Details

 

Venue: TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Mazzoleni Hall, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Phone:  1-855-821-0636 (Toll-free)

Email: robin@amiciensemble.com

Web: http://amiciensemble.com

Twitter | Facebook | iTunes | Soundcloud

________________________________________

Photo Gallery

________________________________________

The Folks Behind It All

 

 

Serouj Kradjian, Joaquin Valdepeñas, David Hetherington | Artistic Directors

________________________________________

About

Amici Chamber Ensemble has celebrated over twenty-five years as one of Canada’s finest and most distinguished chamber music ensembles.

Artistic Directors clarinetist Joaquin Valdepeñas, cellist David Hetherington and pianist Serouj Kradjian invite some of the finest musicians to join them in innovative and eclectic programming, celebrating friendship through music.

In Spring of 2009, founding member Patricia Parr (Order of Canada) retired, and the ensemble welcomed pianist, composer and arranger, Serouj Kradjian.

Amici Chamber Ensemble’s annual concert series has featured world-renowned musicians as frequent guests, including James Ehnes, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Lara St. John, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Russell Braun, Michael Schade, Cho6Liang Lin, Jaime Laredo, Andre Laplante and James Sommerville.  The ensemble has commissioned and premiered over twenty works by Canadian composers, among them Allan Gordon Bell, Chan Ka Nin, Brian Cherney, Malcolm Forsyth, Jacques Hétu, Alexina Louie and Jeffrey Ryan.

The Ensemble has toured extensively, including performances across Canada (British Columbia, Maritimes, Ontario), Mexico, and Europe ( Hungary, Czech Republic).

Alongside numerous broadcasts of their concerts on national radio, Amici Chamber Ensemble’s recordings have placed them firmly among the world’s best chamber musicians and garnered the ensemble two JUNO awards, most recently the 2013 Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for Levant. Other prestigious honors include several JUNO award nominations, including a 2011 nomination for the ATMA Classique disc “Armenian Chamber Music“. Two recordings of Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time highlight their critically acclaimed discography.

Joaquin Valdepeñas is principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and is regarded as one of the most distinguished clarinetists of his generation. Active as soloist, chamber musician and conductor, Mr. Valdepeñas has performed at festivals & concert series throughout the world.

David Hetherington, assistant principal cellist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, teaches cello and chamber music at the Glenn Gould School. Mr. Hetherington plays his 1695 cello made by Giovanni Grancino of Milan “with rare delicacy and clarity”.

Pianist and composer Serouj Kradjian is hailed as a “keyboard acrobat” of “crystal virtuosity” by the press. He is regularly invited to appear as soloist and chamber musician in North America and Europe. Lately, he has been gaining much praise as composer and arranger.

________________________________________

Events

Alla Zingarese

TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow leads music with a tradition of fire, ferocity, sweetness of tune and lively rhythms. A celebratory gala with the magic of gypsy style!  Silent Auction, hors d’oeuvres and wine included.  Guest Host, Julie Nesrallah.

November 23, 2014, 4 pm
Conservatory Theatre, Toronto
Tickets here.

Program:

Abou-Khalil – Arabian Waltz
Dvorak – Songs My Mother Taught Me, Op. 55
Fibbich – Piano Quintet in D major, Op. 42
Kaputsin – Burlesque, Op. 97
Martinu – Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano

Bohemian Contrasts

Born of seared memory and uncertain future, nostalgia and vision, and influence by Bohemian tradition, these composers voice the tensions of their time.  The New Orford String Quartet and Amici join forces to explore this most passionate and tender music.

February 1, 2015, 3 pm
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Toronto
Tickets here.

Program:

Brahms – Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Schulhoff – String Sextet

In Remembrance

An evocative program with Grammy Award-winning violist Kim Kashkashian. On the 100thanniversary of the Armenican Genocide, we explore music inspired by friendship, grief, rebirth and remembrance.

March 1, 2015, 3 pm
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Toronto
Tickets here.

Program:

Bartok – Rhapsody No. 1 for viola and piano
Golijov – Mariel (for cello and marimba)
Kradjian – Elegy for Restive Souls
Komitas – Folk Songs
Mansurian – Three Taghs
Mozart – Kegelstatt Trio (for clarinet, viola and piano)

The Shepherd

Soprano Mireille Asselin gives voice to stories of love, loss, and longing. A moving program of works for soprano and chamber ensemble.

April 12, 2015, 3 pm
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Toronto
Tickets here.

Program:

Glinka – Trio pathétique (for clarinet, cello and piano)
Juon – Trio-Miniaturen (for clarinet, cello and piano)
Nicolai – Variazioni Concertanti (for soprano, clarinet and piano)
Previn – Vocalise (for soprano & cello)
Schubert – The Shepherd on the Rock
Tavener – Akhmatova Songs (for soprano & cello)