A vocally dominating Messiah in Montréal

By Richard Turp, 10 December 2014

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Reviewed at Maison symphonique, Montreal on 9 December 2014

Handel, Messiah

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

Andrew Megill, Conductor

Leslie Ann Bradley, Soprano

Anita Krause, Mezzo-soprano

Pascal Charbonneau, Tenor

Philippe Sly, Bass-baritone

Chœur de l'OSM

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Ian Cochrane, 11th March

Rafael Payare boldly programmes Kinan Azmeh's Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra in a diverse concert bill that also features long-standing Principal Flute Timothy Hutchins.

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A national treasure revisits Montreal: Angela Hewitt plays Mozart

Ian Cochrane, 28th February

Angela Hewitt joins the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for an exquisite rendering of a Mozart concerto, and Leonard Slatkin conducts Tchaikovsky's Winter Daydreams.

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Last minute jump-in Hankyeol Yoon saves the day in Montreal

Ian Cochrane, 21st January

Virtuosic Alina Ibragimova joins the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal for a dynamite performance of Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto, while youthful conductor Hankyeol Yoon leads polished Rachmaninov.

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Payare, Lamsma and the OSM: Korngold and Bartók in Montreal

Ian Cochrane, 3rd December

The Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM), conductor Rafael Payare, and violin soloist Simone Lamsma joined forces in a program that featured seminal works by two musical titans who settled in the United States after fleeing Europe in the mid-twentieth century.

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Faust’s bargain, Berlioz’s triumph in Montréal’s season launch

Ian Cochrane, 17th September

Rafael Payare leads a fevered account of desire, damnation and sonic grandeur, ably supported by Karen Cargill and Andrew Staples.

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Benjamin Grosvenor’s Ravel sparkles in Montreal

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The British are coming! An exciting evening of Ravel and Vaughan Williams with conductor Andrew Manze and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor in Montreal.

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Richard Turp

Born in Montreal but raised in London, Richard Turp has worked in music for the last 30 years in his hometown, first as an operatic tenor and subsequently as an artistic administrator. He is presently Artistic Director of Les Concerts Lachine and the Lachine Music Festival.

Andrew Megill leads a vocally dominating Messiah in Montréal