The Millennium Music Foundation (MMF) is pleased to present An Evening of Opera Favorites, the final concert of their 11th season, featuring soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, accompanied by her husband, the young ‘keyboard acrobat’ Serouj Kradjian on March 26, 2009 7:30 pm, Eckhardt Grammate Hall, The Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary.

A young Armenian-Canadian, Bayrakdarian is admired as much for her stunning stage presence as for her exceptional musicality. Time Magazine describes her as, “a soprano voice that combines lyricism with remarkable dramatic instincts.” Bayrakdarian and Kradjian will presents selections from Franz Schubert, Vincenzo Bellini, Pauline Viardot, Reverend Gomidas, Maurice Ravel, and Fernando J. Obradors.

Bayrakdarian has followed a unique career path bursting onto the international opera scene after winning first prize in the 2000 Operalia competition founded by Placido Domingo. Since then she has performed in many of the world’s major opera houses. Career highlights have included performances as Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) at the Metropolitan Opera, Zerlina at the Salzburg Festival’s celebration of Mozart’s birthday, debuting the role of Mélisande in Pélleas et Mélisande at the Canadian Opera Company, singing title role in The Cunning Little Vixen at the Saito Kinen Festival under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, Le nozze di Figaro at Covent Garden and the Houston Grand Opera and her role debut as Blanche in Robert Carsen’s production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also participated in the world-premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Sheer’s one-act opera To Hell and Back with Broadway legend Patti LuPone and San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

Isabel Bayrakdarian sings on the Grammy® award-winning soundtrack of the blockbuster film THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS, and her voice can also be heard in the multiple award-winning Canadian film ARARAT. Bayrakdarian has been honored with four Juno awards, Canada’s highest recording prize, most recently for her CD Mozart arie & duetti with fellow Canadians Russell Braun and Michael Schade. She is the subject of a CBC-TV film entitled A LONG JOURNEY HOME that documents her first trip to Armenia; on another trip there recently she recorded a disc of songs by the country’s national composer, Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935), with her husband and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra which is available on the Nonesuch label. Expanding her vast discography, Ms. Bayrkdarian was a guest soloist with the Canadian band Delerium on their 2007 Grammy® nominated dance remix “Angelicus.”

For more information on Isabel Bayradarian and Serouj Kradjian visit www.bayrakdarian.com and www.serouj.com respectively.


Here is the detailed program od the concert:

ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN, Soprano
SEROUJ KRADJIAN, Piano

Fruhlingsglaube Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Sei mir gegrüsst
Nacht und Träume
Seligkeit
An die Musik

Composizioni da Camera Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835)
1. Vaga luna, che argenti
2. Per pieta, bell’idol mio
3. La Ricordanza

Madrid Pauline Viardot (1821-1910)
Sylvie
L’Enfant et la Mère
Morirò
Desespoir
Aime-moi (Chopin Mazurka)


INTERMISSION

Armenian Folk Songs Reverend Gomidas (1869-1935)
Dear Maral (Akh Maral Jan)
Call to the sea (Tsayn dour ov dsovag)
Lullaby (Koon Yeghir balas)
I cannot play (Chem grna khagha)
Mount Alakyaz - Incense Tree

Popular Greek Folk Songs Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Song of the bride
Yonder, near the church
What dandy can be compared with me
Song of the girls collecting music
Very merrily!
Tripathos

Spanish Folk Songs Fernando J. Obradors (1897-1945)
La mi sola Laureola
Dame amor besos sin cuento
Corazon porque pasais
El majo celoso
El Vito

For more information about Isabel Bayrakdarian visit www.bayrakdarian.com

It still amazes me how, with the support of our Board and community members as well as musicians and presenters from around the world, my dream of showcasing the best musical talents - new and legendary, Canadian and international - has been realized. From this dazzling beginning, we can only continue to grow and develop.

This year we celebrate 11 years of musical magic. From being the new kids on the block we are now established members of Calgary's musical calendar; presenting exciting new discoveries alongside "can't miss", one-of-a-kind performances.

I hope you will join us for our electrifying 11th season, with more musical treasures chosen for your enjoyment.

Yolande Freeze
Founder and President
Millennium Music Foundation
Global Television/YWCA Woman of Vision
March 2008

September 31, 2008

Our new season will open on October 23, 2008, featuring one of the most exciting pianists of our time Piotr Anderszewski.
To guarantee tickets to see and hear the extraordinary line-up of the artists we have invited on your behalf, please check our subscription form and send us your order, or call us and we will be happy to take your order.
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See you at the concerts.

November 8, 2007

The founders of MMF have donated a new concert Steinway piano to the University of Calgary's Rozsa Centre. Click here to find out more.

September 10, 2007

Our new website is live and our 2007-2008 season is about to begin! Don't forget to buy your subscription for this exciting 10th anniversary season, which is dedicated to you, the classical music lover.