Classical music in reality is far from its stereotype as a numbingly dull form of audio entertainment only suitable for people in their twilight years, nor is it a tool for social oppression, as some critical theorists would argue. This was illustrated during a recent virtual meeting I attended with the newly chosen Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) as a member of their Honour Circle of major donors. Our new 40-year-old Maestro Rafael Payare described his experiences growing up in Venezuela where he fell in love with the arts, through the El Sistema method of music education. Read More
Classical music is a great inspiration and comfort to us. Its beautiful and dramatic melodies reflect our passions and experiences as humans at the highest level possible. Following his final press conference as British Prime Minister on July 11th, when David Cameron turned away from reporters to walk back to … Read More
A large audience was present in Montreal last Friday evening to hear the American violinist Hilary Hahn on tour with pianist Cory Smythe. Ms Hahn’s warm and engaging personality helped to dispel the cool and rainy weather concert goers had faced on the way to the Maison Symphonique. And then there was the music!
Ms Hahn is well-known for her championing of modern music as well as pairing modern pieces with well established parts of the repertoire. Hahn’s current tour follows the release of her latest CD, 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores. She undertook this project to encourage contemporary composers and to increase the repertoire of encores available for classical artists. She is playing two of these compositions on tour. These contemporary works tied in well with the overall theme of the evening which was thematic development and fantasy. Read More
By Stephen Fogarty
When the soloist was sitting down on Saturday night, I said to my concert companion, “He looks strong enough to break the piano!” The soloist in question was Denis Matsuev and I would not be surprised to learn that he was also a judoka on the Russian Olympic Team.
So considering pure physicality, we knew we were in strong hands to perform what many claim to be the most demanding of all piano concertos, Rachmaninov’s 3rd. This piece includes many forceful passages with the piano and orchestra playing simultaneously, as well as a number of dialogues between piano and orchestra sections, especially the brass. You simply won’t hear the piano most of the time unless it is played vigorously. Also much of the piano’s work is set at a very fast pace. The whole thing has the serious potential of flying apart in all directions. Read More
Photo ©2012 Stephen Fogarty
About 120 violin students and classical music fans of all ages were privileged to attend a fascinating Master Class given by the Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov in Montréal on Friday, October 26. Mr. Vengerov was in town performing in and conducting two concerts by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM). The program notes mentioned that Mr. Vengerov now divides his time equally among playing the violin, conducting, and teaching. His skills in the first two are universally acclaimed, and it was apparent only a few minutes into the Master Class that his skills as a teacher are on an equally high level.
The Master Class featured four Montréal area up-and-coming, young violinists each of whom would begin playing a work for some five to eight minutes. Mr. Vengerov would then give a general overview of their efforts, followed by a review of particular passages to work on technique. He often illustrated the points by playing on his own ex-Kreutzer 1728 Stradivari, and toward the end even played a duet with one of the students, Baptiste Rodrigues. Read More