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.
Saguenay and Lafayette String Quartets Saturday October 26, 2019 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
Saguenay and Lafayette String Quartets – These two internationally acclaimed quartets amalgamate to perform three sophisticated and sparkling string octets by Danish Niels Gade, Canadian Airat Ichmouratov, and Felix Mendelssohn’s masterful String Octet in E Flat Major. This is musical dialogue and communication at its most sensitive and compelling.
The Saguenay String Quartet (formerly known as the Alcan Quartet) -violinists Laura Andriani and Nathalie Camus, violist Luc Beauchemin, and cellist David Ellis. The Saguenay String Quartet has developed a reputation for excellence throughout Canada and internationally since its formation in 1989. The Quartet’s originality, contagious enthusiasm, unique sonority, and remarkable cohesion have all contributed to its long-term success. The ensemble’s list of accomplishments is impressive: 1,000 concerts; over 100 live radio broadcasts, numerous television appearances; tours throughout North America, Europe, Asia; and a number of commissioned pieces and first performances.
The Quartet’s recent tours have led the Quartet to Italy, France, the United States, Asia and all over Canada. Its last visit to the Lanaudière Festival, accompanied by pianist Alain Lefèvre, was hailed by more than 6,000 people and welcomed by enthusiastic critics. This concert was also awarded the Opus Prize for the concert of the year by the Conseil québécois de la musique, as well as a Félix (Adisq) prize for the recording of the same André Mathieu repertoire.
Another cornerstone in the Quartet’s history, is the release of its highly anticipated Complete cycle of Beethoven’s 16 string quartets as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. In addition to its performing career, the Quartet is regularly invited to teach and conduct master classes at universities, conservatories, and summer chamber music institutes both in Quebec and abroad. The Saguenay String Quartet is based in Chicoutimi, Québec, where it receives the unconditional support of the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay. Saguenay Quartet
The Lafayette String Quartet – violinists Ann Elliott-Goldschmidt and Sharon Stanis, violist Joanna Hood, and cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni. In July 1986, these four young musicians, based in Detroit and just beginning their professional careers, performed together for the first time as the Lafayette String Quartet. Today the LSQ continues to flourish with its original personnel. The members of the Lafayette String Quartet divide their time between entertaining audiences all over North America and Europe and teaching some of Canada’s finest young string players. Their residency at the University of Victoria is rich in local performances and community involvement. Their concerts in Canada and abroad are hailed as “Passionate, riveting, and with flawless ensemble.”
The LSQ’s extraordinary musicianship was recognized early on. Already in 1988, it was ranked among the magazine Musical America’s “Young Artists to Watch,” and in its first years it won the Grand prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and prizes at the Portsmouth (now City of London) International String Quartet Competition, and the Chicago Discovery Competition. As winners of the 1988 Cleveland String Quartet Competition, the LSQ had the opportunity to study for two years with the Cleveland Quartet at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, New York.
In 1991, the four women became artists-in-residence at the University of Victoria’s School of Music, in British Columbia—positions they still hold today. They received honorary doctorates from University Canada West and were honored with the inaugural Craigdarroch Award for Excellence in Artistic Expression in 2010 from the University of Victoria.
The LSQ has performed across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe, with concerts often allied with masterclasses and workshops. They often collaborate with other string quartets including the Saguenay (Alcan), the New Zealand, the Penderecki, the Molinari, the Emily Carr, and the Quarteto Latinoamericano. Lafayette String Quartet
The concert will be opened by cellist Angela Zeng, a student attending Kalamalka Secondary School. She has been playing cello for 7 years and studies with Morna Howie at the Vernon Community Music School. Angela has been playing with the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra since she was 9 years old and has been playing lots of chamber music with family and friends at local senior centres. Angela earned runner-up in BC Provincial Festival String Junior A category in 2017, and first place in Junior B in 2018. Recently she was invited to audition for the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Concert Program:
Neils W. Gade (1817-1890)
String Octet in F major Op. 17
Airat Ichmouratov (1973- )
Spring Octet in G minor “The Letter” Op. 56
Intermission
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
String Octet in E flat major Op. 20
Click on the image/link below to view a video of the Saguenay String Quartet (formerly known as the Alcan Quartet):
Click on the image/link below to view a video of the Lafayette String Quartet:
LES VIOLONS DU ROY
Tuesday November 18, 2014 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
The 15 member LES VIOLONS DU ROY takes its name from the renowned string orchestras in the courts of French kings. Under the direction of founder Bernard Labadie, they focus on chamber music from the Baroque and Classical periods, playing in the style appropriate for each era. They also delve into the 19th and 20th centuries, presenting Piazzola, Bartok and Britten.
With three Junos to their credit, Les Violons du Roy are well known across Canada and around the world. Their music is frequently heard on CBC, they’re regular guests at music festivals and since their first international performance (New York in 1995) they have been warmly welcomed in concert halls around the globe. www.violonsduroy.com/en
Soloist: Louis-Philippe Marsolais, French Horn
Lous-Phillipe Marsolais is the well-known solo horn of the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal. Renowned recitalist, concert and chamber musician, he performs regularly in North America, Europe and Asia, and has appeared with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, and chamber orchestras of Munich, Geneva, Neuchatel, Zurich and Bolzano. At home he is fequently heard with Les Violons du Roy, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), and as soloist with orchestras in Montréal, Québec, Trois- Rivières, Longueuil, and Peterborough. Louis-Phillipe Marsolais was recipient of the prestigious Munich Competition prize, the Geneva Competition, the Mozart Competition of Rovereto and the Concours International de cor de Trévoux. He is on the faculty of the Université de Montréal.
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 and sparkle as much as the chandeliers!
Concert Program:
F.J. Haydn (1732-1809)
Horn Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob.VIId:4 Soloist: Louis-Philippe Marsolais, horn
F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
String Symphony No. 10 in B minor, MWN N 10
R. Schumann (1810-1856)
Adagio and Allegro, op. 70 (orchestrated by L.P. Marsolais) Soloist: Louis-Philippe Marsolais, horn
Intermission
F. Schubert (1897-1828)
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ‘’Death and the Maiden’’ (arr. M. Lussier)
SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS
Adults – $35, under 18 – $17.50
Students on the eyeGo program – $5
GRYPHON PIANO TRIO
Saturday October 26, 2013 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
Canada’s GRYPHON TRIO, one of the world’s truly great piano trios, is the opening concert of the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s (NOCCA) 60th Anniversary season. The trio’s repertoire spans the globe, encompassing music from classical to contemporary, and they are winners of the 2013 Walter Carson Prize awarded to Canadian performing arts professionals for the highest level of artistic excellence and career achievement.
The GRYPHONS play with compelling directness, spontaneity and insatiable vitality. Although they have been the mainstay of Ottawa’s Chamberfest (North America’s largest chamber music festival), they tour widely and manage to spend a great deal of time and energy encouraging youthful performers and helping young people appreciate music through such initiatives as “Listen Up! Ottawa”, an arts outreach program engaging students from Ottawa’s Featherston Drive Public School, the Ottawa Children’s Chorus, and Cantiamo Girls Choir in a collaborative arts project focusing on poetry writing and music composition. www.gryphontrio.com
This is the North Okanagan Community Concert’s DIAMOND JUBILEE. Help us celebrate 60 years of bringing diverse and excellent music to Vernon. Put on yout best party attire and join us for a BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION in the foyer after this concert!
Concert Programme:
Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 “Ghost”
I Allegro vivace e con brio
II Largo assai e espressivo
III Presto
Michael Oesterle
(b.1968)
Centennials* (2012)
Julia Child
Conlon Nancarrow
Alan Turing
– Intermission –
Felix Mendelssohn
(1809-1847)
Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49
I Molto allegro ed agitato
II Andante con moto tranquillo
III Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace
IV Finale: Allegro assai appassionato
* commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts for the Gryphon Trio
If you have kids or grand-kids learning the piano, violin or cello bring them along to this concert. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to see and hear top-notch musicians perform live. They will be inspired!! Here’s a sample of the Gryphon Trio playing the 1st movement of Beethoven’s piano trio Op. 70 No. 2.
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 