Bermuda Festival Orchestra returns
If popularity is measured by the number of times the Bermuda Festival Orchestra (BFO) has been invited to perform at the annual cultural festival, then the orchestra must be very popular indeed.First developed for the 2009 Bermuda Festival, this year marks the orchestra's third consecutive appearance under the treble clef logo, and conductor Ryan Ellis could not be more pleased.Comprised almost entirely of resident musicians who have day jobs and rehearse in their spare time, he is proud of their hard work and steady growth into a fine orchestra capable of performing an increasingly challenging repertoire.Nevertheless, because Bermuda lacks musicians who play certain instruments found in orchestras overseas, it is always necessary to augment the resident ranks of the BFO with visiting instrumentalists.“We have no double reed players for example, so we always have to bring in oboes and bassoons,” Mr Ellis said. “In fact, double reed players are rare all around the world.”Also playing in the orchestra this year are three young Bermudian music students from Warwick Academy: Amanda Brown, who will be playing alongside Kent Hayward in the horn section, and Lindsay Fisher and Kallan Thomas who will be playing in the percussion section.Mr Hayward is head of the school's music department, and will also be the featured soloist in Richard Strauss' ‘Horn Concerto No. 1, Opus 11'.Miss Fisher studies piano with Bermuda School of Music faculty member Oliver Grant, who will be the featured soloist in Rachmaninov's powerful ‘Piano Concerto No. 2'.Returning from post-graduate studies at London's Royal Academy of Music especially to perform in this concert is Bermudian mezzo-soprano Kerri-Lynne Dietz, the third soloist in the programme.She will sing ‘Morgen! Op. 27.No. 4' by Richard Strauss; ‘Where Corals Lie' from ‘Sea Pictures' by Edward Elgar, and ‘Bailèro' from ‘Chants d'Auvergne' by Joseph Canteloube.“Our goal with the BFO is to showcase as much local talent as possible,” Mr Ellis said. “When we have an opportunity to reach out, we strive to bring Bermudians back to showcase what they are studying and doing around the world.“Kerri-Lynne has a wonderful voice, and we are pleased to be making music with her. The quality of her voice is continuing to grow a beautiful instrument and expressive musicianship.”Of Mr Hayward, the conductor said: “Our resident horn specialist is going to treat us to a remarkable and difficult concerto. He is always very good to work with, and a great collaborator in music.”Mr Ellis described soloist and fellow Bermuda School of Music faculty member Oliver Grant as “a true piano concertist”.“Oliver really shines on stage when doing impressive works. His musicianship, and the way he studies and prepares, is remarkable.”In terms of the programme itself, the conductor said it has been “carefully chosen to highlight the evolution of the 19th century orchestra into a larger ensemble, with greater dramatic effect, and more contrasting sounds, to portray the passion, adventure and poetry in their music”.“The expansion in size and colour began with Beethoven and continued most notably with Berlioz. Concurrrently, the orchestral art song was developed as a means to heighten the instrumental soundscape, with the conveyance of the text bringing the listener into a complete picture of the artistic expression.“Our 2011 concert is a celebration of that development in music, and chooses some of the greatest composers from the turn of the 19th century to the turn of the 20th century. We are starting with Beethoven and going through to Rachmaninov, one of the great romantic composers, hitting Strauss, Berlioz and Elgar along the way.”Performances will take place at City Hall theatre on Friday and Saturday evening (February 25 and 26) at 8pm.For ticket information and availability see website www.bermudatix.bm. For profiles of the soloists, see separate story.
KERRI-LYNNE DIETZ,Mezzo SopranoNationality: Bermudian.Education: Initial vocal training with Marjorie Pettit. Former member of St John's Youth Choir. Studied at United World College in Mexico, and Mannes College of Music, New York. Holds a bachelor of music degree from Royal Academy of Music, London.Currently studying for her master's degree in performance at same venue. On completion next year plans to audition for opera school.Performance experience: Includes Boston University Tanglewood Young Artists Programme; British Youth Opera workshops and summer production; recital of arias and song in previous Bermuda Festival; Beethoven's 'Ninth Symphony', conducted by Sir Colin Davis at the Barbican, London; and Royal Academy of Music productions.On performing with Bermuda Festival Orchestra: “It is a great opportunity to be able to sing with the orchestra. I am grateful that they would think of me, especially as a young Bermudian who is trying to make a career in singing. It is very generous of them.”On her festival programme: “'Morgen' by Richard Strauss is a beautiful song about blissful love, with voice and violin solo. 'Bailèro' by Canteloube is a cheeky but sweet piece about two shepherds singing to each other across a tavern. The music is just gorgeous. 'Where Corals Lie' from Elgar's 'Sea Pictures' reminds me of home.“I first sang it with Mrs Pettit in my first Heritage concert about eight years ago. At that point I had only been away for a year, so doing it back then didn't have the same meaning for me that it does now. Now there is more nostalgia, and a sense of longing, and realising what you have when you don't actually have it (by being in London). It is going to be very interesting to sing it here again, and quite emotional, but I will have to control that.”
KENT HAYWARDFrench HornNationality: BermudianStatus: Married to Roma, two sons aged four and six.Education: Bachelor of science degree in music education from Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky. Master's degree in horn performance from Western Michigan University.Current occupation: Head of music at Warwick Academy. President of Bermuda Philharmonic Society.Performance experience: Includes Western Michigan Graduate Woodwind Quintet; Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Battle Creek Symphony, Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra, Daylesford Symphonia, Bermuda Regiment Band, Quincy Jones Orchestra; pit orchestras for many local productions; previous Bermuda Festival performances.On performing with Bermuda Festival Orchestra: “I am thankful to have the opportunity, once again, to do a concert for the Bermuda Festival.“I am excited and nervous at the same time, but am definitely looking forward to it. Richard Strauss' 'Horn Concerto No. 1 Op.11' is technical, with very nice melodic lines. The music covers three octaves of the horn, so I have to play very low and very high notes, as well as lots of contrast.”Favourite instrument is the French horn, which he will play in this concert. First played the Strauss Horn Concerto as an undergraduate in college. Normally, instrumentalists play with music in front of them, but he is committing the work memory, and will make his final choice at end of rehearsals.“It is a lot of work, and I have been trying to do up to two hours of practise a day. I have a full-time job at Warwick Academy, and also my family, but my wife Roma has been a great help in affording me time to practise.”
OLIVER GRANTpianoNationality: BritishEducation: Katarina Gurska Academy, Madrid, Spain. Fellowship in Performance, Bath University, England. Post-graduate diploma in Performance, Royal Northern College of Music, England.Current occupation: Piano teacher, Bermuda School of Music. Accompanist for Bermuda Chamber Choir. Organist at Christ Church, Warwick. Member of Bermuda rock band Working Title.Performance experience: Soloist with orchestras in Bath, Derby and Chester in England. Recitals in UK, Europe and Bermuda. Soloist 2009, 2010, 2011 Bermuda Festivals.On performing with Bermuda Festival Orchestra: “I have always wanted to work with Ryan and the festival orchestra. I love being a concert pianist.“When you play on your own you don't get goose bumps, but when you play with an orchestra you hear all that beautiful sound uplifting you, and you get goose bumps. There is no greater feeling in the world than playing with an orchestra, especially if it is a beautiful work.”Admires Rachmaninov as a pianist and composer. 'Piano Concerto No. 2' is one of his favourites.“Rachmaninov is an idol of mine. I think he is the greatest pianist of all time. He wrote for the piano so well.”Preparation for his festival performance is not only playing the piano but also mental.“I study the piece mentally away from the piano, which helps me.“When I go to the piano I can visualise the notes and the whole piece because I work with a system of naming the notes, called solfeggio, which I learned in Spain. It is like reading a book, or an actor preparing his lines, and that gives me a lot of security and confidence.”
