THE VOICE | The Proof in the Pudding is Puccini

By Neil Crory on October 14, 2014

DVD Review: Yannick Nézet-Séguin Takes Munich

By Paul E. Robinson on October 14, 2014

How many orchestras does a man need? Yannick Nézet-Séguin is music director of three of them at last count and has close connections as a guest conductor with several others. No wonder he recently cancelled several weeks of concerts to grab some rest. But then it is a whole new experience for a Canadian conductor to be in such demand. It has never happened before and 39-year Yannick Nézet-Séguin can be forgiven for finding it difficult to say no...

CD REVIEW | Legendary Treasures: Oscar Shumsky

By Paul E. Robinson on October 8, 2014

During his long career the American violinist Oscar Shumsky (1917-2000) did not enjoy the fame of some of his colleagues but he was held in the highest esteem by violinists everywhere. He studied with Leopold Auer and appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Stokowski when he was only eight years old. He had a strong Canadian connection. In addition to frequent solo appearances, starting in 1959 he served as music director with Glenn Gould of the Stratford Music Festival.

LINES OF ENQUIRY | Ottawa International Animation Festival Screens North American Premiere of Donald McWilliams Documentary, ‘Norman McLaren: Animated Musician’

By Curtis Perry on October 8, 2014

THE VOICE | Brush up your Verdi…

By Neil Crory on October 6, 2014

REVIEW | Soundstreams opens with an enchanting season themed euphoria

By Michael Vincent on October 3, 2014

There were some big draws to the September 30, Soundstreams’ season opening concert at Koerner Hall. For one, famed British violinist Daniel Hope was in town to present the Canadian premiere of contemporary music superstar Max Richter’s The Four Seasons Recomposed. There was also a rare performance of 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams’ piece, Dream in White on White. Montreal-born composer Paul Frehner, was also there to premiere his new work, Mojave Dreaming - a piece inspired by nature, weather, the seasons and atmospheric phenomena.

LINES OF ENQUIRY | A Cathedral for Cathodes: J'Acousmatic Vol. 2 Lights Up Ottawa's Electroacoustic Scene

By Curtis Perry on September 25, 2014

Ottawa's electroacoustic music scene? After one discovers it exists, one realizes how vital and vibrant it is. Jeff Morton greeted the supportive and sizeable crowd on the evening of Saturday September 13th at the University of Ottawa's Freiman Hall in an appropriately mixed combination of grey blazer with dirty red sneakers. "There's a lot to be seen on this stage, but there's a lot of mystery too," he enthused, before promptly giving way to the music...

FITS & BURSTS | Toy Piano Composers Open a Quirky Pandora’s Box

By Michael Vincent on September 23, 2014

The Toy Piano Composers turned seven last weekend. To celebrate, they treated an audience to a program of chamber music based on the premise of integrating homemade/invented instruments. It was an evening full of whispers, creaks, rustles, hums, crackles, and rubbing. The turnout was good, and even the Music Gallery’s exceedingly uncomfortable pews didn’t detour a wholehearted gathering...

CD Review | Wagner: Die Walküre

By Paul E. Robinson on September 23, 2014

Sir Georg Solti was the conductor for the first-ever complete recording of Wagner’s Ring cycle. It was an historic event and Decca Records and producer John Culshaw deserve enormous credit for undertaking the enormous risk involved. Against all odds – EMI producer Walter Legge thought it would be a disaster - the cycle was spectacularly successful. With most of the leading Wagner singers of the day taking part the performance was glorious, and John Culshaw and his team of engineers created a sound world that was far ahead of its time.

THE MORNING AFTER | Hello, Isabel

By Lev Bratishenko on September 22, 2014

I spent most of the ride to Kingston trying to control my blinking. I don’t want to scare people. They already expect weird things from journalists, but I always maintain high standards of appearance and behaviour to correct the stereotype of us as boozing half-starved apes. Unfortunately I had been up until dawn drinking and digging for beetles to eat. And now it was raining. Or I was crying, I’m not sure. Functionally non-human, I hurtled towards Kingston in a grey damp tunnel. It was hopeless—there was nothing to look forward to, the concert was Ravel and Schumann with Dvorak after for those who endured the first half. If I had been able to stand up, I should have thrown myself from the train.