Duo Fortin-Poirier
Thursday February 14, 2019 7:30 pm
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Come share Valentine’s Day with us! NOCCA’s Valentine’s Day concert with Duo Fortin-Poirier – the piano duo of Marie-Christine Poirier and Amelie Fortin, promises to be a wonderful treat! They will delight you with their artistic intuition, shared sensitivity, great vitality, and fiery interpretations.

Both Québec natives, Marie-Christine and Amélie are graduates of Universitéde Montréal with Master’s degrees in performance and Specialized Graduate Diplomas in four-hand piano music under the direction Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt and Paul Stewart.

Duo Fortin-Poirier were finalists in the Concours International de Piano á 4 mains de Valberg (France, 2009) and in the Liszt 200 Chicago International Piano Duos Competition (US, 2011). Their brilliant interpretation of John Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances awarded them a special mention from the jury at the prestigious Concours Grieg –International Piano Competition in Oslo (Norway, 2010). After winning second prize at the Roma International Piano Competition (Italy, 2013) they released their first album ‘Vingt doigts et un piano’.

They are both scholars of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Council of Arts and Letters of Québec, and have performed in France, Norway, Italy, the United States and Canada. Their concert ‘Twenty fingers and a piano’ was the first classical concert to have been selected for a tour of Entrées en Scéne Loto-Québec in 2013-2014. In 2014-2015, the Duo was in residence at the prestigious Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur in Montreal with their concert ‘Mémories’. Their second album ‘Mémories’ was released in 2017.

Known for their dynamism and ease on stage, the lovely Duo Fortin-Poirier presents an exceptional musical tour that will delight music lovers and amateurs alike. You will discover less well-known music and different interpretations of already familiar works with, interpretations that can be at times passionate, funny or touching. The intensity, skill, remarkable complexity, and impressive choreographic movements will be projected on the big screen at the back of the stage so you won’t miss any of their unique connection and extraordinary natural partnership.

They are commonly described as extraordinarily powerful, with an explosive playing style, creating performances that highlight a great common sensibility, impressive in its vitality – dynamic, lively, and witty! Marie-Christine and Amélie are also known for creating an intimate and warm atmosphere, perfect for exploring the theme of memories. The program weaves between the intensity of Piazzolla’s tangos, Rachmaninov’s lyricism, and the liveliness of Samuel Barber. duofortinpoirier.com

The concert will be opened by Heather Harker, vocalist. Raised in the Vernon area, Heather received her initial vocal training from Elizabeth Scott. She pursued a Bachelors of Music, initially at Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, completing it and pursuing a Masters in Voice at the University of Victoria under the direction of Benjamin Butterfield and Anne Grimm. Heather received a graduate assistantship at the University of Victoria, and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Elizabeth Scott Vocal Bursary in 2009, and the NATS High School Voice Scholarship. Heather performed the part of the second lady in ‘Dido and Aeneas’ by Henry Purcell at the ‘Opera on the Avalon’ in Newfoundland, and has been a featured soloist with the University of Victoria Orchestra and the Victoria Chamber Orchestra. Heather now lives in Salmon Arm, where she teaches French Immersion Kindergarten.

Concert Program:

Click on the image/link below to view a short video of Duo Fortin-Poirier performing:

SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS
Adults – $40  Under 18 – $20
Students on the 8to12 program – $5

Purchase tickets at:

TICKET SELLER
Phone: (250) 549-SHOW (7469)
E-mail: boxoffice@ticketseller.ca

– or –

Visit The Performing Arts Centre Foyer
3800-34th Street, Vernon
All concerts are held in the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.