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
Fans of photography and of 20th century art have one last chance to view a spectacular exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa until Sunday, April 1st, 2012.
Made in America 1900-1950 features some 130 photographs of American masters such as by Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Clarence White, Paul Strand, Walker Evans, Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange, Berenice Abbott, Ansel Adams, Lisette Model, Weegee, and members of New York's Photo League.
The exhibit takes museum-goers through the two main tendencies in the development of photography during this period. On the one hand, there were those photographers who viewed the medium as another way to express images, shapes, forms and feelings. This is art for art’s sake, and in some of the photos displayed it is almost as if we are looking at black and white works by the impressionist painters themselves.
The other trend displayed is the documentary approach. These photographers were highly skilled and their images are imbued with great use of forms and placement of the subject matter, but there is an underlying message, often one of social commentary. And so there are many photos showing the disadvantaged as well as ordinary working people, children, cities and the country. But as we are reminded looking at one of images featured in the exhibit, Ansel Adam’s Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, the scenes presented to us on photographic paper are not necessarily free from manipulation even if the image is incredibly clear and detailed. Read More
The Gazette editorial “Quebec gives new meaning to the term ‘nanny state’ ” (June 3) makes many valid points contrasting freedom against the alarming trend toward excessive state intervention in almost every aspect of our lives.
This latest example of state intervention involves the imposition by secularists of their ideology by force of law so that the ability of parents to decide on the content of their own children’s daycare programs and activities will be severely curtailed.
For example, words such as “Christmas” and “Passover” will no longer be permitted to be uttered in hearing distance of toddlers’ sensitive ears. Read More
Some would argue that manners are a vestige from the past, and are not necessary in our modern, technology-driven world. I disagree. Manners are standards of social demeanour that exhibit one’s civility and decorum. They provide society with a code of unenforced yet accepted rules to promote communal harmony, and grant us a simple way to express respect towards each other. This courtesy is what separates humans from other members of the animal kingdom. Read More
One of the factors in choosing to visit, study in or immigrate to another city is the vibrancy of its cultural life.
If you are interested in classical music, the city of Montreal is without a doubt one of its leading centres the world over.
The classical music scene is so vibrant in Montreal that on a typical Sunday afternoon during the autumn, for example, you may well have eight or ten or even more high-level concerts being performed around the city. It is our pleasure to share with you some of Montreal’s classical music treasures. Read More