musica intima: Season Launch Party

Date and Venue 27 September 2011, 7.30pm | Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street

Performers/participants Caitlin Beaupré, Melanie Adams, Tora Klassen, Bess Durey, Janna Crown, Russell Cripps, Byron Hanson, Lane Price, Shane Raman, Matthew MacTavish and Michael Mori

Reviewer John Jane


musica intima launched their new season this week inviting friends, family and fellow musicians to a fun and friendly gathering that included a mellow mix of music, cheese & wine and casual colloquy.

musica intima has established a reputation for performing challenging and highly diverse contemporary music in both the sacred and secular vein. Fresh from a recent tour of eastern Canada, ensemble members in attendance wanted to provide a sample from each of their forthcoming concerts for the 2011/2012 season.

The first song performed however, Lionel Daunais' Le Pont Mirabeau from the CD Into Light, will likely not be featured in any of their scheduled concerts in Vancouver, but was extremely popular with concert audiences in Quebec this summer. The singers returned about 30-minutes later to perform God's Grandeur which will be heard in next month's concert titled Into the Wild. This was followed by Franz Biebl's Ave Maria sung in Latin to be featured in the Christmas concert and finally Ed Henderson's Your Fragrance from the spring concert titled Birdsong slated for mid-April, next year. Ed Henderson, who with his brother Bill Henderson formed part of the band Chilliwack, was also in attendance.

Despite some personnel changes the group's musical understanding and cohesive balance is still much in evidence. The occasion was an excellent starting point to what looks like being an outstanding season. One that is sure to bring new supporters to the ranks of this already popular choir.

© 2011 John Jane