Wendy Nielsen and Edmund Dawe to perform Nov. 24

November 20, 2006

Source: Mount Allison University
http://www.mta.ca/news/?id=1162

On Friday, November 24, at 8 p.m. in Brunton Auditorium, Mount Allison University’s department of music will present a recital by soprano Wendy Nielsen accompanied by pianist Edmund Dawe. The varied program will include works ranging from Mozart to the Beatles.

New Brunswick soprano Wendy Nielsen enjoys an international career on the operatic and concert stage. She performs regularly in some of the world’s leading opera houses including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, and major opera productions in Philadelphia, Boston, Montreal, Calgary, Minnesota, and Florida. She has performed worldwide in a variety of repertoire from Mozart to Penderecki with such acclaimed conductors as James Conlon, Kurt Masur, Ivan Fischer, Long Yu, Eiji Oue, Charles Dutoit, and Mario Bernardi. This season her performances include recitals in Canada and Japan, soprano soloist in Messiah performances in Maryland and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Charleston, and the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni in Edmonton Alberta.

In addition to a busy performing schedule Ms. Nielsen is teaching voice at Mount Allison University this year as a sabbatical leave replacement. This coming summer sees her teaching at the Opera Nuova program in Edmonton, the new Canadian summer opera program COSI in Sulmona Italy, and directing the summer program at St Andrews by the Sea, which she has developed into a nationally recognized program over the past 12 years.

Praised for his technical command of the piano and artistic interpretations, Edmund Dawe has performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, France, Hong Kong, and Korea. His recordings and performances are frequently heard in regional and national CBC broadcasts. His second solo CD release, Sonatas, was nominated for a 2004 East Coast Music Award (Best Classical), and has also been broadcast by the BBC in London. This past season, Dr. Dawe toured in Florida with the Atlantic Arts Trio, and performed on Chicago’s "Live from WFMT." Recently, his solo CDs were featured on David Dubal’s "Reflections from the Keyboard" on New York City’s WQXR, North America’s most listened to classical radio station. In January and February, he will tour in the Maritimes and Ontario with mezzo soprano Marcia Swanston in a program of works by Dominick Argento. Highly respected as a teacher and clinician, Dr. Dawe is a frequent adjudicator at music festivals in Canada, and a presenter at provincial, national, and international pedagogy conferences.

Admission to the recital is by ticket or season subscription to the department’s concert series. Funds raised will be used to support music department scholarships for entering students. For further information, please contact the department of music at 364-2374 (music@mta.ca).

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