To purchase tickets, click here. The inaugural concert of OSCA’s Sirens of Firehall series is nearly upon us! The first concert, on February 25, features music of the Italian Baroque, played by the Aradia Baroque Ensemble. I caught up with the group’s Artistic Director Kevin Mallon, to talk about his work, the ensemble and the upcoming performance at the Firehall. (More details below.)
Tickets are $25.00; students and seniors $15.00. To purchase your tickets, click here and select All Programs, then scroll down to the bottom, where you will see Aradia - Siren Concert Series under Special Events. You can also pick up tickets at the Firehall at 260 Sunnyside Ave. (613-247-4946) and at the Leading Note at 370 Elgin St.
About Kevin
He grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland but studied in England at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. His main focus was the violin, but he also studied composition and singing. In 1989, an invitation to attend the European Baroque Orchestra led to positions as concertmaster of Le Concert Spirituel in Paris and with France’s premier Baroque Orchestra, Les Arts Florissants. In 1993, Kevin came to Canada to join Tafelmusik Orchestra and to teach at the University of Toronto- positions he left to concentrate on conducting and leading his many ensembles, including the Aradia Ensemble in Toronto. In 2010 Kevin was appointed Music Director of Ottawa’s Thirteen Strings Orchestra. This work has really allowed him to connect with the music community in Ottawa and to settle into a second home here in Old Ottawa South!
About Aradia
Formed by Kevin Mallon in 1996 as a vocal and instrumental ensemble using period instruments, the Aradia Ensemble has had remarkable success. A recording contract with Naxos Records has produced some 50 CDs. Aradia has played in many formats—chamber, orchestral, choral, oratorio and opera and can be heard on several soundtracks—most recently on Jim Carey’s Yes Man! The orchestra has toured Canada and internationally and has a regular summer residency in Italy. Aradia has also commissioned new works for baroque ensemble, as they will feature at our Firehall concert.
About the Aradia Concert at the Firehall: Capriccio Stravagante
The program for Aradia’s concert on February 25th will highlight instrumental and vocal music from seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Venice. The music captures the spirit of La Serenissima with works by Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries. Juxtaposed with these will be two new music commissions for baroque instruments, by the young Canadian composers Rose Bolton and Chris Meyer. Our siren for the evening will be mezzo-soprano, Marion Newman, who has worked with Aradia on many live performances and recordings.
The concert takes place at the Ottawa South Community Centre (aka "The Firehall") at 260 Sunnyside Avenue. Tickets are available at the Firehall and online here ($25/$15 for students and seniors) and at the Leading Note (370 Elgin). Drinks will be served pre-concert and at intermission, so feel free to arrive early!
Last but definitely not least; I will note that we owe a big debt of gratitude to Tracy Arnett Realty for sponsoring this OSCA event!