One of the world’s most revered pianists returns to Canada for his fourth VRS appearance. Evgeny’s musicality, the depth and poetic quality of his interpretations, and his extraordinary virtuosity have earned him the kind of veneration and admiration reserved for only the most gifted pianists. A not-to-be missed performance!
J.S. BACH: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (arr. Tausig)
MOZART: Adagio in B minor, K. 540
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
CHOPIN: Selected Mazurkas
CHOPIN: Andante spianato and Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22
“Without question he is a phenomenal pianist, a deeply intuitive and sensitive musician.” — The New York Times
Ticket prices: A: $118 B: $92 C: $72 D: $52 E: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
The Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation
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German-French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt is one of the most sought-after and versatile artists today. As a soloist, conductor, and artistic director, he performs repertoire spanning from early music to the contemporary, playing on period and modern instruments. A former BBC New Generation Artist, Nicolas was Gidon Kremer’s personal choice to succeed him as the new Artistic Director of the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in 2012. He has continued in that role and is also Artistic Director of the Haydn-Philharmonie.
DUTILLEUX: Trois strophes sur le nom de Sacher
J.S. BACH: Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
KODALY: Sonata in B minor for solo cello, Op. 8
“The compelling French-German cellist Nicolas Altstaedt gave a performance of this compact 10-minute piece that thoroughly conveyed its audacious, even radical elements. This was his New York recital debut. It’s about time.” — Anthony Tommasini, New York Times
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
Robert Bailey & Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey
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This is the second concert in the Danish String Quartet’s international commissioning project, Doppelgänger, which pairs world premieres from four renowned contemporary composers with the four major Schubert works that inspired them. The VRS is a proud co-commissioner of the project. The first concert in the series (performed at the Orpheum in October, 2021) was a revelation, artfully combining the old with the new. Luckily for us, we don’t have to wait a year for concert 2!
SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’
LOTTA WENNÄKOSKI: New Work (Canadian premiere)
SCHUBERT: Death and the Maiden (lied arranged for string quartet by DSQ)
“What they do know is how to be an exceptional quartet, whatever repertory they play.”
— Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
Judith & Poul Hansen
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Mishka Rushdie Momen is an exciting young talent who definitely falls into the category of “one to watch”. She was The Times Arts critics’ chosen nominee in the field of classical music for their 2021 Breakthrough Award and has been mentored by such luminaries as Dame Imogen Cooper, Richard Goode, and Sir András Schiff.
J.S. BACH: Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846 (Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I)
MOZART: Fantasy in C minor, K. 475
SCHUMANN: 10 Impromptus on a Theme by Clara Wieck, Op. 5
PROKOFIEV: Visions Fugitives, Op. 22
BYRD: Fantasia in A minor
LIGETI: Étude No. 10 “Der Zauberlehrling”
SCHUBERT: Fantasie in C major, D. 760 “Wanderer-Fantasy”
“Mishka Rushdie Momen plays the piano extraordinarily well, but it is the purity and depth of her musical feeling that impress me most. She has the rare ability to communicate the essential meaning of whatever she plays.“ — Richard Goode
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
John C. Kerr Family Foundation
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Stephen Waarts’ innate and individual musical voice has established him as a firm favourite with audiences around the world. With a voracious appetite for repertoire, he has already performed more than 30 standard violin concertos, as well as rarely performed works, and he is a passionate chamber musician. Gabriele Carcano, recipient of a 2010 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Award, is a pianist equally at home in recital, as a soloist with orchestras and in chamber music.
DEBUSSY: Sonata for violin and piano in G minor, L. 140
SCHUMANN: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 121
SIBELIUS: Four Humoresques, Op. 89 (complete)
ENESCU: Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 25
“I’m convinced he [Waarts] is the real deal.” — Gramophone
Ticket prices: A: $60 B: $45 C: $25
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Series Sponsor:
The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Concert Sponsor:
Maryke Gilmore
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One of the world’s most compelling performers, Yuja Wang made her VRS debut in 2008 in the very early stages of her career and has returned twice in the intervening years. She consistently dazzles audiences with her electrifying stage presence, jaw-dropping virtuosity and keen musical insight. ‘Charismatic’, ‘breathtaking’, ‘flawless’, and ‘heartfelt’, are just a selection of the superlatives used frequently by critics worldwide. Her last VRS concert sold out — don’t wait to book your seat!
BEETHOVEN | SCHOENBERG | LIGETI | SCRIABIN | ALBÉNIZ | KAPUSTIN
“Hers is a nonchalant, brilliant keyboard virtuosity that would have made both Prokofiev (who was a great pianist) and even the fabled Horowitz jealous.” — Los Angeles Times
Ticket prices: A: $118 B: $92 C: $72 D: $52 E: $25
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Isata held an Elton John scholarship while studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has since won a number of awards including the 2021 Leonard Bernstein Award and the 2020 Opus Klassik Award for Best Young Artist. A member of the extraordinarily gifted Kanneh-Mason family, Isata has already appeared in Vancouver twice with her brother, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. We look forward to presenting her Canadian solo recital debut.
MOZART: Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K. 457
CHOPIN: Ballade in F major, Op. 38
SOFIA GUBAIDULINA: Chaconne
ELEANOR ALBERGA: Cwicseolfor
RACHMANINOFF: Excerpts from Études-Tableaux, Op. 39
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1
“She is a pianist who makes lines sing beautifully and virtuosic passages dance, finding intimacy and eloquence at telling moments.” — BBC Music Magazine
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
Ann Harding
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The London-based Castalian String Quartet made its debut on our series in 2018 and has continued to distinguish itself as one of the most dynamic, sophisticated young string quartets performing today. Recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s 2019 Young Artists Award, the quartet received the prestigious inaugural Merito String Quartet Award and Valentin Erben Prize in 2018, and also won a coveted Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Award.
HAYDN: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2 “Fifths”
FANNY MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet in E-flat major
SCHUBERT: String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D. 887
“They’re terrific: violinists who seem capable of anything, layering a gleaming finish (often the key to a really luminous quartet sound) on a viola player with a tone like crushed velvet and a cellist who sounds like old gold.” — The Spectator
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Ric & Lynda Spratley
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Captivating stage presence combined with performances that are technically and musically masterful make accordionist Hanzhi Wang the perfect ambassador for her instrument. In addition to winning First Prize at the 2017 Young Concert Artist International Auditions in New York (where we heard her stunning performance), she also won First Prize at the Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition in Italy. Those of you who were captivated by accordionist Ksenija Sidorova on our series in 2016 know that our track record for finding the best is spot on!
SCARLATTI: 3 Sonatas (K. 9, K. 159, K. 146)
PIAZOLLA: Chiquilín de Bachín, Milonga del Ángel, Muerte del Ángel
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Seasons, Op. 37a — September: The Hunt, October: Autumn Song, November: Troika
MARTIN LOHSE: Autumn Rain, Winter’s Tale
VIVALDI: Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “Winter”
BACH/GOUNOD: Ave Maria
“Staggering virtuosity that held the audience in a state of breathlessness, as thrilling to watch as to hear.” – Oberon’s Grove (New York)
Ticket prices: A: $60 B: $45 C: $25
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THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT THE PLAYHOUSE TO SUNDAY, JUNE 5 AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2013, Steven Osborne is one of Britain’s most treasured musicians. Celebrated for his insightful interpretations, his musicality and technique, Osborne is much sought after as a soloist, chamber musician and recitalist. How lucky that he has become a regular visitor to the VRS since we first discovered him in 2001!
SCHUBERT: Impromptu No. 1 in F minor, D.935
CRUMB: Processional
DEBUSSY: Selection of Études
SCHUBERT: Sonata in B-flat major, D.960
“This quietly-spoken, self-questioning Scottish pianist has risen to the top tier of pianists worldwide, and this concert was a reminder of the way he combines relentless perfectionism with surprising wildness.” — The Telegraph
Ticket prices: A: $85 B: $60 C: $25
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Concert Sponsor:
Elaine Adair
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