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Browsing: Orchestral

Juan Sebastian Delgado with Ensemble Obiora. Photo: Tam Photography

Ensemble Obiora: Redefining the Canadian Orchestral Landscape

By Viktor Lazarov on 4 February 2025 Orchestral

In 2021, as the world slowly emerged from a deflating pandemic, Allison Migeon and Brandyn Lewis sprung into action. By founding Canada’s first classical music ensemble composed primarily of professional musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds, they forged a new path in the national orchestral landscape. “With everything happening at the time, such as the death of George Floyd, we started asking questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as our role as cultural workers,” explains Migeon. As a cultural coordinator in France, she aspired to innovate the world of classical music. Awarded the Opus Prize Montréal for “Inclusion and…

Olga Kudriakova (piano) with the Orchestre symphonique de Laval. Photo: Gabriel Fournier

Review | Orchestre symphonique de Laval and the Idea of North

By Jan Krejcar on 3 February 2025 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Piano, Strings

Winter has been in full swing this past week and with it, the fourth edition of Orchestre symphonique de Laval (OSL)’s Festival classique hivernal. The festival’s aptly titled second concert, Nordic Mosaic, consisted entirely of music composed north of latitude 45 (Feb. 1 at Salle André Mathieu). The program followed a standard format, with the commanding Jean-Marie Zeitouni at the helm delivering a shorter symphonic work (Jacques Hétu’s Legendes, op. 76), and a concerto (Edward Grieg’s famous one for piano and orchestra op. 16). The second half was dedicated to Jean Sibelius’ Symphony, No. 5 in E-flat Major, op. 82.…

Clockwise: Vito Žuraj; photo: Ras Rotter. Steve Reich; photo: Jay Blakesberg. James O'Callaghan; photo: Sanyam Bajaj. Julia Mermelstein; photo: Mitchell Butler

Esprit Orchestra: In conversation with Steve Reich, Vito Žuraj, Julia Mermelstein, and James O’Callaghan

By Viktor Lazarov on 1 February 2025 Orchestral

Echoes of some of the most singular and intriguing contemporary music written by Canadian and international composers will resonate this spring in Toronto’s Koerner Hall and St-Trinity’s Centre. Presented by Esprit Orchestra, Canada’s only professional orchestra entirely devoted to the performance of new music, the aptly named Edge of Your Seat festival gathers emerging and established creative voices over the course of seven nights between March 4 and April 17. Yet, one of the unquestionable highlights of Esprit’s upcoming season will come as a Prelude Concert, warming up the public before the festival takes off. Its opening piece: Runner by…

Véronique Lussier: From Teaching to the Stage

By Adrian Rodriguez on 31 January 2025 Orchestral

After giving up a stable career as a music teacher, Véronique Lussier decided to follow a new passion, conducting. She pursued a doctorate at the Université de Montréal under the tutelage of Jean-François Rivest and Paolo Bellomia. In her ambitious thesis, she conceived the Orchestre philharmonique du Québec’s Projet Ambassadeur (2015-20, formerly OSDL), combining classical and popular music concerts with multimedia elements. In collaboration with Développement des publics de la musique au Québec, this project contributed to the democratization of classical music and spotlighted many emerging artists. Since then, Lussier established herself on the Quebec scene. Between 2021 and 2024,…

Photo: M2Photographie

Olga Kern and the Orchestre Philharmonique du Quebec: Russian Romantic Alchemy

By Viktor Lazarov on 31 January 2025 Orchestral

When sparks fly between two musicians, a profound human and artistic complicity can result—and magic happens on stage. Supported by Orchestre philharmonique du Québec (OPQ), pianist Olga Kern and Conductor Alexandre Da Costa aim to achieve this alchemy in The Summit of Rachmaninoff at Montreal’s Maison symphonique on March 16. “Playing with an orchestra is as intimate as making chamber music,” says Kern, winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn competition in 2001. “As a soloist, I listen to all the instruments and try to match the sound of the piano to that of the oboe, flute or violin. I’ve known…

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. Photo: Cody Pickens

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser: Living a Gesamtkunstwerk Life

By Kaitlyn Chan on 31 January 2025 Classical Music, Interviews, Orchestral

Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser’s name has become synonymous with diversity of programming. In 2019, he was featured in the CBC documentary Disruptor Conductor in which he brings orchestral music to young people, the LGBTQ+ community, people on the autism spectrum and prison populations. And in recent years, he has conducted numerous shows that aim to educate, connect, and celebrate the unique communities in every city where he works. Bartholomew-Poyser is currently the Barrett principal education conductor and community ambassador at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO). In this role, he often conducts relaxed performances for the neurodiverse and disability communities. He encourages…

Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra: Innovating the Community Orchestra

By Eva Stone-Barney on 31 January 2025 Classical Music, Education, Interviews, Orchestral

When the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1980, its members could hardly have imagined what the organization would evolve into 45 years later. Under the leadership of Ronald Royer, who took over as music director in 2009, the SPO has embraced change and challenge alike, transforming itself into a truly modern organization. Royer’s attachment to the orchestra is personal: prior to his appointment as music director, he was the group’s composer-in-residence. His wife, clarinetist Kaye Royer, has played with the SPO for more than 30 years. It therefore comes as no surprise that Ronald Royer’s decision to assume a…

Tafelmusik’s Baroque Brew: Triple Espresso With Alfredo Bernardini

By Heather Weinreb on 31 January 2025 Baroque and Early, Classical Music, Interviews, Orchestral, Strings, Toronto, Winds

When baroque oboist Alfredo Bernardini first performed with Tafelmusik in 1982, the baroque oboe was a much rarer specimen than it is today. “At the time,” he says, “there were only a handful of baroque oboists in the world.” Bernardini was fortunate, then, to be performing alongside his teacher Bruce Haynes, an early pioneer who uncovered a lot of the history, repertoire and technique of the instrument. Bernardini also considers himself fortunate, now, to be returning to play with Tafelmusik, a group he holds in high esteem. Tafelmusik “is a very special group,” he says. “It is one of the…

Alexis Hauser and the McGill Symphony Orchestra

By Viktor Lazarov on 31 January 2025 Canadian Music, Chamber Music, Classical, Classical Music, Montreal, Orchestral

Approaching 25 years of legacy A tall, energetic, and confident head of luscious white hair makes its way through rows of student performers comprising the McGill Symphony Orchestra (MGSO). With exacting standards, Maestro Alexis Hauser’s baton cuts through the air like decisive strokes of a sharp sabre. Yet, his generously open, music-loving heart, sincere communication and infectious good humour fill orchestra players and audience members with a sense of assurance and comfort. A beloved presence at the helm of the MGSO for nearly 25 years, Maestro Hauser recalls his encounters with conducting greatness during his youthful student days in Vienna,…

Jordan de Souza: A Canadian in Europe

By Catherine Kustanczy on 31 January 2025 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Interviews, Orchestral

Jordan de Souza has stood on the podium of some of the world’s most famous stages, but has no doubts about the classical music scene in his home and native land. “There’s so much great music-making happening in Canada,” says the busy conductor. “I think that’s clear from one end of the country to the other.” Much of de Souza’s life has been based in and around the European classical world for the better part of two decades. Yet, appreciation for his Canadian training has stayed with him. “I think we musicians are built, in a way, on all the…

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