ROCHESTER, NY — Although not by fast-ferry from Toronto, the Canadian Brass — the world’s best-known brass quintet — will arrive in Rochester later this summer for a special weekend residency at the Eastman School of Music. The quintet will present a concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 26, in Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) featuring a delightful program of classical, jazz, and popular music.
Hailed as "the men who put brass music on the map" by The Washington Post, the Canadian Brass have entertained audiences for more than three decades with their unique blend of virtuosity, humor, and genre-blending repertoire. The five virtuosi — including Eastman alumnus and tubist Charles Daellenbach — have made the brass quintet an exciting vehicle for concert music. Starting originally with a limited base of traditional works for brass, the Canadian Brass have created their own musical world by transcribing, arranging, and commissioning more than 200 works. Well known for their performances and recordings of the classical repertoire, concertgoers have come to love the wide-range of styles that the group includes in its performance library: gospel songs, marches, opera medleys, rock tunes, and jazz standards — always blended with lively dialogue, humor, and theatrical effects.
In addition to tours around the world and performances with major symphony orchestras, the Canadian Brass have been seen by millions of television viewers on such programs as The Tonight Show, NBC News’ Today, and Entertainment Tonight. The group also has appeared on Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops, and numerous PBS specials. In addition, the quintet has created eight videos that have gained an international audience. Their more than 50 recordings, including works by Vivaldi, Gabrielli, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner, have created a new musical tradition in brass performance.
Tickets for the Eastman Theatre concert are $15, $12, and $10 (with discounts available for University of Rochester ID holders) and are available in person at Ticket Express (100 East Ave), by phone at Ticketmaster at (585) 232-1900, or on the web at Ticketmaster.com. Any remaining tickets will be available at the theatre box office one hour before the start of the concert.
As part of their residency during Eastman’s Summer Session, the Canadian Brass will work with and coach professional, collegiate, and high school-age students in brass ensemble repertory. The weekend workshop will conclude with a free performance by these students at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 28 in Kilbourn Hall. The public is invited.
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Note to editors: Color photos of the Canadian Brass are available for downloading at www.canbrass.com/press