The sweet voice of soprano Suzie LeBlanc and the collaborative piano artistry of Robert Kortgaard launched this season's Pender Harbour Music Society concert series in Madeira Park last Sunday to its usual high standard. Petite and blonde, LeBlanc is as demure and affable as the girl next door. Her voice is gentle, and it is heard to great advantage on the romantic lieder of Robert Schumann.
She stepped back occasionally to let Kortgaard perform solo on a rendition of Schumann's Arabesque in C major, opus 18 and on the melody of the more modern La Vie en Rose that reminded the audience of the loveliness of the tune.
The program lingered long on Schumann in honour of his 200th anniversary, and LeBlanc spoke of the love story between the composer and his pianist wife, Clara. Schumann hesitated between careers in music or literature and his numerous lieder (songs) appear to be a synthesis between the two. LeBlanc also included some delightful ditties written for children.
The majority of the program was sung in German, but LeBlanc is known for her Acadian roots. To my regret, she sang only one charming folk song in French as an opener and another for an encore. A music savvy crowd at the Performance Centre in Madeira Park gave the two rousing applause. This concert was sponsored by Music Fest Vancouver.
This season's series, brought to the Coast by the Music Society, is a mixture of various musical styles and returning favourites. Archie Fisher, guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of Scotland's foremost troubadours, will take to the stage on Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. (This later start time of 3 p.m. is not permanent and concerts will return to 2 p.m. in January.)
On Jan. 16 a Madeira Park resident, Joel Fafard, who has travelled widely with his award-winning guitar work, will perform. Fafard is better known as an instrumentalist and his previous many albums feature lightning finger picking skill on two guitars, one a resonator guitar. But the guy can sing, too. Recently he has released his latest CD, Cluck Old Hen, which features many Mississippi style blues numbers, old Southern roots music and traditional Appalachian tunes, along with his original compositions.
The series continues Feb. 20 with popular performers, the Company B Jazz Band, seen last year at the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival, and the Joe Trio in March. Other Jazz Festival hits include Rumba Calzada who will perform next April, followed by Joani Bye and the Euphorics. This must be at least the third visit for the folk band Tiller's Folly who finish up the season in June.
For more information, see www.penderharbourmusic.ca or visit one of the consistent ticket sellers: Harbour Insurance, John Henry's Marina, Sechelt Visitors Centre and Gaia's Fair Trade.
