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For its upcoming concert, Orchestre symphonique de Laval (OSL) promises a wonderful reunion. Newly-appointed Music Director Adam Johnson, named to the post last August, will welcome none other than pianist Stéphane Lemelin—his former mentor at the University of Alberta—for what is anticipated to be a moment of rare communion at the piano, their shared instrument.
It is uncommon to witness two artists engage with such deep understanding that the interviewer quietly steps aside, allowing their exchange to flow unimpeded. Their dialogue reveals a rapport that clearly transcends the musical domain.
The connection between Johnson and Lemelin dates back to April 1997, when a youthful Johnson, moved by Lemelin’s performance of Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand, approached the distinguished Quebec pianist backstage. A few months later, Johnson was admitted to the University of Alberta, enrolling that autumn. Although he also displayed talent in sports—particularly downhill skiing—Johnson ultimately dedicated himself to the piano.
In time, he set the instrument aside to pursue a career as a conductor, and the two musicians never again shared the stage. That long-awaited reunion will finally take place on March 11 at Salle André-Mathieu. “It is a deeply meaningful event for me to make music with him for the first time,” Johnson confides. “I have been on stage with him before, but only as a page turner. We have known each other for nearly 30 years, so this reconnection is deeply emotional.”
Reflecting on Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, which he will perform on this occasion, Lemelin notes: “The collaboration between pianist and conductor resembles chamber music in many ways. It is, above all, an interpersonal exchange. With limited rehearsal time, it can be challenging to cultivate that shared understanding. Yet, when the human relationship is already in place, everything unfolds with much greater ease.”
“We understand each other as pianists,” adds Johnson. “We share the same instincts. We’re both attuned to the technical subtleties of interpretation, which allows us to sense the music in a more intimate way—getting closer to what the composer truly meant to express.”
The March 11 program will also feature Louise Farrenc’s Overture No. 1 in E minor and, following the intermission, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major. www.osl.ca
Translation: Anne Stevens
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