Oct 22, 2014


If the first of the three classical music concerts in the MERA Schoolhouse's Blue Jean Classical Sunday Afternoon concert series is any indication of what is to come, I'd have to say, get your tickets now.

On October 19 I caught the stellar second set played by flautist Gertrude Letourneau and guitarist Garry Elliot, who captured and enraptured listeners with their top-notch playing. I did not get a chance to hear Letourneau sing, which was unfortunate since if it was anything like her playing, it must have been a real treat.

That being said what I did see was mesmerizing. The two covered a wide range of musical styles from Piazzolla's Argentinian cafe-style music to Bach, to Bartok's Six Romanian Dances. This duo are powerful and talented players, both virtuosos in their own right, who come together to create music that is so much larger than what you might think possible from two single musicians. Their repertoire demands much from both; for the tangos Elliott has to not only keep up the pace with multiple rapid-fire rushes of staccato notes but also change rhythm and tone at the drop of a hat in the dramatic style that the passion of tango demands - and all without missing a beat.

LeTourneau is a good as it gets on the flute; she demands attention with a rich, strong sound when need be, which is lots of the time, and her melody lines are so long and lustrous that they seem close to impossible. Often her playing is so light and airy one imagines a feather floating upwards to the realm where angels dwell.

You can tell these two have spent hours mastering their techniques for this demanding repertoire and hours together polishing it to the point of perfection. Yet their eye contact is minimal - a quick glance here or there and hardly ever.

They saved some of their finest until the last and their variations on the theme of Carmen brought a tear to my eye. The duo received a well-deserved standing ovation after their final note played. One additional treat was the fact that Elliott was playing one of Oskar Graf's guitars and Graf, who was in attendance, no doubt must have been pleased with what he heard.

The only disappointment was that I did not see any teenagers in the audience. What a missed opportunity since they can attend the concert series free of charge. For those who missed an exquisite afternoon of some of the best classical music around, you can hear the duo and much of the repertoire they played on their CD titled Habernero. If you want to catch them live, the duo will be joined by Guy Edrington on the French horn and the three will performing “The Great Songs of the Great War” at St. Andrew’s United Church, in Metcalfe, Ontario on Sunday Nov. 9, at 2pm and again at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 1:30pm.

The next classical concert at MERA will take place on Sunday Nov. 9 at 2PM. Cecelia Ignatieff will be performing Dances on keyboard. Ignatieff will bring more than 30 years of professional playing and teaching to her MERA concert, where she will offer a wide-ranging repertoire from Scarlatti to Scott Joplin. After many years as collaborative pianist with other musicians and vocalists throughout Ontario, Cecilia now lives in the Lanark Highlands and is excited about sharing her passion for music with a local audience. Single advance tickets are $22 and MERA members get a discount. Tickets can be purchased on line or at Tickets Please, 39 Foster Street in Perth (at Jo's Clothes) or by calling 613-485-6434. For more information about other events and concerts taking place at MERA, visit meraschoolhouse.org

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