This recording is part of the Centrediscs’ Canadian Composers Portraits series which documents the emergence of a generation of pioneering professional composers who firmly established Canada’s place on the world’s musical map. Each release in this retrospective of the last fifty years is dedicated to a single composer and uniquely combines full-length documentaries on the composers’ lives and music, as well as a selection of their most important works.

CD1

Somers documentary produced by Eitan Cornfield / Documentaire sur Somers produit par Eitan Cornfield

CD2

1-4. North Country

5-9. Symphony No.1

10-18. Picasso Suite

CD3

1-4. Suite for Harp and Chamber Orchestra

5-9. Five Songs for Dark Voice

10. Lyric for Orchestra

11. Of Memory and Desire

CD4

1-2. Elegy, Transformation, Jubilation

3. Concertante for Violin, Percussion and String Orchestra

4-6. Third Piano Concerto

View the English transcription of the documentary.

Voir la traduction française de la transcription du documentaire.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du ministère du Patrimoine canadien.

PERFORMERS:

National Arts Centre Orchestra; Victor Feldbrill (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
CBC Vancouver Orchestra; Mario Bernardi (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
Jennifer Swartz (harp / harpe); National Arts Centre Orchestra; Victor Feldbrill (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
Jean Stilwell (mezzo-soprano); Esprit Orchestra; Alex Pauk (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
National Arts Centre Orchestra; Victor Feldbrill (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
Esprit Orchestra; Alex Pauk (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
Lorand Fenyves (violin / violon); Russell Hartenberger & Bob Becker (percussion); Chamber Players of Toronto; Winston Webbers (conductor / chef d’orchestre)
James Parker (piano); Esprit Orchestra; Alex Pauk (conductor / chef d’orchestre)