Baritone Russell Braun comes to Western
January 29, 2010
From Salzburg to Toronto, baritone Russell Braun is a favourite. He comes to Western to help students learn how to connect with audiences.
Canadian baritone Russell Braun is a great singer, not only because of his voice and musicality, but because of his ability to connect with the people who have come to hear him.
He also loves to teach, and through his connections with Torin Chiles, voice professor at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Braun is bringing his passion and his experience to Western students.
On Friday, Feb. 5, Braun will conduct a masterclass from 11:30 to 5:30 in the Paul Davenport Theatre in Talbot College. The audience is open to anyone who wants to learn from a master as he translates his art for the next generation.
Through a last-minute cancellation of another engagement, Western was able to attract him to work with five voice students. “He’s that kind of guy – he’s so generous,” said Chiles who did his undergrad degree with Braun.
“The masterclass will give them contact with one of the world’s great singers who sings in some of the world’s best concert and recital halls. They will learn technique and performing skills. He’ll ask them what they want to say, to communicate with the audience. They’ll work on stage presentation and character realization. Braun’s repertoire is huge. He’s worked with some of the greatest.”
Chiles said Braun was eager to come work with the students. “He is an opera, oratorio singer, but he still is very much a recital singer. This is all repertoire our young singers cut their teeth on – not just opera.”
Braun’s extensive discography includes the Juno-winning recording of Mozart’s arias with Western alumnus Michael Schade and and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. His highly acclaimed Salzburg Festival appearance as Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette was released on DVD.
During the 2009-10 season, Braun makes role debuts as The Traveller in Benjamin Britten's Death in Venice at the Theatre an der Wien in Vienna and as Lescaut in the ROH Covent Garden production of Manon. As well, he appears with the Chicago, Cleveland, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver symphony orchestras, in duo recital with Michael Schade in Kansas City and undertakes an extensive recital tour of Western Canada. Future highlights include returns to the Salzburg Festival to reprise the role of Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette, to Teatro alla Scala in the same role, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Canadian Opera Company.
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