells the compelling and tragic life story of Edgar Allan Poe through great music conjured in his honour.
Shiver at crumbling gothic shadows in a performance inspired by music of the brilliant and troubled impressionist Claude Debussy, his student André Caplet and Canadian composer Alexina Louie.
Originally co-commissioned by Luminato and the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, this is a fresh presentation of well-known works, including Conte Fantastique for harp and string quartet, and Louie’s startling musical version of The Raven.
Narrator Tom Allen is known to many through his association with the CBC. He has written three books, created and hosted countless shows for theatre companies and orchestras, and toured a series of cabaret shows.
Lori Gemmell has been principal harpist with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony since 2000, and teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University and for the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
The Garneau String Quartet is comprised of Robert Uchida, Laura Veeze, Keith Hamm and Julie Hereish.
Uchida, violin, is concertmaster for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO), while Veeze, violin, is a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician who has worked with orchestras including the Radio Chamber Philharmonic in the Netherlands, Symphony Nova Scotia and the ESO. Currently she is concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, and principal second violin of the Alberta Baroque Ensemble.
Hamm, viola, is principal violist at the ESO, who is also the founder and artistic director of the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival, and co-founder and violist of the Rosebud String Quartet.
Hereish, cello, is assistant principal cello with the ESO, having previously been with the Québec Symphony Orchestra. She is a co-founder and member of the Edmonton-based High Level Trio, comprised of ESO members, and founder of The New Cohort alongside husband Keith Hamm.
Tickets for A Poe Cabaret are $25 in advance and $30 at the door for adults/seniors and $10 for youth. Season passes and individual concert tickets are available at highrivergiftofmusic.com.
High River Gift of Music is a non-profit society that has been bringing extraordinary classical music to the High River and area community since 2009, featuring performances that bridge cultures and eras to inspire, educate and unite audience members.
