Effect over Substance in Natalie Dessay's Montreal art song recital

By Marc Wieser, 02 March 2014

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Maison symphonique, Montreal on 1 March 2014

Works by Schumann

Works by Brahms

Works by Duparc

Works by Strauss R.

Works by Fauré

Works by Poulenc

Works by Debussy

Natalie Dessay, Soprano

Philippe Cassard, Piano

Philippe Cassard dons his dancing shoes

Mark Pullinger, 20th November

Waltzing on a Monday evening? Wigmore Hall is not exactly the Tower Ballroom, but last night it did a fair impression as a temple of dance when Philippe Cassard played the third of his Debussy Perspectives series.

****1

Wigmore Hall englouti: Philippe Cassard

Mark Pullinger, 29th October

“Wigmore Hall is flooded now!” confessed Philippe Cassard. It was Claude Debussy who left the tap running, with every form of precipitation – rain, snow, fog – pouring from the Steinway's keyboard, trickling from fountain, springing from river beds.

*****

Fifty shades of Debussy: Philippe Cassard’s masterclass

Mark Pullinger, 27th December

At Wigmore Hall, Philippe Cassard took us on an engrossing picture postcard tour of Debussy’s musical world.

*****

Quatre pianistes près des jardins de Giverny

Alain Lompech, 24th May

Le petit festival de piano organisé par Vanessa Wagner dans le bel auditorium en bois clair du Musée des impressionnismes de Giverny a mis à l'honneur quatre pianistes remarquables.

****1

Haydn cherche son trésor : L'Isola disabitata à l'Opéra de Clermont

Roland Duclos, 3rd February

Réduit au piano et privé de sa fameuse ouverture par Philippe Cassard, l'opéra de Haydn perd un peu de son âme mais bénéficie heureusement d'un quatuor vocal inspiré.

***11

La Fantastique très classique de Hengelbrock au Festival Berlioz

Philippe Ramin, 31st August

La symphonie emblématique du compositeur de La Côte-Saint-André a bénéficié de l'engagement d'un bel Orchestre National de France, malheureusement émoussé par la direction de Thomas Hengelbrock.

**111

More reviews...

Marc Wieser

Marc Wieser is a pianist-musicologist based in Montreal. Specialising in chamber music and vocal repertoire, Marc undertook PhD studies at McGill University, and has presented and performed throughout North America and Europe. Marc is currently the Project Coordinator for the Azrieli Music Project at the Azrieli Foundation, Canada.