5th international tour / Monika & Peter Hana, Transatlantik Schrammel (spring-summer 08)

Organizing a Viennese Bal in your community

Some press releases

Ensemble Strauss-Lanner
Ensemble Transatlantik Schrammel
Trio Kaffeehaus
 

We have the expertise to help you to carry out your own Viennese Bal. Our Dance Master will show to the public the way to dance the less known Vienneses dances like the Polka, Gallop, Polonaise, Quadrilles, Mazurka, Scottish and Waltz while the ensemble Strauss-Lanner or the ensemble Johann Schrammel ensures the musical execution including these dances and obviously the sublimes Viennese waltzes. Our concept is copied on the great ball of the Club of Concordia Press of Vienna.

 

Artistic Director, Jean Deschênes

The Ensemble Strauss-Lanner specializes in the interpretation of the music of the Viennese Biedermeier period. The ensemble made several tours in Québec and Ontario visiting various concert hall like the Grand Théâtre de Québec, the Vanier College in Ville St-Laurent, the Stewart Hall in Pointe-Claire, the Pavillon des arts de Ste Adèle and the Maison Tresler in Dorion. The Ensemble Strauss-Lanner also joined various choral societies like the St-Lambert choir and the Chanteurs de Ste-Thérèse. One can regularly listen to our various recording on CBC radio and Radio-classique Montreal. Four of the musicians also perform as "Ensemble Transatlantik Schrammel" presenting Viennese Schrammelmusik on original instruments. They toured many times in Austria, Germany and France and were nominee at the Prix opus of the Conseil québécois de la musique for their CD "Bouquet".

A facinating authenticity Die Presse/Vienna

Concerts available (a DVD presentation is possible at no extra charge, we can have dancers included in the show acording to your budget)

It his an historical fact that both in their own way, Sissi, the rebel empress of Austrian monarchy and Johann Strauss, the international king of the waltz, change the look of Europe of the second part of the 19th century. The pure and fresh sound comming from his native Bavarian mountains and his love for the lively Gypsy music of his adoptive country, the Hungary, made her to prefer types of music which were far from usual according to her social position. Something in fact, closer to the romantic music world of the Strauss dynasty.

 Forget about the aristocracy and his antique Menuet. A new area led by Johann Strauss and his Sons is coming. They will conquer in their own way Europe like Napoleon did as well as the New World. Even if the Waltz kills people, the puritan won't be able to stop this whirlwind. The devils who will precede the pop stars of the 20th century are in action with their astounding Waltz and wild Galop. « Strauss, devils of the Waltz » is presented at the occasion of 200 aniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss I.

Ensemble Transatlantik Schrammel

Concerts available (a DVD presentation is possible at no extra charge)

  NEW--Walking through Vienna!

A musical walk through the colorful districts of Vienna 

-Paprika!

Viennese Schrammelmusik was influenced by different musical cultures, Gypsy, Klezmer and Hungarian as well. A powerfull taste of... Paprika!

Brigitte Lefebvre et Solange Bellemare, violins - Anne Lauzon, Viennese G clarinet and the Wiener Knopfharmonika - Jean Deschênes, contreguitare

This quartet is the only one in Canada performing in the authentic Viennese classical Schrammel form using the Viennese G clarinet, the Knopharmonika and contraguitar combined with 2 violins. All curious music lovers won't want to miss this quartet just back from a succesful tour in Germany and Austria.

    About the europeean tour of L'Ensemble Transatlantik Schrammel:

   "...but from faraway Canada, an ensemble Schrammel brings us music "à la Schrammel" of the best quality, not only because they adhere to the original formation, but more importantly because on the authenticity of their style with the original spirit of the creators of this genre."

Hans Höfer: Coburger Tageblatt-Allemagne  

Trio Kaffeehaus

Echos from the Alps

Very impressed by Austria, this land of mountains and music where lived the great Mozart, the Trio Kaffeehaus having lived there for several months, wish to share with you his love for the fresh Alpine music, his instruments as well as the Austrian traditional pleasure of family music playing.

Christmas in the Alps

There is so many Christmas songs in the world. Each of them having a special story and path. The one we call "Adeste Fideles" in Québec which is, according to one of our source, an old Latin song is described in a German music collection as coming from Portugal meanwhile an English Canadian book state John Reading (it sound not realy Portuguese) as to be the composer. So we decided to forget the musicology and we tried to present what was for us, the spirit of Nowel. And since we live in Québec, Christmas also means snow and cold. The Alpine part of Europe have in a way (without the -30 Celcius) the same portrait. One can also add to this, skiing, skating and sleigh riding. Oh! yes, we don't want to forget! We wish you a lot of "Merry Christmas".

TRIO KAFFEEHAUS

The Kaffeehaus Trio's original members are Anne Lauzon and Jean Deschênes, who devote themselves almost exclusively to the traditional Viennese repertoire known as Schrammelmusik, as well as to the music of the Strauss, Lanner, Fahrbach, and other such Viennese musical dynasties. In 1998, the two musicians were honoured with the "Golden Medal of Merit" by the Austrian Republic, in acknowledgment of their contribution to the promotion of Austrian culture. In the same vein, they have aimed here at paying homage to this music from different regions of Austria that was such a profound source of inspiration to the great Viennese masters whom they so admire. The third member of the Trio, Anouk, daughter of the founding couple, plays the piano, clarinet, recorder and violin, and already has several years of concert experience to her credit despite her young age. She played second clarinet during the Transatlantik Schrammel Ensemble's 11-concert tour of Austria and Canada in the spring of 2005, with the Viennese singers Monika and Peter Hana.

MONIKA & PETER HANA

Monika Hana, Sopran

Born in Vienna she studied singing at the Vienna Conservatory, Professor Kay Williams. Beside her engagements at the famous Theater an der Wien, where she was staring in a long running production of the "Merry Widow", she mainly featured at the "Theater der Jugend" (theater for young people), where she appeared especially in musical comedies. Several on tour productions dedicated to Viennese operettas such as The Bat, Vienna Blood, Merry Widow, etc. took her to Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland.

During the recent years she concentrated mainly on concerts. Her personal wide range of artistic possibilities enabled her to be present the traditional classic repertoire (Mozart, Schubert, Brahms etc.) as well as the well known operettas, musicals and the unique form of Wiener Lieder (Songs of Vienna). Concerts all over Austria, especially to mention the ones for the prestigious "Vienna Festival". Extensive guest performing brought her to the US, Canada, Germany and Australia. She appeared on radio and TV shows, CD productions.

Peter Hana, Baritone

Born in Vienna he studied singing with KS Hilde Rössel-Majdan from the Vienna State Opera, and finished his studies with a Diploma of the Conservatory Vienna, Prof. Kubik. He than became a member of the Vienna Chamber Opera for eight years, where he took over parts in operas, operettas and musical comedies of Donizetti, Mozart, Menotti, Schubert, Strauss, Offenbach etc. A guest contract brought him as soloist on stage of the Wiener Raimundtheater. Moreover he became a member of a free opera group appearing in oeuvres of Nicolai, Mozart and Flotow. Since 1981 he is engaged at chorus of the Vienna State Opera.

Extensive concert activities with classic recitals, oratories, and church music all over Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and Hungaria. Moreover he is concentrating as well on the so called "Vienna note" (Viennese Operetta, Songs of Vienna). 1996 a series of concerts took him to Chile, 1998 to Canada, 2001 Australia, 2002 Canada and US, 2003 Australia, 2005 Austria - Canada tour together with his wife Monika Hana and the well known Ensemble Transatlantic/Montreal. Appeared on radio and TV-shows, CD-productions.

Transatlantik Schrammel