Felix plays cello, gamba, and hopefully soon, timpani in and around the early music scene. He is also an itinerant music instructor in the TDSB and teaches the joy of cello and bass performance to young kids in grades 5 to 12.
- What are we interrupting (i.e. what music-related activity are we taking you away from to write this)?
You are interrupting an hour of prepping for my upcoming rehearsal week with Les Voix Humaines (Friday, June 7). I'll be there all next week rehearsing with the gamba ladies (Susie Napper, Margaret Little and Mélisande Corriveau) for three different programs to perform this month and beyond. I play the tenor viol in that consort. I love ending a piece on the third.
2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7?
I have nothing planned thus far except for the Macklemore show at Echo Beach in August.
3. How about as a music maker/player?
First, on June 23, I'm set to play a program of Lupo and (Dowland's) Lachrimae in the Montreal Early Music Festival, organized by the amazing Susie Napper. The festival runs from June 21 to 23 and is held in various unusual (and some usual) venues in and around the Old Montreal neighbourhood. Then on June 28, I return to Quebec and present our Summertime program with Les Voix Humaines alongside Suzie Leblanc in Trois-Rivières.
Later in mid-July, from the 15th to the 26th, I will be teaching at one of my favourite TDSB (Toronto District School Board) assignments! Downtown Summer Strings is a long running two-week summer camp for kids in the TDSB held at (the air-conditioned) Lord Lansdowne school at College and Spadina. Very fun camp Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 12 noon at a nominal cost.
August 15, I'm back in Montreal rehearsing and performing a program called “Beatles Baroque” with Mélisande Corriveau at the helm. We have our concert at the Orford Festival.
4. What are you already preparing for musically beyond the summer? And (how) do your summer plans tie in with these longer term plans?
I FURIOSI begins the season on October 12 at our new home venue...Windermere United in Bloor West village. Theme and guest to be confirmed. The remaining three concert dates are January 11, March 21 and May17, 2014. More details to come!
Probably the most exciting project I have been coming up with musically would be my November tour in Poland with Les Voix Humaines!!! We have a few concerts of a few programs in Poznan, among other cities. After the performances in the first two weeks, we (Les Voix Humaines) will present the Summertime program here in Toronto, venue TBD, on November 21. November 23 finds us in the Sault (Saint Marie), November 24 in Brantford, November 28 in Rimouski and finally December 1 in Hudson, QC.
Then rounding up the calendar year with another fantastic week of Tafelmusik's Messiah!!!! I hope to be asked to join the timpani section for the Hallelujah chorus encore this year. Fingers crossed....ahem Lvars! :)
