Back from Vienna, Chamberfest is delighted to welcome home one of Ottawa’s own international superstars, Wallis Giunta. About the program, Giunta says that “there’s an electricity that runs through [it] – a vibration, a kind of current. The Ravel is incandescent, the Chausson erupts in bolts of passion, the Mazzoli sparks and shimmers, the Bernstein lights the room on fire, and the Berio is charged with a palpable energy, building to a lightning fast finale. We take a tour of a great variety of vocal and instrumental chamber music, spanning the late romantic period to the past decade, with different constellations of players illuminating the myriad possibilities within the genre.” 

Moving from Maurice Ravel’s Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé to Leonard Bernstein to Luciano Berio’s folk song arrangements and more, mezzo-soprano Giunta will be accompanied by a chamber ensemble brought together specially for her festival performance. With a “delectably rich, silver-toned mezzo-soprano” (Opera News Magazine) “sparkl[ing] with vitality and musical humor” (Texas Classical Review), anything critically acclaimed Wallis does is sure to please. Add music monsters like pianist Hinrich Alpers to the mix and a great time is guaranteed for the audience and the performers alike! Catch Wallis now before she takes off on her next global adventure, with her debut at Carnegie Hall just around the corner in 2024.

• Wallis Giuntamezzo-soprano
• Hinrich Alperspiano
• Chamberfest Ensemble

Programme

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937): Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé
I. Soupir
II. Placet futile
III. Surgi de la croupe et du bond

Ernest Chausson (1855–1899): Chanson perpétuelle, Op. 37

Missy Mazzoli (b. 1980): Death Valley Junction

Missy Mazzoli: Strange Dreams

Intermission

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990): Conch Town

Luciano Berio (1925–2003): Folk Songs
I. Black is the Colour
II. I Wonder as I Wander
III. Loosin Yelav
IV. Rossignolet du bois
V. A la femminisca
VI. La donna ideale
VII. Ballo
VIII. Motettu de tristura
IX. Malorous qu’o uno fenno
X. Lo Fiolaire 
XI. Azerbaidjan Love Song