Bravo Niagara! tees up season of jazz, classical
Grammy winners among performers in series that starts next month with Juno winner
Jazz greats, Grammy winners and violin virtuosos are on deck for Bravo Niagara!’s fifth season.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake music festival kicks off Oct. 12 with 11-time Juno-winning violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong performing a recital of Beethoven, Ravel, Brahms and Corigliano at St. Mark’s Anglican Church.
Ehnes has performed with orchestras in Boston, Cleveland, New York and London. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2010, and plays a ‘Marsick’ Stradivarius from
1715.
The season continues with the Voices of Freedom concert Nov. 3 at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, featuring Officer of the Order of Canada member Molly Johnson and Juno-winning singer Jackie Richardson and Grammy-winning drummer Larnell Lewis.
Feb. 15 to 17 sees the second edition of the Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival. Artists and venues will be announced in November.
The sixth annual Spring Into Music series follows at Stratus Vineyards with jazz and classical concerts by the Cheng2 Duo April 12; the Ben Paterson Trio and Paul Marinaro show Nat Cole: A King’s Centennial April 13; pianist Alfredo Rodriguez May 11; and pianist Jamie Parker with The New Gen May 12.
The season finale gala features rising Canadian stars for Piano Six: Next Generation May 25 at St. Mark’s Anglican Church.
“Over the past four seasons, Bravo Niagara! has continued to flourish,” says executive director Alexis Spieldenner, adding attendance has risen each year.
A key difference this season is the addition of major sponsor Meyer Sound, which she says will “elevate” the audio quality at all shows.
“Our audiences will now be able to experience the highest quality sound at all of our venues throughout the 2018/19 season.”
Tickets range from $30 to $80, available at www.bravoniagara.org or by phone at 289-868-9177.