Violin - my/maSCENA

Photo: Jelle-Pieter de Boer

Violinist Ida Haendel renowned for her powerful tone

By Arthur Kaptainis on 14 July 2020 Violin

Ida Haendel, the Polish-born violinist who lived in Montreal from 1952 to 1989, died early on July 1 at her home in Florida. Her nephew Richard Grunberg described her passing as peaceful on social media. Haendel’s age was long a subject of debate, turning in part on the question of whether she really could have won the Polish Prize in the 1935 Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Warsaw at age seven (when, according to her own testimony, she could not read music). Many sources still accept Dec. 15, 1928 as her date of birth, which would make her terminal age 91. That she…

Anne-Sophie Mutter has the coronavirus

By La Scena Musicale Team on 27 March 2020 Violin

Anne-Sophie Mutter, 56, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The German violinist posted a video message on Facebook from her office at home, presumably in Munich, where her foundation is based. “It’s such a difficult situation for an artist not to be able to communicate with you, the listener,” Mutter says. “But better times will come.” The message includes a statement of solidarity with others afflicted with COVID-19. Mutter takes heart from the fact that she is a non-smoker and suggests that smokers should kick the habit. A video-conference performance of the Adagio ma non troppo from Beethoven’s String Quartet…

Daniel Banko, Banko Media

Elisa Citterio: A New Approach to Early Music

By Arthur Kaptainis on 4 February 2020 Chamber Music, Violin

I love Wozzeck,” Elisa Citterio, 43, said in a cozy spot in Trinity-St. Paul’s, the renovated church in Toronto where Tafelmusik presents most of its concerts. “I played it twice. And Lulu.” If operas by Alban Berg seem a curious choice of favourites for the music director of the best-known baroque ensemble of English Canada, they faithfully reflect the upbringing of a violinist who grew up in Brescia, an hour from Milan, and dreamed from youth of playing in the orchestra of La Scala. Citterio realized her dream, after orthodox training as a “modern” violinist, first by serving as concertmaster…

Angèle Dubeau’s New album: Pulsations

By Newswire on 8 October 2019 Newswire, Violin

A violinist and composers of our time Release date: October 4, 2019 Montreal, October 4, 2019 – With a career spanning over four decades and an impressive discography of more than forty albums, Angèle Dubeau continues to leave her mark in today’s music world. Her virtuosity brings her on the most prestigious stages and she continues to be awarded international prizes for her recordings and to receive honors for her career. Pulsations, the violinist’s new album, brings together works that evoke strong images and possess a profound emotional intensity. In addition to the excellence of her playing, she has a…

Martin Foster, Violinist, 1951-2019

By Arthur Kaptainis on 8 September 2019 Chamber Music, Violin

Martin Foster, the British-born Canadian violinist who spent more than 25 years as a performer and teacher in Montreal, died on Aug. 26 in Stratford, Ontario. According to his posted obituary, the cause was cancer. A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York, Foster made his Carnegie Recital Hall debut at age 22 on Oct. 23, 1973. Raymond Ericson in the New York Times described him as “a violinist of more than ordinary gifts.” With fellow Juilliard students in 1974 he formed the American String Quartet, an ensemble that remains active. Returning to Canada in 1980, Foster served as acting concertmaster of the Orchestre…

Photo: E Cloutier

34th Season of the OSDL: A “Symphonic Turn” Alexandre Da Costa

By Hassan Laghcha on 5 September 2019 Arts Industry, Classical Music, Uncategorized, Violin

The Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil (OSDL) is preparing to enter a new era under the baton of Alexandre Da Costa, the unconvnetional 39-year-old artist taking over from Marc David, who conducted this musical institution con brio for 25 years. Da Costa promises a “symphonic turn” with the 2019-20 program, which comprises musical experiences that attempt fusions of classical music and expressions that are clearly in tune with the times. “It’s a great responsibility, but it’s also a great opportunity for me to open up the OSDL’s program to something that reflects me the most,” said Alexandre Da Costa, perfectly aware…

Photo: CMIM

Hannah Tam – Mini Violini, CMIM 2019

By Charlotte Monastesse on 5 September 2019 Music Competition, Violin

In May 29, Hannah Tam’s performance at the CMIM (Concours musical international de Montréal) earned her top honours in a newly created event showcasing rising stars called Mini Violini. This 13-year older was selected by the audience as the winner of its Coup de cœur du public prize. Above and beyond such recognition, this bright new talent collected a handsome 10 grand for her efforts. Those in attendance were deeply impressed by her playing as well as her charismatic stage presence, imbued by a very probing mindset. “The violin is such an expressive instrument,” Tam says. “From one piece to…

Photo : courtoisie

Angela Ryu : Violin, Shean Strings Competition

By Justin Bernard on 4 September 2019 Music Competition, Violin

Angela Ryu, 19, is the 2019 winner of the Shean Strings Competition in Edmonton. The Korean-Canadian violinist also took the Paul J. Bourret Memorial Award for best performance of the imposed piece, Improvisation for solo violin by the late Canadian composer André Prévost. These prizes crown a brilliant career of musical studies that began in her hometown, New Denver, B.C., at age 5 with Daphne Hughes. Four years later, Ryu moved to Calgary to hone her skills at the Mount Royal Conservatory. Under William van der Sloot, she was a full scholarship student in the advanced performance program. Ryu has…

Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition Launches Its 2020 Edition

By Newswire on 6 August 2019 Music Competition, Violin

Shanghai, China, August 6, 2019 – The third Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition (SISIVC) will take place in Shanghai August 4-25, 2020. The Competition’s Organisation Committee announced today that it is officially open for global applications. In celebration of the centennial birthday of Maestro Isaac Stern in 2020, a gala concert has been added to commemorate the longtime friend of China. Illustrious Panel of Judges After much anticipation, the Organisation Committee revealed the names of the all-star panel of jurors – each of the 13 chosen for their specialties in different artistic fields – ensuring that the contestants will receive…

2019 Concours musical international de Montréal : Semifinalists announced

By Newswire on 31 May 2019 Education, Music Competition, Violin

12 violonists from 6 countries go on to the semifinals June 1 and 2 Montréal, le 30 mai 2019 On May 29 and 30 was held the First round of the 2019 Violin Edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal. The jury selected twelve semifinalists, from 6 countries. The semifinal will take place on June 1 and 2 at Bourgie Hall. Presided by Zarin Mehta, le 2019 international jury includes Pierre Amoyal (France), Kim Kashkashian (United States), Boris Kuschnir (Austria), Cho-Liang Lin (United States), Mihaela Martin (Romania), Barry Shiffman (Canada), Dmitry Sitkovetsky (United Kingdom/United States) and Pavel Vernikov (Israel…

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