Members of the NAC Orchestra with pianist Frédéric Lacroix showcase their exceptional musicianship in this chamber music concert of works by two distinguished women composers of the 19th century: Louise Farrenc and Luise Adolpha Le Beau.
This concert features the chamber music debut of Stephanie Morin, the NAC Orchestra’s new Second Flute, who began her first season in September 2020.
Program:
LOUISE FARRENC Flute Trio, Op. 45 (22’) I. Allegro deciso - Più moderato ed espressivo
II. Andante
III. Scherzo. Vivace - Poco più sostenuto IV. Finale Stephanie Morin, flute / Rachel Mercer, cello / Frédéric Lacroix, piano
LUISE ADOLPHA Le BEAU Piano Quartet in F minor, Op. 28 (24’)
I. Adagio – Allegro con fuoco
II. Adagio
III. Tempo di Mazurka
IV. Finale. Allegro Yosuke Kawasaki, violin / Paul Casey, viola / Rachel Mercer, cello / Frédéric Lacroix, piano
Louise Farrenc (1804–1875) and Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850–1927) emerged as composers of note at a time when musicians of their gender were more often performers rather than writers of music. They also established their reputations composing chamber music, which, in their respective cultural milieus in France and Germany, was remarkable, for neither was it the most fashionable genre (as in Farrenc’s opera-obsessed Paris) nor the most progressive (as in Le Beau’s Munich, where Wagner’s influence held sway). Their chamber works were presented by some of the most notable musicians of their day, including themselves as pianists, and received praise from critics and other composers such as Schumann, Liszt, and Brahms. The Trio and Piano Quartet on this program are exceptionally well-crafted and engaging for performers and listeners alike.
The Trio in E minor for flute, cello, and piano is one of Farrenc’s last chamber compositions. It was premiered in 1857, at a privately organized concert (as was typical of chamber music in Paris) at the home of Madame Pierson, née Sophie Bodin. One of Farrenc’s former students, she performed the piano part alongside eminent Parisian musicians: flutist Louis Dorus (the work’s dedicatee) and cellist Charles Joseph Lebouc. The instruments are equal participants in the dramatic opening movement, which also exhibits the composer’s stylistic use of continually shifting harmonic colours. In the Andante, the flute introduces a tuneful melody that returns in varied settings, including a stormy middle section. The Scherzo is agitated in mood, with flute and piano playing running passages; in the trio, the cello takes the lead in a songful duet with the flute. A near-constant patter of notes imbues the Finale with vigour and restless drive.
Le Beau’s Piano Quartet dates from 1883, when she was living in Munich. Dedicated to the German composer Franz Lachner, with whom she had recently studied, the work had a high-profile premiere at the Leipzig Gewandhaus that year on December 1. It was received with great acclaim and was successfully performed internationally, including in Sydney, Australia, several years later. The first movement opens with a melancholy chorale for the strings, after which the piano takes up the energetic main theme of the fiery Allegro; a second theme, first presented by the cello, provides sweet contrast. The Adagio is all exquisite tenderness. Unusually, Le Beau incorporates a mazurka for the scherzo movement, which surrounds an ethereal intermezzo. The rondo Finale is full of high spirits with moments of impassioned warmth, and features an intense reminiscence of the opening Allegro’s main theme, just before the end.
Stephanie Morin joined the NAC Orchestra as Second Flute and Piccolo in 2020 and is currently on faculty at the University of Ottawa. In addition to her teaching at uOttawa, Stephanie has been a guest speaker and teacher at programs such as OAcademy, Fluture Music Studio and Flute On The Edge. She is also an active chamber musician, and has performed in NAC chamber music concerts and for Ottawa Chamberfest.
Prior to her tenure at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Stephanie held positions as Assistant Principal Flute with the Edmonton Symphony, and Principal Flute of the Laval and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean orchestras. She has also performed with ensembles such as Les Violons du Roy, the Orchestre Métropolitain, and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.
Stephanie pursued her music studies in Montreal, first at Marianopolis College with Carolyn Christie, then at McGill University with Denis Bluteau, and finally at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal where she completed a Masters in Flute Performance with Marie-Andrée Benny. Stephanie is a prize-winner at the OSM Competition, the Canadian Music Competition, the Prix d’Europe, and the Orchestra Toronto Concerto Competition.
Stephanie Morin est deuxième flûte et piccolo pour l’Orchestre du CNA depuis 2020 et enseigne présentement à l’Université d’Ottawa. Elle a également été conférencière et professeure invitée pour divers programmes, dont Oacademy, Fluture Music Studio et Flute on the Edge. Chambriste passionnée, elle a participé à des concerts de musique de chambre du CNA et au Chamberfest d’Ottawa.
Avant de faire partie de l’Orchestre du Centre national des Arts, elle a été assistante flûte solo à l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton et flûte solo aux orchestres symphoniques de Laval et du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. Elle s’est aussi produite avec Les Violons du Roy, l’Orchestre Métropolitain et l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Stephanie Morin a suivi sa formation musicale à Montréal, étudiant auprès de Carolyn Christie au Collège Marianopolis, de Denis Bluteau à l’Université McGill et de Marie-Andrée Benny au Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, où elle obtenu une maîtrise en interprétation pour la flûte. Elle a remporté le Concours OSM, le Concours de musique du Canada, le Prix d’Europe et le Concours de concertos d’Orchestra Toronto.
Yosuke Kawasaki currently serves as Concertmaster of the NAC Orchestra. His versatile musicianship allows him to pursue a career in orchestra, solo, and chamber music. His orchestral career began with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and soon led to the Mito Chamber Orchestra, Saito Kinen Orchestra, and Japan Century Orchestra, all of which he led as concertmaster. His solo and chamber music career spans five continents, collaborating with artists such as Seiji Ozawa, Pinchas Zukerman, and Yo-Yo Ma, and appearing in the world’s most prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, and the Royal Concertgebouw.
Kawasaki’s current regular ensembles are Trio Ink and the Mito String Quartet. His passion for chamber music led to his appointment as Music Director to the Affinis Music Festival in Japan. He is also an artistic advisor to a new chamber music festival, Off the Beaten Path, in Bulgaria.
As an educator Kawasaki has given masterclasses and performed side by side with students in schools across Canada. Well-versed in the string quartet literature he was entrusted by Seiji Ozawa as the youngest faculty member of the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy at the age of 26. He was also an adjunct professor of violin at the University of Ottawa School of Music from 2013 to 2022 alongside the beloved pedagogue Yehonatan Berick.
Kawasaki began his violin studies at the age of six with his father Masao Kawasaki and Setsu Goto. He was subsequently accepted into The Juilliard School Pre-College Division and further continued his education and graduated from The Juilliard School in 1998 under the tutorship of Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, Felix Galimir, and Joel Smirnoff.
Yosuke Kawasaki est violon solo de l’Orchestre du CNA. Sa polyvalence artistique lui a permis de faire carrière en musique symphonique, en musique de chambre et comme soliste. Comme musicien d’orchestre, il a fait ses débuts à l’Orchestre symphonique de Montgomery. Il a ensuite été violon solo à l’Orchestre de chambre Mito, à l’Orchestre Saito Kinen et au Japan Century Orchestra. Comme artiste solo et chambriste, il a fait carrière sur cinq continents. Il a collaboré avec des musiciens comme Seiji Ozawa, Pinchas Zukerman et Yo-Yo Ma, et s’est produit dans les plus prestigieuses salles du monde, dont le Carnegie Hall, le Suntory Hall et le Royal Concertgebouw.
Kawasaki est actuellement membre de deux ensembles de Kawasaki, Trio Ink et Mito String Quartet. Passionné de musique de chambre, il est directeur musical du Festival de musique Affinis au Japon. Il est aussi conseiller artistique d’un tout nouveau festival de musique de chambre bulgare appelé Off the Beaten Path.
En tant qu’enseignant, Kawasaki a œuvré partout au Canada, offrant des classes de maître et jouant avec des élèves dans leurs écoles. Spécialiste du répertoire pour quatuor à cordes, il est devenu à 26 ans le plus jeune enseignant de l’académie internationale de musique de chambre Ozawa, un poste qu’il s’est vu confier par Seiji Ozawa. Il a aussi été professeur adjoint de violon à l’Université d’Ottawa de 2013 à 2022, aux côtés du très aimé pédagogue Yehonatan Berick.
Kawasaki a commencé le violon à l’âge de six ans, d’abord sous la tutelle de son père Masao Kawasaki, puis sous celle de Setsu Goto. Il a par la suite été accepté dans la section précollégiale de l’école Juilliard, et a été diplômé de cette institution en 1998. Il y a étudié auprès de Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, Felix Galimir et Joel Smirnoff.
Described as a “pure chamber musician” (The Globe and Mail) creating “moments of pure magic” (Toronto Star), Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician across five continents.
Grand prize winner of the 2001 Vriendenkrans Competition in Amsterdam, Rachel is Principal Cello of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and Artistic Director of the “5 at the First” Chamber Music Series in Hamilton. Rachel regularly collaborates with her longtime duo partner, pianist Angela Park, and was cellist of Juno Award–winning piano quartet Ensemble Made In Canada (2008–2020), AYR Trio (2010–2020), and the Aviv Quartet (2002–2010). Rachel has given masterclasses across North America, South Africa, and in Israel and has given talks on performance, careers, and the music business. An advocate for new Canadian music, Rachel has commissioned and premiered over 25 solo and chamber works, including cello concertos by Stewart Goodyear and Kevin Lau.
She can be heard on the Naxos, Naxos Canadian Classics, Centrediscs, Analekta, Atma, Dalia Classics, and EnT-T record labels, and released a critically acclaimed album of the Bach Suites on Pipistrelle in March 2014, recorded on the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius Cello from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. Rachel plays a 17th-century cello from Northern Italy.
www.rachelmercercellist.com
Qualifiée de « chambriste dans l’âme » (The Globe and Mail), qui sait créer des « moments de pure magie » (Toronto Star), la violoncelliste canadienne Rachel Mercer s’est produite comme soliste et chambriste sur cinq continents.
Lauréate du Grand Prix Vriendenkrans d’Amsterdam (2001), elle est violoncelle solo de l’Orchestre du Centre national des Arts et directrice artistique de la série de concerts de musique de chambre 5 at the First à Hamilton. Rachel Mercer se produit régulièrement en duo avec sa partenaire de longue date, Angela Park, et a été membre du quatuor pour piano Ensemble Made in Canada (2008-2020), lauréat d’un prix Juno, du trio AYR, (2010-2020) et du quatuor Aviv (2002-2010). Elle a donné des classes de maître en Amérique du Nord, en Afrique du Sud et en Israël, et des conférences sur l’interprétation, la carrière et l’industrie de la musique. Passionnée de musique canadienne contemporaine, elle a commandé et joué plus de 25 œuvres pour violoncelle solo et ensembles de chambre, y compris des concertos pour violoncelle solo de Stewart Goodyear et Kevin Lau.
Rachel a collaboré à des enregistrements sous les étiquettes Naxos, Naxos Canadian Classics, Centredisques, Analekta, ATMA, Dalia Classics et EnT-T. Encensé par la critique, son album de suites pour violoncelle seul de Bach a été enregistré avec le violoncelle Stradivarius Bonjour (v. 1696) provenant de la Banque d’instruments de musique du Conseil des arts du Canada. Rachel joue sur un violoncelle fabriqué au 17ᵉ siècle en Italie du Nord.
Frédéric Lacroix has performed in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist. He is a frequent collaborator with members of the NAC Orchestra both in chamber music and recitals, having first performed in the Music for a Sunday Afternoon concert series in 2015. This past September, he curated, as fortepianist (and composer), the late-night concerts of the NAC Orchestra’s Beethoven Festival.
Following the University of Ottawa’s purchase of a fortepiano, he has devoted part of his time to the study and performance of music on period keyboard instruments, for which he was recognized as the Westfield Center Performing Scholar for 2008–2009. He has presented numerous concerts in Canada and the United States as harpsichordist and fortepianist.
Intrigued by the seemingly infinite diversity of new music, Lacroix has enjoyed collaborating with composers and performers in the premiere of a number of Canadian and American works. Also active as a composer, his song cycle, Nova Scotia Tartan (2004), is featured on Hail, a disc dedicated to Canadian Art Song.
Frédéric Lacroix teaches piano and composition at the University of Ottawa. He recently completed his doctorate degree in keyboard performance practice with Malcolm Bilson at Cornell University.
Frédéric Lacroix s’est produit en concert partout au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Europe et en Asie comme soliste, chambriste et pianiste collaborateur. Il joue fréquemment avec des musiciens de l’Orchestre du CNA dans le cadre de récitals et de concerts de musique de chambre. Sa première participation à la série Musique pour un dimanche après-midi a eu lieu en 2015. En septembre dernier, il a dirigé les récitals d’après-concert du Festival Beethoven de l’Orchestre du CNA, dans lesquels il s’est produit au piano‑forte.
À la suite de l’achat d’un piano-forte par l’Université d’Ottawa, M. Lacroix a dévoué une partie de son temps à l’étude et à l’interprétation d’instruments de l’époque classique, travail pour lequel il a reçu le titre de « Westfield Center Performing Scholar » en 2008–2009. Il a donné de multiples concerts au Canada et aux États-Unis comme claveciniste et joueur de piano‑forte.
Intrigué par la diversité musicale quasi infinie de la musique nouvelle, M. Lacroix a collaboré avec plusieurs compositeurs et interprètes à la création d’œuvres canadiennes et américaines. Il est également actif en tant que compositeur. Son cycle de mélodie, Nova Scotia Tartan (2004), est présenté sur Hail, disque consacré à la mélodie et à la poésie canadienne.
Frédéric Lacroix enseigne le piano et la composition à l’Université d’Ottawa. Il a récemment terminé ses études doctorales en interprétation d’instruments à clavier, sous la tutelle de Malcolm Bilson, à l’Université Cornell.
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