Basilica Concert Series
Singers and organists perform on Wednesday afternoons
The Basilica concert series returns Wednesday afternoons in July and August with an eclectic selection of singers and organists, making use of the 1923 Casavant organ.
The series opens July 8 with organist Alexander Straus-Fausto, director of music at Trinity Cathedral in Miami, in a program exploring themes of transformation, longing and transcendence. From Wagner to Bernstein, this program reveals the organ’s ability to convey a wide emotional and stylistic landscape, moving between moments of intimate reflection and theatrical grandeur.
On July 15, Tignish-born soprano Robyn Perry along with Basilica organist Leo Marchildon explore the concept of longing in all its forms, as expressed through the music of Mozart, Schumann, Debussy, Poulenc, and Duruflé.
Then, on July 22, Leo Marchildon performs highlights from Masterpieces for Organ, an OOP resource book that has been his mainstay for over 45 years, consisting of organ classics as well as masterful adaptations from the orchestral repertoire, ranging from Bach to Flight of the Bumble-Bee, all focusing on the comfort and joy music can bring to people’s lives.
Mezzo-soprano Sylvia Mutch and countertenor Vhikthør Vhølkhen team up on July 29 to showcase their unique combination of voices in opera highlights and art song describing the intensity of love and passion, accompanied by Leo Marchildon.
On August 5, the Basilica welcomes organist Gibson J. MacMillan, associate director of music at St. Pauls on the Common (Saint John, NB) as he performs an eclectic program of music by Bach, Mendelssohn, Paul Halley, and the premiere of a new work by Maritime composer Richard Kidd.
Vocalist Gaige A. Waugh with Leo Marchildon present a program on August 12 intended “to embolden the heart against the darkened sky of the horizon,” with music ranging from beloved hymns to classics focusing on the themes of perseverance and hope.
The final concert on August 19 features emerging artist Jason Chen, fresh from the completion of his second year of studies in organ performance at Mount Allison University.
All concerts take place at St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown. Concerts begin at 1 pm and last about an hour. Admission is by donation.