Classical Music - my/maSCENA

This Week in Montreal: July 8 to 14

By La Scena Musicale Team on 8 July 2013 Contemporary, Orchestral, Romantic, This Week in Montreal

Festival de Musique de Lachine: Verdi, Wagner And PoulencWith programming inspired by composers’ birthdays, this year’s festival will heavily feature the voice. The opening concert on June 29 stars Étienne Dupuis and conductor Jordan de Souza, performing works by Verdi and Wagner. Poulenc takes the spotlight on July 6 in a performance by soprano Pascale Beaudin, accompanied by Olivier Godin and François Zeitouni. Two rising stars and competition winners, bass-baritone Gordon Bintner and soprano Florie Valiquette, will participate in the Discovery Concert on July 4. Artistic Director Richard Turp is thrilled to offer a program with Canadian oboist Louise Pellerin,…

Video of the Day – Celebrate with the Canadian Brass

By Paul E. Robinson on 2 July 2013 Canadian Music, Video of the day

Canada celebrates Canada Day and the United States celebrates Independence Day this week. Enjoy the Canadian Brass playing “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” in New York last year as they launch their album “Take Flight.” Only one original member of the CB remains – tubist Chuck Daellenbach – but the spirit of the Canadian Brass lives on in their musical virtuosity and their always inventive stage presence. For more on the Canadian Brass visit their website at www.canadianbrass.com.Paul E. Robinson

Video of the Day – John Eliot Gardiner at 70

By Paul E. Robinson on 25 June 2013 Orchestral, Video of the day

I expect a few eyebrows would be raised if I declared John Eliot Gardiner one of the great conductors of our time. Many music-lovers have probably not even heard of him. Others would associate him solely with the period instrument and historically informed performance movement. But Gardiner’s importance cannot be underestimated.With the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra Gardiner has indeed been a leader in performing older music as it was probably played in its own time. But he is at home conducting virtually everything from Monteverdi to the present. Audiences in London know him as a master of a vast repertoire…

This Week in Montreal: June 24 to 30

By La Scena Musicale Team on 24 June 2013 Baroque and Early, Contemporary, Dance, Scena Jazz, This Week in Montreal, Vocal

Discovery and Exploration at the Montréal Baroque Festival In addition to their Grand concerts series, the Montréal Baroque Festival will offer festival-goers more intimate programming, including a recital by this year’s artist-in-residence, Brazilian born Cléa Galhano, and a concert of sacred cantatas by Manuel de Zumaya performed by Mexican ensemble La Fontegara. This festival is a place of exploration and discovery; Soirée sans frontièreswill push the limits of baroque experience by combining early music with the digital arts. This year’s closing event is Élémens, a divine ballet by Jean-Ferry Rebel depicting the Creation, featuring dancers and acrobats. www.montrealbaroque.com – Renée…

Rock Opera: Mega Multi-media Tommy Stratford’s “Biggest Ever” Musical!

By Paul E. Robinson on 24 June 2013 Concert Reviews, Musical Theatre, Opera, Vocal

Gripping Il Tabarro and Pagliacci Pairing in St. Louis!

By Paul E. Robinson on 22 June 2013 Concert Reviews, Opera, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonIl TabarroEmily Pulley/Tim Mix/Robert Brubaker/Matthew DiBattistaDir: Ron DanielsSt. Louis Symphony/Ward Stare, conductorPagliacciTim Mix/Robert Brubaker/Matthew DiBattista/Kelly KaduceDir: Ron DanielsSt. Louis Symphony/Ward Stare, conductorOpera Theatre of St. LouisLoretto-Hilton CenterThursday, June 13, 2013“A married woman falls in love with a young man, and in a jealous rage, her possessive husband takes his revenge. Il Tabarro (The Cloak) and Pagliacci (Clowns). Two operas. The same story:” Brazilian director Ron Daniels succinctly gives us the gist of these two powerful music dramas. What a brilliant idea to present them together in a single evening – a little grim, yes, but wonderfully illuminating!Pagliacci is most often paired with Cavalleria Rusticana. Il Tabarro, as originally…

Video of the Day – The Philadelphia Orchestra Returns to China

By Paul E. Robinson on 17 June 2013 Orchestral, Video of the day

The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to appear in China when it gave concerts there in 1973. The Cultural Revolution was still underway and there were some difficult moments. Today attitudes have changed and western classical music is enjoyed and encouraged throughout China. The Philadelphia Orchestra recently made a return visit and has plans for annual visits combining teaching and performing.Donald Runnicles was the conductor for the Chinese tour and by all accounts the orchestra played well and was well-received. And where was Yannick? Due to prior commitments Yannick found himself leading a tour of China with one…

This Week in Montreal: June 17 to 23

By La Scena Musicale Team on 17 June 2013 Baroque and Early, Dance, Opera, This Week in Montreal

This Week in Montreal: June 10 to 16

By La Scena Musicale Team on 14 June 2013 Choral, Orchestral, This Week in Montreal

25 Years: The Chœur Classique de MontréalThe Chœur Classique de Montréal presents great opera choruses with the Orchestra symphonique des Jeunes de Montréal, under the direction of Louis Lavigueur. The soloists include Natalia Savelyeva, soprano, Stéphanie Pothier, mezzo-soprano, Antoine Bélanger, tenor, and Joseph Rouleau, who will reprise the role of Boris Godunov, which he performed in 1987 on the occasion which first brought together the choristers of the Chœur Classique de Montréal. Maison symphonique, June 13 at 8:00 PM. choeurclassiquedemontreal.qc.ca- Renée Banville

Video of the Day – Geoff Nuttall at the Spoleto Festival

By Paul E. Robinson on 9 June 2013 Chamber Music, Video of the day, Violin

The St. Lawrence String Quartet is probably the finest quartet ever produced in Canada. It was founded in 1989, it is currently in residence at Stanford University and tours internationally. But the first violinist of the SLSQ, Geoff Nuttall, is also the director of chamber music at the Spoleto Festival USA. In just a few years he has made a great impact on the festival both for his programming and for his quirky and entertaining introductory comments (see this recent NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/arts/music/geoff-nuttall-the-jon-stewart-of-chamber-music.html?pagewanted=allGeoff’s colleagues in the SLSQ are also in residence in Spoleto and they are joined by some of…

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