Montrealers celebrated the much anticipated return of Sony Classical artist and 2012 Juno Award winner, violinist Alexandre Da Costa at Bourgie Hall on Saturday, Feb. 9.
The Montreal native gave a warm, expressive and entertaining performance, accompanied by the McGill Chamber Orchestra conducted by Boris Brott.
Since several orchestra members were Da Costa’s former colleagues or fellow students from his time at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec, it was heartwarming to see the deep respect and altruistic nature that radiated from the stage from all sides.
Da Costa performed with heartfelt emotion and precise dexterity a selection of works from his latest releases; Stradivarius at the Opera, recorded with the Vienna Symphony and Stradivarius at the Opera II: Wagner.
Repertoire included some of the most beautiful opera arias and excerpts, all carefully arranged for the violin by Frédéric Chiasson.
Highlights of the evening included pieces dedicated to the great German composer Richard Wagner. (Parsifal Paraphrase, Siegfried Paraphrase among others…) which gave rise to a certain childhood nostalgia for both the violinist and conductor.
In Da Costa’s words: Having been raised in a Quebec household and accustomed to French music, he had to learn through extensive schooling in Germany and Austria how to properly execute and do honor to the deep, exhilarating German music that just “impregnates your entire being.”
The audience also saw and heard Da Costa’s 1701 “Deveault” Stradivarius, which according to the artist, “becomes a physical extension of his soul.”
Da Costa currently has a lineup of multimedia concerts booked around the world to promote his new albums. http://www.alexandredacosta.com/
McGill Chamber Orchestra’s season 2018-19 continues. www.orchestre.ca
