POST-PERFORMANCE TALKBACK
We are delighted to open our 45th Season with Rachel Fenlon, an artist who approaches music with a spirit of inquiry and creative passion. She performs song recitals as both singer and pianist, accompanying herself. Praised for her “unusually shaped recitals in keeping with her extraordinary talent” (Places des Arts/Festival de Lanaudière), Rachel is establishing a unique voice on the classical music stages of the world. Born in Victoria, BC, and educated at UBC, this multi-talented musician is now based in Berlin.
SCHUBERT: Winterreise
“A young artist with vocal skills which should take her anywhere she wants to go.” — Opera Canada
Ticket prices: A: $63 B: $48 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Next Generation Artist sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Concert sponsor: Alexandra Volkoff
Additional Support:
PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 2:15PM
Schaghajegh first appeared on our radar through Sir András Schiff, her mentor and frequent artistic partner. She made her international breakthrough in 2014 as an award winner in the International Bach Competition in Leipzig. In 2018, she made her Canadian debut at the VRS playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations. We quickly rebooked her for our 2020-21 Season, but the pandemic scuppered those plans. We’re delighted that Schaghajegh is returning to our stage with an intriguing program.
J. S. BACH: Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828
MENDELSSOHN: Variations sérieuses, Op. 54
HAYDN: Andante con variazioni in F minor, Hob.XVII/6
ALKAN: Symphony for Piano Solo Op. 39
“Astonishing clarity, purity and maturity” — Sir András Schiff
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsor: Dr. Barbara Romanowski
Additional Support:
PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 2:15PM
Described as “Fearless, dazzling, exceptional” (The Guardian), Tamara Stefanovich captivates audiences worldwide with her utterly unique and eclectic programming. A passionate ambassador of broad repertoire from before Bach to beyond Boulez, she will have you on the edge of your seat!
J. S. BACH: Aria variata alla maniera italiana, BWV 989
MESSIAEN: Chant d’extase dans un paysage triste from Huit Préludes
J. S. BACH: BACH: Sinfonia No. 9 in F minor, BWV 795
RAMEAU: L’entretien des Muses
MESSIAEN: Regard des Anges from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jésus
MESSIAEN: Première Communion de la Vierge from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jésus
RAMEAU: Les Cyclopes
RAMEAU: La Poule
J. S. BACH: Sinfonia No. 15 in B minor, BWV 801
MESSIAEN: L’Alouette calandrelle from Catalogue d’oiseaux
MESSIAEN: La Parole toute-puissante from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jésus
MESSIAEN: Noël from Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jésus
MESSIAEN: Cantéyodjayâ
“The colossal energy of Stefanovich’s performance was hugely impressive.” — The Telegraph
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsor: John C. Kerr Family Foundation
Additional Support:
Pre-concert Talk at 1:45pm
THE CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET
TIMOTHY RIDOUT, viola
ZLATOMIR FUNG, cello
ANGELA CHENG, piano
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN, piano
Reminiscent of our Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, this mini-Brahms festival brings together eight musicians from three countries to share the chamber music they love with you!
Sonata No. 2 for Viola and Piano in E-flat major, Op. 120
Timothy Ridout and Benjamin Hochman
Sonata in G major, Op. 78 arr. for Cello and Piano
Zlatomir Fung and Angela Cheng
String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36
Castalian String Quartet, Timothy Ridout, and Zlatomir Fung
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsors: Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey & Robert Bailey, Colleen & Nick Filler, Ric & Lynda Spratley, Lynn Kagan
Additional Support:
Pre-concert Talk at 6:45pm
THE CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET
TIMOTHY RIDOUT, viola
ZLATOMIR FUNG, cello
ANGELA CHENG, piano
BENJAMIN HOCHMAN, piano
Reminiscent of our Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, this mini-Brahms festival brings together eight musicians from three countries to share the chamber music they love with you!
16 Waltzes, Op. 39 for Piano 4-Hands
Angela Cheng and Benjamin Hochman
String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 36
Castalian String Quartet, Timothy Ridout, and Zlatomir Fung
Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
Benjamin Hochman and Castalian String Quartet
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsors: Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey & Robert Bailey, Colleen & Nick Filler, Ric & Lynda Spratley, Lynn Kagan
Additional Support:
POST-PERFORMANCE TALKBACK
Raphaël was born in Djibouti, on the northeastern coast of Africa, and raised in the small city of Cholet in Western France. Recognizing his musical talent, his parents gave him a plastic guitar at the age of seven, which is when his musical journey began. He studied at the Conservatoire de Nantes and later at the Paris Conservatoire. He made his international breakthrough as the 2018 winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America. Since then, Raphaël’s burgeoning career has taken him around the world, where he has dazzled audiences with his playing. We are thrilled to present him in his Vancouver debut.
J. S. BACH: WTC 1 Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846 (trans. R. Feuillâtre)
COUPERIN: Les Barricades Mystérieuses (arr. A. Fougeray)
DUPHLY: Médée (arr. A. Fougeray)
ROYER: L’aimable (arr. R. Feuillâtre)
J. S. BACH: Concerto in D major, BWV 972 (arr. J. Perroy)
SCARLATTI: Sonata in A major K. 208 (arr. G. Abiton)
SOLÈS: Variations on a theme of Sor (La Folia)
ARCAS: Fantasia on themes from La Traviata
SOLÈS: Two Catalan folk songs
ALBÉNIZ: Asturias “Leyanda” from Suite española No. 1
TARREGA: Three Preludes
BARRIOS: La Catedral
PIAZZOLLA: Adios Nonino (arr. C. Tirao)
DYENS: “Clown Down” from Triaela
“He makes his instrument sing with a rare blend of clarity and grace” — Guitar Salon International
Ticket prices: A: $63 B: $48 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Next Generation Artist sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Concert sponsor: Forster/Stephenson Legacy Fund
Additional Support:
Pre-concert Talk at 6:45pm
Grammy Award-winning soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan is an artist at the forefront of creation. Embodying music with an unparalleled dramatic sensibility, she has shown a profound commitment to the music of our time and has given the world premiere performances of over 90 new works. For her VRS debut, she will be partnered by pianist Bertrand Chamayou, a celebrated soloist who performs in venues such as the Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Lincoln Center, and London’s Wigmore Hall. An in-demand chamber music performer, Bertrand has partnered with Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Quatuor Ébène, and Sol Gabetta.
MESSIAEN: Chants de Terre et de Ciel
SCRIABIN: Poème-nocturne, Op. 61 (solo piano)
SCRIABIN: Vers La Flamme, Op. 72 (solo piano)
ZORN: Jumalattaret
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE PERFORMED WITHOUT AN INTERMISSION
Program Notes
“The intrepid Canadian soprano has emerged over the last half decade as one of the most vital and original musicians of her generation.” — The New Yorker
“Chamayou is a remarkable musician, no question.” — The Guardian
Ticket prices: A: $92 B: $78 C: $62 D: $42 E: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsors: George Pick & Santi Pelaez
Additional Support:
Pre-concert Talk at 2:15pm
TWO CLOWNS. PIERROT MEETS PETRUSHKA.
GUY ESHED, flute
TIBI CZIGER, clarinet
DANIEL BARD, violin & viola
MICHAL KORMAN, cello
SIVAN MAGEN, harp
ASSAFF WEISMAN, piano
SHIRIT LEE WEISS, stage direction (Pierrot Lunaire)
The Israeli Chamber Project is a pretty impressive ensemble. Among its members are International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Gaspar Cassadó Cello Competition prize-winners, and Borletti-Buitoni Trust and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipients.
Celebrating the 150th birth year of Arnold Schoenberg, the ensemble presents a semi-staged production of his ground-breaking expressionist cabaret Pierrot Lunaire with soprano Hila Baggio as the sad clown. Stravinsky’s brilliant Petrushka and Ravel’s La Valse complete the exploration of early 20th Century masterworks.
Program Notes
“The Israeli Chamber Project is that rarest of creatures: a band of world-class soloists that is not a muster of peacocks, but a hive mind in which egos dissolve and players think, breathe and play as one.” — Time Out New York
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Presented in collaboration with Salle Bourgie and Le Club Musical de Québec
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsors: Birgit Westergaard & Norman Gladstone, Arlene Gladstone & Hamish Cameron, Judi Korbin, Risa & Bill Levine, Joanne & Stanis Smith
Additional Support:
Pre-concert Talk at 6:45pm
World-renowned guitar virtuoso Miloš returns to the VRS! The Montenegrin marvel’s meteoric rise to fame started in 2011 after the release of his hugely popular debut album ‘Mediterraneo’. Since then, he has earned legions of fans around the world for his sensitive, charismatic performances and six chart-topping recordings. He made his memorable Vancouver debut on our stage in 2013 and returned in 2021 for a performance with mandolinist Avi Avital. Selected by BBC Music Magazine as one of the ‘Six of the Best Classical Guitarists of the Past Century’, Miloš should be on your “must hear” list!
THE ARTS AND THE HOURS
WEISS: Fantaisie and Passacaglia
RAMEAU: The Arts and the Hours
HANDEL: Menuet
J. S. BACH: Chaconne in D minor
ALBÉNIZ: Asturias (Leyenda)
SCARLATTI: Sonata F major, K. 44
BARRIOS: Andante Religioso from La Catedral
ARLEN/TAKEMITSU: Over the Rainbow
DUPLESSY: Amor Fati
“One of the most exciting and communicative classical guitarists today.” — The New York Times
Ticket prices: A: $88 B: $63 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Concert sponsor: Ann Harding
Additional Support:
Post-performance Talk Back
Tom Borrow made his Canadian debut on our stage in 2023 and wowed the VRS audience with his incredible talent. We rebooked his return engagement on the spot. A former BBC New Generation Artist, and a protégé of Murray Perahia, Tom’s career is currently soaring. He has a packed concert schedule that includes a designation as 2024 Artist-In-Residence for the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Those of you who heard him in his debut will, no doubt, be at the front of the line for tickets!
BACH-RACHMANINOFF: Paraphrases on Bach’s Violin Partita No. 3 in E major
BACH-FEINBERG: Largo from Trio Sonata No. 5 in C major, BWV 529
SCHUBERT-LISZT: “Städchen”
SCHUMANN-LISZT: “Frühlingsnacht”
SCHUBERT-LISZT: “Auf dem wasser zu singen”
SCHUMANN-LISZT: “Widmung”
BACH-BUSONI: Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004
SCHUMANN: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
“He already has everything of a great.” — Diapason
Ticket prices: A: $63 B: $48 C: $28
BUY 3 concerts or more and receive a 15% discount
BUY 5 concerts or more and receive a 20% discount
BUY 8 concerts or more and receive a 25% discount
Season sponsor:
Next Generation Artist sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Concert sponsors: Cathy & Ian
Additional Support:
