Rhapsody Quintet Presents  "The Melody Lingers On"

June 13, 2002

Halifax's Rhapsody Quintet will present a live performance of "The Melody Lingers On," with special guests, soprano Leslie Lake Searle and baritone Ross Thompson, on Thursday, June 13 in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at the Cohn's Box Office at $22 regular and $18 for students/seniors.

 "The Melody Lingers On" is a program of well-loved songs from the great songwriters of American musical theatre from 1906 to 1948, including Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and George Gershwin.  From this show Rhapsody developed their acclaimed art video, "A Nova Scotia Ocean Fantasy" which has aired nationally on the Bravo channel to rave reviews.  Rhapsody will also perform this show in Truro on Sunday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m. at the Alumni Theatre, Agricultural College, and at Glace Bay's Savoy Theatre on Tuesday, June 11 at 8:00 pm. 

The period from 1900 to 1948 was an exceptional time when songwriters and lyricists developed a new expression for the American stage.  It was a transition from the European operetta style of Victor Herbert and Sigmund Romberg to that unique American presentation called musical theatre.  The great songwriters and lyricists in this show provided a richness of melody, harmony and expression to the world of musical theatre that was unique to those decades. 

Rhapsody Quintet has been performing salon music, light classics, theatre music, and chamber music since the mid-80s, both in concert and for special occasions.  They've played concerts overlooking the ocean, at corporate events, charity fundraisers and dinners for royalty.  Audiences have responded to their lighthearted and sometimes frivolous music with great enthusiasm and a demand for more.  The group has continued the century-old tradition of arranging and adapting orchestral and piano music to suit its own instrumentation.  Local arrangers Gary Ewer, Earl Fralick, Christopher Palmer and John Rapson arranged all the pieces in this show.  Next season Rhapsody are featured guest artists on Symphony Nova Scotia's "Traditional Pops" Series, and they are included on CBC Radio Maritimes' new compilation recording,  "Play It Again Stan!"

The members of the Rhapsody Quintet are Anne Rapson, violin; John Rapson, clarinet, Shimon Walt, Cello, Diana Torbert, Piano and Catherine Loftin, Bass.  All are important members of  Nova Scotia's professional musical scene, as teachers, members of Symphony Nova Scotia, recording artists and soloists.

Soprano Leslie Lake Searle was born in Newfoundland, and brought up on Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy's nostalgic music.  A music graduate of Dalhousie University and the Banff School of Fine Arts in musical theatre, she has vast experience on radio, stage, TV and film.  Leslie has appeared as soloist with the Newfoundland Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia, and appeared on CBC TV with Tommy Hunter and Ryan's Fancy.  A singer, actor and choreographer, she teaches privately in her studio and has taught in the schools in Nova Scotia.  Leslie is also the creator and director of the successful "Musical Theatre Camps for Young Children" in Truro and throughout Nova Scotia.

Baritone Ross Thompson studied at the University of Calgary, the Banff School of Fine Arts, the University of Toronto and Acadia University.  His multi-faceted career has included opera, musical theatre, choral direction, teaching, arts administration and event production.  Ross has performed with opera companies and symphony orchestras throughout Canada.  With Symphony Nova Scotia he has appeared in Madame Butterfly, HMS Pinafore, the Gondoliers, in a pops concert featuring Broadway favorites with Howard Cable, and singing Bach cantatas.  He will appear as soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia again next season.

Rhapsody's recent successes include live performances throughout Nova Scotia to ecstatic audiences.  Their first CD, "The Melody Lingers On," was released in November, 1998.  Their second CD, the ECMA-nominated, "Café Chantant and other Salon Delights," was released in 1999 and Rhapsody released its third CD, "Kiss of Fire,"  in 2001 to critical acclaim in Canada and the U.K.

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