Music lovers will receive a rare opportunity to hear a magnificent 18th century cello played by Ariel Barnes as part of the Powell River Academy of Music’s concert series on Thursday, November 1.
Described by media as creating a “mesmerizing musical experience” by combining his “deep personal connection” with “luscious tone and technical prowess,” cellist Barnes is acclaimed for his performances that range from unaccompanied Johann Sebastian Bach to world premieres of contemporary art music. In recent years he has appeared in recital in New York, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Quebec City, Vancouver, San Francisco and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Barnes, a recent winner of a three-year loan of one of the world’s finest cellos, performs on a 1730 Newland Joannes Franciscus Celoniatus from Canada Council for the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank. The cello is made from black Italian poplar, rather than the more popularly used maple. The softer wood and the way it was cut on a slab is flexible and supple, creating a rich alto sound, like a low rumble on stage. It is believed to be a twin of another cello created from the same tree, currently owned by the Royal Academy of Music in London.
As well as performing famous cello suites of Bach and Benjamin Britten, Barnes will join with the Academy Chamber Choir conducted by Don James to perform works for cello and choir by John Tavener, Imant Raminsh and Tobin Stokes. The concert will open with unaccompanied choral works by Thomas Weelkes, Felix Mendelssohn and C. Hubert Parry.
Barnes’ solo and chamber music performances have been broadcast by CBC Radio, and he was recently selected as one of six cellists across the nation to celebrate the launch of cbcmusic.ca as a featured artist. His recordings have been received with critical acclaim and have been nominated for a Juno Award and two Western Canadian Music Awards.
Tickets are $20 and available at the Academy Box Office, 7280 Kemano Street or by calling 604.485.9633, and at the door. Students 18 and under are admitted for free with a student voucher. More information is available online. The concert begins at 7:30 pm at academy hall.
