Geoffrey Newman

THE GREAT CANADIAN ARTISTS: AN INTERVIEW WITH VIOLINIST JAMES EHNES

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James Ehnes in conversation with Geoffrey Newman

There are few more celebrated musicians in the world right now than Manitoba-born violinist James Ehnes; and few listeners have failed to succumb to his tonal luster, silken lyrical lines and insightful virtuosity. After initial training with Francis Chaplin, the violinist made his solo debut at age 13 with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, followed by studies with Sally Thomas at Meadowmount and Juilliard (1993-97). Ehnes won the Peter Mennin Prize upon his Juilliard graduation, and subsequently received the first-ever Ivan Galamian Memorial Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant, in addition to the highest Canadian honours. A turning point in Ehnes’ recording career came in 2006-2007 when his ‘homegrown’ recording of the Barber, Korngold and Walton concertos with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (under Bramwell Tovey) won both Juno and Grammy awards. This was followed by the widely-praised Onyx recording of the Elgar Violin Concerto with Sir Andrew Davis.

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Impressive Variety and Artistry in Recitals by Perianes and Grosvenor

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CanadaCanada Schubert, Debussy, Albéniz, de Falla: Javier Perianes (piano), Vancouver Playhouse, Vancouver, 4.5.2017. (GN)

Schubert – Piano Sonata in A major D.664; Drei Klavierstücke D.946 
de Falla – Six pieces from El Amor Brujo; Homenaje pour ‘Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy’
Debussy – ‘La Soirée de Grenade’ from Estampes; Two Preludes
Albéniz – ‘El Albayzin’ from Iberia

Schumann, Mozart, Beethoven, Scriabin, Granados, Liszt: Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), Chan Centre, Vancouver, 7.5.2017. (GN)

BenjaminGrosvenor
Benjamin Grosvenor

Schumann – Arabesque
Mozart – Sonata in B-flat major K.333
Beethoven – Sonata in C-sharp minor, Op.27 No.2 ‘Moonlight’
Scriabin – Sonata No.2 in G-sharp minor Op.19
Granados – Two pieces from Goyescas
Liszt – Rhapsodie espagnole S.254

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An Intriguing Spring Festival with James Ehnes as Violist and Conductor

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CanadaCanada VSO Spring Festival I: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra / James Ehnes (violinist/conductor), Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, 22.4.2017. (GN)

VSO Spring Festival II: James Ehnes (viola), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra / Bramwell Tovey (conductor), Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, 24.4.2017. (GN)

James Ehnes © Matthew Baird
James Ehnes © Matthew Baird

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PIANIST KIRILL GERSTEIN IN CONVERSATION WITH GEOFFREY NEWMAN

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Kirill Gerstein talks to Geoffrey Newman

Kirill Gerstein © Marco Borggreve
Kirill Gerstein © Marco Borggreve

Kirill Gerstein has become an increasingly esteemed visitor to North American and European concert halls, moving quite a distance from his original Gilmore Young Artist’s Award in 2002, his debut recording for Oehms Classics, and the initial intrigue over his jazz training. Gerstein was awarded the coveted Gilmore Artist Award in 2010 and subsequently produced an enviable string of CD’s for the German company Myrios, virtually all of which have received strong acclaim. These include the Brahms Viola Sonatas with Tabea Zimmermann, the 1879 version of the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto, the Liszt Sonata, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. His recording of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes has just been released.

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