OBSERVER ENTERTAINMENT |
Elora centre to unveil refurbished grand piano
» Performance by Guy Few and Stephanie Mara serves as fundraiser for ECFTA restoration effort
BY: STEVE KANNON
Along with performers Guy Few and Stephanie Mara, the piano at their fingertips will be sharing the spotlight at a fundraising concert Saturday night at the Elora Centre for the Arts.
The newly refurbished Rosler piano will fill the intimate confines of the Harris room with a variety of sounds, from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Tom Lehrer.
Some of the proceeds will go toward the $11,000 spent to refurbish the instrument, made in 1913 in Czechoslovakia. It was formerly the property of Elske van der Veen Albarda, a prominent piano teacher in Elora who left it to the arts centre when she passed away in 2003, still teaching at the age of 93.
“They’ve done great work to bring this piano back to a state where it can be played regularly,” said Few, a trumpeter, pianist and vocalist, noting an instrument should be played to keep it in top form.
He and accompanist Mara will mark the grand piano’s first public performance since work on it was completed. The concert will feature a program of their favourites, including Scherzo by Stephan Djerbashian (trumpet, piano), Andante and Variations K 501by Mozart (four hand) and Konzert f-moll, Op. 81by Oskar Böhme (trumpet, piano).
After a break, the program will shift to something less conventional, he said, leading off with Poisoning Pigeons in the Park by Tom Lehrer (voice, piano).
“The first half will be traditional – serious, but with some humour. The second half will be taking that humour and going as far as it can go,” he said in an interview from his Elora home.
Few, a gold medal graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and holder of a Fellowship Diploma from Trinity College, London, England, has appeared as a soloist with many Canadian and U.S. orchestras, including The Toronto Symphony, The Vancouver Symphony, The Quebec Symphony, The Winnipeg Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and The Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Few performs and records on a regular basis with Bellows and Brass, Nadina Mackie Jackson, and Mara. He has been invited as a soloist, principal, and recitalist, to many festivals.
He continues to teach at WLU, as does Mara, a collaborative pianist and coach at the university, where she works with performance majors in brass, bassoon, and cello.
The arts centre’s Barb Lee said she’s excited to have the two performers join in the festivities marking the return of the Rosler grand piano, which has decades of history in the village going back to Albarda’s arrival.
“Many students learned to play on this piano,” she said, adding Albarda was a big supporter of the arts, along with her husband Jan, an architect and builder of harpsichords.
“As a couple, they really enriched our community,” said Lee.
“She was one of those people who believed strongly in contributing to the community where she lived.”
Born in Holland and raised in Indonesia, Albarda returned to her native land, but she and Jan were eventually forced to flee during the Nazi occupation. They ended up in Canada, coming to Elora in the 1970s, the Rosler in tow.
Over the ensuing years before her death, the piano was played by a steady stream of music students, making the grand additionally notable, she said.
“Elske was a fine musician in her own right, but was a teacher of teachers, as well as young students.”
Its history was reason enough to restore the Rosler. As well, the finely crafted instrument – “the Mercedes class of grand pianos” – is valued at more than $30,000.
“We’re really proud to have it here at the centre,” said Lee, noting the piano will be available for recitals and concerts.
The concert by Guy Few and Stephanie Mara goes tonight (Saturday), 8 p.m., at the Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville St. Tickets are $40, $35 for students or seniors. Call 519-846-9698.
ENTERTAINMENT ARTICLE ARCHIVES
Love is in the air at Park Manor
» May 03, 08
As Park Manor Public School’s drama troupe put the finishing touches on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream this week, director Ted Frey took on more roles than he bargained for.
Read More
Carousel, then and now
» April 26, 08
Elmira’s Gord Davis wants to connect his past with his present by inviting the actors from his 1982 production of Carousel to attend his latest version by the Community Players, to be held May 8-11 at the New Hamburg Arena.
Read More
ETC is making wedding plans
» April 19, 08
Maggie may be heading to the altar, but all the shenanigans are taking place in the family kitchen the day before the wedding. True to playwright Norm Foster’s form, the assembled group is going to offer up laughter and insight before the big day.Read More
Dreaming of a Midsummer Night at Park Manor PS
» April 12, 08
A G-rated version of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is in the works at Park Manor Public School, with performances set for May 7 and 8.
The cast has been working before, during and after school daily to prepare the complicated piece and director Ted Frey said he is confident they will be ready to hit the stage with enthusiasm in a month. Read More