Cellist Matt Haimovitz & Vocal Trio VOICE to Perform at Hanford Hall, 2/5

Portland Ovations brings back cellist Matt Haimovitz - a series favorite - in a unique collaboration with UK vocal trio VOICE on Friday, February 5th, at 8pm at Hannaford Hall, USM Portland Campus.

Since his prodigious beginnings (debuting at 13 as a soloist with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic), Matt Haimovitz has emerged as a pioneering force in the chamber world, with reverberations felt from the walls of CBGB's (where he was the first classical artist to play in the iconic rock club) to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall. In addition to his many accolades (including an Avery Fisher Career Grant), Haimovitz is a savvy businessman, forming the Grammy-Award winning Oxingale Records in 2000. VOICE is a London-based, female trio, performing repertoire from the medieval era to 21st century spanning, both ages and continents. VOICE's distinctive sound is driven by individual voices that blend to create beautiful harmonies.

Entwining the sonorous sounds of Haimovitz's cello with the ethereal timbre of the ensemble's voices, the inspired and eclectic program spans the centuries, from adaptations of texts by Shakespeare and Hildegaard von Bingen, to works by Philip Glass and Leonard Cohen. This luminous combination of voice and cello includes a new work by Serbian composer Bozo Banovic, the winner of an international composition competition launched specifically for this collaboration.

While in Portland all of the artists will be participating in Ovations Offstage outreach events, including masterclasses at the University of Southern Maine School of Music; Artist's Salon with Matt Haimovitz for Ovations Members; and a special "Arts Happening" with VOICE at Whole Foods Market.

Ovations Offstage also offers a pre-performance lecture, "Song Throughout the Ages" at 7 pm on February 5th at Hannaford Hall. Presented by Bruce Fithian, tenor for the Boston Camerata, this event will discuss and demonstrate the history and evolution of selections from the evening's program. Mr. Fithian will be joined by members of the Saint Mary Schola, an early-music ensemble based in Falmouth.

The Haimovitz/VOICE performance is graciously sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank and WBACH, while foundation support is provided by National Endowment for the Arts, the Cricket Foundation, and Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust.

Tickets for Matt Haimovitz and VOICE are $42 for the general public, while Ovations Members enjoy a 10% discount. Area students can take advantage of a deeply discounted $10 student ticket as well. To purchase tickets visit www.portlandovations.org, contact PortTix at 207-842-0800 or stop by the box office window at Merrill Auditorium.

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