An award-winning Red Deer opera singer will be performing this weekend in his hometown.
David Gibbons, accompanied by pianist Annette Bradley, will perform Nacht und Träume (Night and Dreams): A Concert of German Lieder, Opera and Musical Theatre at St. Luke's Anglican Church (4929 54 St.) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 14.
"This (concert) is built off of German Lieder, which is essentially a singer and piano with German poetry. The second half is dedicated a song cycle and opera based on Shakespeare texts," Gibbons said.
Gibbons, a heldentenor who was born and raised in Red Deer, has sung both in North America and Europe, coached with the Canadian Opera Company, and won an award with Metropolitan Opera Company in 2010.
"I was a theatre guy here in Red Deer through Tree House Youth Theatre. a prominent voice teacher form Lacombe — Melrose Randall — kind of spotted me on stage, hunted me down and said, 'You should get some voice training,'" said Gibbons.
"Once I started to train my voice, a passion was certainly ignited. I did my schooling in it, I did my Masters in it. ... With the vocal repertoire, particularly what I sing, which is usually late 19th Century or 20th Century, the composers are maestros. They're the best of their kind. The music is so complex — the whole musicality, as it marries with the poetry, is outstanding."
He said he hopes to see classical music become more popular in Central Alberta.
"There are a lot of great musicians in Red Deer and the surrounding area. I'm trying to build some momentum so there are more vocal recital opportunities and maybe an opera scene down the road," said Gibbons.
"There's an interest in classical music. The Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra, for example, is really beginning to generate an audience. There's an audience here, but there isn't a lot of performance going on for soloists.
"There are really great artists from Red Deer. I'm certainly not the only classical singing who has made any kind of impact. The more classical music is supported, the more we'll see other performers come out of the woodwork. Red Deer has the appetite for a more ambitious classical vocal scene."
Tickets are $30 at the door. Only cash will be accepted.
