I told you a little bit more about the viola d’amore a few weeks back but there’s nothing like seeing it – and especially listening to the instrument to better understand it. Hélène Plouffe talks about this intriguing instrument in this video…
Jean Charest, Prime Minister of Quebec, announced yesterday the names of the 34 people to receive one of the Ordre national du Québec, the most prestigious distinction awarded by the Quebec government. Among those, three essential promoters of classical music in Quebec will be saluted: cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky (who, next season, will celebrate 25 years at the head of I Musici de Montréal), François Mario Labbé, founder and president of the Analekta label and Louise Forand-Samson, associated with the Festival de Lanaudière and the Club musical de Québec.
The recipients will received their award from the hands of the prime minister on June 3, at an official ceremony to be held at the Hôtel du Parlement.
Congratulations to all!
One of the great figures of the world of 20th century piano, Yvonne Loriod died on Monday. She was 86. Muse and second wife of composer Olivier Messiaen, she premiered all his piano works from 1943 (year of the Visions de l’Amen) until the death of her husband in 1992. She was also a respected teacher, whether at the Paris Conservatoire from 1967 to 1989, where she taught Michel Béroff, Roger Muraro and Pierre-Laurent Aimard, or in master classes. She also composed several chamber and orchestral works before dedicating herself to the promotion of the works of her husband.
She can be heard with her sister Jeanne, in a Messiaen’s work for piano and Ondes Martenot.
You’ve decided to try out the new top sound quality of FLAC files but still would like to bring your music in your car? Most 44.1 kHz, 16 bits FLAC files can be burned on regular audio CD. To do so, you can use the free audio player Media Monkey. It includes a FLAC compatible burner. Theres no need to manually copy and arrange directories — simply choose which Artists, Albums, or Playlists to include, set the discs format to CD audio and burn!
You are more the visual type? This video takes you through the steps…
Yesterday, the Montreal International Music Competition announced the identity of the 24 young violinists who will participate in this year’s competition, running from May 25 to June 4 in Montreal. They come from around the world, with candidates from the United States (5 candidates); South Korea (4); Germany (3); Japan (3), China (2), Canada (2) and Russia (2); and France, Poland, and the Czech Republic (1). The two Canadian violinists are Nikki Choi – who was the winner of the Étoiles Galaxie Prize as best Canadian musician – and Bosom Mo (also a participant of the 2006 edition).
The jury for this year’s competition is made up of Patrice Fontanarosa (France), Rodney Friend (United Kingdom), Michael Frischenschlager (Austria), Dong Suk Kang (United States), Paul Kantor (United States), Vladimir Landsman (Canada), and Martin Beaver, (Canada). The winner of the First Prize will receive a $30,000 cash prize, a career development program valued at $20,000, an internationally distributed recording on the Analekta label, and an Atelier Raffin bow valued at $5,500.
This year’s imposed work, One for Solitude, is by Canadian composer, Kelly-Marie Murphy. The orchestra for the concerto portion of the competition is the Orchestre Métropolitain, led by Jean-Philippe Tremblay.
For more information – including the names of the 24 participants…