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PHOTO Philippe Jasmin PORTRAIT NÉZET-SÉGUIN Yannick Nézet-Séguin A Musical Journey by WAH KEUNG CHAN Yannick Nézet-Séguin has made it to the top. He was recently named the young - est recipient of Quebec’s highest prize for an artist, the Prix du Québec’s Denise Pelletier award, usually given for lifetime achievement. The 36-year-old conductor, however, says: “I still feel that I’m at the beginning of my musical journey.” But it’s not only this prize; the true measure of success for an artist is international demand, and on December 10 th , Nézet-Séguin will be doing a double header normally reserved for the likes of Gergiev and Maazel. In the afternoon, Nézet-Séguin will be conducting Gounod’s Faust live at the Met, broadcast to millions on the radio and in HD cinemas, and then immediately driven by car to Philadelphia for an evening concert (Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony will be on the program). With Nézet-Seguin at the helm, reviews have been superb for the financially troubled Philadelphia Orchestra. Less than a year from officially taking over as Music Director, Nézet-Séguin is full of optimism. “The energy is really great,” said the young maestro. “I believe now that in a few months’ time, we’ll be forgetting those financial troubles.” It helps that the orchestra’s home, the Kimmel Centre (an Artec hall) has undergone a recent refurbishment that has improved the way the orchestra can hear itself on stage. It has made a noticeable difference. However, nothing seems to beat the Maison symphonique de Montréal (another Artec hall), in Nézet-Séguin’s opinion. He conducted his Orchestre Metropolitain in two different programs at Montreal’s new concert hall for the first time in October 2011. And he has only good things to say. “I have been in many Artec halls recently, and I feel this one is quite special. It’s such a pleasure to play on stage and I was in the audience a lot during the rehearsals, listening and adjusting,” said Nézet- Séguin, who believes once the adjustments have been made in a few years, this will be one of the finest halls in North America. How does it feel? “It’s very rare to say that an orchestra is able to hear themselves and each other so well. You don’t have to make up for the lack of clarity on stage. This is really rare. In special halls like Amsterdam and Vienna, it’s not so easy on stage. They are wonderful [in] their own right because they create a magnificent sound, but it’s also a little bit capricious. Walt Disney Hall is praised as a great hall, but to me it is a bit too clear and clinical. In Montreal, I felt that there is always a certain resonance to the sound and atmosphere, which is also something I like. “We hope to connect with the audience with NÉZET-SÉGUIN ON BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO “I think the Christmas Oratorio is a mixture of music that is folkloric, not spiritual. The opening chorus in unison is almost a vulgar effect for Bach. It’s something that really represents all the people rejoicing. Yet you have so many numbers where the intimacy of the soloists is really extreme. I’m thinking about many of the mezzo arias, and the fourth cantata has two of my most favourite arias. There is a soprano aria with an echo of oboe. It’s such a pure manner of expressing the music and yet it creates such a big effect. The other is the tenor aria with two violins. We go to a more varied emotional journey than [with Handel’s] Messiah because of the contrasts, which are so wide with the intimacies and the big chorus and the trumpets. Once we are immersed in the world of Bach, I think you can get every human emotion.” much less effort compared to playing in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,” Nézet- Séguin explained. “We have to learn to [perform] at pianissimo and piano level. The quality has to be very different because we have to play softer. So there is a learning curve for every musician that will [perform] in this hall. In the second rehearsal, everyone said that if they played a wrong or imperfect intonation, they would hear it so much that it became intimidating individually. This is in a way a good thing, but it’s a bad thing if it starts to have a thinner sound, so I had to encourage them to play slightly more, instead of being more timid with the playing.” Those two concerts in October showed Nézet-Séguin and the OM in perfect accord. The performance of Strauss’s Alpine Symphony showed a sumptuous orchestra sound, almost equaled in Nézet-Seguin’s new recording of Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony on ATMA. What’s the secret? “Nothing replaces time,” said Nézet-Séguin. “There still are many areas when I come to my players in OM, they already know what I want. I have developed [a relationship] with the musicians and it’s beautiful to see how a partnership and relationship over time is better.” For a young conductor, it seems odd that Nézet-Séguin would excel in the colossal works of Mahler and Bruckner. “I sometimes ask myself why I’m so attracted to and comfortable with these end-of-life and end-of-civilization works. I was attracted to Mahler’s Second and Bruckner’s Ninth and I decided to go with what I love most. In order to one day do them justice, it would be a good idea to start and have a fresh take on the way I did them when I was still in my 20s. Zubin Mehta did the same. The way I did them 10 years ago is different from the way I would do them now, and hopefully very different in 20 years’ time.” LSM Yannick-Nézet Séguin conducts l’Orchestre Métropolitain in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: December 11, 16, 17, 18 and 21. www.orchestremetropolitain.com 18 DECEMBER 2011 / JANUARY 2012
FREE CONCERT TICKETS! TEEN! BRING A Les Muses Chorale: Wassai! A collection of carols December 2, 7 pm • 15 tickets • lesmuseschorale@gmail.com Jeunes voix du coeur: Concert de Noël pour la famille December 3, 7:30 pm • 15 tickets • 514-973-9910 Ensemble de musique sacrée de Québec: Magnificat Concert de Noël a cappella December 4 and 18, 2 pm • 20 tickets per concert 3418-681-2117 I Musici : Concert de Noël with Chœur de Montréal and Natalie Choquette December 3, 7 :30 pm Brilliant Symphonies December 7 and 8, 7 :30 pm • Bourgie Hall, Montréal Baroque Splendours December 15 and 16, 11 am and 5:45pm • December 17, 2 pm Italian Sunset January 19 and 20, 11 am and 5:45pm • January 21, 2 pm • Tickets : 514-982-6038 Seraphim Chamber Choir: Rejoice! December 4, 3 pm • 15 tickets info@seraphimsings.ca Orchestre symphonique de Laval: Noël en choeur December 5 and 6, 8 pm • 20 tickets per concert • 450-978-3666x3 Sainte-Anne Singers: Hodie! Hodie! December 9 and 10, 8 pm • 15 tickets per concert 514-426-9856 Atelier lyrique de Chambly : Petit Noël d’antan December 10, 7 pm • 20 tickets • 450-572-0793 Choeur Radio Ville-Marie: Messe de Minuit de Charpentier et chants de Noël de la Nouvelle-France December 11, 3 pm • 25 tickets • 514-272-7455 A “bring a Teen” ticket is offered for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Be the future of classical music. Attend concerts today. WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ADO.TEEN › ADO-TEEN.SCENA.ORG Pro Musica Society: St. Lawrence String Quartet December 12, 8 pm • 20 tickets 514-845-0532 Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville: Nous sommes… un cadeau! December 13, 7:30 pm • 40 tickets 819-477-1056 Nouvelle Génération Chamber Orchestra: The Demons of the Vienna Woods December 15, 8 pm • 5 tickets • orchestreng@gmail.com The Orpheus Singers: Lightening from the East December 17, 8 pm • 10 tickets • 514-727-1252 Attila Glatz Concert Production: Salute to Vienna January 1 and 2, 2 :30 pm • 2 tickets per concert • 514-948-2520 National Arts Centre Orchestra : Beethoven’s Seventh: Symphony of Dance January 5 and 6, 8 pm Bruch and Beethoven January 11 and 12, 8 pm LMMC CONCERTS 120 th Season 2011-2012 POLLACK HALL 555 Sherbrooke Street West Sundays at 3:30 p.m. Bond and Beyond January 19, 20 and 21, 8 pm • 20 tickets per concert • 1-888-991-2787 (ARTS) promo: ADO / TEEN Opéra de Montréal: Il Trovatore January 21, 24, 26 and 28, 7:30 pm • 5 tickets per concert • 514-985-2258 Segal Centre for Performing Arts : Fiesta Flamenco January 22, 2 :30 pm Schulich Benefit : McGill Jazz Orchestra One January 25 Coral Egan January 26, 7 :30 pm • Unlimited tickets • 514-739-7944 SMCQ Molinari Quartet: Four X Four January 26, 8 pm • 20 tickets • 514-843-9305 (24hrs in advance) Dec. 4 CHRISTIANNE STOTIJN, mezzo-soprano Mar. 25 MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano Feb. 12 ANTOINE TAMESTIT, viola Apr. 15 ALBAN GERHARDT, cello Mar. 4 PACIFICA QUARTET, strings May 6 ARTEMIS QUARTETT, strings with Roger Tapping, viola Ticket: $ 35 / Students (26 yrs.): $ 15 Non-refundable - Taxes included LMMC 1410 Guy Street, Suite 12, Montréal QC H3H 2L7 Tel.: (514) 932-6796 www.lmmc.ca lmmc@qc.aibn.com
- Page 2 and 3: CONTENTS DECEMBER 2011 — JANUARY
- Page 4 and 5: y CAROLINE RODGERS PHOTOS OF ANA SO
- Page 6 and 7: ON THE COVER SVADBA PHOTOS John Lau
- Page 8 and 9: N TES by CRYSTAL CHAN, REBECCA ANNE
- Page 10 and 11: discovery cd Transposing Tradition
- Page 12 and 13: PORTRAIT ALEXANDRE DA COSTA A passi
- Page 14 and 15: MUSICULTURE to create music for a f
- Page 16 and 17: MUSICULTURE IN MEMORIAM Maryvonne K
- Page 20 and 21: OPERA HIROMI OMURA will play Leonor
- Page 22 and 23: PORTRAIT LAN TUNG Taiwanese-born er
- Page 24 and 25: CONCERT Previews by RENÉE BANVILLE
- Page 26 and 27: PREVIEWS A GREAT LIEDER PERFORMER A
- Page 28 and 29: 2011 DECEMBER in QUEBEC TO LIST YOU
- Page 30 and 31: TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY S
- Page 32 and 33: PREVIEWS Elsewhere in QUEBEC OPERA
- Page 34 and 35: Mozart: Don Giovanni. McGill S.O.;
- Page 36 and 37: SALUTE TO VIENNA Salute to Vienna b
- Page 38 and 39: jazz Jazz is particularly fond of h
- Page 40 and 41: JAZZ REVIEWS News from Europe Dutch
- Page 42 and 43: REVIEWS » cds • dvds• books A
- Page 44 and 45: REVIEWS CDs they had already record
- Page 46 and 47: variations ON A THEME Looking for a
- Page 48 and 49: CONTEST CIOC Pipe dream turned real
- Page 50 and 51: ARTS THIS WINTER ΩDance by TAO FEI
- Page 52 and 53: ARTS THIS WINTER Visual Arts by JUL
- Page 54 and 55: ADISQ 2011 NOMINATION ALBUM OF THE
FREE<br />
CONCERT<br />
TICKETS!<br />
TEEN!<br />
BRING A<br />
Les Muses Chorale: Wassai!<br />
A collection of carols<br />
December 2, 7 pm • 15 tickets •<br />
lesmuseschorale@gmail.com<br />
Jeunes voix du coeur:<br />
Concert de Noël pour<br />
la famille<br />
December 3, 7:30 pm • 15 tickets<br />
• 514-973-9910<br />
Ensemble de musique<br />
sacrée de Québec:<br />
Magnificat Concert<br />
de Noël a cappella<br />
December 4 and 18, 2 pm • 20 tickets<br />
per concert 3418-681-2117<br />
I Musici : Concert de Noël<br />
with Chœur de Montréal<br />
and Natalie Choquette<br />
December 3, 7 :30 pm<br />
Brilliant Symphonies<br />
December 7 and 8, 7 :30 pm •<br />
Bourgie Hall, Montréal<br />
Baroque Splendours<br />
December 15 and 16, 11 am and<br />
5:45pm • December 17, 2 pm<br />
Italian Sunset<br />
January 19 and 20, 11 am and<br />
5:45pm • January 21, 2 pm<br />
• Tickets : 514-982-6038<br />
Seraphim Chamber Choir:<br />
Rejoice!<br />
December 4, 3 pm • 15 tickets<br />
info@seraphimsings.ca<br />
Orchestre symphonique<br />
de <strong>La</strong>val: Noël en choeur<br />
December 5 and 6, 8 pm • 20 tickets<br />
per concert • 450-978-3666x3<br />
Sainte-Anne Singers: Hodie!<br />
Hodie!<br />
December 9 and 10, 8 pm • 15 tickets<br />
per concert 514-426-9856<br />
Atelier lyrique de Chambly :<br />
Petit Noël d’antan<br />
December 10, 7 pm • 20 tickets •<br />
450-572-0793<br />
Choeur Radio Ville-Marie:<br />
Messe de Minuit de<br />
Charpentier et chants de<br />
Noël de la Nouvelle-France<br />
December 11, 3 pm • 25 tickets •<br />
514-272-7455<br />
A “bring a Teen” ticket is offered for free<br />
with the purchase of an adult ticket.<br />
Be the future of classical music.<br />
Attend concerts today.<br />
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ADO.TEEN<br />
› ADO-TEEN.SCENA.ORG<br />
Pro Musica Society:<br />
St. <strong>La</strong>wrence String Quartet<br />
December 12, 8 pm • 20 tickets<br />
514-845-0532<br />
Orchestre symphonique de<br />
Drummondville: Nous<br />
sommes… un cadeau!<br />
December 13, 7:30 pm • 40 tickets<br />
819-477-1056<br />
Nouvelle Génération Chamber<br />
Orchestra: The Demons<br />
of the Vienna Woods<br />
December 15, 8 pm • 5 tickets •<br />
orchestreng@gmail.com<br />
The Orpheus Singers:<br />
Lightening from the East<br />
December 17, 8 pm • 10 tickets •<br />
514-727-1252<br />
Attila Glatz Concert Production:<br />
Salute to Vienna<br />
January 1 and 2, 2 :30 pm • 2 tickets<br />
per concert • 514-948-2520<br />
National Arts Centre Orchestra<br />
: Beethoven’s Seventh:<br />
Symphony of Dance<br />
January 5 and 6, 8 pm<br />
Bruch and Beethoven<br />
January 11 and 12, 8 pm<br />
LMMC CONCERTS<br />
120 th Season 2011-2012<br />
POLLACK HALL<br />
555 Sherbrooke Street West<br />
Sundays at 3:30 p.m.<br />
Bond and Beyond<br />
January 19, 20 and 21, 8 pm •<br />
20 tickets per concert •<br />
1-888-991-2787 (ARTS)<br />
promo: ADO / TEEN<br />
Opéra de Montréal:<br />
Il Trovatore<br />
January 21, 24, 26 and 28, 7:30<br />
pm • 5 tickets per concert •<br />
514-985-2258<br />
Segal Centre for Performing<br />
Arts : Fiesta Flamenco<br />
January 22, 2 :30 pm<br />
Schulich Benefit : McGill<br />
Jazz Orchestra One<br />
January 25<br />
Coral Egan<br />
January 26, 7 :30 pm • Unlimited<br />
tickets • 514-739-7944<br />
SMCQ<br />
Molinari Quartet:<br />
Four X Four<br />
January 26, 8 pm • 20 tickets •<br />
514-843-9305 (24hrs in advance)<br />
Dec. 4 CHRISTIANNE STOTIJN, mezzo-soprano Mar. 25 MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano<br />
Feb. 12 ANTOINE TAMESTIT, viola Apr. 15 ALBAN GERHARDT, cello<br />
Mar. 4 PACIFICA QUARTET, strings May 6 ARTEMIS QUARTETT, strings<br />
with Roger Tapping, viola<br />
Ticket: $ 35 / Students (26 yrs.): $ 15<br />
Non-refundable - Taxes included<br />
LMMC<br />
1410 Guy Street, Suite 12, Montréal QC H3H 2L7<br />
Tel.: (514) 932-6796 www.lmmc.ca lmmc@qc.aibn.com
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