Bottega News
August 13th, 2012
The invitation to Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel to become the “Artist in Residence” at Bo.ttega serves the initial vision; the word “Bottega” is defined as “the studio of a master artist, in which other artists, apprentices, or students learn by participating in the work” or simply “Artist and Pupil working together”. To that end, Alexandra Babbel instructs private voice lessons, performs solo repertoire and presents concerts in collaboration with her pupils. The ongoing concertizing and education that is included in the presentation of Classical Vocal Repertoire enlightens as well as entertains the community at large.
In keeping with larger Opera Houses in North America (Chicago Lyric, New York Met and San Fransisco) supertitles will be presented in English thus giving the novice Opera goer complete understanding of the scene. Additionally, some of Canada’s top Classical Musicians have collaborated with Alexandra Babbel at Bo.ttega to present Master Classes in order to produce the polished Young singers who have gone on to Universities and Performing Arts Schools in Canada and the U.S.
More about Alexandra Babbel: http://www.alexandra-babbel.com
BIO: Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel, Lyric Soprano
Lyric Soprano Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel, being the only American-born member of her family, has approached her music with a great sense of privilege. Her German mother and Ukrainian father met and married in a displaced persons’ refugee camp after fleeing the Stalinist terror in Ukraine and later immigrated to the United States where Ms. Babbel was born.
Ms. Babbel’s opera career in Chicago included the title role in the World Premiere production of Philip Hagamman’s opera The Aspern Papers and roles with the Lincoln Opera and the Milwaukee Opera Company in Puccini’s La Boheme, performing both the roles of Mimi and Mussetta.
Ms. Babbel’s has enjoyed Operatic and Concert Solo performances in Canada, Germany, England, Switzerland, Holland, Italy and solo concert tours in Russia and Ukraine including guest appearances with members of the Kiev Conservatory of Music, Moscow’s conductor Evgeny Vechenko, and recital performances in association with the Britten-Pears School.
In addition to training with teachers Galina Vesnevskaya and Kathleen Kaun and Vocal Coaches John Wustman and Joan Dornemann, Ms. Babbel sang in Master Class for Maureen Forrester and Elly Ameling. Alexandra Babbel holds a BA in Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan, a MA in Opera Performance from the University of Alberta and Post-Masters Certificate of Performance from Northwestern University, Deerfield, Illinois. She held the faculty position of Voice Department Head at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois before relocating to Canada.
BIO: Arnold Draper
Arnold Draper comes from a family of eminent British musicians. His early piano studies, from the age of four, were with his father. In the course of a multi-faceted career, Mr. Draper has given solo recitals and chamber music concerts throughout Britain and has performed for BBC Radio/TV and British Commercial Television. He has performed concertos with various orchestras, including the Okanagan Symphony in Canada and has accompanied many distinguished British and European instrumentalists and singers including a concert with one thousand Welsh male voices at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Mr. Draper was a teaching and performing member of the music faculty at Cardiff University, Wales from 1974 to 1989. Since making Kelowna his permanent home, Mr. Draper has quickly established himself as an accompanist, teacher and adjudicator. He is closely associated with the Mozart Festival and the Kelowna Chamber Music Society. As a result of the Okanagan Festival of the Arts, Mr. Draper formed the Chinook Duo with Gloria Saarinen in 1994, and they recorded, in Toronto, the complete repertoire of Schubert’s Music for Four-Hands (7 CD’s).
In 2005, Mr. Draper received the Okanagan Scorpion Award for Classical Artist of the year.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE (AIR)
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities exist to invite artists, academicians, curators, and all manner of creative people for a time and space away from their usual environment and obligations. They provide a time of reflection, research, presentation and/or production. They also allow an individual to explore his/her practice within another community; meeting new people, using new materials, experiencing life in a new location. Art residencies emphasize the importance of meaningful and multi-layered cultural exchange and immersion into another culture.
Some residency programs are incorporated within larger institutions. Other organisations exist solely to support residential exchange programs. Residencies can be a part of museums, universities, galleries, studio spaces, theaters, artist-run spaces, municipalities, governmental offices, and even festivals. They can be seasonal, ongoing, or tied to a particular one-time event. They exist in urban spaces, rural villages, and deep in nature. Hundreds of such opportunities and organisations exist throughout the world.
There is no single model, and the expectations and requirements vary greatly. The relationship between the resident and the host is often an important aspect of a residency program. Sometimes residents become quite involved in a community – giving presentations, workshops, or collaborating with local residents. At other times, they are quite secluded, with ample time to focus and investigate their own practice.
Residency programs utilize a wide range of financial models. In some situations, residents must finance their own stay, finding funding and support from their own countries and networks. There are also residency programs that provide part or all of the required finances to invited guests.
The application processes also vary widely; not all programs organize an open call for applications. Some opportunities are by invitation only, or are offered through special partnerships with other institutions, funding bodies, or organizations.
Many times a residency experience is only the beginning of a longer relationship. Residents often return to complete a project they started, to begin a new collaboration, or participate in an exhibition, panel or workshop.
* Photos by Darren Hull
Tweet
