Karina Gauvin, Canadian primadonna

July 1, 2023, 4:00 pm

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Portrait of Karina Gauvin in dressing room surrounded by mirrors with make-up lights.
Karina Gauvin (Photo: Michael Slobodian)

Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin is in high demand by the world’s leading symphonic and Baroque orchestras and opera companies. With a dark, warm tone that is nevertheless agile and able to “float,” she is unique in the 17th and 18th repertoire for which she is recognized. For this Canada Day episode, Gauvin discusses her collaborations with other leading Canadian artists, as well as her special relationships with both the Boston Early Music Festival and her mentor, the late Alan Curtis. Recorded at the 2023 Boston Early Music Festival.

Hear an example of Karina Gauvin’s mastery of coloratura in a “rage” aria by Vivaldi.

Playlist

All selections feature soprano Karina Gauvin.

Henry Purcell: “See, even Night herself is here” from The Fairy Queen
Les Boréades
Francis Colpron, conductor

George Frideric Handel: “Tornami a vagheggiar” from Alcina
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Jeanne Lamon, conductor

Handel: “Ah! mio cor” from Alcina
Arion Baroque Orchestra
Alexander Weimann

Maurice Ravel: Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
IV. Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
Marc-André Hamelin, piano

Gabriel Fauré: Cinq mélodies “de Venise”, Op. 58
I. Mandoline
II. En sourdine
Marc-André Hamelin, piano

Johann Georg Conradi: “Auff, auff erbostes Glücke” from Die schöne und getreue Ariadne
Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra
Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, co-directors

Handel: “V’adoro, pupille” from Giulio Cesare
Il Complesso Barocco
Alan Curtis, conductor

Handel: “From this dread scene” from Judas Maccabeus
Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto
Il Complesso Barocco
Alan Curtis, conductor