Gathering Our Voices: A UVic Voice Faculty Showcase

Event Description

The UVic School of Music is thrilled to welcome mezzo-soprano Marion Newman as the newest member of the voice faculty with a special concert performed by school’s renowned voice instructors including soprano Anne Grimm, tenor Benjamin Butterfield and baritone Kyron Basu. The centrepiece of the program will be Brahms’s Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52. Originally composed for informal music-making among friends — a practice common in the 19th century — this collection consists of 18 songs for vocal quartet (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and piano four-hands. The texts are drawn from a collection of folk-like poems, originally published by Georg Friedrich Daumer in his book Polydora. Despite their simplicity, the songs are infused with Brahms' trademark emotional depth, exploring themes of love, longing, and the complexities of relationships.

Critically acclaimed and award-winning mezzo-soprano Marion Newman is Kwagiulth and Stó:lō First Nations with English, Irish and Scottish heritage. Marion was born in Bella Coola and grew up in Sooke, BC, immersed in and embraced by her community and culture. She is one of Canada’s most accomplished singers in repertoire ranging from Charpentier to Cusson and operatic roles, including Carmen and Rosina in The Barber of Seville. Nominated for a Dora Award for her leading role in the world premiere of Shanawdithit (Nolan/Burry) with Toronto’s Tapestry Opera, Ian Ritchie wrote, “She invests her character with towering dignity and courage.”