World Music - my/maSCENA

Dorothéa Ventura (Photo by Robert Etchever)

La Nef: The Beauties of Sicily

By Viktor Lazarov on 1 November 2023 Classical Music, Montreal, World Music

La Nef’s Sicilia Bella concert features madrigals and villanelles by Italian composers Sigismondo d’India (1582-1629) and Antonio il Verso (1565-1621), alongside traditional Sicilian pieces, such as tarantellas. Singer, harpsichordist, actress and dancer Dorothéa Ventura is the concert’s musical director. Italian on her father’s side, Ventura reveals the inspiration behind her programming: “I’ve never been south of Rome,” she says, “but, for various reasons, I find the cultures of southern Italy fascinating.” Casual music-listening led her to “dive into Sicily” which she calls “a very special part of Italy”given the island’s turbulent history, which has seen many different peoples come and…

Julie Nesrallah (Photo provided by the OCM)

Newswire | OCM Presents Tango Opera María de Buenos Aires

By Newswire on 24 October 2023 Contemporary, Montreal, Newswire, Opera, World Music

The OCM continues its 84th season by offering a taste of Argentina with the tango opera María de Buenos Aires, by the renowned composer Astor Piazzolla.

CD Review | Way Out East (Dog My Cat Records, 2023)

By Hassan Laghcha on 6 October 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Strings, World Music

Way Out East Harry Manx, guitar, sitar, Mohan Veena Dog My Cat Records, September 2023 With his new album “Way Out East”, released on Sept. 9, Harry Manx continues his musical project of exploring cross-cultural encounters between East and West, notably through fusions between traditional American blues sounds, and melodies (ragas) from the Indian classical music repertoire. In this new album, produced by his own independent label, Dog My Cat Records, Manx presents a selection of his best compositions of the last 20 years, accompanied by Samidha Joglekar (vocals), Ravi Nimpali (tablas) and Clayton Doley (keyboard). The album takes listeners…

Newswire | Jocelyn Ménard Caribbean Jazz Group launches Montreal tour

By Newswire on 26 September 2023 Mainstream Jazz, Montreal, Scena Jazz, World Music

Montreal, September 25 – Saxophonist, composer and arranger Jocelyn Ménard is a Canadian-born jazz musician. Trained in Montreal, New York with George Coleman and Paris with Bernard Maury. He has played regularly with the Bernard Primeau Jazz Ensemble, Vic Vogel’s Big Band and various groups ranging from jazz to Latin music, and has taken part in numerous festivals. Since 1988, he has regularly shuttled between Quebec and Guadeloupe. He plays regularly with André Condouant, Happy Lewis, Charlie Chomereau-Lamotte, and the Big Band Mavounzy, and Gwadloup and in small groups [Men Art Jazz 4tet, An’nax, Guanada…]. With Canadian pianist Normand Deveault,…

Jacques Lacombe (Credit: Brent Calis)

Newswire | 200 years of Ukrainian classical music with the OCM

By Newswire on 25 September 2023 Classical Music, Montreal, Newswire, World Music

Montréal, September 25, 2023 – For the first orchestral concert of the season, the Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) will shine the spotlight on Ukraine’s rich musical heritage with a varied program spanning more than 200 years of classical works by renowned Ukrainian composers. This will be Maestro Jacques Lacombe’s first appearance this season as the OCM’s new Artistic Director. The concert will take place on Tuesday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m., at Salle Pierre‑Mercure and will serve as a fundraiser for Ukrainian artists through the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s “Aid for Artists” fund. In addition to a world premiere by Ukrainian‑Canadian composer Joanna Estelle Storoschuk, this all‑Ukrainian…

CD Review | Butterfly Lovers (Sony Classical, 2023)

By Paul E. Robinson on 1 September 2023 CD and Book Reviews, World Music

Butterfly Lovers Joshua Bell, violin; Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Tsung Yeh, conductor Sony Classical, June 2023 The Butterfly Lovers is an ancient Chinese legend dating from about the 4th century AD. The story tells of an ill-fated love affair that concludes with the lovers joined together for eternity, as butterflies. Chen Gang and He Zhanhao wrote a violin concerto on this subject in 1958, based on Chinese folk songs using the Pentatonic scale, which immediately became a popular hit. The original version is written for soloist and orchestra, both playing Western instruments. In this new version, Joshua Bell is accompanied by…

New Releases (September 2023)

By Wah Keung Chan on 1 September 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Opera, Piano, World Music

This section is an advertising supplement. To announce here, contact [email protected]. Kevin Lau: Under a Veil of Stars Kevin Lau Rachel Mercer, cello; Scott St. John, violin; Angela Park, piano Leaf Music LM273; release date Sept. 15, 2023 Kevin Lau: Under A Veil of Stars invites you to explore the spectrum of human emotions and experiences. Across nine captivating tracks, each brimming with its own distinct mood and theme, Kevin Lau’s composition invites you to interpret their profound meaning through the prism of your own unique perspective. This album was recorded in a studio at Western University in London, Ont.,…

Sacré-Cœur de Gilgamesh

Fall Highlights: World music

By Hassan Laghcha on 1 September 2023 Folk, Montreal, Popular Music, Vocal, World Music

Place des Arts This season’s Place des Arts program includes a concert by Italian singer Gigi D’Alessio on Oct. 6 at Théâtre Maisonneuve. On Oct. 8, Iranian pop singer/songwriter Shahram Shabpareh presents The Last Tango at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. On Nov. 12, the same venue welcomes Iranian artist Alireza Ghorbani, successor to Mohammad Reza Shajarian, the great master of classical Persian singing. Don’t miss the TEMPÉO Danse et Musique festival, on the Esplanade, from Sept. 14-16 and 21-23. Hosted by Philippe Fehmiu, it will consist of six festive evenings of dance, offering an introduction to different dance styles. The Bollywood music…

CD Review | Weyn Allah (Self-published, 2023)

By Zenith Wolfe on 31 July 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Contemporary, Vocal, World Music

Weyn Allah Al Qahwa ensemble Self-published, 2023 Their first album explored the traditional songs of the Middle East; the second, Egypt, and the third, South Africa. Al Qahwa’s latest addition to their discography, Weyn Allah, is a much more ambitious venture: uniting humanity through original world music. No two songs are alike on this album. The titular Weyn Allah (Where is God) addresses social issues of inequity and racism to the tune of a qanun, saxophone and busy backing choral group singing in Arabic and English. Peace and Safety (Salma Ya Salama) incorporates French lyrics that promote acceptance, and Humanity…

CD Review | 2023 Syli d’Or Compilation (Les Disques Nuits d’Afrique, 2023)

By Hassan Laghcha on 31 July 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Montreal, World Music

2023 Syli d’Or Compilation La Tribu Salsa Band; Abondance; Lil K HPB Les Disques Nuits d’Afrique, 2023 This compilation includes nine tracks by the three world music finalists of the annual Syli d’Or competition, recorded during the gala evening at La Tulipe on April 27, 2023. One of the best salsa band in Quebec, La Tribu (Syli d’Or winner) presents beautiful pieces that remain true to the salsa tradition of 1970s New York, where this music took root. Thanks to the talents of its quartet of singer-actors, this colourful band stands out for its original blend of humour and fiery…

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