Von Stade a memorable opener for 2010 chamberfest
By smazey, Classical Ottawa
(Frederica von Stade. Photo by Robert Millard)
It was a bittersweet opening night to the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival July 24: American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who at 65 is winding down her singing career, sang a goodbye to Ottawa audiences as part of her farewell recital tour.
A large audience turned out to hear von Stade in recital with pianist and composer Jake Heggie at Dominion-Chalmers Church. For her goodbye, Von Stade put together a special recital of songs and arias as a kind of musical autobiography, choosing pieces with strong personal connections to her life and career. She also told stories between selections to introduce the pieces, mixing effortlessly between English and French in her comments.
I have fond memories of hearing von Stade in recital in Toronto in the 1990s, at Roy Thomson Hall and at the intimate recital hall in North York. This is an opera singer who shines at the intimate art form of the recital, with an endearing warmth and down-to-Earth manner that creates an immediate bond with her listeners.
Read more: Von Stade a memorable opener for 2010 chamberfest
As beautiful as ever
Frederica von Stade delights as always
By Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen
Frederica von Stade, shown here at an event for the 75th annual Metropolitan Opera Guild in April, 2010 in New York City, performed Saturday night at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival.
Photograph by: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images
Although the name Frederica von Stade sounds as German as German can be, the famous mezzo-soprano was born in New Jersey, and that all by itself makes her as American as American can be.
Along with her accompanist, pianist Jake Heggie, she gave the opening night concert of the 17th Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. It was part of her Farewell Tour; she is 65 and knows when to quit.
The audience at Dominion-Chalmers was large, though short of capacity
Read more: As beautiful as ever
A musical farewell: Acclaimed mezzo-soprano opens Chamberfest with one of her last concerts
By Steven Mazey, The Ottawa Citizen
Frederica von Stade, 64, in the midst of a goodbye tour across North America, will perform at Dominion-Chalmers Church on the first evening concert of this year’s festival.
Photograph by: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images, The Ottawa Citizen
Opera lovers, get out your handkerchiefs. This year’s Ottawa Chamber Music Festival will open Saturday with a musical goodbye from one of the most acclaimed singers of her generation.
American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who is winding down her career after more than 40 years on stage, has been presenting a series of farewell concerts across North America.
Read more: A musical farewell
