Chamber Music - my/maSCENA

Photo: Annie-Éthier

Pentaèdre: Winds for all Seasons

By Marie-Claire Fafard-Blais on 3 October 2019 Chamber Music, Classical

Founded in 1985, the woodwind quintet Pentaèdre has an enviable reputation. It will present a variety of concerts during the 2019-20 season. “Pentaèdre has always been a woodwind quintet, but it is, above all, a flexibly sized ensemble that showcases music for wind instruments,” said flutist Ariane Brisson, the new artistic director. “You can hear a lot of music for woodwind quintet. However, we like varying repertoire, changing ensemble size, and inviting many musicians to join us.” The season begins with Hommage à Jacques Hétu, a concert that fulfills the ensemble’s mission. On Nov. 8, Pentaèdre observes the 10th anniversary…

Photo: Georges Dutil

Quasar: The Spark of Creativity

By Marie-Claire Fafard-Blais on 3 October 2019 Chamber Music, Contemporary

Much acclaimed on the international contemporary music scene, the Quasar saxophone quartet is celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary this year. From its first concert in 1994 till now, all four members have never wavered in their commitment to the group and its dedication towards all things creative. For its current concert season, the group intends to focus more on the future than the past, with a view of renewing itself. Marie-Chantal Leclair, Quasar’s managing director and soprano player, recalls the foursome’s first outing: “We premiered four pieces that evening, and it was more than a wish for us to do…

Clavecin en concert takes full flight

By Benjamin Goron on 3 October 2019 Chamber Music

Clavecin en concert has come a long a way since its inception by harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour in 1994 – from harpsichord recitals in private rooms to concerts featuring chamber music, choral music and opera. On Oct. 27, Clavecin en concert, winner of two Félix Awards and eight Prix Opus, will produce the first concert of its 26th year. Here’s a look back at the founder and artistic director’s journey and a quarter century of passion for early music. The Harpsichord: From Solo to Ensemble The Clavecin en concert journey started in Luc Beauséjour’s studio in the early 1990s. Because Beauséjour…

Photo: Roderik Kučavík

Victor Julien-Laferrière: a career in high gear

By Justin Bernard on 3 October 2019 Chamber Music, Strings

Victor Julien-Laferrière is an artist much in demand. In September the young French cellist toured Normandy with the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen, giving a series of concerts that included Haydn’s Concerto in D. He has also played with the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, performing Variations on a Rococo Theme by Tchaikovsky. Winner of the first prize in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels in 2017 – the first edition devoted to the cello – Julien-Laferrière has also appeared in some of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls. In early October he will be the guest of the Concertgebouw…

Photo : Annette Woloshen

Orchestre classique de Montréal: New Name for a Classic Ensemble

By Michael Schulman on 1 October 2019 Chamber Music, Classical Music, Orchestral

Why did it take so long to change the name? This is my first question for Boris Brott, artistic director of what is now called the Orchestre classique de Montréal. “Well, it was a hard decision and a matter of finding the right name,” the conductor says in what he calls his Toronto office – the Library Bar of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. “Whatever we considered didn’t seem to fit until one day, our accountant said, ‘Why not call it Orchestre classique de Montréal’ and everybody said, ‘Wow, that’s the right name!’ Even unilingual anglophones will understand it!” Boris…

Photo: courtoisie de l'artiste

Trio Dell’Aria: Louis Spohr and more

By Justin Bernard on 1 October 2019 Art Song, Canadian Music, Chamber Music

Soprano Kripa Nageshwar, pianist Ruta Vaivade and clarinetist Michael Westwood always had an individual passion for chamber music. The same passion drew them together and binds them today. Their adventure as the Trio Dell’Aria took off at Toronto’s Westwood Concert Series in 2014, where they gave their first public performance. They went on exploring Baroque to contemporary music, as well as jazz, folksong and chanson. “With Ruta, we finally found our match, Kripa and I,” Michael says. “It’s now the perfect trio.” Ruta adds: “Plus, now that we get more and more chances to perform, I think there are new…

Martin Foster, Violinist, 1951-2019

By Arthur Kaptainis on 8 September 2019 Chamber Music, Violin

Martin Foster, the British-born Canadian violinist who spent more than 25 years as a performer and teacher in Montreal, died on Aug. 26 in Stratford, Ontario. According to his posted obituary, the cause was cancer. A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York, Foster made his Carnegie Recital Hall debut at age 22 on Oct. 23, 1973. Raymond Ericson in the New York Times described him as “a violinist of more than ordinary gifts.” With fellow Juilliard students in 1974 he formed the American String Quartet, an ensemble that remains active. Returning to Canada in 1980, Foster served as acting concertmaster of the Orchestre…

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Musica Camerata: the 50th season

By Nuné Melik on 30 August 2019 Chamber Music, Romantic, Strings

Musica Camerata Montreal is an exceptional ensemble. Founded in 1971, it has been performing lesser-known chamber works and pioneering the music of Canadian composers. In anticipation of Camerata’s 50th season, we spoke to violinist and artistic director Luis Grinhauz and his wife, pianist Berta Rosenohl. How did you meet? LG: I was 19 years old, new to Buenos Aires, and a friend of mine wanted to introduce a lovely pianist to me named Berta. But I seemed to be too busy with violin practice (laughs). A little bit later, after one particular concert, we finally met, and I asked her…

Unbinding Classical Chamber Music…

By Vasyl Pawlowsky on 15 July 2019 Chamber Music, Newswire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CLASSICAL UNBOUND FESTIVAL JULY 26-28, 2019 Prince Edward County, Ontario Unbinding classical chamber music from its formal attire, and binding it more closely to our hearts and souls. Something’s happening this summer on the shores of Lake Ontario, on that enticing acreage of sun and lake-kissed land called Prince Edward County… something besides blooming wildflowers and rosy sunsets; besides the wind in the dunes and cruising the country roads between wineries with the windows down. It’s a chamber music festival nestled amongst all of that: Classical Unbound. One of Canada’s premier ensembles, Ironwood Quartet, is running the…

Trio Dell’Aria announces new album, “Memories of Places Past”, and Live Performance

By Newswire on 12 July 2019 Arts Industry, Chamber Music, Discovery CDs, Newswire, Vocal

Location: Église Saint-Hubert (Longueuil) and Église Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (Montreal) JOIN US on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 OR Wednesday, August 28, 2019 Trio Dell’Aria (Kripa Nageshwar, soprano; Michael Westwood, clarinet; and Ruta Vaivade, piano) will premiere pieces from their new album, Memories of Places Past at Église Saint- Hubert (Longueuil) on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 OR Église Notre-dame-de-grâce on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The album, which received FACTOR funding, features new works from two of Canada’s foremost composers (Colin Eatock and Frank Horvat) and German art songs by Louis Spohr (1784 – 1859). The album was produced by…

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