Author: VRS
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GETTING TO KNOW: JSQ
In the beginning… first violinist and founding member Alexander Pavlovsky explains: “We have started to play together at 1994, and our average age then, was 16. That is a very unusual age to start playing in a string quartet. We grew up together, spending about six months together since the very beginning. I believe all…
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THE SEASON BEGINS
Once again we have a season of musical treasures that will be yours to discover over 21 performances, plus one very special presentation. To start this season we present the Vancouver debuts of two young musicians: pianist Boris Giltburg and violist Maxim Rysanov. Boris Giltburg first came to our attention through a long-time friend of…
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TROUSERS, DUCT TAPE AND THE JERUSALEM STRING QUARTET
Paul Gravett, hasn’t worked at the VRS long enough to know that to ask me “to write a few words about something” is like asking me to fly a jumbo jet! Here is the response to his most recent request… “Would you mind writing a few words about your first encounter with the Jerusalem String…
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS: JERUSALEM STRING QUARTET
Leila’s great story about the Jerusalem String Quartet’s first visit to Vancouver inspired to ask you for your stories. Since their memorable debut, they have returned to Vancouver several times, most notably for a week in 2006 when they performed the complete string quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich, and more recently with clarinetist Martin Fröst in…
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AUDRA MCDONALD WOWS AUDIENCES AND CRITICS
The long-awaited American Repertory Theater production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess has opened and the reviews are coming in. The critics are unanimous in their praise for Audra McDonald, who has set a new standard for this iconic leading lady of American opera. “Ms. McDonald is Bess (or to use the hyperbolic speech of…
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GETTING TO KNOW: BORIS GILTBURG
“The best about being the musician is that you get to experience that magical atmosphere…. created between the music, you and the audience…” Boris Giltburg Who: 26-year-old Russian residing in Israel First teacher: mother Debut: age seven Hobbies: languages and computer programming Biggest inspiration: “classical music in its entirety – I learn and experience a…
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TREASURING TRANSFORMATIONS
Responding to a request for your “most memorable cultural experience, anywhere, anytime,” it didn’t come as any surprise that our readers are cultural omnivores with wide-ranging interests and experiences. It was no more surprising that many of the respondents recognized the near impossibility of reducing a lifetime of cultural experiences and interests into a short,…
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FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
It seems only appropriate to highlight the dynamic skills of Kirill Gerstein in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Simon Bolivar Youth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Gustavo Dudamel. And while we are considering virtuoso performances, we could not resist offering two encore performances by George Li (Playhouse, Sunday, December 4). We have uploaded…
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SERVING UP VIRTUOSITY
I read with interest a New York Times article (found here) about the plethora of virtuosi currently found on the concert stages. According to the author, Anthony Tommasini, there are perhaps more technically gifted pianists now than at any other time. Compositions that were once the exclusive domain of the rare pianists are now commonplace…
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FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Maxim Rysanov describes how he was introduced to the viola. It didn’t take long for this “prince among violists” to achieve success and acclaim. In September 2010 he performed Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations at the Last Night of the Proms with conductor Jiri Belohlavek and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Maxim Rysanov performs at Kay Meek Centre on Sunday, October 16.