2015 Career Development Award laureates Charles Richard Hamelin and Stéphane Tétreault are the featured performers in a video produced by icimusique.ca celebrating the 80th birthday of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
CDA Winners’ Video Celebrates Composer Read More »
Russian Pianist Pavel Kolesnikov, who plays Music in the Afternoon on May 5, 2016, is featured in a Globe and Mail story on the Honens Piano Competition which he won in 2012.
“It completely changed my life,” Kolesnikov says of winning the world’s largest piano prize: $100,000 plus a career-development program worth $500,000, awarded every three years to a twentysomething emerging artist.
Globe Features Kolesnikov Read More »
“A pianist willing to take risks” – declared The Guardian reviewer.
Janina Fialkowska played Music in the Afternoon April 29, 2010.
WMCT Alumni – Janina Fialkowska Read More »
April 10, 2014.
It was my first time assisting with the “Green Room”, behind the scenes with the performers at a WMCT Music in the Afternoon concert. Evelyn O’Doherty, with years of experience, was in charge, and described the routine. The Pavel Haas Quartet would arrive at the Edward Johnson Building around 10, and have a couple of hours to rehearse in Walter Hall before the Tuning Your Mind lecture.
We waited in the lobby, scanning every entrant with a string instrument and a professional air. No appropriate group had arrived by 10:15, or even 10:30, and by 10:45, anxiety kicked in. A flurry of phone calls, from us to the WMCT office, from the office to Simon Fryer, our Artistic Director, in Regina, between the Czech quartet and Simon, and finally back to us, pinpointed their location – at Hart House!
After a dead run down Philosopher’s Walk, through the side door, and up to the Hart House desk, I breathlessly announced I was looking for a string quartet, actually four people carrying instruments. No help there, but flying out the House front doors, I spotted them, heading tentatively towards Queen’s Park Crescent. They were on the right track then, so we all hustled up to the Faculty of Music entrance, and down the elevator to the Walter Hall lobby. I pointed out the portrait of Arnold Walter, a compatriot of theirs: they had other things on their minds. Evelyn unlocked the Green Room door for them, they had a little time to familiarize themselves with the hall, and their brilliant performance revealed nothing of the earlier little drama.
Protocols for communication between performers and the WMCT volunteers meeting them at Walter
Hall have since been revised.
Kathleen McMorrow
Back Stage Basics – The Lost Quartet Read More »
As back stage volunteers we arrive early at Walter Hall. A key for the performers’ lounge, known as the “Green Room” is picked up at Reception and we await the arrival of our artists. Usually they appear a little before 10 a.m.
“We are so thrilled to have you here to perform for the WMCT! How was your flight? Do you need help with parking? The page turner will be arriving at 11:30. Would you like a coffee? Can we pick up a sandwich for you at lunch? We’ll take you to Walter Hall.”
While the musicians rehearse we unlock the Green Room then set out water bottles and snacks before gingerly stepping on stage to hand over the key.
Usually things go very smoothly. Sometimes there are surprises!
UofT Music staff and students saved the day for trumpeter Jens Lindemann’s concert. He was to perform with a jazz trio. Of course we all know that pianists do not arrive with their own instrument, but did you know that jazz drummers don’t either? We sure didn’t! They bring their sticks and cymbals only. When not in use the Faculty of Music’s very best jazz drum kit is kept chained to the wall inside a locked room. Only two people have both keys! Fortunately the drums were available that day! Doors and padlocks were unlocked, student movers were engaged and the show went on to multiple standing ovations.
Diane Martello
Back Stage Basics – “What drums?” Read More »
To great acclaim, Paul Lewis made his Toronto debut in Music in the Afternoon’s 115th season on Oct. 18, 2012. This summer, he’ll play Stratford Summer Music on July 29 at 2 pm in St. Andrew’s Church, in Stratford.
https://stratfordsummermusic.ca/
Earlier this spring, he was attacked by a seagull in Liverpool, giving the British media the opportunity to state:
The Birds are Bach
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11683368/The-Birds-are-Bach-Concert-pianist-sprains-finger-in-vicious-seagull-attack.html
WMCT Alumni – Paul Lewis Read More »
Measha Brueggergosman has history with the WMCT. She’s both an award winner and performer. In 1995 she received the Joan B. Wilch Award in Voice and she performed in concerts in Walter Hall in 2000 and again in 2004.
In this beautiful YouTube video she and fellow east-coaster David Myles sing “Whole to My Half” celebrating babies, life, friendship and great hair.
WMCT Alumni – Measha Read More »
Thank you to our many members (and their friends and families) who attended the WMCT’s Career Development Award competition on Sunday, April 26. Feedback from everyone has been unanimously positive – it was definitely a very important and special afternoon in the musical life of the Club, Toronto, and Canada. The three finalists were all consummate performers and it was clearly a challenge for the jury to choose between them for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes.
The jury has compiled some remarks that we would like to share with you.
You may also be interested in the following review in Audiophilia
http://www.audiophilia.com/wp/?p=16344
REMARKS FROM THE JURY OF THE CDA COMPETITION ON APRIL 26
It was our great honour and privilege to hear three outstanding musicians on April 26th for the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Career Development Award Competition. Each of the musicians has a promising career trajectory before him, and we can be sure that they will all be representing Canada on national and international stages throughout the upcoming years.
Pierre-André Doucet began the afternoon with works by Haydn, Liszt and Carl Vine. He is an intellectual and thoughtful performer, which was particularly evident in the challenging Vine sonata. One juror was impressed with his capacity for understanding and presenting this complex music with such authority and ease. The Haydn was well-structured and competently performed but lacked some colour and character. We all thought that the performance of “Isolde’s Liebestod” by Liszt was compelling and, as one juror remarked, “memorable”.
Stéphane Tétreault and Marie-Ève Scarfone charmed us all with their strong communicative skills both with each other and with those of us in the audience. It was such a pleasure to hear their interaction and superb ensemble expertise. We thought that the approach to rubato, particularly in the Haydn, was somewhat excessive and took away from the pure, pristine elements of this style. Both are natural performers with a special gift for delighting audience members.
Charles Richard-Hamelin immediately captured our interest with a depth of musicianship and maturity that was evident from the opening of the Bach Partita. The tone that he produced from the piano was beyond the capabilities of the actual instrument. In turn, he created sounds that were orchestral and soloistic, and wove intricate and beautifully voiced lines as a seasoned string quartet might. His structural and musical understanding of the large-scale Chopin sonata was exceptional, and as one juror remarked “perhaps one of the finest performances of this work I have ever heard on any professional stage”.
The task of deciding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards was an extremely challenging one as each musician presented a truly special and unique voice. Having said this, the jury was unanimous in the decision to award 1st prize to Charles Richard-Hamelin, 2nd prize to Stéphane Tétreault, and 3rd prize to Pierre-André Doucet. We wish all three extraordinary young performers continued success in their future endeavours.
Midori Koga – Professor of Piano & Piano Pedagogy, University of Toronto
Kerry Stratton – Conductor and Music Director, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Wish Opera, Programme host Classical 96.3 FM
Winona Zelenka – Assistant Principal Cellist, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Remarks from the jury of the CDA competition on April 26 Read More »
President Annette Sanger awarded pianist, Charles Richard-Hamelin the $20,000 first prize in the Career Development Award competition in Walter Hall, April 26.
Cellist Stéphane Tétreault, was
awarded $10,000 as second prize winner.
Shown here with collaboratist Marie-Eve Scarfone.
Pianist Pierre-André Doucet received third prize of $5,000
The Career Development Award is presented every three years to outstanding, young Canadian musicians already engaged in a professional performing career. This year marks the 10th presentation of the award and the prize money was increased and a live competition added.
Charles Richard-Hamelin wins CDA Read More »
“One of the very few truly superb recitalists in front of the public today, mezzo Stotijn offers a beautiful voice with consummate musical intelligence ….”
“Through it all, Julius Drake was a rock for the singer. ..I am just so happy Drake comes to Toronto frequently – it’s always a pleasure to hear him play.”
Read Joseph So’s concert review in La Scena Musicale here:
Stotijn concert review – “Superb Recital …” Read More »
