“The Faces of Romance” is more than a concert — it is a true journey through the history, geography, styles and aesthetics of a much-loved genre: the romance, the art song of the Russian tradition.
The audience will hear favourite classical, urban, old-time, contemporary and singer-songwriter romances, and even a “cruel romance”. The romance’s European “brothers and sisters” — German, Neapolitan and French — will be heard too. Alexander Vertinsky holds a special place in the genre, and his songs are also on the programme. We will also remember the legendary Klavdiya Shulzhenko, whose 120th anniversary is marked this year, with romances from her repertoire.
Your guides on this heartfelt and enlightening musical journey are soprano Antonina Levina (Montreal), laureate and diploma winner of international competitions, and maestro Nina Shapilskaya (Toronto).
Antonina is the founder of the Canadian Romance Lovers’ Club and has released seven albums and singles of vocal music.
Nina Shapilskaya — international competition laureate, improvising pianist, singer and composer — has had many admirers of her many-sided talent since Soviet times. Conservatory-trained, she has vast experience on the big stage: music director of Valery Leontiev’s band, founder and leader of the vocal quartet Moskva-Transit with Oleg Lundstrem’s State Jazz Orchestra, and music director of the musicals Russians on Broadway and The Snow Maiden.
She has written music for a number of Canadian documentary films. For more than 30 years the maestro has performed successfully on North American stages and taken part in major international music festivals. Nina Shapilskaya lives in Toronto and has for many years been a principal pianist of the National Ballet of Canada.