Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society
Although I have written about the Chamber Music Society during
the past year, another column is merited. This delicious jewel
is a sophisticated musical event, with a series of quality
musical pieces not heard in decades and performed by world
renowned or local artists in a small but personal music room.
A number of outstanding events in this season included visits in
February and again in March from Till Fellner performing more of
Beethoven sonatas, this time Waldstein, Moonlight and Les Adieux
Sonatas. This acclaimed artist travels internationally and
graciously stops in Waterloo to play to a breath-holding crowd.
He is technically perfect, playing without musical notes, gently
polishing the tones and bringing the best in the music to
audience.
In March The Penderecki Quartet played Haydn and Schubert, their
technical expertise being without comparison. This time Simon
Fryer – their past cellist – was participating, although the new
one, Jacob Braun, is up to the standards of the famous quartet.
Jerzy Kaplanek, Christine Vlajk and Jeremy Bell – are the
original backbone of the quartet.
In April there was a Chopin and Liszt concert played by Eric
Himy. This wonderful and mature pianist delivered not only the
scheduled program of Chopin’s etudes, mazurkas, barcarolle,
ballads and polonaise but also Liszt’s Liebestraum and Valse
Oubliée. It was a memorable evening, and – please take note –
the pianist came out for FIVE encores!
Himy is a sophisticated, mature pianist, able to adjust to a
small venue and devoted audience, appreciating the space and the
fine Steinway piano. Many thanks for this visit and hope to see
you again!
Another superb concert including Mozart Symphony No.40 was
performed by four artists, Peter Vinograde on piano, sometimes
playing for the whole orchestra, Lydia Yang – what a marvellous
flutist she is! – Emma Banfield on violin and cellist Catherine
Anderson. They are a great group and play together so well. The
Mozart symphony was uplifting, with much more pace and life than
most traditional takes, the rhythm carrying away.
By the time this issue is in print there will be another
spectacular concert of all Chopin played by our Canadian Janina
Fialkowska. The tickets are sold out, Jan Narveson is expecting
the last minute line-up at the door, and the admirers are
looking forward to hearing this great artist play polonaises,
nocturnes and Sonata in b. I cannot recall when and where I have heard it played
live. It is not the one with The Funeral March; it is the one
with anending like a wind. A difficult piece, very emotional and
not many pianists undertake it in its greatness.
In the near future:
- on Friday, May 15:
St. Petersburg Quartet presents all Russian/Georgian program,
including Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. This is an unusual
opportunity to hear the Russians interpretation of classic
Russian composers.
- Wednesday, May 26: Mauro Bertoli on piano will be playing Brahms
and Schumann.
- June 4 – 9: QuartetFest will be held.
- in July: Alexander Tselyakov is scheduled to play Chopin’s
etudes.
What a season! What a number of memorable performances! Most are
available on discs. The Music Room has its own recording live
system, so if you missed any, they are available.
The location of the Music Room is 57 Young Street in Waterloo
beside Waterloo Park,
the website
www.k-wcms.com or e-mail
kwcms@yahoo.ca or call
519-886-1673.
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