He has sung on such renowned stages as Carnegie Hall, La Scala and Opéra National de Paris.
And, next week, baritone Brett Polegato and pianist Robert Kortgaard will perform a series of popular standards in Coquitlam as part of a West Coast tour.
The Tri-City News caught up with the Toronto residents last week to talk about their upcoming show at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.
The Tri-City News: How do you and Robert know each other?
Brett Polegato: Robert and I first worked together several years ago after a mutual friend, the soprano Jane Archibald, suggested me for a concert she was doing with Robert for the Indian River Festival in PEI, where he is the artistic director. After those concerts, he suggested we put together a recital that we could tour and our first collaboration, A Transatlantic Voyage, was the result. This is my second solo recital program with Robert although we have done many other concerts in the meantime.
TCN: What is on the program?
Polegato: It actually came out of a series of concerts that Robert had been doing with the soprano Rebecca Caine. Rebecca lives in London, England, and had other engagements that prevented her from spending an extended time doing concerts in Canada. Robert asked me if I might like to try something different: I am primarily a classical singer and do a series of cabaret concerts with him.
TCN: Why these songs?
Polegato: There are many songs in the musical theatre world for a lyric baritone — songs that were first sung by Gordon MacRae, Howard Keel, John Raitt, Robert Goulet and the likes. I wanted to present a varied program which is why, for instance, in the second half, we have a group of anthems and songs of war. I was also excited to sing songs that were meant to be sung unamplified and which are rarely heard that way anymore, in particular the songs of Rogers and Hammerstein.
TCN: Who is your audience?
Polegato: I think our concert will appeal to anyone who likes musical theatre. The program runs the gamut from Sigmund Romberg to Stephen Sondheim so there is plenty for everyone to enjoy.
• Tickets at $37/$32/$16 for the show on Saturday, March 25 are available by calling the box office at 604-927-6555 or visiting evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
