Tag: Beethoven

Charles Richard-Hamelin and Noah Wessels

Supernatural Concert from Two Talented Pianists!

by SillyGilly, posted in Review
Charles Richard-Hamelin and Noah Wessels
Charles Richard-Hamelin (right) and Noah Wessels (seated)

Review by Jim Leonard

The concert began with 17 yr. old Noah Wessels – a student at Vernon Christian School. He began the concert with 3 Chopin pieces; the most dazzling being the “Revolutionary” Etude by Chopin. The piece has a difficult passage for the left hand that surges up and down the keyboard while the right hand issues fanfare like chords. Noah was certainly up to the task even though he began studying piano in 2015!

After hearing Charles Richard-Hamelin play only the first few passages of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.13 in Eb major (In a fantasy style), I knew I was in the presence of one of the world’s great pianists. To quote Robert Harris of the Globe and Mail (January 17, 2016) “His sense of time, harmony, above all, his structural originalities, are immensely sophisticated and daring. He seemed to be aware of the total Chopin by exposing inner voices and harmonic twists in both left and right hands.” I agree whole heartedly with Robert. All these accomplishments at the age of 30! His virtuosity never got out of hand nor did his playing become grotesque during loud passages.

During the Moonlight Sonata ( which was named such after Beethoven’s death) opening Adagio, I heard the real intention of the music with the rising sounds of sadness and despair brought forward by Richard-Hamelin’s skill. A furious Presto ensued, possibly representing anger or despair. This man gets you thinking by the way he plays!

Before intermission, Richard-Hamelin played a little known Fantasia in F sharp minor by Mendelssohn. I know why the piece was not played often – it is so difficult. No problem for our soloist. He breezed through the 3 movements with total abandon. His playing was so steady and confident throughout the piece.

After intermission we were treated to 12 Preludes, from opus 28 by Chopin. There was lots of variation in the length and character of each. They were played close together like a Suite. To finish the program, Richard-Hamelin played Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise op. 22. The latter of the two was a stunning close to the concert; with cascading octave runs played with great confidence and skill; giving the effect of two players. After a short encore (I couldn’t hear the title as it was announced off mic) and a second standing ovation, Charles Richard- Hamelin bid his audience adieu. What a wonderful evening indeed!

The next NOCCA concert will be on Saturday March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm. It features a cellist, harpsichordist and archlutist. More information can be found at nocca.ca.

Review by Jim Leonard for the Vernon Morning Star.

Charles Richard-Hamelin – Saturday February 29, 2020

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert
Charles Richard-Hamelin
Charles Richard-Hamelin

Charles Richard-Hamelin
Saturday February 29, 2020 7:30 pm
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Charles Richard-Hamelin – Impressively credentialed, award winning Quebec-born pianist returns to Vernon, bringing the sheer beauty of his playing; mesmerizing audiences with passion, sensitivity and dynamic performances.

“Playing of this insight and maturity is rare. The pianist always displays sterling technique and agility.” Geoffrey Newman.

NOCCA is very pleased to welcome back Charles Richard-Hamelin to our Performing Arts stage on Saturday, February 29 at 7:30pm. Silver medalist and laureate of the Krystian Zimerman award of the best sonata at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, Charles Richard-Hamelin stands out as one of the most important pianists of his generation. He also won the second prize at the Montréal International Musical Competition and the third prize and special award for the best performance of a Beethoven sonata at the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea. Charles was recently awarded the Order of Arts and Letters of Quebec and the prestigious Career Development Award offered by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto.

Originally from Lanaudière in Québec, Charles Richard-Hamelin studied with Paul Surdulescu, Sara Laimon, Boris Berman and André Laplante. He is a graduate from McGill University, the Yale School of Music, the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and now works on a regular basis with pianist Jean Saulnier.

Charles Richard-Hamelin’s 2018 -2019 season was marked by three tours in Asia (Japan, Korea and China), the recording of the second volume of Beethoven’s complete sonatas for piano and violin with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal concertmaster Andrew Wan, the recording of Chopin’s two concertos with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conducted by Kent Nagano, a solo recording of Chopin’s Ballades and Impromptus and over 75 concerts in Canada, Asia, Europe and the United States. In 2019 both the 2018 Beethoven sonata and the 2019 Chopin concerto recordings were awarded ADISQ (Quebec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries) Felixes. The 2019 Chopin concerto recordings is listed at #2 and the Ballades and Impromptus recording at #6 on the CBC’s 20 favorite classical music albums for 2019.

For a young pianist (he turned 30 in July), Richard-Hamelin already has deep experience with Chopin’s Ballades and Impromptus, having played them the world over since winning the silver medal and Krystian Zimerman Prize at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition. “It’s really a blessing,” he explained to CBC Music when this album appeared. “This way I get to continue my lifelong exploration of his music, which still fascinates me so much. Chopin is usually all about grey areas.” His engagement — intellectual and emotional — with these pieces is palpable, and while he covers a huge dynamic range, his interpretation is never exaggerated or flamboyant. Some of the credit goes to producer/recording engineer Carl Talbot, who found the perfect balance between proximity and space to allow Richard-Hamelin’s pristine, bell-like tone to ring out. www.charlesrichardhamelin.com

Opening the performance is pianist Noah Wessels, a 17 year old grade 11 student who attends Vernon Christian School. He started playing piano in November 2015 after watching virtuosic music performance videos online. Noah studies piano with Daisy Penner at VCMS where he also takes violin lessons with Imant Raminsh, and he plays second violin in the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Click on the image/link below to view a video of Charles Richard-Hamelin:

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.

Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio

Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio – Sunday December 1, 2019

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert
Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio
Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio

Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio
Sunday December 1, 2019 7:30 pm
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Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio – American violinist Andrew Sords, Australian cellist Luke Severn, and Canadian pianist Cheryl Duvall present ‘An Evening Celebrating Beethoven’ in honour of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. They will be performing Beethoven’s Archduke trio, as well as works by Brahms, Ravel, and Severn. Old, new, varied, timeless, stellar!

Violinist Andrew Sords has a celebrated career as one of the most prolific soloists of his generation. Having appeared on 4 continents as a concerto soloist and with his piano trio, Sords has been cited for combining visceral virtuosity with a ravishing tone, while international critics endorse Sords as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald). Sords has received numerous awards and distinctions reflecting his career trajectory, including the 2012 Pittsburgh Concert Society Career Grant and the 2005 National Shirley Valentin Award. Andrew Sords

As a cellist, composer, and musical director, Luke Severn possesses a musical voice of great versatility and passion. Noted for his expressive performances and dynamic and engaging personality he is emerging as an artistic tour de force in the Australian musical landscape. As a soloist, Luke is a champion of both the standard concerto literature and new exciting works for cello and orchestra. A highly sought-after chamber musician, Luke has performed in festivals and chamber music series throughout Australia, Europe and North America. Performing alongside duo partner and pianist Elyane Laussade, he performs across Australia throughout the year. He completed a Piano Trio tour of Canada in 2017 with North American virtuosi Andrew Sords, violin, and Cheryl Duvall, piano. He engages in many other chamber ensemble performances as a freelance artist in Victoria, including appearances with the Blackwood Ensemble, Casey Chamber Musicians, and Allotropy String Quartet. Luke Severn

Cheryl Duvall is a multifaceted pianist with a penchant for musical risk taking and adventure. Equally comfortable in many different musical roles, she regularly appears as a soloist, collaborative pianist, adjudicator, teacher, producer and panelist, and has toured and performed throughout Canada, Europe, Argentina, the U.S and Japan. Cheryl’s strong affinity for boundary-pushing and innovative music making led her along with friend and violinist, Ilana Waniuk to co-found the Toronto-based Thin Edge New Music Collective, “One of Toronto hottest and bravest new music collectives” (Michael Vincent – Musical Toronto). Under the leadership of both Cheryl and Ilana, TENMC has commissioned and premiered over 60 new works for chamber ensemble to date with 9 more slated for their upcoming season and have garnered an exceptional international reputation through tours to Japan, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina and across Canada. Cheryl Duvall

Concert Program:

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Hungarian Dance No 6 in D Flat Major
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Trio in C Minor, Op 1 No 3
Luke Severn When the world was young
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Tzigane
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Trio in B Flat Major, Op 97
“Archduke Trio”

Click on the images/links below to view short videos of the artists performing:

Andrew Sords – violin

Luke Severn – cello

Cheryl Duvall – piano

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.

Pianist Ian Parker

Ian Parker, piano – Saturday October 29, 2016

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

Pianist Ian ParkerIan Parker
Saturday October 29, 2016 7:30 pm
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Magnetic, easy-going and delightfully articulate, Canadian pianist Ian Parker captivates audiences wherever he goes. Born in Vancouver to a family of pianists, Ian Parker began his piano studies at age three with his father, Edward Parker. He holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where he was a student of Yoheved Kaplinsky. He was First Prize winner at the 2001 CBC National Radio Competition, won the Grand Prize at the Canadian National Music Festival, the Corpus Christie International Competition and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition. While studying at The Juilliard School, he received the 2002 William Petschek Piano Debut Award and, on two occasions, was the winner of the Gina Bachauer Piano Scholarship Competition.

Heard regularly on CBC Radio, he has also appeared as soloist with major orchestras internationally, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra, Honolulu Symphony, as well as every major Canadian Orchestra. He has recorded the works of Ravel, Stravinsky and Gershwin with the London Symphony Orchestra (2010) as well as an all-Fantasie CD entitled Moonlight Fantasies (2011).

Ian Parker returns to Vernon for the exciting début of NOCCA’s new Steinway piano. He will display the dazzling range of his artistry (and of our new piano) in this insightful and passionate performance. www.ianparker.ca

Ian will be joined by the young and talented Jaeden Izik-Dzurko for the final piece of the concert. Jaeden is from Salmon Arm, BC and began playing piano at age five. He is currently studying with both Ian Parker and Dr. Corey Hamm in Vancouver.

This concert is our annual “gala event” where those who feel so inclined are invited to dress “to the nines”.

Concert Program:

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Variations in F minor (un piccolo divertimento) Hob.XVII:6
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Schubert Song Transcriptions for Solo Piano s.558:
Gretchen am Spinnrade
Auf dem Wasser zu Singen
Ludwig van Beethoven (1811-1886) Piano Sonata No. 12 in A Flat Major, Op. 26
George Gershwin (1898-1937) Three Preludes
Intermission
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel, Op 24
Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994) Variations on a Theme By Paganini for 2 pianos, with Jaeden Izik-Dzurko

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.

Borealis String Quartet

Borealis String Quartet – Thursday September 24, 2015

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

Borealis String QuartetBorealis String Quartet
Thursday September 24, 2015 7:30 pm
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One of the most dynamic and exciting world-class ensembles of its generation, Borealis String Quartet has received international critical acclaim as an ensemble praised for its fiery performances, passionate style, and refined, musical interpretation. Founded in Vancouver in the fall of 2000, Borealis String Quartet has toured extensively in North America, Europe and Asia, performing to enthusiastic sold-out audiences in major cities, including New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Rome, Shanghai, Beijing, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Borealis actively seeks to promote new works and are strong supporters of Canadian music… So much so that the North Okanagan’s own internationally known composer, Imant Raminsh, has written music especially for them. Borealis will have the honour of playing Raminsh’s brand new string quartet for the very first time. Giving its world premiere performance right here in Vernon! www.borealisstringquartet.com

Not only will the audience be thrilled with Borealis, but NOCCA will be continuing the “Rising Star” performances initiated earlier this year. In September we welcome 17 year-old award-winning violinist, Julien Haynes, to warm up the audience prior to the ensemble’s highly anticipated program. A student of Bev Martens at the Vernon Community Music School since he could hold a violin, Julien Haynes has completed his Grade 10 RCM examinations in violin, as well as his Grade 6 RCM in piano. Julien will be accompanied on the piano by Lauren Dvorak.

Gala concert: this is our annual gala (bling) night, where we encourage those of you who like an occasion to dress up to wear your most elegant outfits!

Borealis String Quartet Concert Program:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) String Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Opus 18
Imant Raminsh (1943 – ) Quartet No. 3 – WORLD PREMIERE
Intermission
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) Quartet No. 12 in F major “The American”

SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS
Adults – $35  Under 18 – $17.50
Students on the eyeGo 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.