Suzie LeBlanc's voice has been called "dulcet, clear and free." Her songbook ranges from 17th century Baroque opera to folk tunes reflecting her Acadian-Canadian heritage.
LeBlanc makes her Sunshine Coast début at the opening concert of the Coast Recital Society (CRS) season, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt. Pianist Robert Kort-gaard, a favourite collaborator with many of Canada's finest musicians, will accompany LeBlanc. An internationally renowned soprano, LeBlanc has established a pre-eminent career specializing in music of the Baroque and Classical periods. Her Sechelt concert, however, favours music of the 20th century, with works by Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy, Francis Poulenc, Olivier Messiaen, Michel Conte and Kurt Weill on the playbill. Kortgaard is to play two solo piano works by Gabriel Grovlez.
LeBlanc makes her home in Montreal and maintains a busy touring schedule with a mix of concert and opera performances, festival appearances and recording projects, both on video and CD.
Prior to the Oct. 26 recital, LeBlanc and Kortgaardwill discuss the music at a pre-concert talk at 1:30 p.m.
The CRS season continues Sunday afternoon, Nov. 9, with the St. Peters-burg String Quartet, one of the world's finest, celebrated for their flawless musical insight. Then, to herald the start of the festive season, the CRS will present a gala event, called Celebrate Baroque! with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, under the direction of Jeanne Lamon. Ticket holders for this Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30, event are also invited to an after-concert reception titled Take Tea with Tafelmusik. Some tickets for this event are still available. The 2009 portion of the CRS season starts Sunday afternoon, Feb. 1, with the musical partnership of Antonio Lysy, cello and Jane Coop, piano, performing an all-Beethoven program. On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22 the CRS welcomes back audience favourite, pianist Robert Silverman. Canadian violinist James Ehnes appears Sunday afternoon, March 29, in recital with pianist Andrew Russo. Ehnes is considered one of the finest violinists of his generation, whose career hit an international, critical high earlier this year with Grammy and Juno wins for his CBC Records disc with Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The CRS season ends with the brilliant, Russian-born pianist Yevgeny Sudbin, who first appeared here in 2006. His return to the Raven's Cry stage is Saturday, April 4. CRS Artistic Director Frances Wainwright said she is enthusiastic about the 2008/09 season.
"We've booked a glittering line-up of musical stars -soloists, duos, ensembles, with voice, strings, keyboards and the baroque gala, too. I can't wait for our concert season to start," she said.
For more information, call the CRS office at 604-885-0991.
