Le retour de Christian Blackshaw

2017-2018 Season, I Grandi Concerti Series
J. Bilodeau: Ouverture lente (world premiere)
W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
L.V. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 « Pastoral »

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Christian Blackshaw, piano

For this exciting season opener, I Musici is thrilled to share the stage once again with the superlative British pianist Christian Blackshaw. Following critically-lauded performances in Montreal, Blackshaw returns amplified by the glorious acoustics of Maison symphonique to perform Mozart’s Concerto no 24. Also on the program, a premiere by celebrated Quebec composer Julien Bilodeau and the evocative landscapes of Beethoven’s Pastoral.

Photo credits: David Curleigh, Herbie Knott, Philippe Stirnweiss

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La poésie de Vivaldi

2017-2018 Season, I Concertini Series
A. Vivaldi: Concerto pour flûte, op.10, n°2, RV 439 « La notte »
A. Vivaldi: Sinfonia en si mineur, RV 169 « Al santo sepolcro »
A. Vivaldi: Concerto pour piccolo en do majeur, RV 443
C. Farina: Capriccio stravagante
A. Vivaldi: Concerto pour flûte, op.10, n°3, RV 428 « Il gardellino »

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Jocelyne Roy, flute

 
Furtive nocturnal fragrances; alluring springtime birdsong; meditative prayers at the Sepulchre; startling animal cries. Such are the utterly unique tableaux that I Musici and flutist Jocelyne Roy, recipient of the 2005 Prix d’Europe and new member of the Orchestre Métropolitain, invite you to discover in this enthralling baroque program.

 
Photo credits: David Curleigh, Julie Breheret


Dates


Cordes du Nord

2017-2018 Season, I Concertini Series
J. Sibelius: Andante festivo
J. Bilodeau: Pièce pour le 150e
A. Pärt: Summa
D. Wirèn: Sérénade, op. 11
E. Grieg: Suite Holberg, op. 40

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
 

Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Latvia, Estonia… From the countries of the Baltic region come the string works of this program which brings us back to I Musici’s core, while paying tribute to its founder, Yuli Turovsky. In addition, as Canada celebrates its sesquicentennial, we reflect on our own nordicity in a new work commissioned for the occasion by close friend and collaborator of the orchestra, Julien Bilodeau.

 
Photo credits: David Curleigh, Philippe Stirnweiss


Dates


Prégardien : de Bach à Britten

2017-2018 Season, I Grandi Concerti Series
J.S. Bach: florilège d’œuvres vocales et instrumentales
B. Britten: Sérénade pour ténor, cor et cordes, op. 31
B. Britten: Prélude et fugue pour 18 cordes, op. 29

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Julian Prégardien, tenor
Nadia Côté, horn

Jean-Marie Zeitouni has a fascinating proposal for this year’s Montreal Bach Festival: bring Bach and Britten — two musical universes perhaps not as diametrically opposed as one might think — into tune with one another. Together with I Musici, tenor Julian Prégardien performs some of the most beautiful arias for tenor, drawn from the German composer’s cantatas and oratorios, echoing Britten’s enchanting Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings.

Photo credits: David Curleigh, Marco Borggreve, Magenta
Presented as part of the Montreal Bach Festival.


Dates


Les cantates de Bach : l’intégrale se poursuit

2017-2018 Season, I Grandi Concerti Series
J.S. Bach: Cantate “Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn”, BWV 92
J.S. Bach: Cantate “Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht”, BWV 105
J.S. Bach: Cantate “Was mein Gott will, das g’scheh allzeit”, BWV 111

Andrew Megill, guest conductor
Jana Miller, soprano
Stéphanie Pothier, mezzo-soprano
François-Olivier Jean, tenor
Clayton Kennedy, baritone
OSM Chrorus

 
For a third year running, the Arte Musica Foundation welcomes I Musici to take part in Bach’s complete cantata cycle. This year under the direction of Andrew Megill, the orchestra is joined by the OSM Chorus as they perform three cantatas featuring concertante choruses and arias in which voices converse with oboes, horn, and strings. In this selection, Bach’s mastery of word painting, typical of his religious works, is vividly demonstrated.

 
Photo credits: Ron Jones, Albert Zablit, Chiara Isserlis


Dates


Mystères de l’Amour

2017-2018 Season, I Concertini Series
B. Britten: Young Apollon, op. 16
E. Elgar: Sérénade en mi mineur, op. 20
G. Finzi: Eclogue pour piano et cordes, op. 10
S. Prokofiev: Visions fugitives, op. 22

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Jeanne Amièle, piano

Young Edward Elgar won his future wife’s heart over through his romantic Serenade for Strings. Meanwhile, in Young Apollo, Britten describes the passionate love affairs of the Greek god of beauty. Finzi’s Eclogue evokes the peaceful happiness of a humble pair of shepherds. And, at last, in his Visions fugitives — here magnified brought into sharp focus in a stirring arrangement for strings — a work revealing the tumult of the Russian soul. Young pianist Jeanne Amièle, 2015 winner of both the Canadian Music Competition and OSM Manulife Competition, will be joining I Musici for the occasion.

Photo credits: David Curleigh, Frank Desgagnes


Dates


Alexander Prior : fougue et intimité

2017-2018 Season, I Grandi Concerti Series
W.A. Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik « Une petite musique de nuit », K.525
A. Prior: The King’s Feast
J. Svendsen: Deux mélodies traditionnelles suédoises , op. 27
J. Sibelius: Quatuor en ré mineur, op. 56 « Voces intimae »

Alexander Prior, guest conductor

Always looking for emerging talent, I Musici invites gifted conductor and composer Alexander Prior to make his Montreal debut by handing him the reins of the orchestra for an evening. In addition to conducting orchestras all over the world, Prior was recently named chief conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra — despite being only 24 years old. He presents a program drawn from the string quartet repertoire, yours to discover or rediscover, ranging from Mozart to Sibelius, and even one of his own compositions.

Photo credits: Diana Unt


Dates


L’alto dans toute sa splendeur

2017-2018 Season, I Concertini Series
P.I. Tchaïkovski: Andante cantabile
D. Tabakova: Suite in Old Style for viola, strings and harpsichord
B. Britten: Variations sur un thème de Frank Bridge, op. 10

Maxim Rysanov, guest conductor and viola

I Musici is delighted to present the Montreal debut of a rising star of the international classical scene: Maxim Rysanov. A Briton of Ukrainian origin, Rysanov is not only recognized for his gorgeous viola playing, he is also a charismatic orchestra conductor in his own right. It’s in this dual role that you will see and hear him with I Musici, in a program reflecting his twin upbringing, British and Slavic.

Photo credits: Laszlo Emmer


Dates


Haimovitz : odyssée spirituelle

2017-2018 Season, I Grandi Concerti Series
P. Vasks: Viatore
F. Schubert: Sonate en la mineur, D. 821 « Arpeggione »
E. Bloch: From Jewish life
L. V. Beethoven: Grande fugue, op. 133

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Matt Haimovitz, cello

For its season closing, I Musici brings you on a journey covering a wide palette of emotions. The exceptional cellist and musical pioneer Matt Haimovitz revisits Schubert’s famous Arpeggione Sonata, followed by a performance of From Jewish Life, a musical exploration of the Jewish spirit. A traveller’s sightings and impressions are then portrayed in Viatore for string orchestra. And, to conclude a vibrant season, I Musici’s fearless musicians take on Beethoven’s monumental Grosse Fuge orchestrated by Jean-Marie Zeitouni.

Photo credits: David Cruleigh, Steph Mackinnon


Dates


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Le magicien et l’illusionniste

Ateliers-concerts jeunesse
FALL 2017

Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor

This fall, parallel to the Illusions: The Art of Magic exhibition, the McCord Museum and I Musici de Montréal invite young audiences to a multisensory experience centered around prestidigitation. Thanks to vivid explanations by the museum guides, the conductor and the magician, the spectators will engage in educational, entertaining and hands-on interactions. Inspired by the Museum’s impressive collection of posters on the theme of magic, this adventure will leave the audience with unforgettable memories.