Christopher Hall and the Comic Quartet Demystify the
World of Chamber Music at Horizon Stage
Comedian and former
principal clarinet Christopher Hall
is trying to demystify the sometimes formal world of chamber music. With the
help of Edmonton's StrathconaString Quartet he strives to answer such existential questions as “What
exactly is a musician thinking while he is playing?”, and “What’s the
difference between contemporary music and a migraine?” Laugh along with
Christopher’s hilarious anecdotes then marvel as he presents 1000 years of
music history in 15 minutes. But this concept isn’t all comedy, music lovers will
marvel at exquisitely performed excerpts from Mozart, Boccherini,
Schostakovitch, and Bach while novices will realize just how many of the
classics they actually know! You don’t need a mink coat or a doctorate in
musicology to enjoy Christopher Hall and the Comic Quartet at Horizon Stage on
Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m.; but if you own either or both this is still
the show for you.
Christopher Hall is the former principal clarinet
for the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal. He found working in an orchestra
far too serious so now, instead of joking around while sitting in the orchestra
pit, he performs as a stand-up comedian, and does various television and radio
shows in both English and French. Christopher has appeared in such prestigious
comedy festivals as Just for Laughs, The Winnipeg Comedy Fest, and the Grand
Rire in Québec City. He hosted Whoopi Goldberg’s Quebec City show in 2011 and
has won two Gémeaux awards (French Gemini). Christopher is
fluent in English, French, German, and Italian but whatever you do, DO NOT take
this man seriously!
The Strathcona String
Quartet, Edmonton’s most outstanding and versatile professional chamber
ensemble, have been performing together since 1987. They have released two
highly praised CDs which are frequently heard on radio stations across North
America including CBC radio, CKUA, and CJSR. The Strathcona String Quartet is
well known for their world premiere performances of works for string quartet by
local and international composers. They perform much of the Classical and
Romantic repertoire as well as historically informed early music on period
instruments. The members of the quartet are Jennifer Bustin (violin), Shannon
Johnson (violin), Sarah Wilbur-Woodman (viola), and Josephine van Lier (cello).
Learn everything you’ve always wanted to know
about classical music, and the musicians who perform it, but were afraid to ask,
from Christopher Hall and The Comic Quartet at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November
9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket
Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online
through Ticketpro.ca.
“The audience laughed uproariously all evening. And the most surprising
thing was at the end of the program Hall played the entire Mozart clarinet
concerto like a first-rate soloist!”
- La Press
"The clarinetist and comedian Christopher Hall unveiled the inner
workings of a symphony orchestra from A to Z, and the audience laughed
throughout the evening.”
- Quebec Hebdo
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