“To witness such a high calibre of performance was one thing. But then to follow that with a world première of a new and challenging piece you commissioned by a composer who was also present was breathtaking. Thank you again!
Sean Howard, concert guest
Sommerville concert photos Read More »
Bounce world première – “full of suspense and mystery”.
Penelope Cookson, WMCT Artist Selection Committee member shares her views of Sommerville concert.
James Sommerville presented an outstanding concert in Walter Hall for Music in the Afternoon Nov. 24. The French horn is not often featured in recital, and this was a marvellous opportunity to hear the instrument masterfully played in an intimate setting. Sommerville was accompanied by Peter Longworth, piano, and violinist Scott St. John joined them for two of the works.
From the moment Somerville played his first notes, we knew we were in for a wonderful afternoon.
The concert opened with Villanelle by Paul Dukas, which was designed as an examination piece for the Paris Conservatory. The horn is often considered one of the hardest instruments to play, but in this first piece we were introduced to what the instrument sounds like in the hands of a master. The Villanelle was followed by three of Charles Gounod’s Six Mélodies: Larghetto, Andantino, and Andante sostenuto. Longworth and Sommerville collaborated magnificently in both these opening works.
The French horn evolved over time from the hunting horn, and has a haunting quality, often used in repertoire to suggest the hunt or to call attention in melancholic way. The third work, commissioned by the WMCT was the World Première of Bounce created by Canadian composer Vivian Fung.
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“Outstanding concert”… James Sommerville Read More »
Meet the composer: Vivian Fung will attend the world première.
Vivian Fung World Première – Nov. 24 Read More »
Trio Arkel concert Feb. 19
The concert is called String Tapestry and it weaves the traditional with the new – Beethoven, Gubaidulina, Kodaly – it’s presented by Trio Arkel and guests at Trinity St. Paul’s on Feb. 19 at 7 pm.
Trio Arkel is composed of three women at the top of the Canadian classical music scene: Marie Berard, concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company orchestra, Teng Li, principal violist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Winona Zelenka, assistant-principal cellist with the TSO. For the String Tapestry concert they are joined by guest artists; internationally renowned violinist Scott St. John and violist Sharon Wei, who is viola professor at the University of Western Ontario and member of Ensemble Made in Canada who played Music in the Afternoon last May. As well, Winona Zelenka was one of the judges for the Career Development Award competition last spring.
The group’s standard program features classics from the chamber music repertoire, but they also play new music by living composers and this concert is a fine example. Presented will be a string trio by Sofia Gubaidulina, a modern spiritualist from the Soviet Union; the Trio Serenade for Two Violins and Viola (Opus 12) by Kodaly, and Beethoven’s String Quintet in c major, (Opus 29) “The Storm”.
Tickets are $30 – $15 for students and a 20 minute pre-concert seminar about the repertoire, given by Marie Berard begins at 6:30 pm. Trinity St. Paul’s is 427 Bloor St. West.
Trio Arkel concert Feb. 19 Read More »
