Busy weekend for the Analekta artists. Jean-Philippe Tremblay, music director and founder of the Orchestre de la francophonie, was leading the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra last night in Utrecht in Messiaen, Ravel, Debussy and Saint-Saëns.

Today, in Montreal, it is Louise Bessette’s 30th anniversary extravaganza. It starts at 2 p.m. with a chamber music concert (that features four world premieres). The pianist will then play two mamooth solo works by Scelsi and Walter Boudreau at 4:30. At 7 p.m., fireworks are included with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen. It is only fitting that she would end this day with the composer she’s been most associated with.

As a teaser, a movement from the Scelsi Suite No. 9, “Ttai”.

If you missed the premiere of Sudden Flashes of Light featuring pianist Serhiy Salov last night at the FIFA, you may be interested to watch this live performance of Liszt’s La Campanella, by the same film maker Santiago RuizTorres. As delightful as filled with virtuosity!

LISZT-SALOV CAMPANELLA from Santiago RuizTorres on Vimeo.

Technology will never cease to amaze us! Yes, something, it becomes a little invasive, steals time from us whithout us realising really. It also can transmit sheer beauty. Here, a fascinating virtual choir experience, singing Eric Whitacre Lux Aurumque. The composer was the winner of a Grammy at the most recent ceremony.

Isn’t it every singer’s dream to join a multi-country choir (from 12 different countries in this case) but without leaving the confort of his or her home?

Whitacre will take it to the next level on April 12 with Virtual Choir 3, in which singers from 173 countries will sing Water Night, a 14-part piece!

She was concertmaster of I Musici, violist (including for the OSM, from 1978 to 1990), chamber musician, passionnate teacher. No doubt subsides: Eleonora Turovsky was a great dame of music. She left us last Friday, at age 72, losing her fight to lymphoma. Friends, family, students and the whole milieu are saddened by the news.

For those who wish to extend their condolences, respect and support, the funeral will take place today, Tuesday, March 6 at 2 p.m. at Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean-Talon St. W.

You can hear her, with I Musici de Montréal, in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ magnificent  The Lark Ascending.

This is the 10th year of the Montreal International Musical Competition and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal will once again be the “house band” for the finals (June  5 and 6) and gala concert (June of this edition devoted to voice. According to Mr. André Bourbeau, who co-founded the MIMC with Mr. Joseph Rouleau, “very few organizations, even at the international level, benefit from orchestras of this calibre. This is an invaluable opportunity for the young musicians from all over the world.” The official list of candidates will be announced in May, at the inaugural press conference.