Acclaimed for her rich voice, expansive range and dynamic stage presence, this Irish mezzo-soprano enjoys an ever-growing international career on opera, orchestral and recital stages. With a wide repertoire that includes Bellini, Dvořák, Gounod, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Strauss and Verdi, as well as contemporary composers, in recent seasons she has sung two world premieres, made her US opera debut, numerous role debuts, and successfully toured North America three times.Tara made her Canadian debut on our series in April 2013, and we’re delighted to welcome her back to Vancouver with James Baillieu, the leader of the next generation of vocal accompanists.
LISZT: Victor Hugo poems
MAHLER: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
QUILTER: Songs
RICHARD STRAUSS: Songs of Herman von Gilm & other songs
ROSSINI: Cantata from Giovanna d’Arco
“Erraught delivered an ultra-flashy rendition of Dopo notte from Ariodante, then the famous, exquisite Lascia ch’io pianga from Rinaldo. Her lithe virtuosity unleashed, the recital went into overdrive, ending, at least officially, with a hilarious rendering of Una voce poco fa from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. …In all, this was a convincing demonstration that, once again, Vancouver audiences have heard a true rising star…” — The Vancouver Sun (April 25, 2013)
Series sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
What does a 17-year old cellist from Nottingham do when he is named the 2016 BBC Musician of the Year, is signed to an exclusive recording contract with Decca, and is given the use, on permanent loan, of a 400-year old Antonius and Hieronymus Amati cello? He makes his Canadian debut for the Vancouver Recital Society of course! Sheku comes from a family which includes six siblings – all musicians. He will be accompanied by his sister Isata.
CASSADO: Suite for Solo Cello
BEETHOVEN: Sonata in G minor, Op. 5 No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
“Sheku is an astonishingly gifted young musician with incredible energy and a burning passion for his music.” — Dr. Alexander Buhr, Managing Director of Decca Classics
Series sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Pre-concert talks! Learn more about each afternoon’s recital program at our pre-concert talks. Each talk takes place at 2:15pm in Salon A.
A magical musical collaboration awaits! An incredible concert of solo and duo performances from two of the most accomplished musicians we know.
J. S. BACH: Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109
BEETHOVEN: Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 5 In D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
DEBUSSY: Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor
BRAHMS: Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano in E minor, Op. 38
“Cellist Alban Gerhardt and pianist Steven Osborne are both superbly instinctive players, with an almost subliminal sense of what the other is about to do, so that every musical gesture they make seems totally spontaneous, as if they are exploring the music for the first time; it’s all so fresh, never overstudied.” — The Guardian
Learn more about each afternoon’s recital program at our pre-concert talks. Each talk takes place at 2:15pm in the Chan Centre’s Royal Bank Cinema.
Those who witnessed the astonishing Vancouver debut of (then) 16-year-old pianist George Li in 2011 will know what to expect. This extraordinary young musician has since gone on to win the Silver Medal at the XV International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition and a coveted Avery Fisher Career Development Grant. George possesses brilliant virtuosity and effortless grace far beyond his years. In addition to a busy concert career he is also a student at Harvard University.
HAYDN: Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32, L. 47
CHOPIN: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
RACHMANINOV: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42
LISZT: Consolation No. 3 in D-flat major, S.172
LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, S.244/2
“Mr. Li’s playing combined youthful abandon with utter command.” — The New York Times
Concert sponsor: The John C. Kerr Family Foundation
Chinese pianist Zhang Zuo (Zee Zee) is internationally recognized for her imaginative and electrifying performances. Possessing dazzling technical prowess and spontaneous flair, her creative maturity has been hailed as “a powerful, passionate and compelling representation of pure artistry” (L.A. Times). A protégé of Alfred Brendel, Zee Zee is a former BBC New Generation Young Artist. Her powerfully individual interpretations make each concert a unique musical experience. Don’t miss this Canadian debut!
BEETHOVEN: Variations in C minor, WoO 80
SCHUBERT: Sonata in C minor, D. 958
GRANADOS: Goyesca No. 1 ‘Los Requiebros’
LISZT: Vallee D’obermann
LISZT: Rhapsodie Espagnole
“Zhang Zuo is the one of the most outstanding and passionate pianistic talents I have come across” — Maestro Paavo Järvi
Series sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
On June 10, 2017, Yekwon Sunwoo was announced as the Gold Medalist at the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. In its 55-year history, the quadrennial Cliburn has identified and ushered a host of exceptional artists to international prominence, including Barry Douglas, Olga Kern, Radu Lupu, Jon Nakamatsu, and Cristina Ortiz.
28-year-old Yekwon, from Anyang, South Korea, gave his recital and orchestral debuts in 2004 in Seoul, before moving to the United States to earn his bachelor’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music and his master’s at The Juilliard School. Career highlights include performances with the Juilliard Orchestra under Itzhak Perlman at Avery Fisher Hall, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, and the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as recitals at Carnegie Hall, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo, Wigmore Hall in London, and Kumho Art Hall in Seoul. Yekwon has already graced the VRS stage; he performed with violinist Benjamin Beilman at the Vancouver Playhouse in the 2016-17 Season.
SCHUBERT: Sonata in C minor D. 958
GRAINGER: “Ramble on the last Love-duet” from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier
RACHMANINOV: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 36 (1931 Edition)
RAVEL: La Valse
“One of the world’s highest-visibility classical music contests” — The Dallas Morning News
“Technical brilliance set off by artistic sensitivity.” — Washington Post
The Verona Quartet was the winner of the 2015 Concert Artists Guild Competition, and in just three years, has earned a stellar reputation for delivering a “sensational, powerhouse performance” (Classical Voice America) every time they take the stage. Musical America selected the group as “New Artists of the Month” for May 2016, further setting the Verona Quartet apart as one of the most compelling young quartets in chamber music.
The quartet has performed across four continents in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Izumi Hall, the Melbourne Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They have also appeared on National Public Radio, The Weekly Special on PBS, and Abu Dhabi Classical FM.
HAYDN: String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 50, No. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH: String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108
RAVEL: String Quartet in F major
“Outstanding ensemble of young musicians” — The New York Times
The Verona Quartet replaces the previously scheduled Simón Bolívar String Quartet.
Series sponsor: The Estate of Edwina and Paul Heller
Learn more about each afternoon’s recital program at our pre-concert talks. Each talk takes place at 2:15pm in the Chan Centre’s Royal Bank Cinema.
Marc-André Hamelin is ranked among the elite of world pianists for his unrivalled blend of musicianship and virtuosity in the great works of the established repertoire as well for his intrepid exploration of the rarities of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, and for performances of his own compositions. This is clearly illustrated in his program for this concert.
FRANZ LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in A minor
FRANZ LISZT: Bénédiction de Dieu dans la Solitude
FRANZ LISZT: Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H
SAMUIL FEINBERG: Sonata No. 4 in E-flat minor, Op. 6
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Images, Book 1
LEOPOLD GODOWSKY: Wine, Women and Song
Austrian baritone Florian Boesch, one of today’s foremost Lieder interpreters, makes a welcome return to the VRS stage — this time with Swedish soprano Miah Persson. This is the first duo vocal recital in the history of the VRS with the added benefit of the wonderful Malcolm Martineau at the keyboard. Not to be missed!
“Boesch doesn’t just sing this music, he inhabits it to the hilt. His voice has a thrilling edge, and he colours his lines with delicate artistry, yet his approach is as natural as conversation, never going for effects for their own sake, or inflating the importance of trifles which some of these songs indubitably are” – The Independent
The program takes us through Schumann’s life in song, starting with the first song he wrote for his first girlfriend, to his last two, written for Queen Mary Stuart, in the depths of madness.
Program:
Sehnsucht (1827)
Gesanges Erwachen (1828)
Waldesgespräch Op. 39 No. 3
Mondnacht Op. 39 No. 5
Schöne Fremde Op. 39 No. 6
Frühlingsnacht Op. 39 No. 12
Dein Angesicht Op. 127 No. 2
Seit ich ihn gesehen Op. 42 No. 1
Helft mir, ihr Schwestern Op. 42 No. 5
Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan Op. 42 No. 8
Erstes Grün Op. 35 No. 4
Sehnsucht nach der Waldgegend Op. 35 No. 5
Stille Tränen Op. 35 No. 10
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint Op. 37 No. 1
O ihr Herren Op. 37 No. 3
Herbstlied (duet) Op 43 No. 2
Belsatzar Op. 57
******
Liebesgram (duet) from Op 74 No. 3
Schneeglöckchen Op. 79 No. 26
Er ist’s Op. 79 No. 23
Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt Op. 98a No. 6
An die Türen will ich schleichen Op. 98a No. 8
Es stürmet am Abendhimmel Op. 89 No. 1
Nachtlied Op. 96 No. 1
Geisternähe Op. 77 No. 3
Aufträge Op. 77 No. 5
Die Sennin Op. 90 No. 4
Meine Rose Op. 90 No. 2
Requiem Op. 90 No. 7
Abendlied Op 107 No. 6
Warnung Op. 119 No. 2
Abschied von der Welt Op. 135 No. 4
Gebet Op. 135 No. 5
Following an electrifying sold-out performance on our Next Generation Series at the Vancouver Playhouse in 2014, the Danish String Quartet went on to conquer the North American scene. They’ve earned rave reviews and return engagements. This is one of them.
“A concert that was as comprehensively rewarding as any chamber- music performance in recent memory… Do not lose track of this group: even by today’s high standard, it offers something very special” – The Boston Globes
Program:
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier II, Fugue No. 7 in E-flat major, BWV 876 (Arr. Mozart)
Shostakovich: Quartet No. 15 in E-flat minor
Beethoven: Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 127
