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Leaf Music and Maryse Legault Present “Around Baermann”

Maryse Legault is thrilled to present her debut album, Around Baermann, featuring works written by and for the nineteenth-century virtuoso Heinrich Baermann, including masterpieces dedicated to him by his friend and collaborator Carl Maria von Weber. Performed alongside her accomplice Gili Loftus on fortepiano, Around Baermann is Legault’s love letter to one of the most formative players and developers of early clarinet technique and repertoire

Speaking on the creation of the album, Legault says, “By choosing to make my recording debut with a project around one of the most important and influential clarinet virtuosi, I wanted to make a strong impression as a daring and imaginative performer. The repertoire chosen for this recording is particularly colourful and challenging, especially when played on historical clarinet. My goal was also to program some pieces that have never been recorded before, or never on period instruments, to be able to make a relevant contribution to the historical clarinet catalogue of albums available today.” 

Known for his generosity and kind demeanour, Baermann built his reputation throughout Europe by touring extensively, performing Weber’s works as well as his own compositions. Considered an accomplished composer, he conceived works featuring the clarinet in various orchestrations. He developed a particularly lyrical clarinet language, obviously influenced by his accomplice Weber but also by his wife, the opera singer Helen Harlas. 

Maryse Legault received her master’s degree at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag in June 2017, specializing in historical clarinet performance in the studio of Eric Hoeprich. Maryse had the opportunity to perform with many ensembles and under the direction of many conductors, including Alexander Weimann, John Butt, Teodor Currentzis and François-Xavier Roth. 

Maryse Legault 

Release Date: June 2, 2023 

Physical/Digital Release 

 maryselegault.com 

leaf-music.ca 

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Brown | andrew@leaf-music.ca 

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Maureen Batt & Grej: “Lighthouse”

Released August 6, 2021 Maureen Batt & Grej (Gregory Harrison) are excited to present Lighthouse. Lighthouse is for anyone who has experienced the loss of someone close. It is, above all else, a love story… This  album was created from letters and journals written on a journey through grief. And while the inspiration for the album came from a dear friend, its message is universal. 

This album as a whole represents a journey through grief that has been separated into 9 tracks. The music was composed by Grej (Gregory Harrison) in collaboration with Maureen Batt. The concept is a marriage between classical and electronic genres that utilizes voice, piano, harmonium, synthesizer, and field recordings. 

“It’s hard to believe it, but it’s here. Lighthouse is here. With every project I give my whole heart; and somehow, for this project, I gave even more. It would mean the world to me if you had a listen. This album is for everyone. Gratitude is a big theme here and I have it in abundance.” Maureen Batt

Maureen Batt

Maureen Batt is celebrated for her “rich, warm sound and masterful acting” (Opera Canada). Maureen’s solo career is focused on promoting Canadian classical contemporary repertoire by collaborating with established and emerging composers to commission, première, and re-perform their works. Her debut album, Lady of the Lake includes song cycles by Schubert and Halifax-based composer Fiona Ryan and was nominated for Classical Recording of the Year (2018) by ECMA and Music Nova Scotia. She is also featured on Saman Shahi’s album Breathing in the Shadows with Tara Scott on piano. Aunt Helen, an opera short EP will be released on Leaf Music in May 2021 with Simon Docking on piano. Lighthouse is Maureen’s second full-length album with Leaf Music. 

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Grej 

Toronto-based percussionist and Dora-nominated composer Greg Harrison is emerging as one of Canada’s finest talents in contemporary music. His extensive resume spans artists and groups including Jeremy Dutcher, Cirque du Soleil, Video Games Live, R. Murray Schafer, and Fred Penner. Described as a “percussion & electronics wizard” (Bob Boilen – NPR Music), Harrison’s performative and compositional style merge his classical music background with his passion for electronic music.

In recent years, Harrison’s commissions have been coveted by Kaeja D’dance, ProArte Danza, Toronto Dance Theatre, Human Body Expression, Architek Percussion, Fifth Wind Quintet, CCDT, Dr. Morris Palter (University of Arizona), Popular Demand Pictures Inc., NB Tourism, and Division 85 Films. Greg is also co-founder of his groups Mear and Taktus marimba duo. 

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Maureen Batt | Grej – Lighthouse
Release date: August 6, 2021
Vinyl & Digital Release
Listen/Buy www.leafmusic.ca/LM243