Orchestral - my/maSCENA

Bernard Labadie: Music Fit for Kings

By Justin Bernard on 26 March 2023 Baroque and Early, Orchestral

When Bernard Labadie builds his repertoire, Handel’s music is a contender. In December 2021, he directed the Messiah as guest conductor of the NAC symphony orchestra in a program of works from composers influenced by that baroque master. In early April, he will be at the rostrum for an MSO performance of The Creation by Haydn, an oratorio Labadie considers to be closer to Handel than Bach. A month later, on May 10 and 12, the conductor returns to his beloved ensemble, Les Violons du Roy, for an all-Handel program comprised of the Four Coronation Anthems and other works of…

Sharon Azrieli: Tribute to Michel Legrand

By Charles Geyer on 26 March 2023 Orchestral, Popular Music, Vocal

Versatile musical prodigy Sharon Azrieli has enjoyed a distinguished and far-flung career as an operatic soprano, Broadway and pop song stylist, and even synagogue cantor (Montreal’s first woman in such a role). Now, Azrieli has made what she calls “a deep dive” into the copious oeuvre of the late, legendary film and jazz composer Michel Legrand with her album Secret Places – a Tribute to Michel Legrand. The collection features 14 lavishly orchestrated and lovingly delivered performances of songs by the prolific French composer—some well-known, some cannily culled from obscurity by Azrieli’s determined research efforts—comprising a panoptic view of the…

Lebrecht Weekly | Beethoven/Ravel: Concertos (Avanticlassic)

By Norman Lebrecht on 24 March 2023 Contemporary, Lebrecht Weekly, Orchestral, Piano, Romantic

Did anyone know that Pablo Casals had a kid brother who wrote him a concerto? Enrique Casals, 16 years younger, was a violinist and conductor. His cello concerto came to light three years ago and the enterprising Jan Vogler has made a captivating world premiere recording of it on Sony. It was sitting on my deck destined to be named album of the week when, as so often happens, an unforeseen astonishment dropped through the letterbox and took pride of place. Let’s not get all wokey and egalitarian about this: the best is, always and forever, the enemy of even the…

Review | Rarities Galore Grace TSO’s Buffet of Cultural Delights

By Andrea Rush on 24 March 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic, Strings, Toronto

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…

OSJM celebrates its second anniversary with Mahler’s Second Symphony

By Alexandre Amat on 24 March 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Classical Music, Orchestral

Founded in 1976 and directed since 1986 by Louis Lavigueur, the OSJM is known as one of Canada’s best young people’s orchestras. It comprises 72 musicians—ranging in age from 13 to 25—who have trained in music schools, conservatories and universities in Montreal and Quebec. It gives these young players a quality experience and musical training with the focus on symphonic repertoire. Entrance auditions are held each year, so new talent is constantly coming in, and young musicians are getting the chance to spend a year with the orchestra and play to its exacting standards. The OSJM is especially known for…

Review | TSO and Kerem Hasan, Youthful Energy

By Andrea Rush on 3 March 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

This week’s program at the TSO bursts with the musical contemplation of youth– the composers and TSO guest conductor, Kerem Hasan. Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, op. 33a, were followed Missy Mazzoli’s Dark with Excessive Light, a contemporary Concerto for Contrabass and String Orchestra. Sparkling effervescence, Mozart’s Haffner Symphony opened the second half, followed by a return to more of Britten.c What you missed? Guest conductor Kerem Hasan exudes self-confidence onstage. He is the recipient of a Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and many prizes for his principal studies, piano and conducting. The TSO is well…

Review | TSO, Davis and Lortie Provide Wonderful Evening

By Andrea Rush on 24 February 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

The style was casual elegance at Roy Thomson Hall last night, and the mood buoyant. Back from a multi-city tour through Ottawa, Montreal, New York and Chicago, the tireless TSO members were charged and ready for more stellar performances. This week’s program features Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor Laureate and Principal Conductor of the TSO from 1975-1988 and one of Canada’s foremost concert pianists, Louis Lortie. What you missed? As a pre-concert appetizer, Lortie spoke about and played Alban Berg’s Piano Sonata, Op. 1 (consisting of 1 movement). It was a teaser to the orchestral arrangement by Sir Andrew Davis that…

CD Review | Symphonie de la tempête de verglas (ATMA Classique, 2023)

By Zenith Wolfe on 18 February 2023 CD and Book Reviews, Orchestral, Quebec Music

Symphonie de la tempête de verglas Maxime Goulet, composer; Orchestre classique de Montréal ATMA Classique, 2023 Symphonie de la tempête de verglas, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of Quebec’s worst ice storm on record, is nothing short of sublime. The terrifying beauty of this natural disaster is brilliantly illustrated by the titular symphony’s first movement, with violin strings and thundering timpani galore signalling the approach of clouds, wind, and storm. People across Canada came together in this time of crisis, evidenced by the folksy woodwind tune that shines through the otherwise dramatic melodies. The length, intensity, and rhythmic progression of…

Jean Dupré avec Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Jean Dupré: Strategic Planner

By Wah Keung Chan on 16 February 2023 Arts Industry, Orchestral

After 10 years as CEO of Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain (OM), Jean Dupré has retired, leaving the organization on a high: its budget has more than doubled to $7 million, staffing has grown from eight to 22 and musicians’ wages have almost doubled, its endowment fund is at $8.5 million and its reputation is recognized around the world. His strategic planning has paid off. When he took the job in 2012, Dupré’s first objective was to change the perception of the OM as the second orchestra in Montreal and to demonstrate that it’s of the same quality as the city’s other…

Photo: Tam Lan Truong

Newswire | Canadian Conductor Francis Choinière wins $125,000 (Mécénat Musica’s Prix Goyer 2023-2024)

By Newswire on 14 February 2023 Arts Industry, Newswire, Orchestral

Montreal, February 14, 2023 – Francis Choinière, choral conductor and artistic director of Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes, Orchestre FILMharmonique & Ensemble Classico Moderne is the winner of the $125,000 Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer 2023-2024 for Collaborative Emerging Artist. Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer is the biggest prize of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in the world for a collaborative emerging artist in classical music. Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer honoursJean-Pierre Goyer and his contributions to music, arts and culture in Montréal, Québec and Canada. Mr. Goyer was Chairman of the Conseil des arts de Montréal and Chairman of the Orchestre Métropolitain where he hired Yannick…

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