Ancaster’s Valerie Tryon highlights Great Romantics Festival

By Mike Pearson, News Staff

Arts & Entertainment

Sep 23, 2010

Their music is as vibrant today as the day it was written.

Fryderyk Chopin, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and Josef Wagner are some of the most celebrated musicians of the Romantic period.

Juno award-winning pianist Valerie Tryon will pay tribute to the Romantic era at next month’s Great Romantics Festival, a celebration of classical music from 1820 to 1910.

The festival returns for its 15th installment during the weekend of Oct. 7. For the first time ever, the festival welcomes the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, conducted by its founder and artistic director, Boris Brott.

Tryon, an Ancaster native, will perform selections by Franz Liszt including Totentanz (Dance of the Dead) and Les preludes, the third of Liszt's 12 symphonic poems. Tryon has performed for sell-out crowds around the world, including performances with the Royal Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony. Her latest recording, released in May, includes a Mozart piano concerto performed with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Tryon is looking forward to her upcoming performance with Brott’s ensemble on Oct. 9.

“He always has absolutely fabulous players,” said Tryon. She will perform two concertos along with the orchestra on a Mason & Hamlin piano, known for its full, rich sound.

The theme of this year’s festival is Ovations. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin and Robert Schumann. The Saturday afternoon program on Oct. 9 includes a presentation of Chopin’s 27 studies, performed by seven concert pianists.

Schumann is represented by his two major song-cycles Dichterliebe and Frauenliebe und–leben, along with some of his most recognized piano music. Saturday’s piano gala features 12 talented pianists, followed by a festival banquet at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

Tryon said next week’s event offers great variety, from piano concertos to song recitals, lectures, a piano gala and a closing festival banquet.

A fitting selection leading up to Halloween, Liszt’s Totentanz is one of Tryon’s favourite symphonic pieces.

“It’s been one of my favourites,” said Tryon. “It’s very macabre and sinister.”

Alan Walker, the festival’s artistic director, said this year’s event includes musicians from four Great Britain, the U. S., Spain and Canada. Like all good music, Walker said Romantic era composers produced music of a timeless quality that remains fresh and vibrant, nearly two centuries after it was written.

“Their music has endured so much repetition that it is timeless,” said Walker.

When Walker asked Boris Brott and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada to join the festival, Brott quickly obliged.

“I jumped at the chance to do a Tryon marathon,” said Brott. “Few pianists in the world would be capable of performing this repertoire in one evening and carry it off. Valerie can, and will.”

Brott said Tryon is a pianist who carries away audiences with her soulful interpretations.

“That's why she is in demand around the world. We are fortunate she calls our area home. Musically she is a citizen of the world.”

Brott has performed with Tryon several times in the past in England and Wales when Brott was the music director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

“Valerie and I have made music together annually for the past 25 years at least,” said Brott.

Brott calls himself a Romantic by nature. He feels very much at home with music that examines emotion, feelings and events that are larger than life.

“The program we are performing -Liszt, Schumann, Chopin -this is a great program our emotional National Academy Orchestra and I can really sink our teeth into and bring to life for you, our audience.”

The Great Romantics Festival begins on Thursday, Oct. 7 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 9 with performances at McMaster University’s Convocation Hall, Mac-Nab Presbyterian Church and Christ’s Church Cathedral. The event is presented in conjunction with The American Liszt Society and The School of the Arts, McMaster University. During the event, Dr. Elyse Mach will receive the Medal of the American Liszt Society, the highest honour that the Society can bestow, in recognition of her writings in behalf of Franz Liszt.

All systems go for Great Romantics

By Leonard Turnevicius

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR

Just when you thought Alan Walker's Great Romantics Festival was down and out for the count … Surprise! It's back as strong as ever.

That's right. All systems are go for the GRF, which was put on hold last year due to funding issues.

And what got the ball rolling to make the GRF happen instead of letting it become a warm and fuzzy memory for the region's classical music fans as well as the American Liszt Society, one of the festival's co-sponsors?

"We received this year an unexpectedly generous donation from an American benefactor and admirer of the GRFestival who had regretted its absence during 2009, " wrote Alan Walker in an e-mail response to The Spectator.

So, with someone gifting greenbacks to cover the bills, Walker set about organizing the three-day festival which will take place just prior to Thanksgiving.

Much of the GRF's schedule is familiar from previous years. Opening remarks on Thursday at McMaster's Con Hall, followed by a lecture. This being the Schumann bicentennial, Mark Ainley will share his insights on that composer. Louis Nagel will then present an all-Schumann piano recital. Then, in Christ's Church Cathedral, there's Ian Sadler's organ recital, plus soprano Janet Obermeyer's Lieder recital including Schumann's song cycle, Frauenliebe und –leben. Thursday night, it's the traditional orchestral concert in Hamilton Place. But this time, it won't be with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Citing "philosophical differences" coming "after 10 years of frictionless collaboration, " as Walker put it, the HPO and the GRF are parting company, for the time being.

So, Boris Brott and his National Academy Orchestra have accepted Walker's invitation to fill that void in what will be their GRF début. But it was Brott who suggested that the evening's soloist should be pianist Valerie Tryon. Walker, who had originally pencilled in Tryon for a daytime solo recital, gave her the choice between that and a concerto. Her decision was a no-brainer, all the more so since she and Brott have honed their musical rapport over the past 35 or so years.

With 2010 also being the Chopin bicentennial, Tryon will trot out Chopin's Second Piano Concerto as well as Liszt's Totentanz (Dance of Death) on a bill that also includes Schumann's Manfred Overture and Liszt's symphonic poem, Les Préludes.

But Walker won't have Tryon play on either of Hamilton Place's two grand pianos. Instead, he's having a 9-foot-6 Mason & Hamlin brought in from Burlington for the occasion.

"It produces an exceptionally large sound - essential for such a vast auditorium as the Great Hall, " wrote Walker of the Mason & Hamlin. "I have often been disappointed by the poor sound of the in-house pianos at Hamilton Place, which are neglected and not really good enough for a truly professional concert."

And for the concerts at MacNab Presbyterian, including Saturday afternoon's all-Chopin piano gala (you didn't think any other composer would do, did you?) featuring an array of local and international pianists, the GRF is importing a nine-foot Yamaha grand from Toronto.

And don't forget about the traditional Friday night Con Hall piano recital featuring this year's winner of the Hilton Head Competition, Lukas Vondracek, who'll perform in the presence of the Czech Republic Consul General, or the Saturday night Candlelight Banquet in the Convention Centre's Webster Room. For all the info, check www.artset.net/greatromantics.html.

This Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m., Alok and Abhisek Lahiri with Kiran Morarji on tabla present a sarod duet program with a Q&A session on Indian classical music in McMaster's Kenneth Taylor Hall, Room B135. Free admission. Call 905-525-9140, ext. 27289.

GRF schedule

THURSDAY, OCT. 7
McMaster, Convocation Hall
9:30 a.m.: Opening Remarks
10 a.m.: Mark Ainley's Schumann lecture
11 a.m.: Louis Nagel: Schumann recital

Christ's Church Cathedral, 252 James N.
2 p.m.: Ian Sadler, organ
3 p.m.: Janet Obermeyer, soprano

Hamilton Place
8 p.m.: Tryon, Brott & NAO, $20

FRIDAY, OCT. 8
MacNab Presbyterian, 116 MacNab St. S.
10 a.m.: Miriam Gomez-Moran, piano
11 a.m.: Lenard Whiting, tenor, Schumann's Dichterliebe
2 p.m.: Bill Aide, piano
3 p.m.: chamberWORKS! Wagner & Brahms
4 p.m.: reception

McMaster, Convocation Hall
8 p.m.: Vondracek recital, $20
10 p.m.: reception, CIBC Banquet Hall

SATURDAY, OCT. 9

MacNab Presbtyerian
10 a.m.: Jose Cueto & Nancy Roldan, violin/piano

2 p.m.: Donald Manildi on Chopin

2:30 p.m.: Chopin gala
Convention Centre, Webster Room

7:30 p.m.: Candlelight Banquet, $70

Tickets for a morning or an afternoon $15, student/senior $10. One day pass $25, student/senior $15. An evening concert $20. ‘Rose' package (incl. all events except Candlelight Banquet) $100. Candlelight Banquet $70. Call 905-525-9140 ext. 23674.

Leonard Turnevicius writes on classical music for The Spectator

SUNDAY SEPT 19 -- CLASSICAL CAFE AT ARTWORD ARTBAR CAFE

Classical Covers
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19 at 2 PM

Katherine Mrmak, violin & viola

Lorna Heidt, cello & vocals

A charming selection classical duets for violin and cello, as well as accompanied songs, both covers and originals. A lighthearted mix of serious, whimsical and popular music! Join these outstanding musicians for a relaxed and intimate afternoon of music in an artistic surrounding. Refreshments and food available for purchase. (Licenced LCBO)

Admission $10 (all proceeds go to performers)

Presented in co-operation with the Brott Music Festival and National Academy Orchestra of Canada. The NAO has graduated over 1,100 musicians into the fields of performance, teaching and entrepreneurship over the past 22 years. We are pleased and proud to have our alumni take part in these Artword Artbar performances and applaud owners Judith Sandiford and Ron Weihs for their dedication and foresight in founding this series.  Please support this most worthy cause. We promise it is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon!

The Artword Artbar Cafe is located at 15 Colbourne Street Hamilton ON L8R 2G2 Call 905-543-8512 or cell 905-912-9083 email artword “at” artword.net. By car: from the 403, take the York Blvd exit, go east on York Blvd. Turn left at James Street North. Turn left at Colbourne. We’re right there.By car from the east: from Cannon, turn right at James Street North, and left at Colbourne. Or from Barton turn south.

A Letter from a Patron to Genevieve Leclair

Burlington, ON
August 26, 2010

Dear Genevieve Leclair,
This summer I have been lucky attending four beautiful concerts during the Brott Music Festival's season.
I want to send you this special thank you letter because I enjoyed very much your conucting with so much grace and precision and I liked your neat programme notes. Their details are enjoyable to read. It's worth it to come early to the concerts to have enought time to read them, the historical facts and the depth of their musical expressions.
By the way I had never heard anything by Glick so far, but next to Cimarosa's piece I liked the two movements by Glick the best at the last concert of this summer.
I wish you a happy and successful continuation of your career as a conductor and each day brings joyful musical experiences. Greetings!
Signed,
---- from an old person who loves music.