U of L Faculty Artists and Friends celebrate a soirée inspired by Downton Abbey

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The University of Lethbridge is visiting  Downton Abbey at least in spirit with a special concert in the University of Lethbridge Recital Hall, Feb. 28.Melanie York, Madison Craig and Camille Rogers perform Three Maids from the Mikado. Photo by Richard Amery
“I’m a huge fan of  Downton Abbey. I love it. I love the music, I love the costumes. I love everything,” said Dr. Blane Hendsbee who recruited a dozen of his students to participate in the Saturday night soirée which is part of the Faculty Artists and Friends  concert series, which combines the talents of University of Lethbridge professors and their students and their friends for five different concerts throughout the year
“Some of the songs have been performed  in the show,” Hendsbee said adding others are drawn from the eras. The 15 selections are six minutes long or shorter, in tune with  actual soirées  which took place during the actual time period.


“This was their entertainment. There was no  television or radio and early in the Victorian era, no record players. And people had short attention spans then,” he said adding as result such soirées never  featured full productions, just excerpts.


“There will be something for everybody. We’re all on stage at the same time and at the end we all come out  dressed in outfits from the Roaring ’20s— like this,” he said, indicating his plum velvet smoking jacket and bow-tie.   Blaine Hendsbee prepares for a Soirée inspired by Downton Abbey. Photo by Richard Amery
Performers include Blaine Hendsbee (tenor) and Sandra Stringer (mezzo-soprano) accompanied by pianists Glen Montgomery and Magdalena von Eccher, Airdre Robinson on violin and Mark Rodgers on cello. Music majors Alyssa Durnie, Madison Craig, Camille Rogers and Melanie York also perform.


“ There is a huge crossover. It will feature music from the Late Victorian era, Georgian and the Roaring ’20s. It was a radical new age  and a huge period of social and political change. The costumes are evocative of that period,” Hendsbee enthused adding selections include ragtime jazz, selections like “Three Little Maids From School we are” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “the Mikado.”


 The costumes  may be familiar to patrons of U of L productions and the Opera workshop as they are drawn from or are reworked pieces from the University’s collection.Alyssa Durnie sings some opera. Photo by Richard Amery
The performers are excited about being part of the concert.


“It’s exciting to dress up and perform,” said  Camille Rogers, one of the trio who sing “ Three Little Maids.”
 While she has never watched Downton Abbey, she is excited to perform some Gilbert and Sullivan.
“ And it’s great to be able to perform with our professors,” added Melanie York.


“ These concerts were never meant to be educational, they  were supposed to be a lot of fun,” said Hendsbee,”
“ So I hope people will come and have fun and be moved,” he added.


The concert is 8 p.m., Feb. 28 in  the University of Lethbridge Recital Hall.
 Tickets cost $20 regular; $15 senior/student/alumni

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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