Mattina Musica ft. Sarah Hagen

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Monday, October 26th, 2015
10:30 PM

Co-presented by Sarah Hagen and the Sid Williams Theatre Society

Italian for “Morning Music,” Mattina Musica is a concert series of classical music, each taking place on a Monday morning. Patrons are warmly invited to meet in the Sid lobby at 9:45 am for tea, coffee, and conversation before the 10:30 am concert.

The series is hosted by pianist Sarah Hagen and she is joined by guest performers at each concert. The musicians, all known for their perceptive, eloquent, and entertaining commentary, will take time to offer personal insights into the music.

Can you think of a better way to spend a Monday morning?

SARAH HAGEN

Canadian pianist Sarah Hagen has been heard in concert halls and on the airwaves throughout North America and Europe. Her interpretations have been described as “outstandingly inventive,” performed with “infinite skill.” A visionary and an idealist, Sarah’s performances are conceptually innovative, involving photography, dance and spoken word. She is the Artistic Director for Pro’ject Sound, a performance project involving live piano with large-scale projected images. She curates, hosts, and performs on numerous concert series in BC, sharing the stage with artists from around the world. An avid collaborator, Sarah has performed with cellist Phillip Hansen, violinist Robert Uchida, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, Trio Accord, Ballet Victoria, the Emily Carr String Quartet, among many others, and has appeared as soloist with the Victoria Symphony under the baton of Mei-Ann Chen, the Kitchener- Waterloo Symphony conducted by Mark Skazinetsky, the West Coast Symphony Orchestra with conductor Bujar Llapaj, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific with conductor Arthur Arnold.

Sarah was recently awarded as the BC Touring Council’s 2015 Touring Artist of the Year. As a First Prize Winner in the 2013 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Sarah was awarded the opportunity to perform solo at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in May 2013. Her debut solo album, Glass House Dancing, was nominated for Classical Recording of the Year at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards.

Sarah has been been heard nationally on CBC Radio 2’s In Concert in a live recording with violinist Joan Blackman and cellist Ariel Barnes. She was also featured in a live recording and discussion of Schumann’s Papillons on CBC Radio One’s North by Northwest with host Sheryl MacKay. In December 2013 she released her second album, Devoted: Music of Robert & Clara Schumann, featuring solo piano works and Clara Schumann’s Romances, Opus 22 with violinist Martin Chalifour, concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In addition to writing wine reviews for her blog, “ARTIST WINES! – Uncorking musician-priced cellar secrets,” Sarah composes silly songs for the ukulele and is an enthusiastic tap dancer.

Sarah’s motivation is the belief that music has the power to be a window into our souls regardless of age or knowledge.

“…the level of passion that Hagen possesses – when it comes to experiencing, interpreting and expressing art – is something quite extraordinary. It does seem to be this deep level of artistic understanding, and ability to communicate on this level – either through words or through artistic expression – that truly sets her apart as a pianist and musical artist. …it was immediately apparent that this would be a piano concert beyond the norm. …Hagen is one of the most expressive piano players that I have ever seen perform. ” – The Guardian (Charlottetown) March 2014

Mozart’s D minor Fantasy K. 397, “played flawlessly by Sarah Hagen.” - Ed Farolan, Review Vancouver

“Exquisite phrasing and a refreshingly imaginative approach make her one to watch.” -Marcia Adair, TheOmniscientMussel.com

“Her Bach and Haydn were outstandingly inventive – this is a young woman ready to take interpretive risks.” - University of Waterloo Gazette

“Hagen performed this complex arrangement [Chopin’s Opus 28 Preludes] with infinite skill. Her concentration and focus was extraordinary; her movements strong, yet graceful.” - Comox Valley Record

Tickets at: http://sidwilliamstheatre.com/2015/10/mattina-musica-ft-sarah-hagen/

MATTINA MUSICA PACKAGE

Buy all 6 concerts for one special price and receive a free guest* ticket!
Member $120
Regular $150

*Offer available until September 11, 2015.