Carmen Harris will present a performance of Shakespearean art song through a variety of composers, including: Strauss’ Ophelia Lieder, Shakespearean selections from Dominick Argento’s Six Elizabethan Songs and the local composer Andrew Ager’s own Five Shakespearean Songs. Along with singing these beautiful, diverse works, she will discuss the historical importance of Shakespeare’s poetry and plays in music and how each of these composers represented his words very differently through text-setting and rhythmic play. Carmen will provide translations to the German text of Ophelia Lieder and will also speak about each song cycle before it begins so participants can share in the discovery of these amazing works.

Carmen Harris is a passionate performer of classical music, opera, musical theatre and just about any other genre she is hired for. She has a Master of Music from the University of Ottawa and has sung with opera companies and symphonies across North America and Europe, including work with the NAC Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony, Chilliwack Symphony and Okanagan Symphony. Carmen wrote her master’s thesis defence on Strauss’ Ophelia Lieder.

Registrants for this free event will receive a zoom address to connect.

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This is one of a series of 14 free, unique online sessions in the arts featuring some of Ottawa-Gatineau region’s top professionals. From visual arts and ceramics to creative movement, screenwriting, instrumental music, voice and dramatic arts, these individual sessions are helping meet the clear hunger for inspired virtual connection as the pandemic enters its second year.

“These sessions represent a win-win of sorts, pairing up local arts workers – who have been deeply impacted by not being able to work in traditional venues – with members of the community who, while following the stay-at-home protocols, can still be enlightened and pursue their love of learning through the various artistic disciplines being offered,” says David Globerman, who coordinates the Supporting Cast team at PAL Ottawa, a local charity dedicated to providing affordable housing and supports to senior arts workers in the National Capital Region.

The free programming runs twice a week from February 3 to March 31, Wednesday afternoons at 2 pm and Saturday evenings at 7 pm. They will be recorded and shared later on the PAL Ottawa Youtube channel for those unable to attend the sessions in real time.

A complete schedule and details of courses, along with registration details, is at palottawa.org

This series is produced with the generous support of Employment and Social Development Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program