The Poet Sings in Europe

As a group, we as "The Poet Sings" are so thrilled about our upcoming opportunities for professional development this summer. We know that our rich experiences will enrich our performances together and we look forward to sharing the fruits of our travels with you next season.

Mark and Catherine are looking forward to participating in The Centre for Operatic Studies in Sulmona, Italy this summer. This one-month program is Canada’s leading and most comprehensive opera training program in Europe and involves some of Canada‘s most notable singers teachers, including Artistic Director, Darryl Edwards, Wendy Nielsen and Patrick Raftery. While in Sulmona, Catherine and Mark will participate in master classes, Italian language classes as well as several performances. A major part of their time will be spent preparing and performing opera roles. Catherine will focus on the role of the Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Mark will do the roles of Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, and Belcore in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore.

Sandra has been invited to perform in concert at the “Troldsalen” Concert Hall at the Grieg Museum “Troldhaugen” in Bergen, Norway. Grieg’s former home, is now a museum and centre for the study and research of Norway’s greatest composer. In Sandra’s words, “this is an opportunity to visit and perform at Grieg-Mecca”. Sandra’s European tour this summer will also include study in England and concerts in Latvia.

Sandra’s solo recital program for her European concerts will feature the music of Maurice Ravel and Edvard Grieg. Based on Ravel’s quote, “Next to Debussy there’s no other composer, whom I feel more related to, than Grieg”, the recital program blends the music of these two composers in a unique and unorthodox way.

In England this summer, Sandra will have the opportunity to work with Beryl Foster, author of The Songs of Edvard Grieg, and Vice President of the International Grieg Society. The focus will be on absorbing the nuances of the “Nynorsk” language in the Haugtussa cycle as well as the songs to texts of Vinje.

Sandra will then go to Latvia to take part in the 9th annual Young Musicians' Master Classes in Sigulda, where she will perform & teach. Another highlight of the trip to Latvia will be to give a solo recital in Valmeira, where her mother attended Conservatory until the age of 12.

These are all incredible opportunities to study, learn and grow as performers.

If you would like to be a part of our journey, please show your support by attending our concert on May 28^th. If you are unable to attend or if you would like to go 'above and beyond' by contributing financially to our summer endeavors, we would very much appreciate it. We are most grateful for the support of our audiences.

Please contact us c/o Sandra Mogensen 519 275 2322 sandra@sandramogensen.com