Time: Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 12noon
Place: The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Free Concert Series 

A fearless, hair-raising, primal and exhilarating tour-de-force for two female singers and timpani inspired by Swedish folk music and herding calls, PUKSÅNGER-LOCKROP stars Canadian sopranos Carla Huhtanen and Shannon Mercer with percussionist Ryan Scott, under the music direction of Dáirine Ní Mheadhra and John Hess.

PUKSÅNGER-LOCKROP (which translates as Timpanum Songs-Herding Calls) was commissioned by Rikskonserter for the 1989 Falun Folk Music Festival. “Basically, the intention was to investigate the potentialities of the voice, with reference to vocal techniques used in earlier Swedish folk music, and especially what is known as "kulning", the solo technique formerly used out of doors for herding cattle, communicating with each other over long distances and so on”, explains composer Karin Rehnqvist.

Karin Rehnqvist (born 1957) is one of Sweden's best-known and widely performed composers. With regular performances throughout Europe, USA and Scandinavia, her range extends to chamber, orchestral, stage, and vocal music. Above all, she enjoys working with unusual, cross-genre forms and ensembles. One strong characteristic feature of her work is her exploration of the areas between art and folk music.

The Toronto based Queen of Puddings Music Theatre creates boundary bursting music theatre – a music theatre that is dynamic, provocative and precedent setting. The company, founded in 1995 by Artistic Directors Dáirine Ní Mheadhra & John Hess, is acclaimed for its unique aesthetic based on a physical, singing theatre.
Visit www.queenofpuddingsmusictheatre.com for more information.