Powerful, glorious, elegant, soft-grained, spine-tingling these are but a few of the epithets that have been used to describe Canadian baritone Russell Braun, who makes his Coast Recital Society (CRS) debut Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Sechelt's Raven's Cry Theatre.
Recognized internationally for his brilliant characterizations on the opera stage as well as his superb gifts as a recitalist, Braun is one of the most sought-after lyric baritones on the international stage today. He performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, l'Opéra de Paris and the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. His powerful voice and commanding presence have characterized his interpretation of such roles as Billy Budd, Prince Andrei, Figaro, Papageno, Count Almaviva, Don Giovanni, Pelléas and Eugene Onegin. Braun has performed with many of the world's leading conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Claudio Abbado and Bernard Labadie, appearing with major orchestras all over the world.
Braun will be accompanied at the piano by Can-adian pianist Carolyn Maule. Much in demand as a vocal accompanist, Maule has performed with such renowned artists as Michael Schade, Patricia Racette and Isabel Bayrakdarian and is often heard in recital with her husband. The wide-ranging program for this CRS event will include music by Schumann, Ravel and Noel Coward, as well as a selection of opera arias to be announced from the stage.
Braun and Maule will also perform at an eldercare residence on the Coast, as part of the CRS Artists in the Community Outreach Program. For concert information, call Mary Lea Bell at 604-886-8330.
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