Concert to promote the work of CARE Canada
Cathedral Arts, the arts programme at Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, is pleased to present The Road to Carnegie Hall, featuring Canadian lyric tenor, Ken Lavigne on Sunday, September 16th at 3:00PM at the cathedral, 420 Sparks Street. The concert will serve to raise awareness and support for the work of CARE Canada, an organization that is dedicated to serving individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world (See: www.care.ca). Over the years, Cathedral Arts has promoted many special causes as part of its outreach activities.
The award-winning Ken Lavigne is a singer, composer, communicator and consummate entertainer. Recognized early for the outstanding timbre of his lyric tenor voice as well as the ease and agility with which he sings, Lavigne undertook thorough vocal and music training in his native Victoria, BC, at the University of Victoria and at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Further study took him to Wales and to New York.
Cabaret Exchange New York describes his voice to be like “liquid gold” with a focus “so precise as to soothe and excite at the same time”; The Globe and Mail calls him “outstanding”; and, The Victoria Times declares that he is “just plain exhilarating”.
On September 16th, Ken Lavigne will present an afternoon of music that will touch every heart – with his sincere delivery of ballads, show tunes and classical crossover hits.
TICKETS: $15 (Students) to $100 for the Platinum level.
The $100 ticket includes a tax receipt of $50 from CARE Canada
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE: www.cathedralarts.ca
TICKET INFORMATION: Telephone (613) 567-1787; Email: info@cathedralarts.ca
CATHEDRAL ARTS OFFICE: Lauder Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, 439 Queen Street
OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
BACKGROUNDER:
Classical & Opera performances
With his voice, his presence and his interpretive strengths, Lavigne had the option of taking the traditional route to a career in opera. Following his 1998 debut in Massenet’s Werther, major roles followed in Nabuko, La Traviata, Cenerentolla and The Barber of Seville with Pacific Opera Victoria, the Portland Opera and the Burnaby Lyric Opera.
Despite Lavigne’s recent branching out to cross-over solo concerts, he is still in great demand as an opera performer, not only in traditional roles such as “Spoletta” in the Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2005 production of Tosca, but also in new and sometimes controversial productions such as Victoria Philharmonic Choir’s 2007 interpretation of Handel’s Samson, presented in a post-war Palestinian setting.
Solo & Orchestral appearances
Ken Lavigne has a long and impressive list of solo concerts and Symphony performances over the short history of his career between 1997 and the present. In 2002, he was chosen to represent Canada at the Tipperary International Song of Peace Contest. His performance won first place and he subsequently had the honour of performing the same winning composition for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Jubilee Celebrations in Victoria, and for Prince Charles during his Canadian tour in 2009.
As featured soloist, Lavigne has appeared with a number of symphony orchestras including the Vancouver Island Symphony, the Palm Court Light Orchestra and the Prince George Symphony. Each Christmas, Lavigne lends his talents to the partnership of the Pacific Maritime Forces Naden Band, and the Salvation Army. He has been recently lauded for his interpretation of Stan Roger’s Canadian classic, North-West Passage, which he debuted in December, 2007 with the Naden Band.
Ensembles
The Canadian Tenors was established in 2004 with Lavigne as a founding member. He completed the inaugural BC tour with the group, after which he co-founded the successful trio, Romanza, which toured over a period of three years throughout BC and into Ontario with additional appearances in New York City and San Francisco.
Solo Cross-Over development
In 2007, Lavigne shifted his focus to independently producing solo cross-over concerts and CDs. The concerts are highly-produced, professional evenings of entertainment, designed by Lavigne, with music ranging from ballads and musical theatre favourites to familiar classics and operatic arias. The music is interspersed with personal vignettes and background notes on the music delivered with the warm and audience-winning charm which, along with his strong flair for comedy, have become Lavigne’s trademarks. The concerts are backed by a small ensemble of Canadian musicians and often include other Canadian vocal and instrumental soloists.
Recordings
Lavigne’s recordings – his debut album, On the Street Where You Live and his second release, Believe – have sold in the thousands and selections from both have been featured on a number of CBC programs. His third album entitled O’ Night Divine features Christmas classics and was released in November 2008.
Ken Lavigne made his New York debut on the famed Carnegie Hall stage, accompanied by the New York Pops Orchestra under the baton of Simon Capet. This achievement was “a dream come true” for the singer, and after having received three standing ovations and rave reviews for his performance in New York, the debut has led to further engagements across North America, including exclusive engagements with multi-Grammy winner, David Foster.
Reviews:
Talk Entertainment New York
This is a tenor whose time has come. A tenor who has all that is needed to soar to the top of his field. A tenor to be internationally recognized as one of the best; The timbre of his high notes; The strength and mellowness of his low tone; His controlled vibrato and crystal clear falsetto.
What a voice! What a performer!”