maurice ravel

• Exploration of Mussorgsky Falls Short

Friday night's "art-themed" program showcased Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (1874), originally composed as a ten-movement piano suite that was later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel (among others) in 1923. The work depicts a musical stroll through a series of pictorial movements, inspired by a gallery exhibition of paintings by the composer's friend, Russian painter Victor Hartmann. The quasi-lecture/demonstration began promisingly, with the crowd of 945 first treated to several headbanging audio clips from 1970s rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer as well as Isao Tomito's electronically synthesized snippets that illustrated the transformative ability of the music. WSO assistant conductor Rei Hotoda also performed several excerpts from the original piano score that were im...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• September 08, 2009

• Concerts

April 14, Garrick Centre, 8 p.m. Juno-winning Hamilton singer-songwriter. With Jeremy Fisher, Simon Wilcox. Tickets $17.50 at Ticketmaster. April 27 & 28, Burton Cummings Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Legendary California roots-punk group. With the Black Halos and I Hate [Kate Hammett Vaughan]. Tickets $29.50 and $37.50 at Ticketmaster. April 28, Garrick Centre, 8 p.m. Winnipeg's post-punk poets. With Fabula. Tickets $24.50 at Ticketmaster.

...Music by Ernest Chaussons, Maurice Ravel and Dmitri Shostakovich. Admission $20. Proc...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 18, 2009

• Wso Marks 60th with Rousing Opener

Heavy and dense, it requires a special touch to bring it to life. [Alexander Mickelthwate] struggled with this, losing momentum and seeming not to have his own "idée fixe" in the form of inspiration. While the effort was undoubtedly there, the result was a merely adequate performance, far from the "fantastique" promised in the name. There were some definite high points, namely notable solo work from the woodwinds, brass and harp. The violin section sang like a well-rehearsed choir in the exposed pastoral section of the Country Scene movement. Cellos, basses and violas opened the March to the Scaffold with wonderful richness and pomp. A beefed-up percussion section was spot on and the Dream of a Witch's Sabbath was suitably spooky. It was fun to hear one of the best-known tuba solos in ...

... has recorded the complete piano works of Maurice Ravel, so when the WSO chose him to perform the Fr...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 21, 2009

• Quartet Keeps Up Music Club's Tradition

Sunday afternoon's concert included well known musicians Mel Braun (baritone), Rosemarie van der Hooft (mezzo-soprano), Laura Loewen (piano) and Mark Rudoff (cello) performing a collection of songs inspired by that loftiest of sentiments, love. Yesterday's performance was notable for being the first time that the quartet -- which includes representation from three of Manitoba's post-secondary institutions -- has performed outside a university setting since its inception in 2004. The Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg has the enviable distinction of being the oldest continuously operating musical organization in Winnipeg, now celebrating its 113th year of music-making. A long line of performers have graced its stage -- many of whom have gone on to international careers -- such as Winnipeg...

...His performance of Maurice Ravel's set of three songs, Don Quichotte à Dulci...

• Winnipeg Free Press
• August 18, 2009