OUR 2018 -2019 CONCERT SCHEDULE
A message from our Artistic Directors
Dear Members,
From 8 hands in the opening concert to 8 cellos in the final concert – and much more in between – we anticipate sharing some very memorable musical evenings with you! The 18/19 season will see a multitude of musicians on our stage as we have programmed many familiar, as well as some rarely heard, masterpieces. We hope you will be inspired, moved and delighted.
Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 – THE CANADIAN PIANO QUARTET
2 pianos, 8 hands, 40 fingers
With Elizabeth Bergmann, Marcel Bergmann, Anne Louise-Turgeon, Edward Turgeon
To open the season, the Bergmann Duo have invited their friends and colleagues of many years, the Duo Turgeon, to join them in an exciting display of the two piano, eight hand repertoire. Both duos are laureates of the Dranoff International Two Piano Competition. They will explore a range of delightful and familiar repertoire, including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3, Rossini’s William Tell Overture and a Gershwin Song Medley arranged by Marcel Bergmann.
OCTOBER 26, 2018 – MAHLER’S SONG OF THE EARTH
Susan Platts, mezzo, Benjamin Butterfield, tenor
With the John Avison Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Leslie Dala
Leonard Bernstein described Mahler’s Song of the Earth as his “greatest symphony”. This moving and beautiful song cycle, with two outstanding Canadian vocal soloists, will be heard for the first time in White Rock in the chamber version first arranged by Arnold Schoenberg and completed by Rainer Riehn, with the John Avison Chamber Orchestra and conducted by Leslie Dala. Rounding out the programme are the Scherzo from Schubert’s famous Octet and Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune.
NOVEMBER 23, 2018 – MOZART’S GRAN’ PARTITA
Winds of the John Avison Chamber Orchestra
In his Gran’ Partita Mozart has elevated the wind serenade to the glorious plateau of the string quartet. The winds of the John Avison Chamber Orchestra led by distinguished clarinetists, José Franch-Ballester and François Houle, will perform this rarely heard masterpiece. The programme will be conducted by Leslie Dala and will also include an early wind octet by Beethoven and the incomparable Serenade Opus 44 by Dvorak.
JANUARY 18, 2019 – TRIO TRE VOCI
Viola, Flute, Harp – Kim Kashkashian, Marina Piccinini, Sivan Magen
Trio Tre Voci includes Kim Kashkashian, Grammy award winning Armenian-American violist; Marina Piccinini, Italian American flute virtuoso, and Sivan Magen, international prize winning Israeli harpist. Since they first played together at the prestigious 2010 Marlboro Music Festival, they have been performing to great acclaim in leading concert venues including Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. Their White Rock debut will feature works by composers such as Rameau, Debussy and Takemitsu.
FEBRUARY 22, 2019 – MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
The Vancouver Cantata Singers, conducted by Paula Kremer
White Rock Concerts is excited to present the Vancouver Cantata Singers, conducted by Paula Kremer for the first time. The programme will be wonderfully eclectic and varied as they explore the poetry and music of the planets, stars, and heavenly spheres. The Vancouver Cantata Singers will present a concert of 19th century and contemporary works by Érik Ešenvalds, Ola Gjeilo, Robert Schumann, and Canadian composers, Stephen Chatman and Craig Galbraith.
MARCH 22, 2019 – DUO CONCERTANTE
Nancy Dahn, violin, Timothy Steeves, piano With the John Avison Chamber Orchestra
Duo Concertante, one of Canada’s premiere violin and piano ensembles, will present a programme featuring three of the most important German composers of the romantic era. The husband and wife team will be accompanied by the John Avison Chamber Orchestra in the virtuosic and brilliant Concerto for violin and piano by Mendelssohn. The duo will also perform the passionate Sonata in a minor by Schumann and the FAE Scherzo by Brahms.
APRIL 12, 2019 – Ô-CELLI
Cello octet
The season ends with the rich sound of eight cellists on our White Rock Concerts stage. We are pleased to host the Belgian based Ô-Celli ensemble on their Western Canada tour. The ensemble was brought to life by the eight artists’ shared passion for their instrument. The programme will include works by De Falla, Turina and Marquez as well the music of Chabrier and Piazzolla.