"This was the best ever!" That was the tenor after a long and satisfying evening with a very full house at the Hansa Club, where music lovers turned up for an encore performance of "Mark DuBois and Friends". Whoever did not go to the annual German Canadian gala ball turned up here, including the Mayor of Brampton.

The hall was filled with animated guests, sitting at beautifully set tables, enjoying a very fine dinner with the delectable wines from Reif Winery to chose from, and afterwards listening to wonderful musical performances by Mark DuBois, tenor, Giséle Fredette, mezzo-soprano, Suzanne Kompass, soprano, Bruce Kelly, baritone, accompanied by the incomparable Brahm Goldhammer on the piano. The program, which started immediately after the delicious dinner, offered something for everyone. Opera aficionados were as pleased as the musical and operetta buffs or the fans of contemporary songs and ballads. Within in the 30 songs sung that night only five were performed in German, among them "Gern hab ich die Frau’n gekuesst", by Mark DuBois, and from Wagner’s Tannhaeuser "O du mein holder Abendstern" by Bruce Kelly. Both pieces showed the abundant talent and exquisite qualities of the singer’s voices...

But there were other duet combinations, just as effective, and one very funny routine from Gilbert & Sullivan called "Three little maids" from the Mikado, which caused hilarious laughter in the audience.

That all performers are friends indeed becomes abundantly clear, when Mark introduces his colleges. He never misses an opportunity to rib Bruce Kelly for being a baritone; we are not to forget, that there is a war going on between those two voice factions. But with these jests also come the notes of enduring friendship and mutual respect and admiration. We learn that it was "The Pearl Fishers" with which Bruce managed to instill a love of opera in Mark as a very young singer of the concert stage; and when they sang the famed duet it became clear why...

These fine performers have endured the ups and downs of our Canadian art scene, scenes in which there are no guarantees, no regular paychecks, no assurances of permanency, but instead only uncertainties, which have to be overcome every day, every week, every month. And still these artists are the most generous of people. Knowing the limited market they do not deny anyone their right to exercise their talent. They share freely the opportunities available with other talent...

This successful evening was arranged and organized, as before, by the resourceful and enthusiastic Lou Wegner. Thank you, Lou.