THE SCHUMANN LETTERS
A Story of Love and Music in the Shadow of Madness

Music by Robert Schumann
Written by Colin Fox
Produced by Andrew Kwan
Performed by Susan Gilmour Bailey (soprano), Michael Kim (piano), Colin Fox (narrator)

German composer Robert Schumann fell in love with a young virtuoso pianist Clara Wieck. Despite adamant opposition from her father throughout their courtship, the couple sought legal consent and were wed in 1840. During this time, thousands of letters were written between them which provide the inspiration for this music-as-theatre performance.

A new musical concept, The Schumann Letters has been enticing audiences with a unique combination of storytelling, piano music and song. Often garnering standing ovations, it has seen 30 performances this season alone and continues to build excitement for a new musical concept. Offering an exquisite combination of drama, history and music, The Schumann Letters was selected by Prairie Debut for their 2009-2010 touring roster. In addition, the show was featured in a national CBC radio broadcast and appeared in the Ottawa Chamber Festival and Festival of the Sound in the summer of 2010.

Having toured throughout the Prairie Provinces and Ontario, The Schumann Letters continues to build excitement for a show that offers an exquisite combination of drama, history and music. Often garnering standing ovations, this past season saw thirty performances in cities ranging from Outlook SK, to Toronto ON, and Fort McMurray AB to Winnipeg MB. Selected by Prairie Debut, The Schumann Letters was a touring project for their 2009-2010 roster and was featured in a national CBC broadcast, sparking interest across the country. Summer 2010 saw the production in a number of summer festivals including the Ottawa Chamber Festival and Festival of the Sound. In addition, the 2010-11 season will bring the show to British Columbia, Yukon, Ontario, and their first international performance in Kuwait.

BIOGRAPHIES

SUSAN GILMOUR BAILEY, soprano  Born and raised in Manitoba, soprano Susan Gilmour Bailey emigrated to London in 1999 to complete her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the Royal Academy of Music. Performing throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, Susan enjoys a varied career of concert, Oratorio and opera. Ms. Bailey has appeared as a soloist with prestigious orchestras such as the London Sinfonia and the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras, to name a few. She has also performed leading roles with opera companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera de Lille, Early Opera Company, Concert d’Astrée, Garington Opera, and the Cambridge Handel opera group, among others. In addition to touring with The Schumann Letters this season, Ms. Bailey will also perform the role of Belinda in Dido and Aeneus with l’Opera de Dijon in France.

MICHARL KIM, piano  Michael Kim is a gifted pianist and performer, known for his outstanding technique and refined artistry. Winner of many prestigious awards, his performance highlights include a tour in Peru with Orchestra Sinfonica de Trujillo and the UK tour with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony. As a chamber musician, Michael has performed at the Brevard, Aspen, Banff, Huntsville, and Heifetz (Annapolis, MD) festivals, to name a few. Receiving his Master and Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School, in August 2008, Dr. Kim was appointed Dean of Brandon University’s School of Music, in Brandon Manitoba, Canada.

COLIN FOX, narrator  A multi-talented artist, Colin Fox has an extensive list of stage, film, television, and musical narrations to his credit. A Gemini award winner, Colin has performed in several critically acclaimed shows, including PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paramormal, A & E’s Nero Wolfe, Wonderfalls, Law and Order, The Equalizer, Relic Hunter and Street Legal. His stage appearances include productions at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival and on Broadway. He has also narrated numerous audio books, one which received a JUNO Award. Mr. Fox has performed musical narrations with the Boston and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, the Hannaford Street Silber Band, guitarist Simon Wynberg, the Mendelssohn Choir, pianist Leslie Kinton, the Gryphon Trio, the Elora Festival Singers, and has appeared at many music festivals across Ontario.

http://www.andrewkwanartists.com

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS
The production includes these works plus many others.

Program subject to change.  The Schumann Letters is a concert format presentation of 2 halves (approximately 40 minutes) plus intermission.

Note that the performance location of The Schumann Letters is Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS), 275 Wellington Street, Sarnia -- not the Imperial Theatre.