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Bruce Liu: Chopin (Deutsche Grammophon, 2021)

By Justin Bernard on 14 December 2021 CD and Book Reviews, Classical Music, Music Competition, Piano, Romantic

Bruce Liu: Chopin Bruce Liu, piano Deutsche Grammophon, 2021 Following his resounding victory at the 18th Chopin Competition last October, Montreal pianist Bruce Liu received honors from the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label. It has released a live recording of some of its performances from the Philharmonic Concert Hall in Warsaw (Poland). The opportunity to live or relive this event that marked musical life on a planetary scale, in a world still struggling with the pandemic. It all begins with the Andante Spianato in G major in an interpretation full of grace and elegance. Bruce Liu creates a feeling of comfort…

Cleveland Orchestra, Michael Sachs, trumpet. Photo By Roger Mastroianni.

Review: Cross-border trek to Cleveland proves picture perfect

By Paul E. Robinson on 13 November 2021 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Piano, Romantic

CLEVELAND – On Nov. 8, the American authorities decided it was safe to let Canadians enter their country by car. The next day I drove down from Toronto and crossed the border at Lewiston, New York and continued on to Cleveland. A few days later I attended a memorable concert by the Cleveland Orchestra. For someone who had been driving to Cleveland regularly since his teenage years to hear the likes of George Szell, Robert Shaw, Lorin Maazel, Pierre Boulez and Christoph von Dohnanyi leading this great orchestra, it was a welcome and overdue return to normalcy. For the record,…

Photo: Ralph Mecke, Neda Navaee

Club musical de Québec opens its 130th season

By Justin Bernard on 13 November 2021 Chamber Music, Piano, Romantic

The appearance of oboist Albrecht Mayer and pianist Fabian Müller had to be rescheduled because of the pandemic. Now that health measures allow the public to attend events and make possible the return of international artists, this pair will open the concert society’s new season. “Pieces for piano solo and others specifically for oboe or wind instrument such as Schumann’s Fantasiestücke will be played in turn, and there will also be transcriptions,’ explains Marie Fortin, executive and artistic director of the Club musical de Québec since 2013. “Two sonatas for violin and piano, by Mozart and Beethoven, will be played…

Crédit: Agence BigJaw

Festival de Lanaudière: An Exceptional Year, Reunited Again!

By Newswire on 10 August 2021 Arts Industry, Newswire, Orchestral, Romantic

Joliette, August 10, 2021 — The Festival de Lanaudière concluded its massively successful 2021 edition this weekend, wrapping up an auspicious return to large-scale concerts before vast audiences. In total, more than 18,000 festival-goers attended this summer’s programming of concerts and recitals in different venues, in addition to enjoying a new component of free musical walks-in-the-parks. Owing to several changes of distancing measures and the partial reopening of the Canada-USA border, many surprises awaited the Festival team this summer, even after announcing the event’s artistic programming on June 17. These surprises, however, turned into unforgettable moments: a few days after the…

Tanglewood showcases the other John Williams

By Paul E. Robinson on 26 July 2021 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic

It was encouraging to see concerts being given once again at Tanglewood, and with a big crowd in attendance. Finally, we are getting back to something approaching normal. Not yet normal, to be sure. Tanglewood is currently limited to 50% attendance and three-foot distancing. But for a large facility that still means a lot of people. There were 2,400 in the (covered) Shed and 6,600 on the lawn. On the strength of scores for dozens of very popular films, John Williams may be one of the best-known composers in the world. His music for Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, E.T.,…

David Jacques: Deuxième album solo chez ATMA

By Justin Bernard on 5 June 2021 CD and Book Reviews, Romantic

Concert after concert, record after record, David Jacques continues to share “guitar stories” with his collection of instruments. In February, he was accompanied by I Musici de Montréal in a live webcast concert. On June 6, he will perform in recital at the Centre d’Art La Chapelle in Quebec City. A first volume was issued last year by ATMA Classique. Fourteen guitars were featured. This time, 15 guitars are presented, along with nearly 30 19th-century pieces to showcase them. Little-known composers Among the composers on this second solo album, the guitarist especially appreciates Ernest Shand, an Englishman from the end…

Photo: Antoine Saito

Yannick, OM make a live-audience comeback

By Arthur Kaptainis on 28 March 2021 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic

Might catch on, this idea of attending concerts in person. Such is my prediction after Yannick Nézet-Séguin and his Orchestre Métropolitain performed in the Maison symphonique on March 27, the day after such events became legal in Montreal. There were 250 well-distanced people in this hall that in better times accommodates more than 2,000. The outpouring of love made it a sellout in spirit. Getting in and out of the place involved a bit of a rigmarole – I was advised by security before entering that I was wearing my mask inside-out – and with no printed program to consult…

George Bridgetower

The “Kreutzer” Sonata: Friendhip and Transgression

By Jacqueline Vanasse on 29 January 2021 Classical Music, La Scena Spotlight, Romantic

Much the most admired of Beethoven’s 10 Violin Sonatas is the ninth, which we know as the “Kreutzer.” It could just as logically be called the “Bridgetower,” and might have been so, had an unfortunate disagreement not intervened. George Bridgetower (1778-1860) gave the first performance with the composer at the piano and was probably on track to be the first dedicatee. Our evidence for this is an inscription on the autograph1 by the composer, which can be translated as: “Mulatto sonata composed for the mulatto Bridgetower, great madman and great mulatto composer.” Despite the apparently humourous tone, Beethoven’s admiration for…

Lebrecht Weekly: Good Night! (Erato)

By Norman Lebrecht on 1 January 2021 Lebrecht Weekly, Piano, Romantic

Musical lullabies can quickly outlast their welcome. Everybody’s had the Brahms Wiegenlied sung to them at some point in infancy and many have experienced the sleepy time duet in Hansel and Gretel, the one they sing just before the witch becomes their nightmare. But one hearing is usually all I can bear of these bonbons. The beauty of this compilation by the French pianist Bertrand Chamayou is that it leads the ear down unexpected paths – some overgrown like Janacek’s crystalline opener, others unexpected, neglected or altogether unknown. Two etudes by Sergei Liapunov are drops of perfect chamomile. A dollop…

Today’s Streams: Dec. 31st

By La Scena Musicale Team on 31 December 2020 Classical Music, Opera, Romantic

Here are today’s streamed concerts you shouldn’t miss! Enjoy. This feature will run until January 1, 2021. To submit your event, please email [email protected]. The Orchestre de chambre de la Montérégie – Holiday Season Concert Nicolas Ellis and l’Orchestre de chambre de la Montérégie The Orchestre de chambre de la Montérégie, under the musical direction of Nicolas Ellis, accompanied by dancers from the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, are pleased to share their first webcast production. This initiative allows the organization to pursue its mission of providing access to music and the performing arts to a greater number of…

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