Buzz Brass Sunday April 26, 2020 7:30 pm CANCELLED
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak NOCCA’s Buzz Brass concert on April 26th, 2020 has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Ticket seller will be contacting all patrons with information on how to obtain a refund or credit.
Instead we offer you some samples of Buzz Brass to enjoy from the comfort of your home. Not the same as a live performance, we know, but the best we can do for now. Stay safe and healthy.
Please click on the images/links below to view the videos:
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and other presenters in BC cancelling their concerts, Il Violincello Italiano! have had to cancel their whole BC tour. So the NOCCA concert on March 28th, 2020 has also been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Ticket seller will be contacting all patrons with information on how to obtain a refund or credit.
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.
Charles Richard-Hamelin Saturday February 29, 2020 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
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:
It was an absolute pleasure to attend the NOYSE (North Okanagan Youth Showcase of Excellence) concert at Vernon’s Centre for the Performing Arts at 2 pm. on Feb.1st. Besides providing excellent entertainment throughout the year at bargain prices, NOCCA (North Okanagan Community Concert Association) sponsors the NOYSE concert featuring auditioned talented young musicians. It was a most inspiring afternoon for this reviewer!
The program featured educator and vocalist/actor/performer Paul Rossetti as MC. Paul used his educator skills (he is Principal at St. James Catholic School in Vernon) to interview each performer and/or group. He did this from a comfy chair and couch installed on the side of the stage. His charm and insight brought out the best in each performer.
Teslyn Bates who is only 15, began the program with Debussy’s “Au Claire de la Lune” (By the Light of the Moon). She played the piece with great sensitivity and accuracy. Her second piece- Six variations on a Canadian Folk Song- “Land of the Silver Birch” by Pierre Gallant.(composer not in the program; I hope I heard right!) was mildly modern and very clever. She played it with confidence and rhythmic vitality. I liked it!
Angela Zeng, cellist extraordinaire, thrilled us with her virtuosity on the cello as she played Capriccio by Tchaikovsky. Her intonation was perfect and so was her bowing technique; she showed skills far beyond her 15 years.
Gus Hansen gave us a change in style by playing brilliantly on his guitar; offering: “Over the Rainbow’ ; accompanying himself singing “Running Away” (showing himself as an accomplished vocalist); and a stunning “Corcovado” as a guitar solo. One small reservation from this reviewer: The tone of the guitar was harsh. A much more mellow sound would heighten the listener’s enjoyment. The Line 6 amplifier appeared to have plenty of tone adjustment and the semi-acoustic guitar could be played with the neck pick up. Nevertheless Gus showed wonderful ability!
Noah Wessels, a 17 year old pianist, immediately took charge of things by playing the “Polonaise in A” by Chopin. He brought out the military character of the piece perfectly. The 3rd movement of the “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven was played with authority and brilliance. During his interview, Noah revealed that he made string instruments as a hobby!
After the Intermission, we were treated to the lovely ethereal sound of the VCMS vocal quartet. The four young ladies-Zaela Thiessen, Alex Thiessen, Julia Atkins and Ulyana Doerksen- exhibited perfect ensemble, blend and tuning during their renderings of folk melodies “All the Pretty Little Horses, She Walks With Beauty and Windy Nights.”
Craig Matterson, pianist, tossed off a virtuoso yet sensitive version of Bach’s Partita in C minor. There was lots of excitement in his playing; he knew his stuff. Craig then “changed gears” completely; offering his arrangement of the jazz standard “Someday My Prince Will Come”. It was stunning as he whipped up a hurricane of sound after giving us a solid foundation of the tune at the outset.
Holly McCallum, a 17 year old cellist, offered “Variations on a Rococo Theme”, opus 33 by Tchaikovsky as her part of the program. It is a lengthy work full of mood swings- from melancholy to energetic- and urgent runs up to the highest notes on the cello. Her bowing skills and control were evident in the way she played the runs; ending in exceedingly delicate tones.
“Roots and Strings”- a duo comprised of Anna Konrad violinist, and Jackson Buller electric ukulele,- ended the concert in a fun way. They offered “The Fox”- a medley by “Nickel Creek” followed by a lovely original song “You Don’t Know”. They also had very nice voices! To end on a rhythmic and fun note, the entire roster of performers joined the duo onstage to clap along to a lively foot stomper of a tune. What a great concert it was!
The next NOCCA concert is on Saturday, February 29 2020 at 7:30 pm. Featured is internationally renowned pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin who is returning to Vernon by popular demand. Find more information at nocca.ca.
Il Violoncello Italiano!
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 