Tag: Quartom

Dynamic Montréal Vocal Quartet Delivers High Octane Evening

by SillyGilly, posted in Review

Review by Jim Leonard

NOCCA’s gala concert evening on October 27, 2018 began with the stunning violin solos of 13 year old child prodigy Marcus Coetzee. Marcus began playing the violin at age 4! A student of Bev Martens since 2014, Marcus plays in the Okanagan Youth Symphony. He was ably accompanied by local concert pianist Alex MacArthur. Apparently he and Marcus only rehearsed together for 1 hour! Marcus played two selections; the titles of which I obtained from Alex. The first was Souvenir de Saraste by William Potstock (1872-1948) and Czardas by Vittorio Monti (1868-1922) They were both brilliantly played with flawless technique and intonation.

Now to the main event: let me start by saying that the U.K. has the “King’s Singers” but we have “Quartom”- a men’s vocal quartet formed in Montréal in 2008. The name Quartom comes from the French “quatuor d’hommes” meaning men’s vocal quartet. Their program was sung a cappella, without any pitch device. At least one member with perfect pitch was giving the others the tonality which helped the flow of the program. It consisted of mostly
familiar opera and vocal solo music arranged by the members. One exception was an arrangement by Davis, Dixon and Williams of “Duke of Earl”- written and performed by Gene Chandler in 1961.The other was “Mrs. Robinson” (from the movie “The Graduate”) by Simon and Garfunkel. Both selections, like many of the others, were performed with hilarious choreography and/or hand gestures and props.

Other highlights were: an improvised wedding scene between the bass and one of the baritones; complete with bridal bouquet and veil; while the quartet sang Wagner’s wedding processional in German; and Georg (That’s right-no e in German!) Friederich Handel’s “Laschia ch’io pianga” from his opera “Rinaldo.” The group used their incredible control to perform this piece in partial sotto voce (“shadow voice”) to great effect.

They ended the evening with an encore: a short witty song about American youth coming to Quebec to party, because of the lower drinking age there. That was the proverbial “cherry on top of the sundae!” The next concert will be Trio D’Argento on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 7:30 pm. Flute, clarinet, and piano. More info at nocca.ca.

Quartom

Quartom Acapella Quartet – Saturday October 27, 2018

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

QuartomQuartom
Saturday October 27, 2018 7:30 pm
** NOCCA’s Gala Evening **
BUY TICKETS

Quartom male acapella quartet presents an evening of unparalleled singing. These 4 highly skilled, charismatic, and versatile vocalists from Montreal are praised for their insightful interpretations, obvious mutual affection, and contagious good humour.

Quartom comes from the French “quatuor d’hommes” – a perfect name for a men’s quartet. This closely knit group of artists and friends have a burnished vocal sound bred of their own arrangements and their love of fine singing. The four voices, tenor Gaetan Sauvageau, baritone Julien Patenaude, baritone Benoit Le Blanc and bass-baritone Philippe Martel, have a unique blend that will transport you through various styles of music. Formed in 2008 the group boasts a varied background of choral experience ranging from childhood choristers, solo and ensemble work, singing contracts, operatic and quartet performances, as well as university studies.

Among their many presentations in Canada and Europe there is one of particular note. Last October, Quartom performed in the Senate Chamber at the investiture of former astronaut Julie Payette, Canada’s 29th Governor General, before a full house of enthusiastic guests.

Their up-coming NOCCA performance has an operatic theme, unlikely heard before in this particular method of presentation. The entertaining way Quartom presents each segment will keep you riveted for the entire program. Whether a seasoned opera fanatic or a newbie to the opera scene, their obvious joy of singing is guaranteed to have you moved to laughter or to tears with their interpretations of the various operatic scenes. quartom.com

Click on the image/link below to view a short video of Quartom singing:

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

FULL 2018/19 NOCCA SEASON OF 5 CONCERTS
$125 for adults (That’s just $25 a concert!)
$62.50 for those 18 and under

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.