Skip to main content

A few midweek concerts

After having read Steven Mazey's column, a free Monday lunchtime on 27th February and I headed to the NAC Fourth Stage to see University of Ottawa music alumnus Bryan Wagorn. Mr Wagorn, who is currently New York-based (at the Metropolitan Opera), gave a recital as part of the 'UOttawa on the NAC Fourth Stage' series.

On a sunny day it was slightly strange sitting in a very dark space, but for the 25 or so attendees that soon ceased to matter. Wagorn's programme consisted of: J. S Bach's Partita No. 1 in B flat Major, BWV 825; Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentales; and the suite Mana by 20th century French composer André Jolivet. After the measured-ness of the Bach Partita, the first of Ravel's Valses came as a sharp wake-up! Of the three suites performed the varied and fun Valses were to me most appealing. Jolivet's Mana, as introduced by Wagorn, is a suite of six pieces written for six copper wire dolls. These were all rather different from the Bach and Ravel pieces, albeit very interesting! 'La vache' was for me the most delicate with its poetic melancholy, but I also enjoyed the powerful 'La princesse de Bali'. Wagorn has placed two videos of Mana on Youtube for further reference. 

After this interesting concert, I headed over to City Hall where artist Donna Legault has a really exciting display in the City Hall Art Gallery. Cymatic Imprints is an interactive sound installation wherein microphones pick up sound signals, which are transmitted to speakers. From the speakers hang metal bead ropes, which oscillate with the sound and create patterns in sand. The whole effect was intensely mesmerising and relaxing; it was a lot of fun to walk amongst the hanging beads and hear the effect of one's footfall (or even the sound of people walking around outside and above the room). There is a picture of the installation on the City Hall Art Gallery's website; visiting it in person is highly recommended! This weekend is the final weekend as the show closes on 4th March.

Back to University of Ottawa on Wednesday 29th February for a masterclass by André Laplante. This was my first visit to a masterclass in Freiman Hall and the programmes seemed to be a very nice touch. Due to time constraints I only heard the first 2 full performance/analysis cycles: Ben Nesrallah's performance of Prokofiev's Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 14 (first 2 movements); and Ylan Chu's performance of Ginastera's Three Argentinian Dances. I enjoyed those two performances and may return for Laplante's next masterclass on 2nd April!       
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Music, Poetry and Cake (Gateshead and Lanchester)

Piano at the ready! (by M) After a good few months prep, the concert Piano Music and Poetry (organised through the Gateshead Piano Workshop folks) came around pretty quickly. As one of the participants, I was excited and also a little nervous about the prospect of a Paying Audience. The work paid off, as all the performers were excellent! Well appreciated by the compact audience. The format was in relation to National Poetry Day which was on 2nd October. Each performer chose a poem either in direct or indirect relation to their piece. A summary of the programme: Alan - Liszt Consolation No 4 and Mozart Adagio in B minor Graeme - Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with 'Uncertainty' by Adam Mickiewicz me - Clara Schumann, andante con sentimento with 'Clara Wieck und Beethoven' by Franz Grillparzer Jim - R Schumann Kinderszenen 1 and 7 with 'My child, we were just children' by Heinrich Heine Ernie - Debussy Clair de lune with excerpt from 'Fêtes g...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Black Rose to Buena Vista

Two very different but equally impressive live experiences this last weekend. First up, our long overdue homage to the late, great Phil Lynott as Limehouse Lizzy returned to the Point on Friday 2nd March. Certainly on form (and not just lead singer Wayne Ellis, mmmm!) After a late doors, the band came on for a 2 hour set. They started off with Jailbreak (with added pyro), the rest of the main set comprising known songs like Dancing In The Moonlight, Warrior, Emerald, Johnny the Fox, Are You Ready, Killer On The Loose, Cold Sweat, Do Anything You Want To, Out In The Fields, Cowboy Song, Rosalie, The Boys Are Back In Town plus at least 1 early track. The encore included 1 verse/1 chorus from Sarah, Black Rose, Whisky In The Jar and another track. Excellent atmosphere, the place was sold out. The boys are back at the Point in December. Next on to crowd pleasers of a very different sort. M and I managed to get tickets for the sold-out Buena Vista Social Club show at Wales Millennium Centr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Love, chaos and hope: Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble in Kendal

After a sublime Friday lunchtime concert, Saturday (16th February) got even better. The day started with the February edition of Clitheroe Piano Group, and even more than normal we had an excellent afternoon's music. Quick smart up the M6 to Kendal and a quick meal courtesy of Farmhouse Kitchen (very nice) before we headed to Kendal Leisure Centre. Lakeland Sinfonia seem to have a good set of concerts this season - I tried to book for Jess Gillham in January but sold out - and the February concert, Gabriela Montero and Scottish Ensemble, was definitely a treat. There seem to be a lot of season ticket holders as quite a lot of the audience seemed to know each other; and with a few single ticket holders like us, the hall was pretty full!  Scottish Ensemble are a 12-piece string group, and a quick look at their website shows they are interested in anything strings! Gabriela Montero is renowned for her pianism, improvisations and compositions - certainly one of the draws f...
Post a Comment
Read more