LSM Newswire

Friday, February 13, 2009

Canadian powerhouse quartet joins the ESO for one night only - May 4

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents vocal sensations and powerhouse quartet The Canadian Tenors

One Night Only!

Monday, May 4, 2009 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is thrilled to present one of Canadas national treasures, The Canadian Tenors, live on-stage, for one night only! Having captivated audiences from coast to coast, and around the world, now is your opportunity to experience the incredibly powerful vocals, undeniable charm and dazzling blend of crowd-pleasing repertoire that will take your breath away. It will be a concert event unlike any other, featuring an eclectic mix of classical and contemporary pop ballads and operatic arias, performed in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Tickets are on sale now! Ticket prices range from $20 - $65 (agency fees apply) and are available by calling the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414.

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Monday, September 8, 2008

Lafayette Quartet Performs at Bartok Symposium

LAFAYETTE STRING QUARTET PERFORMS AT INTERNATIONAL BARTK SYMPOSIUM

"Bartk's String Quartets: Tradition and Legacy"
University of Victoria
September 19 & 20, 2008

Attention string quartet enthusiasts: In these two upcoming concerts, the Lafayette String Quartet is performing two distinctly different programs showing how the music of Bartk was so strongly influenced by the music of Beethoven and how, in turn, Bartk's music influenced the next generation of the great Hungarian composers Gyrgy Kurtg and Zoltn Jeney. This will be one of the rare opportunities to hear the diversity of these giants back to back.

These concerts are taking place in conjunction with the international symposium "Bartk's String Quartets: Tradition and Legacy." All symposium events are free and open to the public.

The Lafayette String Quartet has performed the Beethoven Cycle to critical acclaim across Canada. Their "thought-provoking interpretations" and "technically perfect ensemble" are not to be missed. "SplendidĶ powerful and riveting in every way." (New York Times)

Open Rehearsal Lafayette String Quartet with Judit Frigyesi (Bar Ilan University)
Phillip T. Young Recital Hall
Friday September 19, 1:30-2:30 pm (free event)

Concert #1:
Lafayette String Quartet
Phillip T. Young Recital Hall
Works by Beethoven, Jeney, Bartk and Kurtg
Friday September 19, 8:00 pm

Concert #2:
Lafayette String Quartet
University Centre Farquhar Auditorium
Works by Beethoven, Jeney, and Bartk
Saturday, September 20, 8:00 pm

Concert Tickets:
$23 & $19 for each concert
Box Office: 250.721.8480, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Olivier Messiaen

OLIVIER MESSIAEN

ET UNE CRATION MONDIALE DE NICOLAS GILBERT

C'est encore les doigts agits de chants d'oiseaux que Louise Bessette se prpare pour un autre concert soulignant l'importance d'Olivier Messiaen sur la scne musicale. Le 8 juin, 15h, dans le site historique du Sharon Temple, Sharon, Ontario, elle interprtera le Quatuor pour la fin du temps en compagnie de Simon Aldrich (clarinette), Yegor Dyachkov (violoncelle) et Olivier Thouin (violon).

Oeuvre marquante dans l'volution exprimentale du compositeur, le Quatuor pour la fin du temps a t crit alors qu'Olivier Messiaen sjournait au Stalag VIII A pendant la deuxime guerre mondiale, en Silsie. La formation instrumentale correspond aux instruments disponibles dans le camp de prisonniers. Malgr des contraintes physiques et motionnelles extrmes, Messiaen compose, sans les instruments sous la main, une musique dans un langage essentiellement immatriel, spirituel et catholique qui le mnera indubitablement vers les recherches musicales plus pousses des annes venir. Cre au camp, trois jours avant sa libration, avec Messiaen lui-mme au piano, cette uvre reste un hommage musical poignant la vie et l'humanit. Au mme programme, le Trio opus 11 en Sib Majeur pour piano, clarinette et violoncelle de Beethoven, une oeuvre de chambre trop peu joue, ddie la comtesse Maria Wilhelmine von Thun, protectrice du compositeur Vienne. galement, le public entendra en cration mondiale Le temps des impossibles du compositeur qubcois Nicolas Gilbert, quatuor crit pour les quatre musiciens en hommage Olivier Messiaen, grce une subvention du Conseil des Arts du Canada.

Musicienne chevronne et pianiste de haute voltige, Louise Bessette est une artiste constamment recherche et estime. Elle a une vingtaine d'enregistrements son actif. Premier Prix au Concours International de Musique Contemporaine de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Premier Prix au Concours International Gaudeamus, Prix Opus soliste de l'anne, 1996-1997, pour son rcital consacr aux Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jsus d'Olivier Messiaen, membre de l'Ordre du Canada, Officier de l'Ordre national du Qubec, Louise Bessette cumule les distinctions honorifiques, soulignant l'importance de son apport musical. Depuis 1996, elle est titulaire d'une classe de piano au Conservatoire de Musique de Montral.




OLIVIER MESSIAEN

AND A WORLD PREMIERE BY NICOLAS GILBERT

Her fingers still hot with Messiaen's "birdcalls" from her last performance, Louise Bessette is getting ready to attack another masterpiece by the French composer. On June 8, at 3PM, on the historical landmark of Sharon Temple, in Sharon, Ontario, she will perform the Quartet for the end of time with Simon Aldrich (clarinet), Yegor Dyachkov (cello) and Olivier Thouin (violin).

Significant composition for the experimental evolution of the composer, Quartet for the end of time was written when Olivier Messiaen was a prisonner of the Second World War, in Stalag VIII A, in Silesia. The chamber formation corresponded to the available intruments in the camp. Through extreme physical and emotional pressure, and without the instruments at hand, Messiaen composed a work glowing with ethereal, spiritual and catholic musical qualities, which would paved the way for his foray into musical research of future years. Created at the camp, three days prior to his release, with him at the keyboard, this masterpiece remains one of the most poignant homage and celebration of life and humanity. Completing this program is Beethoven's Trio opus 11 in Bb Major for piano, clarinet and cello, a delightful chamber work not performed often enough and dedicated to the Countess Maria Wilhelmine von Thun, a patron of the composer in Vienna. Finally, the public will hear Le temps des impossibles, a world premiere by quebecer composer Nicolas Gilbert, a quartet specially written for the four musicians, thanks to a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, and a musical tribute to Olivier Messiaen.

A versatile musician with an acrobatic mastery of the keyboard, Louise Bessette is appreciated throughout the world. She performs frequently with renowned formations and is seen regularly in festivals throughout Europe and America. She won the First Prize at the Concours International de Musique Contemporaine in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the First Prize and the Special Prize for Piano at the International Gaudeamus Competition, the 1991 Flandre-Qubec Award, and the Prix Opus for "soloist of the year" 1996-97, awarded by the Conseil Qubcois de la Musique. Piano teacher at the Conservatoire de musique de Montral since 1996, she is transmitting to young virtuosos her passionate love of music.

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