Montreal, April 30, 2023 – Following a closely contested Semifinal, the names of the six finalists of the Violin edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) were announced this evening in Bourgie Hall. Emotions were palpable as the jury, chaired by Richard Rodzinski, revealed the results. The 12 semifinalists of Violin 2023 gave us an extremely high-level competition featuring a succession of memorable performances. Since April 25, 24 violin virtuosos from 11 different countries have been vying to rise through the ranks of this prestigious Montreal competition. Chaired by Richard Rodzinski, the international jury is comprised of: Koichiro…
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Twenty-four young violinists dazzled us with their talent, their virtuosity, and their musical artistry, over the course of the First Round of the 2023 Violin Edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM), which took place on April 25, 26, and 27. Following the conclusion of this first stage of the competition, the jury has selected twelve Semifinalists. Here are the 12 violinists selected for the Semifinal, in order of appearance: Saturday, April 29, 2023, 2 pm 1. Dmytro UDOVYCHENKO (Ukraine) | pianist: Francis Perron 2. Nathan MELTZER (United States) | pianist: Umi Garrett 3. Michael SHAHAM (Israel) | pianist: Jinhee Park Saturday, April 29, 2023,…
The TSO’s prominence on the global concert stage continues to surge. The April 26 concert featured French conductor Fabien Gabel, French/Canadian-born cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and the North American premiere of contemporary French composer Camille Pepin’s latest work, Laniakea. Judging from the lack of empty seats at Roy Thompson Hall, the message has gained momentum: classical music is alive and well when the programming and performers are stellar. Fresh from his debut in Chicago barely a few days ago, Fabien Gabel’s TSO debut opened with the fanfare of Camille Pepin’s Laniakea. Tonal orchestration is accessible. It paints images, through harmony and…
The mandolin is not widely recognized as a regular component of classical music concerts, but in a recent concert in Toronto the Israeli mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital made the best possible case for his instrument. Avital was joined by about 20 string players from the Toronto Symphony for a richly rewarding program of Vivaldi and Bach concertos, along with a recent concerto written for him by Avner Dorman, at the George Weston Recital Hall in North York. A near-capacity audience seemed thrilled with what they heard. The mandolin is historically a very old instrument but its role was mostly confined…
Toronto, April 24th, 2023—The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Artistic Director Jean-Sébastien Vallée welcome six emerging choral conductors to Toronto for Take the Podium, the TMChoir’s 2023 Conducting Symposium. This annual gathering offers an invaluable opportunity for emerging conductors from across North America to work with artistic director and conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée and the full TMChoir for a five-day series of workshops and masterclasses. Participants will have the rare opportunity to conduct the 130 voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, including the 24-voice professional ensemble, the TMSingers, in rehearsals throughout the week and in the concluding public performance, which will also…
It was not the first time that Spanish-born TSO music director Gustavo Gimeno conducted Spanish music in Toronto, and more is scheduled for next season. And why not? It is mostly music worth hearing and Gimeno has shown that he has a real flair for conducting it. Add to the mix the Spanish-born flamenco guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares, and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and you have the ingredients for an afternoon of musical enjoyment. In the event, we heard virtuoso guitar playing, first-rate playing from old and young musicians alike, superb conducting, and even some surprise drumming from the…
Soloists: Jacob Abrahamse, Neil Aronoff, Julia Barber, Lesley Emma Bouza, Rebecca Claborn, Simon Honeyman, Kieran Kane, Rebecca McKay, Nicholas Nicolaidis, and Sinéad White; Toronto Mendelssohn Choir; Baroque Orchestra, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, conductor. Koerner Hall, March 28, 2023. With Easter just around the corner, we are at the height of the oratorio season. Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s offering this year was Bach’s great B Minor Mass. It was a large and enthusiastic audience gathered last evening at Koerner Hall, where they were treated to a superlative performance from the 100+ voices and baroque orchestra, under the assured and knowing baton of its Maestro,…
Takács Quartet with Jeremy Denk. Music by Haydn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Schumann. Koerner Hall, Toronto. March 23, 2023. Rating: ***** Bringing together thoughtful and talented musicians for a concert nearly always guarantees time well spent, and the experience might even be revelatory. That was certainly the case on March 23, 2023 at Koerner Hall in Toronto when the Takács Quartet led by Edward Dusinberre and American pianist Jeremy Denk took the stage. The Takács Quartet has been around since 1975 and Edward Dusinberre has been its first violinist since 1993. Dusinberre is a wonderful violinist and leader but he is…
Brian Harman : Madrigal – Celebration Prelude – premiere, commissioned by the TSO As the TSO celebrates its 100th anniversary, the premiere commissioned from Canadian Brian Harman provided a fitting regal tone to open the evening. The joyful fanfare of this tonal, contemporary work is light and uplifting. Harman counts among his influences Prof. Brian Cherney, of McGill, with whom he studied during his PhD degree in composition. The hall bubbled with enthusiasm as Harman took a bow on stage following the TSO performance. Jean-Guihen Queyras: cellist As an additional, rare treat, solo cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras performed two concerti. The…
When Artistic Director and Conductor Kathleen Allan first took the helm of the Amadeus Choir in 2019, she commissioned Cree cellist and composer Cris Derksen to write the 30-minute Mass for Nîpîy which is about to make its world première. Allan was impressed with the expressiveness of Derksen’s works and “how beautifully she weaves together Indigenous traditional sounds with classical music.” Water Derksen was drawn to the idea of water (nîpîy in Cree) and wants to highlight the issue of water sovereignty—the inequitable access to clean water supply in Canada, especially among Indigenous communities. In Indigenous belief, water is alive,…