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Opus 18 - saison 2013-2014

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Joël Quarrington - Crédit Anis Hammoud/CQM

Opus 18 - saison 2013-2014

par Réjean Beaucage


C'est le 1erfévrier dernier que le Conseil québécois de la musique remettait ses prix Opus, qui soulignent l'excellence en musiques de concert (classique, contemporaine, jazz, du monde, électroacoustique ou actuelle).

Il faut bien dire que le monde de la musique au Québec est tout de même un peu plus diversifié que ce que nous en laisse entrevoir la remise annuelle des prix Opus, où l'on retrouve souvent, d'une fois à l'autre, les mêmes personnalités qui viennent (ou pas) chercher leur joli trophée. Ainsi de Yannick Nézet-Séguin, qui recevait l'année dernière le prix du « Rayonnement à l'étranger » (qu'il n'a, bien entendu, pas volé), et qui était récompensé deux fois cette année pour le même concert donné avec l'Orchestre Métropolitain et la pianiste Hélène Grimaud (« Concert de l'année – musiques romantique, postromantique, impressioniste » et « Concert de l'année – Montréal »), ou des Violons du Roy, qui règnent en maîtres dans la Vieille Capitale et qui recevaient le prix du « Concert de l'année – Québec » pour Solomon, de Haendel, dirigé par Bernard Labadie, avec Karina Gauvin et Marie-Nicole Lemieux, après l'avoir obtenu l'année dernière pour Theodora, de Haendel, dirigé par Bernard Labadie, avec Karina Gauvin et Marie-Nicole Lemieux... On ne discute pas de l'excellence des artistes en cause, ici, mais d'une reconnaissance qui pourrait être un tout petit peu moins « ciblée ». 

De nombreux facteurs font en sorte que l'on revoit les mêmes visages sur la scène d'une édition à l'autre, mais ça prouve généralement surtout que les personnes en question ont des carrières actives, ce dont on ne peut évidemment que se réjouir. Pensons au pianiste Yves Léveillé, qui recevait l'Opus du « Concert de l'année – jazz et musiques du monde » (nouvelle fusion de ces deux catégories) après avoir reçu le même prix l'année dernière (catégorie « jazz ») pour le concert En trois couleurs (trio Simard, Bourassa, Léveillé). Pensons aussi à Maxime McKinley, « Compositeur de l'année » en 2012-2013 et auteur de l'« Article de l'année » cette fois-ci, pour un texte paru dans la revue Circuit, musiques contemporaines, dont le rédacteur en chef, Jonathan Goldman, montait lui aussi sur scène, mais à titre de musicien au sein de l'ensemble Quartango(« Disque de l'année – musiques du monde », avec Encuentro).

Comme l'OM, le festival de musique de chambre Concerts aux Îles du Bic a également reçu deux prix pour le même concert, soit le programme L'extase française, qui offrait des œuvres de Fauré, Emmanuel, Hahn, Debussy, Poulenc et Franck (« Concert de l'année – régions » et « Répertoires multiples »). Notons enfin que la fondatrice du Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Lorraine Vaillancourt, est aussi montée deux fois sur scène pour recevoir le prix remis au « Concert de l'année – musiques moderne, contemporaine » (pour le programme célébrant le 25eanniversaire du NEM) et pour celui remis à la « Direction artistique de l'année ». 


Crédit: Anis Hammoud/CQM














Création

C'est à l'opéra Le rêve de Grégoire de Pierre Michaud, une coproduction de Chants Libres et de la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, que l'on a remis l'Opus de la « Création de l'année », tandis que le quatuor de saxophones Quasar, qui lançait tout récemment sa 20e


saison, recevait le prix du « Concert de l'année – musiques actuelle, électroacoustique » pour son programme De souffles et de machines, coproduit avec le Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en musique, médias et technologie (CIRMMT) dans le cadre du premier Printemps numérique. Le compositeur Pierre Alexandre Tremblay, qui avait une œuvre en création lors de ce concert de Quasar, a quant à lui reçu l'Opus du « Disque de l'année – musiques actuelle, électroacoustique » pour La marée, chez empreintes DIGITALes (son disque précédent avait aussi remporté ce prix en 2010-2011).


C'est à Samy Moussa que sont allés l'Opus du « Compositeur de l'année » et les 10 000 $ qui l'accompagnent (gracieuseté du CALQ). Moussa était aussi en lice pour la création de l'année avec sa pièce A Globe Itself Infolding, créée par l'OSM au concert d'inauguration de l'orgue Casavant de la Maison symphonique; l'OSM donnera le 17 février prochain la création d'un Nocturne qu'il a commandé à Moussa. Par ailleurs, les inaugurations du Casavant de l'OSM et de celui du Palais Montcalmà Québec constituent un autre doublé, qualifié d'« Événement musical de l'année ». Et c'est l'OSM qui repart avec l'Opus du « Rayonnement à l'étranger » cette année.
Chez nous, c'est la pianiste Louise Bessette qui rayonnait en 2013-2014 en offrant en quatre concerts un programme de 25 œuvres couvrant les 25 dernières années pour saluer le 25e anniversaire de la Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur et, par le fait même, les 25 ans de Guy Soucie à la barre de l'institution montréalaise. La pianiste est repartie avec l'Opus de l'« Interprète de l'année » et les 5 000 $ que le CAC y attache. La « Découverte de l'année » est le chef d'orchestre Andrei Feher que l'on a vu à l'OM et qui est aussi chef assistant à l'OSQ. Enfin, le Prix Hommage état remis cette année à Johanne Goyette, fondatrice de la maison de disque ATMA Classique.



Pour tous les détails, consultez le site du CQM à http://www.cqm.qc.ca

This Week in Montreal: February 2 to 8

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Kiya Tabassian with dancer Tom Casey ­during a performance of Śūnya. Photo Michael Slobodian
Ensemble Constantinople and Sunya
According to Kiya Tabassian, Constantinople’s artistic director, “Two years ago we collaborated with the Indo-Armenian choreographer Roger Sinha for the show Śūnya, which incorporated dance and interactive videos. I really wanted the musicians to be fully engaged, and also interact with the dancers. The premier was in April 2014, and we still do a few performances in Canada; we’re also preparing an international tour.” You can see Śūnya on February 6 at 8 pm at Salle Pauline-Julien in Sainte-Geneviève. www.pauline-julien.com

American Dramatic Tenor Issachah Savage Makes Canadian Debut in COC Die Walkure

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American tenor Issachah Savage to debut as Siegmund in COC Die Walkure 

Joseph So

February 7th 2015


Tenor Issachah Savage (Photo: Kristen Hoeberman)

It was just announced at noon today by the Canadian Opera Company that due to illness of American tenor Clifton Forbis, the regularly scheduled Siegmund in the current revival of Die Walkure at the Canadian Opera Company, the role will be sung this evening by his cover, fellow American dramatic tenor Issachah Savage.

Mr. Savage is the winner of the 2014 Seattle International Wagner Competition. He was awarded the Main Prize, Audience Favorite Prize, Orchestra Favorite Prize, and a special honour by Speight Jenkins, the outgoing General Director of Seattle Opera. In 2012, Savage was the Grand Prize winner of the Marcello Giordani International Competition.

Savage is slated to make his Metropolitan Opera debut as Don Riccardo in Ernani next month, in a series of performances to be conducted by James Levine. Future engagements this season include his debut with the Orchestre national de Bordeaux-Aquitaine in Beethoven Ninth Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony in Verdi Requiem, and the Seattle Youth Symphony in Das Lied von der Erde.

In the 2013-14 season, Savage made his Houston Grand Opera debut as Radames opposite Liudmyla Monastyrska (Aida) and Dolora Zajick (Amneris).  Savage  has participated in a number of young artists programs, including that of the Emerging Singers Program of the late Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart, and Dolora Zajick's Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. His youthful dramatic tenor has been widely praised, and you can hear three samples of it, in Mein lieber Schwann from Lohengrin, Parsifal's final scene, and a Spiritual - on his website.  

Here is a link to that page http://issachah.weebly.com/listen.html

Issachah Savage with his mentor, mezzo Dolora Zajick, after the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices Concert (Photo courtesy of Issachah Savage)

















Dramatic Tenor Issachah Savage Makes Sensational Debut in COC Die Walkure

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American Issachah Savage Triumphant as Siegmund in the COC Die Walkure

Joseph So

American tenor Issachah Savage (Photo: Kristen Hoeberman)

Among classical singers, tenors are considered a special breed - pace sopranos and everyone else! The famous Australian prima donna Frances Alda (1879 - 1952) even titled her 1937 memoir Men, Women and Tenors.  And when that tenor is beautiful and of a size and power suitable for the Wagnerian repertoire, it makes one sit up and take notice. Compared to the baritone which is closest to the male speaking voice, the tenor represents a high wire act, reaching up to high C and beyond in full voice. Anytime a promising tenor emerges on the operatic firmament, it's cause for celebration. Due to the illness of American tenor Clifton Forbis, the regularly scheduled Siegmund in the current COC revival of Die Walkure, he was replaced by his cover, fellow American Issachah Savage in the third performance of the run, on Saturday February 7th.

A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Savage studied voice performance at Morgan State University and Catholic University of America. He has been singularly successful in winning competitions, among them the 2012 Marcello Giordani International Competition and the Seattle International Wagner Competition last year. A few sound clips on Youtube and on the artist's website reveal a voice of beauty and clarion power. So when it was announced at noon Saturday that he would be singing, it really piqued my interest. The first voice in the opera belongs to Siegmund, and right away I was impressed by his warm, hall-filling, rich sound, accurate of pitch and used with a surfeit of musicality.  Undoubtedly there were some nervous tension, but he hid it well.  He grew in confidence as the performance continued, and the voice sounded splendid in the Four Seasons Centre. At his final curtain call, the roar of approval from the house was among the most impressive I've heard in my 43 years of attending COC performances. 

This performance clearly demonstrated that Savage's tenor is ideal as Siegmund. He managed the unusually low tessitura well. When the vocal line rises, his tenor is in its glory. Unlike many Wagnerian tenors who are basically pushed-up baritones, Savage is a genuine tenor, with a bright, forwardly placed sound, one that defines the term Jugendlich dramatischer Tenor. The gleaming yet warm sound is lovely, and it has the heft for the dramatic outbursts like the "Walse, walse" passage. If I were to quibble, he has the tendency to avoid the |e| vowel, replacing it with the |o| vowel. He changed it to the |o| in the second Walse, a note that's up a semi-tone and sits in a tenor's passaggio. He also modified it in the word Walsung (Blut) at the end of the Act. Singers do this to protect the voice above the stave, but it sounds more Italian than German. Perhaps this explain his affinity to the Italian repertoire, having sung Radames to great success in Houston. It's clear that this Siegmund was an extremely promising start, and it is going to take some time and more experience for him to grow into this role. 

Interestingly, I noticed that everyone sang particularly well, more comfortable and freer onstage, perhaps with opening night jitters out of the way, or perhaps with the excitement of an unscheduled debut of a colleague. Heidi Melton's gorgeous middle voice sounded great as Sieglinde. Dmitry Ivashchenko's dark hued bass was almost too beautiful for the role of Hunding, but he managed to summon up the requisite malice. Christine Goerke once again nailed her B's and C's in Hojotoho, and there was great depth and nuance in her acting, particularly in the long Abschied with Johan Reuter, their interaction really touched the heart.  The orchestra under Johannes Debus outdid itself; whatever balance issues on opening night was absent here. It was one of the most satisfying performances at the COC in recent memory. 

After the performance, Neil Crory and I went backstage to greet the debuting Mr, Savage. I found him to be very congenial, articulate, unassuming, aware of his huge talent yet remaining humble and modest. With his marvelous voice, intelligence and musicality, I dare say he will go far. I hope the COC will bring him back - after all tenor voices of this calibre don't grow on trees! I look forward to hearing him again in the future.  

Issachah Savage in a post-performance glow (Photo: Joseph So)





Cette semaine à Montréal : du 9 au 15 février 2015

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Joyce Yang

Cette semaine à Montréal : du 9 au 15 février 2015

Orchestre de chambre i musici de Montréal
L’orchestre présente Quatre tempéraments  le 12 février à la salle Bougie. La pianiste Joyce Yang se joindra à l’équipe et Jean-Marie Zeitouni dirigera l’orchestre. Mentionnez La Scena et obtenez 15% de rabais. www.imusici.com

Faculté de musique de l'Université de Montréal
Le mercredi 11 février, le Cercle des étudiants compositeurs présentera ses œuvres lors d’un concert intitulé CéCo II : L’aventure se continue. 19h30, salle Serge-Garant (B-484). Musique.umontreal.ca

La rentrée à Bon-Pasteur
Compositeur résident, Jimmie Leblanc présente Lignes d’ombre et autres paradoxes lumineux avec le Duo Rockeys, composé de Katelyn Clark, clavecin, et Luciane Cardassi, piano et électronique. 11 février, 20 h. www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/chapellebonpasteur
- Renée Banville

Le Vivier
Jennifer Thiessen (alto baroque, viole d’amour) et Jean-Willy Kunz (clavecin) présentent Histoires d’amourle 12 février 2015 à 20h au Gesù. Selon les musiciens, il s'agit d'un « programme qui met en évidence les relations entre les musiciens et leurs instruments, entre les compositeurs et les interprètes et entre les musiciens eux-mêmes. » levivier.ca
 
L’orchestre lyrique de Montréal
Pour le deuxième concert de sa première saison, l’Orchestre lyrique de Montréal, sous la direction conjointe de Simon Rivard et Ben Kepes, interprétera Les Illuminations de Benjamin Britten. Dans ce cycle de mélodies, l’ensemble accompagnera la soprano Éthel Guéret. Le programme comprendra également une autre œuvre du compositeur britannique, Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Parmi les solistes, le chanteur Benjamin Butterfield et le corniste Louis-Pierre Bergeron. Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. 12 février, 20 h. www.orchestrelyriquedemontreal.org   
- Justin Bernard

L’école française chez Arion
Le concert Virtuose des Lumières est dédié au fondateur de l’école française de violon, Jean-Marie Leclair. Chef et soliste, la violoniste Mira Glodeanu inspirera tous les amoureux de celui qui fut le violoniste le plus éminent de son temps. Avec Claire Guimond, flûte, et Jean Marchand, conférencier. 13, 14, 15 février, salle Bourgie. www.mbam.qc.ca/concerts/
- Renée Banville

This Week in Toronto (Feb. 9 - 15)

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My Toronto Concert Picks for the Week of February 9 to 15

- Joseph So


For Toronto area opera and voice fans, the cup truly runneth over this week, with many fabulous opportunities to hear great singing.  First of all, there's Canadian Opera Company's Don Giovanni and Die Walkure continuing this week with performances on the Mozart on Feb. 12 and 14, and for Wagner on Feb. 10 and 13, all at the Four Seasons Centre. I caught another performance of Walkure last Saturday that marked the Canadian and role debut of American dramatic  tenor Issachah Savage. It was fantastic - here's my review of that performance - http://blog.scena.org/2015/02/dramatic-tenor-issachah-savage-makes.html  I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to hear Mr. Savage - with a voice like that, he will go far.  In the meantime, I wish Mr. Clifton Forbis a speedy recovery.
http://www.coc.ca/

COC Ensemble Studio 2014-15

There are several exciting events this week at the opera house. The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards is happening on Monday Feb. 9 5:30 pm at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. This is in the form of a competition for the current members of the COC Ensemble Studio. The late Louis Quilico of course was a great Canadian baritone, and this competition is dedicated to his memory. This is a free event!  But you must show up at least an hour early to line for the possibility of a seat (or at least standing room) for the event.  Be prepared for a two hour duration. Here's the program details.  I can honestly say there are some great voices in the ensemble this year and this event is not to be missed! http://files.coc.ca/pdfs/concert150209.pdf

Canadian soprano Jane Archibald is currently singing her first Donna Anna at the COC. Her sparkling coloratura is well known to Toronto audiences, having sung here many times, in Semele and Die Zauberfloete. Now we get to hear her dramatic side as Anna. I attended opening night, and her coloratura in Non mi dir was to die for. She is giving a recital, Songs of Love and Longing, on Feb. 10 noon hour at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Liz Upchurch is at the piano. On the program is a Mozart concert aria and songs by Faure, Strauss, and Quilter. http://files.coc.ca/pdfs/concert150210.pdf
Canadian soprano Jane Archibald

After hearing Jane Archibald, take a break and then go to hear her Don Giovanni, Canadian baritone Russell Braun, singing the great Hugo Wolf song cycle, Italienisches Liederbuch, with soprano Monica Whicher. This takes place at Walter Hall at the University of Toronto's Edward Johnson Building at 7 pm.  Carolyn Maule and Steven Philcox are the collaborative pianists.  https://performance.rcmusic.ca/performance-all

Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki

This is a very big week for piano fans. On Wednesday Feb. 11 8 pm, the TSO presents Carnival of Animals. Pianists Emanuel Ax and Jan Lisiecki, join forces for Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos. Also on the program are a new piece by composer in residence Kevin Lau, and the Saint Saens Carinval of Animals.  Peter Oundjian conducts.

Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear

Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear joins Emanuel Ax and the piano duo Anagnoson and Kinton on Thursday Feb. 12 8 pm for The Orchestral Piano, They are playing Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis after themes of Carl Maria von Weber; Brahm's Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, and Ravel's La valse.  http://www.tso.ca/
Pianist Emauel Ax

As part of its outreach, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting a Community Piano Event, with none other than the great pianist Emanuel Ax as performer and mentor!  Pianists from the GTA including RCM and Regent Park School of Music students will get to play on the TSO's new Steinway piano - I mean, how cool is that! It is also a free event.  Kudos to the TSO for doing something so wonderful. The event is on Valentine's Day no less!  Saturday Feb. 14 at 10 am. http://tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/2014-2015-Season/EventDetails/community-piano-event.aspx

Tafelmusik has a very intriguing event this week, called House of Dreams, a program that combines music with fine arts, conceived by Alison Mackay with stage direction by Marshall Pynkoski of Opera Atelier fame. Works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Marais played against a backdrop of paintings by Vermeer, Canaletto and Watteau. Five performances Feb. 11 to 15 at Trinity St. Paul's Centre. http://www.tafelmusik.org/concert-calendar/concert/house-dreams

Toronto City Opera (formerly Toronto Opera Repertoire) under the direction of mezzo Beatrice Carpino and pianist Adolfo de Santis is presenting Don Giovanni and Un ballo in maschera this week and next. All performances at the Bickford Centre featuring local singers with piano accompaniment. The Mozart is presented on Feb. 11, 14, 20 and 22, while the Verdi on Feb. 13 and 15.  http://www.torontocityopera.com/

Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore is presented by Opera By Request, appropriately on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14)!  Performance at College Street United Church at 7:30 pm. At the piano is William Shookhoff. http://operabyrequest.ca/wordpress/



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This Week in Montreal: February 9 to 15

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Joyce Yang

This Week in Montreal: February 9 to 15

Orchestre de chambre i musici de Montréal
The Orchestra presents Quatre temperaments on Feb. 12 at Bourgie Hall. Pianist Joyce Yang will join the team and Jean-Marie Zeitouni will conduct. Use promo code La Scena to get a 15% discount. www.imusici.com

Faculté de musique de l'Université de Montréal
On Wednesday Feb. 11, Le Cercle des étudiants compositeurs will present their compositions in CéCo II : L’aventure se continue. 7 :30 pm, salle Serge-Garant (B-484). Musique.umontreal.ca

Chapelle Bon-Pasteur
Composer in residence, Jimmie Leblanc presents Lignes d’ombre et autres paradoxes lumineux with Duo Rockeys, which includes Katelyn Clark (harpsichord) and Luciane Cardassi (piano and electronic). Feb. 11, 8 pm.
www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/chapellebonpasteur
- Renée Banville

Le Vivier
Jennifer Thiessen (baroque viola, viola d’amore) and Jean-Willy Kunz (harpsichord), perform Histoires d’amour on Feb. 12, 8 pm at Gesù. levivier.ca

L’orchestre lyrique de Montréal
For the second concert of its first season, the orchestra, under the direction of Simon Rivard and Ben Kepes, will perform Benjamin Britten’s Les illuminations. The orchestra will accompany soprano Éthel Guéret. The program also includes other pieces from the British composer as Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. Feb. 12, 8pm. www.orchestrelyriquedemontreal.org   
- Justin Bernard

French school at Arion
The Virtuose des Lumières concert is dedicated to the founder of L’école française de violon, Jean-Marie Leclair. Conductor and soloist, violinist Mira Glodeanu will inspire all of those who love the musice of Leclair. With Claire Guimond (flute) and Jean Marchand as guest speaker. Feb 13, 14, 15 at Bourgie Hall. www.mbam.qc.ca/concerts/
- Renée Banville

Worthy Sibelius Tribute in Austin, Texas

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Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in the Long Center

Dukas: Fanfare for La Péri (1912)
Glazunov: Wedding March Op. 21 (1889)
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47 (1903)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor Op. 39 (1899)

Karen Gomyo, violin
Austin Symphony Orchestra (ASO)/Peter Bay
Long Center for the Performing Arts
Austin, Texas
February 7, 2015

Composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1857)
This is going to be a big year for Finnish composer Jean Sibelius; born in 1865, 2015 is the 150th anniversary of his birth. Orchestras everywhere will be playing his music and there will surely be a plethora of new recordings. Conductor Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra are already off and running with a recent concert featuring two of Sibelius’ major works, Symphony No. 1 in E minor, and the Violin Concerto in D minor, with the brilliant young American violinist Karen Gomyo as soloist.

Peter Bay could easily have made this an all-Sibelius concert by opening with Finlandia, the Karelia Suite or Valse Triste and the audience would have been delighted. Instead, he chose to play two short works by Sibelius’ contemporaries. Bay also had the interesting idea of playing them without pause; in other words, the end of the Fanfare for La Péri led straight into the Glazunov march. Musically, this was effective not only because the fanfare is scored for brass only and the Glazunov begins with brass, but also because the Dukas is only three minutes long and is apt to sound inconsequential on its own.

The Glazunov, a lovely, understated piece, is rarely heard. Bay and the Austin Symphony gave it a fine performance.

Soloist Karen Gomyo
Karen Gomyo plays the “Aurora, ex-Foulis” Stradivarius (1703) and the sound produced by this soloist and her instrument was stunning, especially on the G-string - a big sound analogous to fine wine: robust, with hints of peach and almond. Gomyo took some time to establish her authority in the first movement of the concerto. Like its great predecessor, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, the Sibelius Violin Concerto is written that way; it takes its time to really get going. During the course of the performance, it became clear that Gomyo knew what she was doing and had the sound, technique and depth of expression to give this concerto a very fine performance. Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony provided ideal accompaniment; however softly Gomyo chose to play, Bay and the orchestra could play softer and in the big tutti passages there was ample fire and energy.

Gomyo’s bio in the programme book revealed that she was “deeply interested in the “Nuevo Tango” of Astor Piazzolla”, so it was not surprising that she played some unaccompanied Piazzollaas an encore. A delightful piece, the audience loved it.

Sibelius composed his First Symphony in 1899. Having already written the massive Kullervo Symphony for soloists, male chorus and orchestra, and the Four Legends - both works based on episodes from the Finnish epic poem the Kalevala – he was, by age 34, a very experienced composer.

During his formative years, Sibelius travelled to Europe to further his studies. He spent some time with Busoniin Leipzig in 1890. The following year he spent even more time in Vienna. He had a letter of introduction to Brahms but the Great Man, well-known for his crankiness, refused to see him. Sibelius studied instead with Robert Fuchs and Karl Goldmark.

By 1897 Sibelius was well established as a promising composer in his native Finland; in fact, he was so highly regarded that he was awarded an annual pension by the Finnish government. Sibelius received this income for the rest of his life. Together with increasing royalties from performances of his music, Sibelius was able to devote himself solely to composition without having to worry about how he would pay for his next meal.

One of the first fruits of this financial independence was the Symphony No. 1. Unlike the Kullervo Symphony, the work is pure music. It tells no story nor does it attempt to depict any events. It is all about the presentation and transformation of musical ideas. This is an important point when discussing the music of young composers. One must try to imagine how hard it was for Sibelius to do away with the crutch of program notes that would explain what the music was all about and give it a structure. Most of his early works had been in this programmatic style; now he was attempting to write a major piece in which the music speaks for itself.

Maestro Peter Bay
The Symphony No. 1 not only speaks for itself; it speaks in an original voice. There are occasional distant echoes of Borodinand Tchaikovsky, but for the most part listeners in 1899 were hearing something new. Its opening bars, with a darkly beautiful clarinet solo over a soft timpani roll, are unprecedented in the history of music. Throughout the piece one hears melodies, textures and rhythms that are highly original. All the elements of Sibelius’ mature style as a symphonist are to be found in this symphony. Each of his later symphonies has a different and often more concentrated structure, but “the voice” is instantly recognizable as being that of Sibelius.

Peter Bay gave us a well-prepared and heartfelt interpretation of the Symphony No. 1. There are no metronome markings in the symphony, so the conductor has to work out the tempi for himself Bay’s tempi for each of the four movements seemed just right. Balances were excellent with brass and percussion given their head in all the right places. Well, nearly all the right places. It seemed to me that the final climax was a little underpowered. My guess is that Bay was holding back the brass and timpani so as not to cover the strings. To my mind, however, the power of this last climax is more important than the secondary parts being played by the strings.

On the whole, this was a worthy tribute to Sibelius. Perhaps there will be more to come from Bay and the Austin Symphony later in the season.


Paul Robinson is the author of Herbert von Karajan: the Maestro as Superstar, and Sir Georg Solti: His Life and Music. For friends: The Art of the Conductor podcast, “Classical Airs.”

This Week in Toronto (Feb. 16 - 22)

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My Toronto Concert Picks for the Week of Feb. 16 to 22

- Joseph So

We are faced with a period of intense cold here in Toronto, and the temptation is to stay home and "cocoon" rather than braving the elements for a concert.  That said, there're quite a few events well worthy venturing out for.  First of all, this week is your very last chance of seeing the Canadian Opera Company's winter presentations of Don Giovanni (Feb. 18 and 21)  and Die Walkure (Feb. 19 and 22) at the Four Seasons Centre.  Great singing in both but I am particularly fond of the Wagner, so the four hour forty-five minute Walkure goes by in a flash. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and go.  http://www.coc.ca/

Mezzo Janina Baechle

Also there are two free noon hour concerts at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre this week that are very intriguing.  The COC Fricka, German mezzo Janina Baechle, whom I've heard multiple times in Munich and elsewhere is a fine recitalist. She will be giving a concert, Urlicht, on Tuesday Feb. 17. The title is taken from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn - she'll be singing three songs from this great cycle.  Also on the program are Brahms songs, really the bread and butter repertoire for the mezzo voice, plus songs by the lesser known composer Charles Loeffler.  Rachel Andrist is at the piano and Keith Hamm the violist.  http://files.coc.ca/pdfs/concert150217.pdf

On Thursday Feb. 19 at noon is the annual Collaborations, a joint recital involving the COC Ensemble Studio artists and those from the Atelier Lyrique of Opera de Montreal. This concert features the voices of France Bellemare, Aaron Sheppard, Josh Whelan, Gordon Bintner, Clarence Frazer, and Andrew Haji. Jennifer Szeto and Maxime Dube-Malenfant are the pianists. Complete program information can be found at  http://files.coc.ca/pdfs/concert150219.pdf

Conductor Steven Reineke

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is programming a "cross-over" show this week in From Bach to Bluegrass with Time for Three String Trio.  I have to admit I am quite ignorant when it comes to this genre. Based on the TSO website, this group has performed on Dancing With the Stars. On the program are Beatles tunes, Bach's Double Concerto, and the Charlie Daniels Band's The Devil Went Down to Georgia.  At the helm is TSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke. Three performances, on Tuesday Feb. 17 8 pm, and Wednesday Feb. 18 2 and 8 pm. http://tso.ca/

Pianist Lang Lang

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is once again celebrating the Chinese New Year, a tradition it started last year. This concert features prominent Chinese guest artists as well as Chinese members of the TSO.  Long Yu returns to conduct a program of Chinese and Western orchestral music. Lang Lang is the headliner of a line-up that also includes folk singer Lei Jia, pianists Johnson Li and Coco Ma, clarinetist Yao Guang Zhai, and violist Teng Li. Mark Rowswell"Dashan" is host and will narrate Saint-Saens'The Carnival of the Animals. Also on the program are Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Spring Festival Overture by Li Huanzhi.   Saturday Feb. 21 7:30 pm at Roy Thomson Hall. http://tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/2014-2015-Season/EventDetails/The-Year-of-the-Sheep-A-Chinese-New-Year-Celebration.aspx

Violinist Sarah Chang
Violinist Sarah Chang appears in recital with American pianist Julio Elizalde at Koerner Hall on Friday Feb. 20th 8 pm. The Koerner website is a little vague on the program, except to say it will include Brahms'Violin Sonata No. 3, Ravel's Tzigane, and Romanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok.   http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/sarah_chang


Pianist Denes Varjon

Hungarian pianist Denes Varjon makes his Toronto debut on Tuesday Feb. 17 8 pm under the auspices of Music Toronto. On the program are works by Beethoven, Schumann, Ravel and Bartok. Recital takes place at the usual MT venue of Jane Mallett Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre. http://music-toronto.com/piano/Denes_Varjan.htm

Toronto City Opera (formerly Toronto Opera Repertoire) is presenting fully staged productions of Un ballo in maschera on Feb. 18 and 21, and Don Giovanni on Feb. 20 and 22, at the Bickford Centre near the Christie subway station. The two shows opens last week. TCO is under the joint direction of mezzo Beatrice Carpino and pianist Aldofo De Santis. The soloists are a combination professionals and amateurs, and all performances have piano accompaniment. http://www.torontocityopera.com/



















Cette semaine à Montréal : le 16 au 22 février

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Lakmé (Andréanne Brisson Paquin)& Gérald (Sylvain Paré)
crédit photo: Christian Quezada

Cette semaine à Montréal : le 16 au 22 février

LakméUne histoire d’amour
(Version abrégée pour deux chanteurs d’après Lakmé de Léo Delibes)
1opéra/1heure propose, comme son nom le suggère, des versions abrégées d’opéras connus, pour un moment plein de lyrisme intimiste… Comme premier projet, Lakmé – Une histoire d’amour, rassemble les plus beaux moments du chef-d’œuvre de Léo Delibes. Conçu pour n’offrir que les moments essentiels de l’action, le spectacle se concentre sur la relation tourmentée entre la jeune hindoue Lakmé et le soldat anglais Gérald. Des costumes, des accessoires ainsi qu’une mise en espace feront de ce spectacle plus qu’un simple concert.
Le réputé metteur en scène Alain Gauthier dirige deux interprètes : la brillante jeune soprano Andréanne Brisson Paquin en Lakmé, face au Gérald passionné du ténor Sylvain Paré. Ils sont accompagnés par l’excellent pianiste Michel-Alexandre Broekaert, qui intercale entre les airs chantés quelques passages de la partition arrangés pour piano seul, offrant ainsi une façon différente d’écouter Lakmé !
Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. 19 février, 19 h 30. www.conservatoire.gouv.qc.ca
- Pascal Blanchet

Bach, Mozart et Fauré pour voix et orgue
La soprano québécoise Marianne Fiset sera accompagnée à l’orgue par Isabelle Demers dans un répertoire varié, mêlant les styles musicaux de Bach à Schumann, de Mozart à Fauré en passant par Reger, MacMillan, Barié et Daveluy. Ce sera l’occasion d’entendre ou de réentendre l’orgue Casavant, nommé Grand-Orgue-Pierre-Béique, dans des pièces pour soliste. Parmi les œuvres pour orgue et voix, mentionnons le motet Exsultate, jubilate de Mozart et le « Pie Jesu », extrait du Requiem de Fauré. Maison symphonique. 21 février, 20 h. www.osm.ca
- Justin Bernard

 Opéra da Camera dans Serse de Haendel
La compagnie montréalaise présente son premier opéra de la saison : Sersede Haendel. Dans une mise en scène originale d’Andrew Cuk, cette production fera appel à un ensemble orchestral, dirigé par Christopher Hossfeld, et une large distribution de chanteurs : Meagan Zantingh, Kathrin Welte, Danielle Vaillancourt, Nicola Ravarino Guagenti, Frédérique Drolet, Valérie Bélanger et Jean-Philippe Lupien. Théâtre Rialto. 19, 21, 28 février, 19 h 30. ­www.operadacamera.ca
- Justin Bernard

Ensemble caprice et les cantates de Bach
La Fondation Arte Musica poursuit sa longue série de concerts avec la participation de l’Ensemble Caprice, sous la direction de Matthias Maute. Parmi les solistes invités, on retrouve la soprano Monika Mauch, la mezzo-soprano Maude Brunet, le ténor Hermann Oswald et le baryton Clayton Kennedy. Au programme de ce concert intitulé Profondeur et consolation, deux cantates funèbres de Jean-Sébastien Bach, BWV 106 et 198. Salle Bourgie du Musée des beaux-arts. 22 février, 14 h. www.sallebourgie.ca
- Justin Bernard

This Week in Montreal: February 16 to 22

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Lakmé (Andréanne Brisson Paquin)& Gérald (Sylvain Paré)
credit: Christian Quezada


This Week in Montreal: February 16 to 22
LakméUne histoire d’amour
(Abridged version for two singers from Lakmé  by Léo Delibes)
1 opéra / 1 heure, as its name suggests, proposes abridged versions of popular operas creating an intimate moment full of lyricism.
Its first project, LakméUne histoire d’amour,gathers moments from Léo Delibes’ Masterpiece. Oeffering only the most action-filled moments, the show focus on the relationship between the young Indian Lakmé and the English soldier Gérald. Costumes, accessories and stage design make this performance more than a simple concert.

Renowned stage director Alain Gauthier leads two singers: the brilliant soprano Andréanne Brisson Paquin as Lakmé and tenor Sylvain Paré as the passionate Gérald. Talented pianist Michel-Alexandre Broekaertwill play pieces adapted for single piano between sung arias, offering a different way to listen to Lakmé!

Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. Feb. 19, 7 :30 pm. www.conservatoire.gouv.qc.ca
 - Pascal Blanchet

Bach, Mozart and Fauré for voice and organ
Quebec soprano Marianne Fiset accompanied by organist Isabelle Demers will perform a varied repertoire, mixing styles from Bach to Schumann, Mozart to Fauré, including Reger, MacMillan, Barié and Daveluy. This will be an opportubity to hear (or hear again) the Casavant organ, also called Grand-Orgue-Pierre-Béique, in soloist music pieces. Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate and Fauré’s « Pie Jesu » (a Requiem extract) will be performed. Maison symphonique, Feb. 21, 8 pm. www.osm.ca
- Justin Bernard

Opéra da Camera in Haendel’s Serse
The Montreal Company presents its first opera of the season: Serse. In an original production from Andrew Cuk, the concert will feature an Orchestra directed by Christopher Hossfeld and a large group of singers: Meagan Zantingh, Kathrin Welte, Danielle Vaillancourt, Nicola Ravarino Guagenti, Frédérique Drolet, Valérie Bélanger et Jean-Philippe Lupien. Théâtre Rialto. Feb. 19, 21, 28, 7 :30 pm. www.operadacamera.ca
- Justin Bernard

Ensemble caprice and Bach’s cantatas
The Arte Musica Foundation continues with its concert series with Ensemble Caprice under the direction of Matthias Maute. Guest soloists will be soprano Monika Mauch, mezzo-soprano Maude Brunet, tenor Hermann Oswald and baritone Clayton Kennedy. Profondeur et consolation will feature two funeral cantatas by Bach (BWV 106 and 198). Bourgie Hall, Musée des beaux-arts. Feb. 22, 2 pm. www.sallebourgie.ca
- Justin Bernard

This Week in Toronto (Feb. 23 - Mar. 1)

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Toronto Concert Picks for the Week of February 23 to March 1

- Joseph So

Even with the Canadian Opera Company's winter season consigned to history, there are still plenty of worthwhile events for voice fans.  Soprano Barbara Hannigan returns to Toronto for several concerts this week and next. The Nova Scotia born, Amsterdam-based Hannigan studied voice with Mary Morrison at University of Toronto and went on to become the queen of contemporary music. A number of composers have created works with Hannigan in mind. She is in town for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's annual New Creations Festival, which is showcasing the works of composer George Benjamin, among others. The event kicks off with A Mind of Winter, a program featuring Benjamin's setting of The Snowman, a poem by Wallace Stevens, with Hannigan as soloist. Also on the program is a new Violin Concerto by Vivian Fung, commissioned by the TSO for Concertmaster Jonathan Crow.  Rounding out the program are works by Japanese composer Dai Fujikura and French composer Henri Dutilleux.  Peter Oundjian shared conducting duties with George Benjamin. Performance on Saturday Feb. 28 8 pm at Roy Thomson Hall. Given these pieces will be unfamiliar, it would be wise to attend the pre-curtain, intermission, and post-performance events the TSO has scheduled.  http://tso.ca/en-ca/new-creations-festival/pre-and-post-concert-events.aspx
Soprano Barbara Hannigan (Photo: Raphael Brand)

Fans of Hannigan and New Music can hear her earlier this week in a chamber recital on Tuesday Feb. 24 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. TSO chamber soloists Jonathan Crow (violinist and concertmaster), Peter Seminovs (violin), Teng Li (viola) and Joe Johnson (cello) and COC Ensemble Studio head Liz Upchurch (piano) will join Hannigan in Rapture, a recital featuring Chausson's Chanson perpetuelle, and Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 2 in F-sharp minor.  Full program details at http://files.coc.ca/pdfs/concert150224.pdf  

Pianist Gerold Huber ad baritone Christian Gerhaher 

Lieder fans should be out in force to welcome back German baritone Christian Gerhaher to Toronto, this time in Schubert's greatest song cycle, Winterreise.  With him is collaborative pianist Gerold Huber. In an interview for the New York Times, Gerhaher talks about his philosophy of lieder singing, best described as a "less is more" approach/ He does not believe in emotional excesses, trendy stage directions, props, use of projections and other devices that have become popular in recent years in recitals. Gerhaher feels everything an audience needs is already in the music and the text. Here is that very interesting article - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/arts/music/christian-gerhaher-sings-winterreise-without-all-the-frills.html?_r=0  Performance at Koerner Hall on Thursday Feb. 26 at 8 pm. https://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/gerhaher_huber



Pianist Marc Andre Hamelin 

The great Quebec pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin returns to Toronto in a recital of Schubert, Debussy, John Field, as well as Hamelin's own composition, Pavane Variee. Sunday March 1st 3 pm at Koerner Hall. https://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/hamelin2015

A very intriguing event this week is the Canadian premiere of David Lang's The Whisper Opera, presented by Soundstreams, from Feb. 26 to Mar. 1 at The Theatre Centre on 1115 Queen Street West.  The concept of this project is so unusual that the best way to explain it is by quoting verbatim the material on Soundstreams' website - 

Using a libretto compiled from search-engine responses to such prompts as “When I think of you, I think of…,” Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang explores the tension between our private and online selves in a work that demands the most intimate live performance possible. Reprising their successes at Lincoln Center and Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, soprano Tony Arnold and New York’s International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)—hailed by The New York Times as “one of the most adventurous and accomplished groups in new music”—make their Canadian debuts in an opera so quiet, so delicate, that it can be experienced by just 52 people at a time. 

On the Soundstreams website is a video clip where David Lang talks about the concept of  this work - http://www.soundstreams.ca/The-Whisper-Opera  See website for performance times.  The audience capacity is limited to 52 per show, and an important component of the presentation is the post-performance chat.

The Gryphon Trio ( violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys, pianist James Parker)

Music Toronto is presenting The Gryphon Trio on Feb. 26 8 pm at the Jane Mallett Theatre. The program consists of works by Haydn. Schubert, Dinuk Wijeratne, and works from the Young Composer Project at the Claude Watson Arts program at the Earl Haig Secondary School. The ensemble is celebrating their 20th season. http://music-toronto.com/quartets/Gryphon_2.htm

The Toronto City Opera's Un ballo in maschera continues this week at the Bickford Centre on Feb. 27 and Mar. 1. It's paired with Don Giovanni, which can be seen on Feb. 25 and 28. Singers are a mix of professionals and amateurs, and all shows have piano accompaniment. http://www.torontocityopera.com/

Opera by Request is presenting a work that's rarely staged, Boito's Mefistofele on Feb. 27th 7:30 pm at the College Street United Church.  http://operabyrequest.ca/wordpress/

This Week in Montreal: February 23 to March 1

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Trio Fibonacci

This Week in Montreal: February 23 to March 1

Opéra da Camera in Haendel’s Serse
The Montreal company continues its first opera of the season: Serse. In an original production from Andrew Cuk, the concert will feature an Orchestra directed by Christopher Hossfeld and a large group of singers: Meagan Zantingh, Kathrin Welte, Danielle Vaillancourt, Nicola Ravarino Guagenti, Frédérique Drolet, Valérie Bélanger et Jean-Philippe Lupien. Théâtre Rialto. Feb. 28, 7 :30 pm. www.operadacamera.ca
- Justin Bernard

Alexander Brott’s 100th Anniversary
Alexander Brott, whose centenary we are celebrating in 2015, was first and foremost a creator. He stands as one of Canada’s most significant and prolific composers, and his works have received accolades from critics, conductors and audiences. McGill Chamber Orchestra celebrates Alexander Brott's 100th Anniversary, with works including Mini Minus and Sept for Seven. Boris Brott conducts. February 24 at Bourgie Hall.
www.ocm-mco.org.

Trio Fibonacci – Viennese classicism 
Mannheim Orchestra was seen as one of Europe’s best in the 18th century. WithLa Fusée de Mannheim, Fibonacci’s musicians, Julie-Anne Derome (violin), Wonny Song (piano) and Gabriel Prynn (cello), started to search for the outstanding quality of Viennese classicism. This ideal is reached with compositions by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Onslow. Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, February 25, 7:30 pm. www.triofibonacci.com
- Renée Banville

L’Étoile by Emmanuel Chabrier
For its annual production, the Atelier d’opéra de l’Université de Montréal conducted by Robin Wheeler chose an opera-bouffe: L’étoile by Chabrier, in a François Racine production. Jean-François Rivest will conduct the Université de Montréal Orchestra and the Atelier d’opéra chorus. Salle Claude-Champagne. Feb. 26, 27, 28, 7:30 pm. www.calendrier.umontreal.ca
-Justin Bernard

MNM Highlights
From 26 February to 7 March, the 7th edition of the Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques festival will present some 30 concerts in 11 venues on the theme: “Environments and new technologies”. A few highlights:
To give credit where credit is due, the producer of the event, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), will open the festivities with the extravagance characteristic of its artistic director, Walter Boudreau. The program includes a music video (Yan Breleux, Soizic Lebrat – 2012), a prepared piece for the piano (John Cage – 1945), extracts from the film Ce soir on improvise (Raymond Gervais, Michel Di Torre – 1974) and a reorchestrization by Boudreau and René Bosc of the “unplayable” radio work, Atlantide (1985), by Michel Georges Brégent (Salle Pierre-Mercure, 26 February – 7 pm).
Mention must also be made of the McGill Symphony Orchestra’s concert performance of la Turangalila – Symphony(1949), by Olivier Messiaen under the direction of Alexis Hauser (Maison Symphonique, 27 February – 7 pm), as well as the presence of the Musikfabrik ensemble from Germany, which will perform the North American premiere of a work by Claude Vivier (Salle Pierre Mercure, 28 February, 7 pm), as well as the double multimedia concert by the Onix ensemble from Mexico (Agora Hydro-Québec, 4 March, 9 pm and 11 pm).
Let’s not forget free events: the 500 voices of Les Papes Hurlants of the Mruta Mertsi ensemble, under the direction of André Pappathomas (Compexe Desjardins, 29 February – 11 pm), or the 100 guitarists of the Instruments of Happiness Extreme ensemble, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary guitarist Les Paul, under the direction of Tim Brady (same place, 7 March – 3 pm). www.festivalmnm.ca
- Réjean Beaucage (Translation Christine Lacroix)

La Société d’art vocal and Martha Guth
For its third concert of the season, the Société d’art vocal teamed with Canadian soprano Martah Guth from Vancouver. With pianist Hinrich Alpers, the singer will perform an original repertoire with melodies based on the writing of American 19th century poet Emily Dickinson. Aaron Copland is one of those composers whom translated the poems into music. Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. March 1st, 3 pm. www.artvocal.ca
- Justin Bernard

Cette semaine à Montréal : du 23 février au 1er mars

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Trio Fibonacci

Cette semaine à Montréal : du 23 février au 1er mars

Opéra da Camera dans Serse de Haendel
La compagnie montréalaise continue avec son premier opéra de la saison : Sersede Haendel. Dans une mise en scène originale d’Andrew Cuk, cette production fera appel à un ensemble orchestral, dirigé par Christopher Hossfeld, et une large distribution de chanteurs : Meagan Zantingh, Kathrin Welte, Danielle Vaillancourt, Nicola Ravarino Guagenti, Frédérique Drolet, Valérie Bélanger et Jean-Philippe Lupien. Théâtre Rialto., 28 février, 19 h 30. ­www.operadacamera.ca
- Justin Bernard

100eanniversaire d’Alexander Brott
Alexander Brott, dont nous célébrons le centenaire de naissance en 2015, était d’abord et avant tout un créateur. Il est considéré comme l’un des compositeurs les plus importants et les plus prolifiques du Canada, et ses œuvres ont reçu des éloges de la critique, des chefs d’orchestre et du public. L’Orchestre de chambre McGill célèbre le 100 anniversaire d’Alexander Brott. Les œuvres présentées comprennent Mini Minus et Sept for Seven. L’orchestre sera dirigé par Boris Brott. Le 24 février, salle Bourgie. www.ocm-mco.org

Trio Fibonacci – Le classicisme viennois
Au 18e siècle, l’orchestre de Mannheim fut considéré comme le meilleur de l’Europe. Avec La Fusée de Mannheim, les musiciens du Fibonacci, Julie-Anne Derome, violon, Wonny Song, pianiste et Gabriel Prynn, violoncelle, ont commencé à rechercher ce qui fait la qualité particulière du classicisme viennois. Cet idéal sera atteint dans les œuvres de Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven et Onslow. Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, 25 février, 19 h 30. www.triofibonacci.com
- Renée Banville

L’Étoile d’Emmanuel Chabrier
Pour sa production annuelle de la saison 2014-2015, l’Atelier d’opéra de l’Université de Montréal, dirigé par Robin Wheeler, a choisi un opéra-bouffe, L’Étoile de Chabrier, dans une mise en scène de François Racine. Jean-François Rivest sera à la direction de l’Orchestre de l’Université de Montréal et du Chœur de l’Atelier d’opéra. Salle Claude-Champagne. 26, 27, 28 février, 19 h 30. www.calendrier.umontreal.ca
-Justin Bernard

À surveiller durant MNM
Du 26 février au 7 mars, la 7eédition du festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques présentera sous le thème "Environnements et nouvelles technologies" une trentaine de concerts dans 11 lieux différents. Quelques faits saillants.
À tout seigneur tout honneur, c'est la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), productrice de l'évènement, qui ouvre les festivités avec cette touche de démesure qui caractérise la vision de son directeur artistique Walter Boudreau. Le programme compte une vidéo-musique (Yan Breuleux, Soizic Lebrat - 2012), une pièce pour piano préparé (John Cage - 1945), des extraits du film Ce soir on improvise (Raymond Gervais, Michel Di Torre - 1974) et une réorchestration, par Boudreau et René Bosc, de l'œuvre radiophonique "injouable"Atlantide(1985), de Michel-Georges Brégent (Salle Pierre-Mercure, 26 février - 19h).
Il faut aussi mentionner le concert de l'Orchestre symphonique de McGillinterprétant la Turangalîla-Symphonie(1949) d'Olivier Messiaen sous la direction d'Alexis Hauser (Maison symphonique, 27 février - 19h) et souligner la présence de l'ensembleMusikfabrik, d'Allemagne, qui donnera la création nord-américaine d'une œuvre de Claude Vivier (Salle Pierre-Mercure, 28 février, 19h), de même que celle de l'ensemble Onix, du Mexique, pour un double concert multimédia (Agora Hydro-Québec, 4 mars, 21h et 23h).
N'oublions pas les événements gratuits: les 150 voix des Papes hurlants de l'ensemble Mruta Mertsi sous la direction d'André Pappathomas (Complexe Desjardins, 29 février - 23h) ou les 100 guitaristes de l'ensemble Instuments of Happiness Extreme, célébrant le 100eanniversaire de naissance du légendaire guitariste Les Paul sous la direction de Tim Brady (même endroit, 7 mars - 15h). www.festivalmnm.ca
- Réjean Beaucage

La Société d’art vocal et Martha Guth
Pour son troisième récital de la saison, la Société d’art vocal a fait appel à la soprano canadienne, Martha Guth, originaire de Vancouver. Accompagnée au piano par Hinrich Alpers, la chanteuse proposera un répertoire original, des mélodies composées sur des textes d’Emily Dickinson, poétesse américaine du XIXe siècle. Aaron Copland fait partie de ces compositeurs qui ont mis les poèmes de l’auteure en musique. Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique. 1er mars, 15 h. www.artvocal.ca
- Justin Bernard

This Week in Toronto (March 2 - 8)

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Toronto Concert Picks for the Week of March 2 to 8

Joseph So

Siberian-born Russian violinist Vadim Repin makes his Toronto recital debut on March 6th 8 pm at Koerner Hall, in a program of works by Ravel, Debussy, Bartok, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. Called the Russian Paganini thanks to his dazzling technique, Repin is appearing here with pianist Svetlana Smolina. http://www.showoneproductions.ca/event-details-213.aspx

Violinist Vadim Repin

Toronto Symphony Orchestra's New Creations Festival that began last week continues with two major events. First is the North American premiere of Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen's Let me tell you, to take place on Wednesday, March 4th 8 pm.  Also on the program is George Benjamin's Duet for piano and orchestra.  Peter Oundjian is the host and shares conducting duties with Benjamin. There's going to be a pre-concert performance of new music, an intermission chat as well as a post-performance event. Click here for more details - http://tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/2014-2015-Season/EventDetails/let-le-tell-you.aspx


Composer George Benjamin (Photo: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian)

For opera fans, the centerpiece of this year's New Creations Festival is the concert performance of George Benjamin's Written On Skin. This opera was a sensation at Royal Opera Covent Garden two years ago. Erica Jeal, my colleague at Opera (uk) where I'm the Toronto correspondent/reviewer, gave it a 5-Star in her review in The Guardian. Barbara Hannigan is joined by mezzo Krisztina Szabo, tenor Isaiah Bell, baritone Christopher Purves and countertenor Bernhard Landauer in this performance. Composer George Benjamin conducts the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Saturday March 7 7:30 pm at Roy Thomson Hall.  http://tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/2014-2015-Season/EventDetails/Written-on-Skin.aspx

Soprano Barbara Hannigan (Photo: Raphael Brand)

Soprano Barbara Hannigan manages to squeeze into her busy schedule a Workshop for Singers, Composers and Librettists at Walter Hall on Monday March 2 2 pm.  Joining Hannigan is composer Hans Abrahamsen and librettist Paul Griffiths. The workshop focuses on Abrahamsen's new work, Let me tell you, which will have its North American premiere on Wednesday.   https://www.music.utoronto.ca/concerts-events.php?eid=197


Soprano Nancy Argenta 

Another distinguished artist, soprano and baroque specialist Nancy Argenta, is in town to give a masterclass at University of Toronto.  Like Hannigan and many other Canadian opera singers - interestingly mostly women like Adrianne Pieczonka and Ingrid Attrot - Argenta studied with the great voice teacher Mary Morrison. Argenta's masterclass is on Tuesday March 3rd 10 am to 1 pm in Walter Hall. https://www.music.utoronto.ca/concerts-events.php?eid=306

Capella Intima and the Gallery Players of Niagara present the only Toronto performance of An Evening of Ancient Music, featuring rounds, catches, airs, and a concert performance of Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Jennifer Enns Modolo, Sheila Dietrich, Emily Klassen, David Rothand Bud Roach are the soloists. Performance on Friday March 6 7:39 pm at Trinity St. Paul's Centre, 427 Bloor Street West. http://www.capellaintima.com/

Opera York presents Mozart"s The Magic Flute, According to statistics from the last five completed seasons, Die Zauberfloete is the third most popular opera worldwide in terms of the number of performances (605), out of a total of 2,581 operatic works.  Only La traviata and Carmen are more popular. Canadian veteran bass Gary Relyea sings Sarastro, soprano Nicole Dubinsky is Queen of the Night, soprano Anne Marie Ramos is Pamina, Riccardo Iannello sings Tamino, and veteran baritone Douglas Tranquada is Papageno. Geoffrey Butler conducts. Two performances March 5 and 7 7:30 pm at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. http://www.operayork.com/springseason.html#cast

Ana Sokolovic on Serbian Folklore

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Ana Sokolovic (Photo : Alain Lefort)

Ana Sokolovic on Serbian Folklore
By Viktor Lazarov

         Composer Ana Sokolovic is very well known to most contemporary classical music lovers in Canada. In its 2011-2012 season, the Sociétéde musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) dedicated its third Série Hommage to Ana Sokolovic and brought her music to new listeners in the far corners of the country. Today, Ana Sokolovic is an icon of the Canadian contemporary music scene - an artist whose work is a unique blend of two very distinct cultures.
         Ana Sokolovic’s success story is of special interest to me as we share the same background. My parents emigrated from Yugoslavia to Montreal in 1991, just one year before Ana arrived in Canada. Both my parents are artists and they became close friends with Ana back in the 1990s, when all three were graduate music students. (Incidentally, I gave my first solo performance as a young pianist at a joint concert of my parents’and Ana’s students.)
         While there are many published interviews and articles about Ana’s life and work, I felt that two questions remained unanswered: the development of her early career in Canada and the specific aspect of Serbian folklore that is reflected in her music.
         I interviewed Ana in October 2014 at her home in Montreal; the original interview was in Serbian.

VL: What brought you to Montreal?
AS: In 1992, I left Yugoslavia for two very concrete reasons: the country’s political instability and the absence of a fulfilling career as an artist. I realized that all the efforts that my colleagues and I had put into changing the political situation had been in vain. I was drained of the energy I needed to compose music and I could see no future there for what I was truly qualified to do composing music. At that point I was ready to try my luck elsewhere.
         I remembered a childhood friend who was then living in Montreal. The idea to move to Quebec appealed to me because I had been a great Francophile my whole life. This turned out very well for me, as I consider Quebec a perfect mix of European culture and North American organization. I fit right in from my first day in Montreal and everything came easily to me here.

VL: Could you tell me more about that initial period after you came to Montreal?
AS: A year went by between the day I arrived and when I began my studies. Yet I used the time well by learning the languages, getting to know the city and the people…During my Masters, I met many performers and musicologists, as well as other composers. This was my first contact with Montreal’s musical circles.
         It would have been harder for me to start my life and career from scratch had I been already established in Yugoslavia. In my case, since I had nothing to look back at, it was easier to start from zero in a new place.
         I had many projects right away, but the piece that really kicked off my career was Ambient V for two violins. I wrote it for two friends of mine: Milan Milisavljevic and Marian Mosczak. They performed it at the CECO [Cercle des étudiants en composition], where my husband, Jean Lesage, then only a colleague, had heard it for the first time. He happened to be on the board of the artistic committee of the SMCQ and he liked my piece so much that he proposed they program it on a concert featuring Canadian composers who were born abroad. And so it was!
         How very lucky I was that my piece was performed at a professional concert only a year after its premiere! In terms of my career in Canada, everything truly started with that.

VL: I also wanted to ask you, what are the specific elements of Serbian folklore that inspire you?
AS: Growing up, I listened to classical music as well as pop and rock with my friends. Of course, I was aware of Serbian folklore, sort of peripherally, but never as a main focus - until I came to Canada. Interestingly, it all started with a critique of my piece Ambient V: a colleague wrote that my music had a sharp bite to it and praised it for its “Slavic soul.” As I considered myself a contemporary composer in the European tradition, I could not have been more offended! At the time, I didnt think that, artistically speaking, being modern and having an ethnic colour could go hand in hand. However, this phrase caught on and kept reappearing over the years. Suddenly I told myself that there must be some grounds for this assumption and I began to reconsider my original opinion. Perhaps there was something Slavic in my work, something in my music pertaining to the Balkans. Perhaps, this could even be a very good thing!
         And so I began to look deeper into Serbian folklore in search of elements that were at the heart of my music. As it turns out, very few of these actually had anything to do with Serbian folkloric music itself, but rather with the character of Balkan folklore: embodied in contradictions, extreme and opposite feelings.
         A perfect example of this can be found in Serbian medieval literature.

VL: Serbian epic poems?
AS: That’s right. Serbian epic poetry can be divided in three categories. Epic poems, which were mainly about the heroism and suffering of national heroes in the context of the rebellion against the Ottoman invaders. The second category is lyrical poems, where love is described in very abstract ways, from romantic love, to love between a mother and her child, or love between parents and the third generation…Finally, there are thelyrico-epic poems in which both of the two previous types coexist in one single type of poem. This cohabitation of extreme elements is unique to Serbian folklore and this is precisely what gives it its beauty and originality!
         In musical terms, this is evident in my music through the quick succession of dramatic and delicate elements and their coexistence.
         Another element which has had a lasting influence on me is the idea of the kolo [a traditional Serbian dance in which dancers make a circle, hold hands and twirl for a long time to the sound of rhythmic music]. This dance is usually performed at joyous occasions such as weddings or anniversaries, when people dance for hours at a time, fuelled by several drops of brandy. A type of collective trance takes place, where the dancers are led more by the rhythm than by the melody. This element of trance-like repetition is also something I want to express in my music.
         Finally, the Serbian language itself serves as a source of inspiration through its highly rhythmical qualities. In fact, the sound of the Serbian language changes throughout the country: it is more melodic in the North and becomes increasingly more dry and sparkly as you move down South. The sounds of this sharp, hard, glittery language continually fascinate me! My latest work inspired by the Serbian language is my opera Svadba -meaning “wedding”- for which the libretto was written in Serbian.



You can find an article on Sokolovic by Caroline Rodgers in our December-January 2011 issue. The article is available in French and in English.

This Week in Montreal: March 2 to 8

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Ensemble Constantinople (Photo: J. Michel)


This Week in Montreal: March 2 to 8

Adventures in the East
The OSM has commissioned a piece by Kiya Tabassian for a concert including works by Saint-Saëns, Dukas, and Strauss, to go with the exposition
Marvels And Mirages of Orientalism: From Spain to Morocco, Benjamin-Constant in His Time(until May 31 at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montreal). Says Tabassian, “The work is inspired by Arab-Andalusian music, but I didn’t want to do arrangements of traditional melodies for large orchestras.

It remains a very personal music, but with the Persian colours that live within me. There’s also the voice of Françoise Atlan, with whom I’ve worked for several years, as well as Didem Bashar, who plays the kanun [a type of tabletop zither]. It’s the first time that I’ve composed for a symphony orchestra, and it’s a great pleasure, of course. I must say that it’s a work that has surprised even me!” Adventures in the East performed by the OSM, March 4 at 8 pm and March 8 at 2:30 pm at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. www.osm.ca

MNM Highlights
From 26 February to 7 March, the 7th edition of the Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques festival will present some 30 concerts in 11 venues on the theme: “Environments and new technologies”. A few highlights:

To give credit where credit is due, the producer of the event, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), will open the festivities with the extravagance characteristic of its artistic director, Walter Boudreau. The program includes a music video (Yan Breleux, Soizic Lebrat – 2012), a prepared piece for the piano (John Cage – 1945), extracts from the film Ce soir on improvise (Raymond Gervais, Michel Di Torre – 1974) and a reorchestrization by Boudreau and René Bosc of the “unplayable” radio work, Atlantide (1985), by Michel Georges Brégent (Salle Pierre-Mercure, 26 February – 7 pm).

Mention must also be made of the double multimedia concert by the Onix ensemble from Mexico (Agora Hydro-Québec, 4 March, 9 pm and 11 pm).

Let’s not forget free events: the 500 voices of Les Papes Hurlants of the Mruta Mertsiensemble, under the direction of André Pappathomas (Compexe Desjardins, 29 February – 11 pm), or the 100 guitarists of the Instruments of Happiness Extreme ensemble, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary guitarist Les Paul, under the direction of Tom Brady (same place, 7 March – 3 pm). www.festivalmnm.ca
- Réjean Beaucage (Translation Christine Lacroix)

Cette semaine à Montréal : le 2 au 8 mars

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Ensemble Constantinople (Photo: J. Michel)

Cette semaine à Montréal : le 2 au 8 mars

L’Orient imaginaire par l’OSM
On a eu l’excellente idée, à l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, de commander une pièce à Kiya Tabassian pour un programme de concert qui compte aussi des œuvres de Saint-Saëns, Dukas et Strauss, en lien avec l’exposition Merveilles et mirages de l’orientalisme : de l’Espagne au Maroc, Benjamin-Constant en son temps (jusqu’au 31 mai au Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal) « L’œuvre est inspirée des musiques arabo-andalouses, dit Tabassian, mais je ne voulais pas faire des arrangements pour grand orchestra de mélodies traditionnelles.

Ça reste une musique très personnelle, mais avec les couleurs persanes qui m’habitent, et puis il y a aussi la voix de Françoise Atlan, avec qui je travaille depuis plusieurs années, et aussi Didem Bashar, qui joue du kanoun [instrument de la famille des cithares sur table]. C’est la première fois que je compose pour un orchestre symphonique, et c’est un grand plaisir, bien sûr. Je dois dire que c’est une œuvre qui me surprend moi-même! » L’OSM présentera L’Orient imaginaire le 4 mars à 20h et le 8 mars à 14h30 à la
Maison symphonique de Montréal. www.osm.ca


À surveiller durant MNM
Du 26 février au 7 mars, la 7eédition du festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques présentera sous le thème "Environnements et nouvelles technologies" une trentaine de concerts dans 11 lieux différents. Quelques faits saillants:

À tout seigneur tout honneur, c'est la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), productrice de l'événement, qui ouvre les festivités avec cette touche de démesure qui caractérise la vision de son directeur artistique Walter Boudreau. Le programme compte une vidéo-musique (Yan Breuleux, Soizic Lebrat - 2012), une pièce pour piano préparé (John Cage - 1945), des extraits du film Ce soir on improvise (Raymond Gervais, Michel Di Torre - 1974) et une réorchestration, par Boudreau et René Bosc, de l'œuvre radiophonique "injouable"Atlantide(1985), de Michel-Georges Brégent (Salle Pierre-Mercure, 26 février - 19h).

Il faut aussi mentionner le concert de l'ensemble Onix, du Mexique, pour un double concert multimédia (Agora Hydro-Québec, 4 mars, 21h et 23h).

N'oublions pas les évènements gratuits: les 150 voix des Papes hurlants de l'ensemble Mruta Mertsi sous la direction d'André Pappathomas (Complexe Desjardins, 29 février - 23h) ou les 100 guitaristes de l'ensemble Instruments of Happiness Extreme, célébrant le 100e anniversaire de naissance du légendaire guitariste Les Paul sous la direction de Tim Brady(même endroit, 7 mars - 15h). www.festivalmnm.ca
- Réjean Beaucage

Frédéric Demers présente, dans le cadre du festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musique 2015, un programme déjanté. Au menu : électroacoustique et foisonnement de sons hyper vibrés avec trompette si bémol, cornet à pistons, trompette tibétaine, bugle et trompette naturelle, le tout enrobé d’un soupçon de théâtralité. Salle Hexagram, Université Concordia, 2 mars, 23 h.
www.festivalmnm.ca
- Renée Banville

Piano Hero 2015: Afterthoughts for Future Directions

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Robert Rowat
Piano Hero 2015: Afterthoughts for Future Directions

By Jennifer Liu

This past January, hundreds of amateur pianists across Canada sent videos of themselves playing to CBC’s Piano Hero contest. Thomas Yuemerged as the winner of the competition, which included a voting component as well as a judging round. A periodontist by profession, Yu’s polished performance of the Schumann-Liszt transcription of Widmung received unanimous approval from the judges, including concert pianists Janina Fialkowska, David Jalbert, and Stewart Goodyear.

The final count totalled 243 video submissions from across the country, as diverse in style as the pianists were in background and experience. Video views topped 540,000, a testament to the CBC’s ability to reconnect with Canadian classical music enthusiasts and breathe new life into a field that is sometimes considered to be stagnating. It’s a winning formula for everyone: participants were able to showcase their playing, while the CBC improved its image as a supporter of the arts after recent cuts to its classical music programming.

Robert Rowat, project leader for the contest and community producer for classical music at CBC Music, offers an inside perspective on the competition’s logistics, as well as insights gained from the inaugural edition.

LSM: Can we expect another edition of Piano Hero in the future?


Robert Rowat: We were really impressed and encouraged by the level of participation in Piano Hero - not only by the number of people who entered, but also by the public's response. We will decide whether we will do a second edition in the next few months.


What lessons can be drawn from this year's inaugural contest?

RR: The primary lesson we learned was not to underestimate the amateur classical music community in Canada. When we decided to do this contest, we suspected that we might tap into a fun, engaged subculture, but we were not prepared for the overwhelming reaction. The amateur classical music community seems to be thriving, and is very present online and on social media, despite perceptions to the contrary.

The other major lesson we learned is that a music contest can be run entirely online. There are already several excellent competitions for classical musicians in Canada: Canadian Music Competition, OSM Competition, Honens International Piano Competition, Montreal International Musical Competition, to name just a few. We wanted to see if an entirely web-based contest, using video only, and making use of social media and online voting, could coexist with the other more traditional type of competitions. It's our hope that Piano Hero adds another, complementary dimension to this community.


Was the competition pitched in the same way to the anglophone and francophone communities?

RR: We approached the French and English communications in the same way. We used our extensive on-air networks to get the word out. We also spent some time contacting music schools and cultural institutions from coast to coast. And we used the social media networks of CBC Music and ICI Musique to reach the widest possible public.


How were the jury members selected?

RR: A few producers from CBC Music and ICI Musique had a brainstorming session on whom we should approach to be on our jury. We needed people with a profile in both English and French Canada. We also tried to think of pianists who would be supportive of a contest geared towards amateur pianists, and carried out entirely online. Our three jurors — Janina Fialkowska, Stewart Goodyear and David Jalbert — were very generous with their time and told us they had a good time judging the finalists.


Was there any difference of opinion between the judges when it came time to pick the grand prize winner?

RR: We used a mathematical judging system, to make sure the judging of the finalists was fair. When the results were tallied, we reached out to each juror to make sure they were happy with the winner, and all three expressed their satisfaction.


How did you come up with the concept of showcasing pianists exclusively?

RR: I was the project leader for Piano Hero, but a few key people conceived of it and worked hard to make it a reality. Guylaine Picard, executive producer at ICI Musique, played an important role throughout.

The idea to run an online video-based contest for amateur classical pianists was first discussed about two years ago at a meeting of CBC/Radio-Canada music producers. It was felt that the piano was probably the most ubiquitous instrument among amateur classical musicians, and would lend itself best to a video-based contest, partly because its solo repertoire does not need accompaniment.


So, did the contest live up to expectations?

RR:The outcome definitely exceeded our best expectations. We consider it to be a big win for the amateur classical piano community. We're really happy we decided to do it.

CBC is following up on the theme for open call for musicians with their 2015 edition of Searchlight, open to musical acts across all disciplines through March 29. 

Review: Call Me Debbie

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Call Me Debbie: True Confessions of a Down-to-Earth Diva
Deborah Voigt
With Natasha Stoynoff (271 pp.)
New York: Harper Collins (2015)
ISBN: 978-0-06-211827-1
 


Confession time: when it comes to reading singers’ biographies, I’m a bit of a junkie. Like many passionate opera lovers, I am interested in the artist, but also curious about the person behind the artistry. A sub-genre is the autobiography or memoir, despite a lot of these tomes listing a co-author or ghostwriter – one needs to read these volumes with a generous helping of salt. During my undergraduate, my first memoir was an old, dusty university library copy of Australian prima donna Nellie Melba’s Melodies and Memories (1926). Ghostwritten by her secretary, the book comes across as formal, stately, ladylike and not terribly interesting. A much more rewarding read was the wickedly funny Men, Women and Tenors (1937) by fellow Kiwi-Aussie diva Frances Alda. After plowing though this thick, 300-page volume, I was hooked.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the changing times that the generally staid classical singers’ memoirs have evolved into something more daring, with more revelations and exposés and less of the nitty-gritty, boring bits that read like a tedious chronicle of past performances. To be sure, many are still not quite tell-all tales, or the narrative is so reverential that it sounds like something written by a publicist. The cynic in me couldn’t help a smirk at the title of a well-known Italian soprano’s memoir called “…More Than A Diva.” Industry insiders will easily recognize the ones that have been sanitized for public consumption, or the presence of glaring omissions regarding private lives, such as the recent book by a great African-American diva. Some artists use the memoir to settle old scores, such as the one by a famous Russian soprano. Perhaps it’s understandable why a singer gets evasive when it comes to personal details - after all a memoir is a sort of “performance” and few artists would willingly expose the underside of a life for scrutiny. For the few more forthcoming, the result can be a riveting read - Christa Ludwig, Barbara Hendricks, and Galina Vishnevskaya come to mind.

Now we have a new book that sets the tell-all bar very high indeed: CallMe Debbie by American soprano Deborah Voigt. One of the most celebrated sopranos of our time, Voigt in her prime was a superb Wagner and Strauss singer. To those lucky enough to have experienced her on the opera and recital stages, it likely left an indelible impression. (I use past tense because her instrument has changed with the passage of time, and she seems to have given up her core Wagner and Strauss repertoire in favour of musicals and one-woman shows) Before this book, we knew nothing about her private struggles as an artist and a woman. Born to a devout Southern Baptist, but sadly dysfunctional, family in Illinois, Voigt’s talent was recognized early. She recounts an epiphany at age 14 when she heard God telling her, “You’re here to sing.” To her religious parents, singing belonged only in church for the glory of God. This was just the first of many inner conflicts in her young life that likely contributed to her multiple addictions – to food, alcohol, and men.

In the book, Voigt chronicles in detail the ups and downs of her relationships with her parents, her struggles with an increasingly serious weight problem, and her tendency to fall in love with the wrong guy. To deal with all these issues in her life while juggling a demanding international career, Voigt developed a dependency on alcohol that became increasingly dire. While she managed to keep her alcoholism from interfering with her work, she wasn’t so lucky with the weight issue. The matter came to a head in 2004 when she was released from a Covent Garden Ariadneauf Naxos for being too heavy for “The Little Black Dress.” With a signed contract, she had every right to sing. Royal Opera chose to release her with full pay, and Voigt used the fee to pay for gastric bypass surgery. But a medical intervention is not a cure, and her old pattern of behaviour persisted. The narrative on how she passed out for thirty-six hours and woke up with unexplained bruises all over her body is chilling. The book graphically details her addiction issues and the slow climb out of the abyss through recovery, attending AA meetings and various rehabs. Reading her travails might satisfy the voyeur in some of us, but it also makes for decidedly uncomfortable reading. One gets a true appreciation of the fact that great singers like Voigt may have the voice of an angel, but many of them have feet of clay.

If there is a downside to Call Me Debbie, it has to do with having focused so much on the singer’s personal issues that there’s little room left in the book on her art – what made her famous in the first place. Other than some discussions of her signature roles of Brunnhilde, Sieglinde and Ariadne, heroines that are somehow tied in with the singer’s relationship and self esteem issues, there’s precious little about anything else musical. We learn little about Voigt the musician, about her approaches and insights into the music she sings. Yes there are the occasional tidbits on colleagues, all treated in a surprisingly genteel fashion – for example she adores Domingo and makes allowances for the great Luciano. Comments on Jose Cura’s oversized ego is about as catty as Voigt gets. The two evil mezzos with whom Voigt crossed swords remain nameless. At the end of the day, the book really isn’t about music, but addiction and recovery. Its tell-all style, written in a relaxed, archetypal American lingo (no profanities spared!) will endear it to the general reader, even if the person has little interest in opera. It makes the absence of an index and performance history almost irrelevant. It’s an absorbing and interesting read for anyone curious about Deborah Voigt, the woman and the artist. 

- Joseph So
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