2015FestivalLaunch
I'm throwing a party in Saskatoon on April 16 for #Ritornello7! The Festival runs May 29-31: come see what we've been cooking up!
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While in rehearsals the first NACO WolfGANG Session, a few of us were asked to speak about it on camera - and as per usual, I found myself on screen. You can also see and hear bits of our performance of Ryan Lott's Beautiful Mechanical at the February 14th concert. Check it out!
Carissa is featured in an article in the Ukrainian Weekly Newspaper “New Pathway” / “Новий Шлях,” written by Stephanie Turenko. Based on an interview after a NACO concert to Toronto, just before the first WolfGANG Sessions chamber concert, the article reads as a "day in the life."
Well, friends, big news:
I'm so pleased and excited to announce that I've finished recording my first full-length album, partnering once more with my good friend Philip Chiu!
The recording, which features music by Debussy, Janacek, and Canadian composers Vivier, Carrabré, and Willan, was finished over a three-day period in Montreal at Concordia University's Oscar Peterson Hall. The magnificent Jeremy Tusz (of Diapason Mobile) was at the helm, assisted by Paul Scriver. The four of us are pictured above, just after the final session ended. (Phew!)
I'll be posting updates as this project develops - I'm very excited to share this with you all! Wishing you all a very restful and fulfilling holiday stretch. May you eat great food surrounded by friends and family!
We had a great time performing at Toronto's Gallery 345 last Tuesday, December 9th. It's a wonderful space to play in - I hope to be back again soon! Our concert was also featured as one of Musical Toronto's Critic's Picks. I'm getting really excited for this recording!
Grand announcement time!
I'm thrilled to let you all know that I'll be recording an album with Philip Chiu, performing sonatas by Leos Janacek, Claude Debussy, and Healey Willan, and shorter pieces by Pat Carrabré and Claude Vivier.
Aside from the obvious reasons for recording (it's so much fun!), I'm nearing the end of my tenure with the Canada Council Instrument Bank's 1869 Vuillaume violin and Vuillaume workshop bow - and there's no better way to celebrate than to record! The pieces we're recording are things that the Phil and I have performed together a great many times, starting as early as the 2009 Eckhardt-Grammatté competition winner's tour (Carrabré's Chaconne was the commissioned piece that year), and more recently on our 2013 Debut Atlantic Tour.
We've just finished a couple of private house concerts in Montreal and Gatineau, QC, and are excited to bring the show to Toronto on Tuesday, December 9th, at Gallery 345. Please come! Bring friends!
I'm currently on the road with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, touring England and Scotland to commemorate the 100th anniversary of WWI. To date, we've performed in Edinburgh and Nottingham, and last night we performed a joint concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir which culminated in a boisterous rendition of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Oh yes, and HRH Prince Charles was in attendance :)
My many MANY tour photos will come at a later date, but for now, here's a little clip from the 4th movement, the "Ode to Joy":
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whn1urlpWvw] Off to Salisbury tomorrow, where we will perform in the renowned Cathedral. That performance will be broadcast on CBC Radio 2 on November 9th and 11th, and on CBC Television sometime during the holiday season. Stay tuned!
I'm very pleased to be performing as part of the Toronto Summer Music Festival's Shuffle Concert series next week. The Shuffle series, inspired by the mix of music you'd typically find on an iPod, are informal, eclectic one-hour performances by Festival Artists, special guests, and next-generation emerging artists. I'll be joined by my friends Alexandru Sura (cimbalom) and JC Lizotte (cello), playing Eastern European Folk Music (mostly Ukrainian). We'll finish the program with a new arrangement of Ravel's Tzigane. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Thursday, July 24, 5pm The charismatic Canadian violinist performs a folk-inspired program with cimbalom player Alexandru Sura and cellist JC Lizotte.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave
Pay What You Can
I've landed once again in Sydney to work for a time with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. I've taken a few days to myself to get reacquainted with the city, the weather (a change of 50 degrees - not easy for the violin!), and the time zone. Rehearsals begin tomorrow; we're working with American soprano Dawn Upshaw.
JOHN ADAMS Selections from John's Book of Alleged Dances
GRIEG Holberg Suite
GRIEG Solveig's Song
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA Die Liebenden: Liebes Lied
MARIA SCHNEIDER Winter Morning Walks [AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE]
ELGAR Introduction and Allegro
You may have read about Maria Schneider's work recently - the album (recorded with the ACO last year) won awards for Best Classical Vocal Solo, Best Contemporary Composition and the award for Best Engineered Album, Classical.
If you're in Australia, you can find all the concert dates here.
Looking forward to getting started!