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Visit Isabel's personal web site @ http://www.bayrakdarian.com/ |
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Magnificent….
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magical…. these words
describe perfectly both soprano Isabel
Bayrakdarian and her first CD, released on CBC
Records on March 19. Titled "Joyous
Light", it is a collection of medieval Armenian
sacred music, dating from the 5th century onwards. Some
hymns are sung in the traditional "a cappella"
style, while others are arranged for a small chamber
orchestra.
On the CD, Ms. Bayrakdarian is accompanied by
members of the Elmer Iseler Singers and conducted by Raffi Armenian. Isabel is also joined on one of the tracks by her
mother, Lalig
Bayrakdarian. |
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It is
very appropriate that Isabel turned to the music of
Armenia for her premiere recording. Not only has she
sung this repertoire since she was 3 years old, but the
year 2001 marked the1700th anniversary of the adoption
of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia. To
celebrate this anniversary, a liturgical musical canvas
was created that would take the listener through a
spiritual and emotional journey of 17 centuries of
sacred music.
The
music itself is simple and haunting, and speaks directly
to the listener in very intimate terms. The imaginative
arrangements are scored by Peter
Shoujounian, calling for a small chamber ensemble
and male choir. The men from the Elmer Iseler Singers
add a wonderful choral texture interweaving with the
undulating, pure melodic line of Ms. Bayrakdarian. The
texts are drawn from the liturgy of the Armenian
service, and are contemplative, expressive, allegorical,
mysterious and above all, nourishing for the mind,
spirit, and body.
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Ms.
Bayrakdarian took part in two special CD signings in Toronto: On Thursday,
March 21, she was at L'Atelier
Grigorian (70 Yorkville Ave.) from 5:00
to 7:00 PM. This event was hosted by CBC
Metro Morning's Andy Barrie.
On Sunday,
March 24 at 2:30 PM, immediately after Palm Sunday
church service, Isabel will be at St.
Mary Armenian Apostolic Church (45 Hallcrown Place).
Isabel's
future engagements include two productions at the
Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Paris Opera, Lyric
Opera of Chicago, La Scala, and the San Diego Opera, as
well as numerous recitals and concerts.
Toronto
audiences will also be able to see her as Cleopatra in
the Canadian Opera Company's Giulio Cesare, which runs April
6, 10, 12, 16, 18, and 21, and she will also perform
a recital at the George
Weston Recital Hall on May 3.
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Management:
Ronald A. Wilford and Elizabeth Crittenden; Columbia
Artists Management Inc.; Tel: (212) 841-9501; Fax: (212)
841-9687.
Media
Contact:
Barbora
Kršek; Tel: (416) 534-3337; Fax: (416) 534-5661;
E-mail:
bkrsek@sympatico.ca |
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