Nostalgia of love…
Nostalgie d’amour…
Gertrude Létourneau
and Garry Elliott
An intimate concert of virtuosic and passionate pieces for flute and guitar, and popular love songs from 1930-1950.
Gertrude Létourneau and Garry Elliott have been playing together since the fall of 2007. They have performed in various venues in the Ottawa area including Les Concerts Ponticello, Cleary Hall, Glebe St.James and St.Lukes Concert Series and at La Galerie d’Art in Montebello. They released their first CD “Habanera” last spring.
On February 11th, they played at the NAC Fourth Stage and were part of the Almonte Concert Series on April 24th.
Gertrude Létourneau is a flutist, singer, accompanist and music instructor at the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre in Ottawa since 2000. At the same time, she continues her performing career. Ms. Létourneau has been heard on the radio numerous times, including a CBC concert with The Chris Norman Ensemble. In 2005, she released her first solo CD, histoires d’amour… In February 2007, she presented Flûte d’amour, Chansons d’amour at the National Arts Centre and Love and War at the Canadian War Museum. In November 2008, she was a guest musician in the National Arts Centre Orchestra Western Tour. She performed with musicians of the orchestra at the Kipnes Veterans' Centre in Edmonton. Last fall, Ms Létourneau performed with pianist Peter Tiefenbach a concert of songs and music of 1939-45 called Remember…Souviens-toi… at the National Arts Centre, the Canadian War Museum and various Veterans’ homes in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and London, Ontario.
Garry Elliott is a versatile guitarist specializing in classical, jazz and tango nuevo. He received a Bachelor of music degree from the University of Ottawa where he studied with Michael Strutt. He also participated in masterclasses with David Russell and Manuel Barruecco.As a classical guitarist, Garry frequently performs solo and in duos. He has performed and recorded with composer, guitarist Roddy Ellias and the tango nuevo ensemble Norteño. He is also very active on the Ottawa jazz scene. Garry has performed in various festivals including the Montreal and Ottawa Jazz Festivals, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival and the Westben Music Festival. He has recorded for the CBC and Radio Canada on numerous occasions. Garry teaches classical and jazz guitar for Carleton University as well as privately.
"To watch Gertrude Létourneau bring music to elderly people is to experience the nourishment of a parched flower. Faces and eyes light up. Mouths form the words from almost forgotten songs. Fingers tap to the rhythms of melodies both familiar and just simply beautiful. Gertrude brings a vivacious and energetic spirit to her interchange with her audiences which is only one of the reasons why they love her."
- Julia Foster, Chair, National Arts Centre
The concert took place in front of a special backdrop created by the residents of St. Patrick’s Home.
Many thanks to Gertrude, Garry and the residents at St. Patrick’s Home