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Dorothéa Ventura. Photo: Tam Photography

Dorothéa Ventura : At the Crossroads

By Justin Bernard on 8 November 2024 Baroque and Early, Chamber Music, Interviews, Piano, Vocal

Dorothéa Ventura knows how to do almost everything: dance, act, sing, conduct. The versatility of this artist is such that today she is employed as a harpsichordist, soprano, dancer and actress—and sometimes does double or triple duty! Her preferred repertoire, however, remains Baroque music. Meet the woman who has taken over the reins of Les Idées heureuses, succeeding the ensemble’s founder, Geneviève Soly, as artistic director. Snowy wedding, happy marriage Dorothéa Ventura remembers the first concert of Year 1—38 years ago, in the middle of a snowstorm. “At the time, I was Geneviève Soly’s harpsichord student. She introduced me to…

Geneviève Soly. Photo: Robert Etcheverry.

Geneviève Soly: Looking back at an outstanding musical career

By Viktor Lazarov on 8 November 2024 Baroque and Early, Interviews, Piano

Surrounded by her books, her harpsichord, and furniture dating back to New France, the founder of Les Idées heureuses and specialist of the works of Christoph Graupner, Geneviève Soly, reviews her musical career. People of the soil, music in their hearts “I come from a farming family,” she says. “My ancestors were profoundly musical people and like many country families in Quebec, everyone sang.” Growing up with her twin sister Isolde and brother Éric, her family wasn’t typical of the 1950s and ’60s. Their father, Bernard Lagacé, taught the organ at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal (CMM) and their…

Canadian Élisabeth Pion Wins Silver at the Blanca Uribe Colombia International Piano Competition

By Kaitlyn Chan on 30 October 2024 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Canadian pianist Élisabeth Pion has won second place in the first edition of the Blanca Uribe Colombia International Piano Competition, after performing a full recital, a Mozart concerto, and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Pion placed closely behind the winner, Artem Kuznetsov, a pianist from Russia, who has won first prizes in more than fifteen international competitions. His technique and precision make him a fierce competitor and were conducive to his win at the Blanca Uribe Competition. This international competition is one of the most significant in Latin America and celebrates the legacy of the Colombian pianist, Blanca Uribe. Pion’s…

“Chromesthesia” by DAAS

340 Applications from 45 Countries and Regions Received for 2025 Cliburn Competition

By Newswire on 29 October 2024 Classical Music, Music Competition, Newswire, Piano

The Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will take place May 21–June 7, 2025, at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. FORT WORTH, Texas, October 28, 2024—Applications are in for the seventeenth edition of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition—taking place May 21–June 7, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, USA—340 pianists, representing 45 countries and regions, submitted applications to the Competition, with the greatest numbers coming from China, the United States, South Korea, and Italy. From this pool, up to 84 pianists will be invited to participate in live Screening Auditions,…

Photo: Philippe Manning

In Conversation: Jonathan Mak, First Prize Winner of the International Sorel-Tracy Piano Competition

By Fiona Wu on 28 October 2024 Classical Music, Interviews, Music Competition, Piano

Pianist Jonathan Mak is making waves as a promising new talent with a growing list of triumphs at international competitions. Recently, he captured first prize at the inaugural International Sorel-Tracy Piano Competition as well as the special prize for Best Interpretation of the Imposed Piece by Ana Sokolović. Reflecting on his musical journey, the Toronto native shared that he initially studied both piano and violin. However, in high school, his teacher encouraged him to take up the viola. Faced with the choice of sitting in the back of the second violins or at the front as a violist, he opted…

Photo: Philippe Manning

Canadian Jonathan Mak Wins First International Sorel-Tracy Piano Competition

By Fiona Wu on 24 October 2024 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Nestled in the heart of Quebec, the picturesque town of Sorel-Tracy transformed into a hub of musical excellence from October 14 to 20, as the inaugural International Sorel-Tracy Piano Competition took centre stage. This new event, spearheaded by Managing Director and Founder Rachel Doyon, not only marked a significant milestone in Canada’s rich cultural landscape but also set a promising precedent for future editions. Richard Raymond (Canada) presided over a diverse international jury comprised of Stephen Prutsmann (USA), Mari Kodama (Japan), Simon Bertrand (Canada), and François-Frédéric Guy (France) who carefully evaluated the talents of 19 pianists hailing from six countries:…

Anderson and Roe by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Music and Fashion Series | Glittering Sounds and Sights from Star Piano Duo

By Viktor Lazarov on 18 October 2024 Classical Music, Interviews, Piano

As she takes the stage in a sparkling, multicoloured, sequin slip dress, a wave of excitement passes through the crowd. Pianist Elizabeth Joy Roe walks over confidently to the elegant Steinway grand piano accompanied by her duo partner, Greg Anderson, at Montreal’s Centre Pierre-Péladeau. Anderson wears a smartly tailored black Zara suit: understated, elegant, perfect. Within seconds, they embark on one of the most transcendent second halves of any piano recital I’ve heard. Roe’s dress—mercurial, with its golden tones contrasting their dark background—reflects the rich harmonic palette of the two opening pieces: an original transcription of Gustav Holst’s Neptune from…

Ryan Zhu.

Ryan Zhu (piano) – Sylva Gelber

By Kaitlyn Chan on 9 October 2024 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Pianist Ryan Zhu is a lover of learning. As the recipient of the 2024 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation award and the Walter Prystawski Prize, it is impossible to deny Zhu’s skill. However, Zhu does not allow himself to plateau at his current standard of excellence. He finds inspiration and lessons in every aspect of his musical journey from the advice of his early teachers to the way nervousness can highlight “wonderful nuances” in a piece. This willingness to be open to life’s lessons has allowed Zhu to carve out his musical identity, helped by the many muses and educators surrounding…

Meagan Milatz. Photo: Antoine Saito

Meagan Milatz (piano) – Prix Opus Discovery

By Kaitlyn Chan on 9 October 2024 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Pianist Meagan Milatz’s ambition is undeniable as she adds the 2024 Prix Opus “Discovery of the Year” to her accomplishments. When asked about future goals, Milatz can list several as she continues to push herself to new limits at every opportunity. She says she is most excited about the concert series HausMusique @ Le 9e Grande Salle, which she and cellist Cameron Crozman launched in Montreal as Co-Artistic Directors. The next concert date is set for Nov. 5. Milatz grew up on a grain farm in southeast Saskatchewan and attributes her inspiration to pursue a career in music to Cherith…

Henry From.

Henry From (piano) – Shean Competition

By Kaitlyn Chan on 8 October 2024 Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano

Winner of the 2024 Shean Piano Competition, Henry From is a budding pianist and composer with a passion for music’s power to move, whether that be emotionally or intellectually. “I love music’s ability to convey emotions and feelings that are hard to put into words,” he says, “and I love the way it gives us a portal into past periods and the extremely complex minds of great geniuses of the past.” From also says that he hopes to “help bring works outside the standard repertoire canon” into the spotlight, allowing listeners to access composers whose works have hitherto been neglected.…

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