The Best! 2016/17

RP

CA

The Best! 2016/17

RPCA_Brochure_2015_Final.indd 1 2015-06-26 11:58 AM

Soloists:Daniel Bolshoy – guitar .......................................................................3Jasper Wood – violin ..........................................................................4David Jalbert – piano ..........................................................................5Yegor Dyachkov – cello .......................................................................6Chris Donnelly – piano ........................................................................7Kornel Wolak – clarinet ......................................................................8Maxim Bernard – piano ......................................................................9Lucas Porter* – piano ....................................................................... 10Karl Stobbe* – violin ..........................................................................11 Duo’s:Duo Rendezvous – violin & guitar ...................................................... 12Wolak – Donnelly Duo – piano & clarinet ............................................ 13Double Double Duo – clarinet & accordion ......................................... 14Duo Concertante* – violin & piano .................................................... 1520/88* – piano duo .......................................................................... 16 Ensembles::Triple Forte – piano trio .................................................................... 17Trillium Brass – brass quintet ............................................................. 18Canadian Guitar Quartet .................................................................. 19Penderecki String Quartet ................................................................20Pentaèdre – wind quintet .................................................................. 21Borealis String Quartet* ...................................................................22

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Dear Music Lovers,

Welcome to our all-Canadian roster of artists for Richard Paul Concert Artists.

As we begin our 17th season, we are delighted that we are able to continue to offer you such a distinguished variety of fine artists representing some of the finest musicians on Canada’s performing arts scene. Whether you are a chamber music series, major venue, salon series, festival or a symphony orchestra, it is our aim to work with you to help you plan a spectacular season.

As you thumb through the brochure you will see some exciting additions to our family. We are delighted to welcome the brilliant young pianist, Lucas Porter and the new piano duo, 20/88 (featuring Wonny Song and our own David Jalbert). We are also thrilled to welcome two new violinists – Newfoundland’s Duo Concertante and Karl Stobbe from Manitoba. And to round out the roster we are very happy to welcome back the Borealis String Quartet!

Please visit our full service web site at www.greatconcerts.com where you will find downloadable photos and press kits with news and reviews, as well as links to the artists’ audio and video clips and their individual web pages.

All of us at RPCA look forward to serving you and helping you make your upcoming season YOUR VERY BEST!

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.

Kindest regards,

Richard Paul2


Daniel BolshoyDaniel Bolshoy is internationally recognized as “Canada’s reigning master of the guitar”. He enjoys unprecedented success as a guitar soloist due to his unique way of combining entertaining presentations with expressive and virtuosic musicianship. His numerous performances of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez have received world-wide praise. His recording of the music of Sainz de la Maza was recently released on ATMA. Daniel is head of the Guitar Department at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Symphony’s School of Music and is in great demand for his master classes and competition adjudication. Daniel is a D’Addario Gold Performing Artist.

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Jasper WoodViolinist Jasper Wood has established himself as a major talent of his generation capturing the hearts of music lovers everywhere with his “thrilling virtuosity” (Strad) and his “sweet tunefulness edged in melancholy” (Washington Post). Celebrating twenty-one years with his pianist David Riley, this formidable duo takes ensemble playing to a new level as they continue to offer their immensely popular themed-concerts. Jasper recently released two new violin/piano recordings: “Chartreuse” (Strauss, Debussy, Mozart) and “A Stradivarius Christmas” (musical settings by Terry Vosbein); as well as piano trio recordings with Triple Forte (Ravel, Shostakovich, Ives) and most recently an all-Dvorák release.

4Duo Rendezvous Triple Forte


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David Jalbert

Recently named by the CBC as one the 15 best Canadian pianists of all time, David Jalbert has established himself among the elite of a new generation of classical musicians. A virtuoso with a warm, elegant style and a wide-ranging repertoire, his recordings have earned him three Juno nominations and worldwide critical acclaim. Experience a live performance of Bach’s keyboard masterpiece, the Goldberg Variations, a unique and unforgettable musical journey; or “Soirée Parisienne”, a colourful and light-hearted program of cabaret-tinged music by Poulenc and Satie, closing with Stravinsky’s explosive piano version of “Petrouchka”, the ballet which took Paris by storm in 1911.

Triple Forte

20/88


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Yegor Dyachkov Lauded for his remarkable stage presence, insight, nuance and generosity, Yegor Dyachkov is a much-admired recitalist, chamber player and concerto soloist. “Dyachkov is an artist of astonishing intimacy and depth, so fluid in his approach to the instrument that mere mechanical demands prove no hindrance to his boundless artistry.” (The Chronicle-Journal). Since being named “Artist of the Year” by the CBC in 2000, he has gone on to perform around the world and has appeared with major orchestras in Europe and the Americas and at top-tier festivals. Yegor’s imaginative recital programming is always engaging, bringing the audience to discover new facets of the beautiful instrument that is the cello. The repertoire section of his website yegordyachkov.com is up to date with several alluring recital offerings.

Triple Forte


Chris Donnelly

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Chris Donnelly is a Steinway artist and Juno-nominated pianist from Toronto, Canada. Recognized as one of the most captivating and versatile artists on the music scene, Chris was trained simultaneously as a classical pianist and a jazz pianist. His repertoire thus, is an eclectic mix of jazz, classical, ragtime, stride, gospel, and music from other genre-bending composers like Egberto Gismonti from Brazil and Nikolai Kapustin from Russia. In 2017, for Canada’s 150th anniversary, Chris will be touring and performing across the country on his bike – from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, and featuring music by Canadian composers Doug Riley, Oscar Peterson, Ann Southam and many more.

Wolak-Donnelly Duo


Kornel WolakKornel Wolak has performed with numerous ensembles including the renowned Quartetto Gelato and the Wolak-Donnelly Duo (with Chris Donnelly). He also appears regularly in recitals as a chamber musician and as a soloist with many American and European orchestras. Kornel is a “Fryderyk” nominee, Poland’s highest recording award and can often be heard on the CBC, Toronto’s Classical 96.3 and NPR. As a soloist/clarinet clinician, he has toured and taught master classes in Europe, Asia and both Americas. His interests include art history, religion, philosophy, and poetry, and in his native Poland his poems have been published in young poets’ magazines and compilations. He is the founder of Music Mind Inc., an initiative that creates music education programs for Canadian schools and communities.

8Wolak-Donnelly DuoDouble Double Duo


Maxim Bernard

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After winning the International Stepping Stones of the Canadian Music Competition and polishing his art with legendary pianist Menahem Pressler at Indiana University where he earned a Doctor of Music degree, Dr. Maxim Bernard fully embraced a performing career. He has performed solo recitals and concerti throughout Canada, the United States and in Europe. The sensitivity and personal touch found in his interpretations along with his contagious spontaneity sets him apart from the others. At the beginning of every concert, Maxim likes to share his vision of the program with his public. Audiences are fascinated by the depth and passion of his WWI commemorative concert, “The Great War:1914-1918”. For the next season, he has prepared a variety of thematic recitals such as “Horowitz in Moscow” in which audiences will be able to relive this historic concert.


Lucas Porter – a national and international award-winning pianist from Nova Scotia – is quickly gaining recognition across the country and internationally from media outlets such as The Montreal Gazette which described his double octaves as being, “the fastest since Horowitz, and even cleaner”. This past spring, he completed a solo concert tour under the auspices of Debut Atlantic of Atlantic Canada. In the winter of 2014, he completed a 21-concert solo tour for Jeunesses Musicales of Eastern Canada. In 2013, he performed Chopin’s Concerto No. 2 with Symphony Nova Scotia. Porter has been a semifinalist at a number of international piano competitions in Italy, Canada and Japan.

Lucas Porter

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Karl StobbeKarl Stobbe Stobbe is recognized as one of Canada’s most accomplished and diverse violinists. Very few violinists can lay claim to performances of all six Ysaÿe Sonatas for Solo Violin, all 16 Beethoven String Quartets, and all nine Mahler Symphonies. Whether as a concertmaster, soloist, or chamber musician, Karl is known for excellence on the violin and classical music in all its forms. His Avie Records 2014 CD of Ysaÿe’s Solo Violin Sonatas received a Juno nomination, capturing worldwide attention, London’s Sunday Times said “a master soloist, recalling the golden age of violin playing… producing a breathtaking range of tone colours.” He has performed in North America’s most famous concert halls, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Jordan Hall, and has shared the stage with some of the most important and diverse violinists of our day, from James Ehnes to Mark O’Connor.

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Duo Rendezvous has remained in great demand, thanks to the stellar reputations and passionate virtuosity of guitarist Daniel Bolshoy and violinist Jasper Wood. Their engaging and humorous on-stage style has endeared them to audiences everywhere. Their program, drawing inspiration from the brothels of Buenos Aires to the cafés of Paris, mixes Bach, Debussy and Ravel with Piazzolla, Jobim and Sarasate. This presentation has entertained audiences with great music - be it “classical”, “jazz” or “world”. As Duo Rendezvous is “un-plugged”, audiences are able to appreciate the subtleties of both the violin and guitar in any venue.

Duo Rendezvous

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Wolak-Donnelly Duo

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Armed with a clarinet, a piano, and their personable stage presence, Kornel Wolak and Chris Donnelly present a remarkable blend of classical and jazz music rarely heard in live performance. From revered classical pieces such as Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, to Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue, and Oscar Peterson’s classic Hymn to Freedom, Chris and Kornel captivate audiences with virtuosity, warm humour, familiar melodies and a profound passion for music and performing.


Double Double Duo

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In a classy and dynamic show, Double-Double Duo uniquely fuses classical showpieces with folk, world, jazz and pop music. This season, DDD will tour Ecuador, Poland, France and Canada. Two-time Canadian Digital Accordion Champion Michael Bridge (accordions/piano) has soloed with the Boston Pops and won the prestigious Calgary Stampede Talent Search, out of 300 young artists. Highly acclaimed for his musical imagination, Dr. Kornel Wolak (clarinet/piano) has been praised by numerous critics: “Control and a smooth, elegant expressivity are what make Wolak shine.” (Toronto Star) Double-Double’s music is fun and fiery, as they continue to push the boundaries of live-performance.


Duo Concertante

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Canada’s premiere violin and piano ensemble, Duo Concertante, are partners in music and in life. Known for the passion and brilliance of their performances, this husband and wife team’s extraordinarily unified voice has become one of the most striking features of their work. The Duo’s busy touring schedule across North America, Europe, and China, have lead to performances at Wigmore Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, the National Arts Centre, and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Their seven acclaimed CDs include Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano, which received rave reviews from the international press, and their recording of R. Murray Schafer’s Duo for Violin and Piano won the 2011 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year.


20/88

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Two of Canada’s foremost keyboard artists, David Jalbert and Wonny Song, add up the digits to launch this exciting new collaboration. These two virtuosos, who first performed together ten years ago, will take you on a magnificent journey through some of the most moving and dazzling repertoire ever written for 20 fingers, be it on 88 or 176 keys! Experience the grandeur of Rachmaninov’s masterful suites, the intimacy and drama of Schubert’s Fantasy, and the playfulness of Ravel and Debussy’s four-hand gems.

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Triple Forte

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Triple Forte brings together three of Canada’s most prominent soloists. Violinist Jasper Wood, cellist Yegor Dyachkov and pianist David Jalbert have joined forces to create this sought-after piano trio. They have captured critics’ and audiences’ attention with their passion, intelligence and sensitivity, not to mention the sheer joy that they bring to the stage. “This was a splendid concert. I’d miss sunshine, football or Santa for music like this any day.” (Globe & Mail). Although Triple Forte is quite flexible with repertoire, their most popular program has been ‘The Archduke and the People’ which highlights their new ATMA Dvorák recording of the much-loved ‘Dumky’ Trio and pairs it with Beethoven’s masterpiece, the ‘Archduke’ Trio.


Trillium Brass

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The Trillium Brass is dedicated to sincere, beautiful and exciting concerts, with a mission to program high quality music that shows every aspect of the capabilities of brass instruments. The group consists of Andre Dubelsten and Scott Harrison, trumpets; Mikhailo Babiak, horn; Cathy Stone, trombone; and Jonathan Rowsell, tuba. Recently, Trillium Brass has performed recitals in Stratford, Kincardine, Sault Ste. Marie, Kirkland Lake, Gananoque and in Roanoke, Virginia. Trillium Brass has custom-arranged repertoire from many styles and eras, and performs most works from memory, giving them a dynamic and exciting stage presence that connects directly with audiences large and small.


Canadian Guitar Quartet

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Since its debut in 1999, the Canadian Guitar Quartet has toured extensively in North and South America, from one standing ovation to the next, establishing a reputation as one of the finest guitar ensembles in the world. The CGQ has appeared with orchestras across Canada and has recorded three critically acclaimed CDs. The mix of dynamic original music and classical masterpieces make a CGQ concert an unforgettable experience. “The Canadian Guitar Quartet tackles all with great brilliance and an optimal mastery of their instruments … thereby confirming a secure musical reality of international dimension.” (GuitArt magazine – ITALY)


Now celebrating their 28th anniversary season, Canada’s Penderecki String Quartet is one of the most sought-after chamber ensembles of their generation. Their performances demonstrate their “remarkable range of technical excellence and emotional sweep” (Globe and Mail). Recent concerts include Weill Hall, Concertgebouw, REDCAT at Disney Hall, St. Petersburg, Paris, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Belgrade, Zagreb, Atlanta, and also include many major international festivals. The PSQ champions music of our time, performing repertoire ranging from Haydn to Zappa and has premiered more than 100 new works. Their diverse discography includes music of Brahms and Shostakovich, late Beethoven and Bartok.

Canadian Guitar Quartet Penderecki String Quartet

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Strongly committed to refreshing the classical concert concept, Pentaèdre crosses the borders between various artistic disciplines and reintegrates performing arts into the concert experience. Musicians become complete artists by performing with dancers, actors, mimes or singers. Their concerts include research, transcriptions, creations, guest collaborations or exchanges, works for young audiences as well as the staging of challenging interdisciplinary projects. Among recent performances were concerts of a chamber version of Schubert’s Die Winterreise and L’amour est un opéra muet (from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte) with the mime company Omnibus. The ensemble has recorded 6 CDs, has performed more than 25 premières and are in-residence at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.

Pentaèdre

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Pentaèdre Borealis String Quartet *New

The Vancouver-based Borealis String Quartet was founded in 2000 and is now regarded as one of the leading ensembles of its generation. Mentors include Josef Gingold, Rostislav Dubinsky (Borodin), Andrew Dawes (Orford) and the Emerson String Quartet. A recipient of many awards, the Borealis’s unprecedented success at a televised national competition resulted in a performance for the Prime Minister of Canada at Parliament Hill in Ottawa for an audience of more than 75,000. Since then, the Borealis has toured extensively worldwide to great acclaim. The quartet members are in residence and on faculty at British Columbia’s Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

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www.lydiacharak.com

Richard Paul Concert Artists 401 Richmond St W., Suite 220

Toronto, ON Canada, M5V 3A8

[email protected]@greatconcerts.com

tel: 416.595.9555 fax: 1.866.298.1033


Documents

The Best! 2016/17