In This Short Life
Thursday August 20
7 p.m.
Barachois Historic Church
Devony Smith
mezzo-soprano
​
Norman Adams
cello
​
Pierre-André Doucet
piano
​
Reem Fayyad
poet
​​
Tickets
Tickets are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. As such, we invite you to purchase your tickets at the following price points, in accordance with your means:
40$ - 25$ - 15$
Program
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
An Sylvia, D. 891
Wandrers Nachtlied II, D. 768
So lasst mich scheinen, D. 877
Fanny Mendelssohn (1804-1847)
Der Eichwald brauset
Das Heimweh
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Liebst du um Schönheit, op. 12, no. 2
Lorelei, op. 13, no. 2
Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)
Auprès de ma mie
Viens mon bien-aimé
Écrin
L'Été
Entracte
Annika Socolofsky (née | born 1990)
Love // don't go
Caroline Shaw (née | born 1982)
In manus tuas
Jake Landau (né | born 1995)
Jubilee
The Sake of You
Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Sonata for cello and piano, op. 6: 2. Adagio
Will Liverman (né | born 1988)
Earth, I thank you
Benjamin Parry Wenzelberg (né | born 1999)
An Hour of Forever
​
Artists
Devony Smith, mezzo-soprano
GRAMMY-nominated mezzo-soprano Devony Smith bridges classical opera and contemporary music with equal command. Praised by The New York Times for her "sensual" and "strong" voice, she brings technical precision and vivid interpretive insight to every performance. A committed advocate for new work, she has premiered pieces by Jennifer Higdon, Jake Landau, Eve Beglarian, and Luna Pearl Woolf, originating the role of the Designer in Woolf's Number Our Days. Her operatic roles include Cherubino, Hansel, Rosina, Dido, and La Cenerentola, with performances at New York City Opera and Teatro Comunale di Narni. Her debut album In This Short Life features premiere works by leading contemporary composers.
Reem Fayyad, poet
Reem Fayyad is a multifaceted soprano vocalist and cultural leader based in Moncton. She creates a unique artistic world where the soul of Arabic music meets a contemporary voice—celebrating and reinterpreting classics such as the legendary Fairouz while pioneering innovative fusion works. Reem is a pivotal figure in fostering a more diverse and inclusive cultural scene in Atlantic Canada and beyond.
Norman Adams, cello
Norman Adams is a cellist, improviser, sound artist, educator, and transdisciplinary artist. A former Principal Cellist of Symphony Nova Scotia (1991–2018), he is founder and past Artistic Director of suddenlyLISTEN Music, presenting new and improvised music for over 25 years. He has been guest Principal Cellist of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, performed at the Venice Biennale, and collaborated with artists including Joëlle Léandre, Pauline Oliveros, and Marilyn Crispell. He currently performs with stra:ta, Collateral, and with Joe Sorbara. normanadams.ca
Pierre-André Doucet, piano
Pianist by trade, Pierre-André Doucet is also a writer, clown, comedian, and translator. Praised for "the emotion of his playing and his impeccable control" (Audiophilia), he has performed across Canada and internationally, notably as a Lincoln Center Stage artist. Winner of the Knigge Piano Competition and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, he has also been recognized at the Prix d'Europe and the Ibiza International Piano Competition. He holds a graduate diploma in collaborative piano from McGill University and a doctorate in piano performance from the Université de Montréal. Pierre-André Doucet is the author of Sorta comme si on était déjà là (2012) and Des dick pics sous les étoiles (2020), both published by Prise de parole. His translation of Len & Cub: A Queer History will be published in September 2026 by Éditions Perce-Neige.