Runner
8:00PM Concert
7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & Guests
Soloist friends of Esprit and outstanding soloists drawn from within Esprit are spotlighted in this program performing three exceptional concertos from different cultures. Reich’s minimalist, energized and infectious Runner sets the pace for this concert and leads to the contrasting, intense and distilled poetic moments of Abrahamsen’s Double Concerto with individual soloists relating to each other separately then alternatively playing in unison. Full attention will be on Erica Goodman in her performance of Music Director Pauk’s Harp Concerto, a work of virtuosity bringing the wide-ranging musical experiences of the composer’s background into play in a kind of musical self-portrait.
Gorecki’s concerto won’t let you go. From the work’s first flurry of notes the piece takes you on an electrifying wild ride. Breathtaking!
featuring
Alex Pauk Conductor
Mark Fewer Violin
Kevin Ahfat Piano
Erica Goodman Harp
Wesley Shen Harpsichord
PROGRAMME
Steve Reich (USA)
Runner * (2016)
Hans Abrahamsen (DNK)
Double Concerto (2011)
Alex Pauk (CAN)
Harp Concerto (2005)
Henryk Gorecki (POL)
Harpsichord Concerto (1980)
* Canadian Premiere
F(X)=
8:00PM Concert
7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & Guests
Sound forms of immense power or poetic, delicate beauty are the musical essences for experiencing this concert. Flowing, pulsing, riveting energies arise in time-transcendent creations. f(x)=sin2x-1/x is a mathematical formula conveying the shape of Smith’s “in the groove” piece which moves with exhilarating rhythmic drive to end with a cascade of brass flourishes serving as our season’s opening fanfare. Sørensen’s intimate, captivating work, in slow motion, creates an intoxicating sensual atmosphere. Ishii’s massive sound-space continuum is imbued with surprise and its East/West cross-cultural fabric provides it with tremendous imaginative power. Such illusive descriptions of varied inspirations only begin to hint at the varied richness and grand scope of the three amazing works on this concert.
featuring
Alex Pauk Conductor
Michael Bridge Accordion
Programme
Gabriella Smith (USA)
f(x)=sin²x-1/x * (2019)
Bent Sørensen (DNK)
It is pain flowing down slowly on a white wall ** (2010)
for accordion & string orchestra
Maki Ishii (JPN)
Fu-Shi ("Shape of the Wind") (1989)
* Canadian Premiere
** North American Premiere