THE SCHUMANN LETTERS

Susan Gilmour Bailey, soprano, Michael Kim, piano & Colin Fox, narrator

German composer Robert Schumann first fell in love with young Clara Wiech during his early piano training under her father. Over the years in which they fought to gain legal consent to marry, an estimated 20,000 letters were written between them. Join us on this journey with words and music through a life of love, obstacles, happiness and tragedy.

Born and raised in Manitoba, soprano Susan Gilmour Bailey emigrated to London in 1999 to complete her Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal Academy of Music. Performing throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, Susan enjoys a varied career of concert, oratorio, and opera.

Michael Kim has set high standards in his music studies and at international competitions. He is the recipient of a multitude of awards, including the grand-prize of the Canadian Music Competition and the CBC National Radio Competition for Young Performers. An artistic scholar, Dr. Kim received his Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School where he held the Vladimir Horowitz Piano Scholarship.

It is possible that one may not recognize Colin Fox by name alone. It is highly unlikely, however, that his face, and in particular, his voice could escape recognition. A multi-talented artist, Colin Fox has an impressive and extensive list of stage, film, television, and now, musical narrations to his credit.

Programme: 

Chapter I: Crisis
Träumerai (Reverie), Op 15, No. 7 from Kinderszenen, Kennst du das Land ( Do you know the Land...) Op 98a, No. 1 from Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister

Chapter  II: Young Robert
Of Foreign Lands and People, Op 15, No. 1 from Kinderszenen, I Wept in My Dreams, Op 48, No. 3 from Dichterliebe, Poor Peter, Op 53, No. 3 from Romanzen & Balladen, The Happy Farmer, Op 68, No. 10 from Lieder-Album für die Jugend, Butterflies, Op 2, No 1, Soaring, Op 12, No.2 from Fantasietücke

Chapter III: Crossroad
Theme from Op 5 (10 Impromtus on a Theme by Clara Wieck), Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor, 1st movement

Chapter IV: Breakdown
Every Morning I Awake and Ask, Op 24, No. 1 from Liederkreis,Piano Sonata No.3 in f minor, 1st Movement (Excerpt) , In a Foreign Land, Op 39, No. 1

Chapter V: Loved Denied
Arabesque in C Major, Op.18 (Excerpt), He, the Most Glorious of All, Op 42, No. 2 from Frauenliebe und leben, Fantasy, No 17 in C Major, In the Evening, Op 12, No. 1 from Fantasiestücke, Scherzino, Op 26, No. 3 from Faschingsschwank aus Wien: Phantasiebilder

Chapter VI: Darkest Before the Dawn
O You Gentlemen, Op 37, No. 3 from Gedichte aus Liebesfrühling, Butterfly: O Butterfly, Tell Me, Op 79, No. 2 from Lieder-Album für die Jugend

Chapter VII: The Clouds Part
The Lotus Flower, Op 25, No. 7 from Myrten, Dedication, Op 25, No 1 from Myrten

Conclusion: Da Capo
Träumerai (Reverie), Op 15, No. 7 from Kinderszenen