Girl power at Indian River Festival
Sarah Harmer, Julie Nesrallah, Caroline Léonardelli to perform this weekend
As the summer heats up, Indian River presents two concerts this weekend featuring some of Canada’s finest female musicians: Sarah Harmer to day at 7:30 p.m., and Voyages a Paris featuring Julie Nesrallah and Caroline Léonardelli on Sunday, July 12, 3 p.m.
In her second appearance at the festival, Harmer’s solo performance is expected to leave the audience breathless in the St. Mary’s acoustic.
“There’s not a word out of place, not a note her clean voice misses, not a melody that fails to take you by the hand,” says the Globe and Mail of the most distinctive v oice in the Canadian folk music scene.
Harmer will sing songs of her many celebrated albums. From her Juno award to Polaris Music Prize nomination, She has established herself among the pantheon of legendary female songwriters thi s country has produced, having her name spoken in the same breath as Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan and Sylvia Tyson.
Nesrallah, mezzo-soprano and CBC radio host, with harpist and Juno Award nominee Léonardelli, evoke the Parisian salon with glorious music and engaging stories in Voyages a Paris. Along with hosting CBC Radio 2’s Tempo, Nesrallah is a singer, actress and broadcaster engaged by opera companies, symphonies, festivals and chamber music ensembles around the world.
Léonardelli, concert harpist and recording artist, has an accomplished career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician and teacher based out of Ottawa.
The pair will perform charming, intimate chansons by the great Impressionists Debussy and Ravel, alongside virtuoso harp repertoire. This Parisian program was brought to Carnegie Hall in March.
The festival’s new outdoor pavilion is now open one hour prior to show time; audience members are invited to enjoy the space and grab some refreshments before the show.
Both of the performances take place St. Mary’s Church, Indian River. Tickets and concert information are at www. indianriverfestival.com or by calling 1-866-856-3733.