Andrew Ager, formerly the organist and choirmaster at St James’ Cathedral and always a composer, has now devoted himself full-time to writing music. He lives in an old family farmhouse in the Ottawa Valley, but spent the summer working and giving organ recitals in Monaco and Italy and has a premiere of new works coming up on Nov. 10. He picks up the story:

While I was working in Italy for [University of Toronto opera division head] Darryl Edwards’ distinguished summer programme, the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous vocal students from across Canada.

In such a beautiful setting as Sulmona, nestled seductively amongst the mountains of the Abruzzi, my creative juices began to flow with great ease.  My days unrolled largely at my own pace, a spacious one, taken up by composing and then attending the evening concerts.

By 9 p.m., the evening air was champagne-like and the concerts were held in an outdoor courtyard off the main square of that very antique town.

What did I write? I had an outstanding commission for a song cycle using Italian poetry, and so set about finishing it.

After COSI ended with a merry poolside party at a country villa, I went up to Venice where I completed the set, composing mornings in a beautiful house in the Ospedale quarter.

My very good friend, the British soprano Rosemary Forbes-Butler, premiered the set in the home of Count Paolo Trentinalia, and we repeated the performance at a private concert in the home of a local opera coach several days later.  The Count declared his admiration for these songs, and I was not displeased.

One of the singers from COSI, the golden-voiced Leigh-Ann Allen, will be giving the Canadian premiere of this set on Saturday, November 10, 7:30 pm at the Tryptych Auditorium, 2737 Bayview (at the 401).

On the same programme will be the premiere of my Divertimento for Cello and Piano, composed in memory of the intrepid and beloved late Bruce Kirkpatrick Hill, performed by cellist David Sharpe.

I will be playing the piano in both instances.

Bruce was a fervently eclectic lover of classical music, and chamber music in particular. It was a facet of his musical life not often appreciated by his devoted circle of church-music enthusiasts. He often featured chamber works on his very successful concert series at Christ Church Deer Park, and so it seemed fitting to render homage with the same.

Andrew Ager

For more details on the concert, click here.

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Here is Ager playing at some Bach in E-flat the new $2.5 million organ installed at the Cathedral in Monaco, followed by his church anthem New Jerusalem, sung by the Men and Boys of Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa, in St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge:

Because Hallowe’en is just around the corner, here is a scene from his opera Frankenstein, also premiered by Tryptych:

http://youtu.be/fS-yZ3Pwmzc