The Nassau Music Society, in Association with Societe Generale Private Banking, Colina, Royal Star Assurance, and Pictet, and Under the Patronage of His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas present:
QUARTETTO GELATO – International Artistes Extraordinaire – Live in concert
Friday – February 18th, 2011 – College of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre– 8:00PM sharp
Saturday – February 19th, 2011– St Paul ‘s Church Hall, Lyford Cay – 7:30PM sharp
Quartetto Gelato is comprised of Peter DeSoto, Alexander Sevastian, Liza Mcllelan and Colin Maier.
Peter is a remarkable talent who possesses the ability to perform not only as a classical musician but also as a spirited gypsy virtuoso with the added bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. His voice repertoire ranges from light pop, to authentic Irish folksongs to the great Italian operatic arias including Turandots “Nessun Dorma”. De Sotto has been referred to as “a credible Pavarotti stand-in” (Stereo Review). De Sotto has recently performed the role of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata, and just played a starring role in the Canadian Musical “Heartstrings”.
Alex plays (accordion, piano, bandoneon) and has won four International Accordion Competitions including the Oslofjord in Norway (1998), The Cup of the North in Russia (2000), the Anthony Galla-Rini Accordion Competition in the U.S.A. (2001) and The Coupe Mondiale in the U.S.A. (2007). Alex was born in Minsk, Belarus and began his studies on the accordion at the age of seven. In 1991 he attended the Glinka Musical College in Minsk. His advanced studies took him to the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters in Performance degree in 2002, studying with renowned performer and pedagogue, Friedrich Lips.
Currently cellist for Canada’s well known musical ensemble Quartetto Gelato, Liza has performed as soloist in front of orchestras across North America and has toured other countries such as China and Korea. In addition, she is a regular performer for Toronto’s Soundstreams series, and recently had the opportunity to premiere R. Murray Schaffer’s new work “The Childrens Crusade”. She also works with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout Ontario including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Thunder Bay Symphony and Orchestra London. In addition, Liza has performed as a featured soloist and chamber musician onstage the prestigious Glenn Gould Studio (Toronto), The Heleconian Club (Toronto), and The Arts Project (London).
Colin graduated from the University of Calgary in 1997 with a degree in oboe performance studying with David Sussman. As an oboist he has played with groups such as; The Calgary Philharmonic, National Ballet, Symphony of the Kootenays, Scarborough Philharmonic, Contact Contemporary Music Ensemble, Niagara International Chamber Music Festival, The Jive Mommas, High Strung, The Fabulous Doo-Wop Boys, The Plaid Tongued Devils and “The Jersey Boys” Orchestra . In 2002, he was a featured Jazz oboist at the International Double Reed Festival where he performed and conducted a jazz master class with legendary jazz bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz.
In addition to oboe, Colin also plays clarinet, english horn, violin, 5-string banjo, acoustic/electric bass, piano, saxophone, flute, guitar and harmonica.
The programme will include, Tango Del Mare, Konzerstuck Opus 79, Al Di, Oboe Concerto, Meditango, Suite Latinoamericana and Besame Mucho among others.
In addition to these two concerts and as a part of The Nassau Music Society’s programme to educate young Bahamian musicians, Quartetto Gelato will hold a free Master Class on Thursday, February 17th from 12:00-2:00 PM at the Performing Arts Centre of the College of the Bahamas. For information on pre-selection, please contact Dr. Christy Lee at theCollege of the Bahamas, Tel: 302-4508. Attendance is free and open to those who would like to watch and learn.
