The Orchester symphonique de Montréal (OSM) announced its programming for the 2022-2023 season on Tuesday, the first thought of its new conductor and musical director Rafael Payare. About one hundred events are planned, including two series of concerts with former conductor Kent Nagano, four world premieres, as well as a new concert performed by Dina Gilbert with Dominique Fils-Aimé and Elisapie .
OSM’s 89th season will open on Sept. 14 with Symphony No. 2 by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, a monumental work with a nickname Resurrection which will end with the OSM Chorus. The symphony will be preceded by a world premiere by Thomas Larcher, considered one of the best composers of contemporary music in Austria.
The Symphony No. 2, which will be shown through Sept. 17, is more of the first part of a cycle that will last some time and will include Mahler’s major works, including Symphony No. 5 played in the spring and the Symphony No. 3 at the end of the season.
On September 21 and 22, Rafael Payare will perform Dream of Midsummer Nightone of the most famous works of the German composer, conductor and pianist Felix Mendelssohn, composed for Shakespeare’s comedy of the same name.
Directed by Catherine Vidal, the concert will combine music and excerpts from Shakespeare’s play, and will also feature the OSM Chorus. This will be completed by Nightby Claude Debussy.
Kent Nagano and Bruce Liu at the Maison symphonique
Maestro Kent Nagano, who conducted OSM from 2006 to 2020, will return to the Maison symphonique to the delight of music lovers to present two series of concerts, which will begin with an evening dedicated to Mozart and Schubert, from 22 to November 24.
Then, in February, he will perform at OSM for the first time the young French pianist Alexandre Kantorow, gold medalist of the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019. The latter will perform second concerto by Tchaikovsky, dominated by swansong of Arvo Pärt and the Seventh Symphony by Sibelius.
Another upcoming pianist, Montrealer Bruce Liu, will also be going to the Maison symphonique on April 19 and 20 to play Piano Concerto No. 2 by Chopin, under the baton of Finnish-Ukrainian conductor Dalia Stasevska.
Four world premiere creations
In addition to Thomas Larcher’s creation, which will open in its 89th season, OSM will feature three other world premieres, all commissioned from Canadian composers.
The public will discover for the first time So Simorgh sang by Quebecer Katia Makdissi-Warren (April 16), Melita of artist-in-residence Ana Sokolović (April 26 and 27) as well Violin Concerto No. 2 by Montrealer Tim Brady (Feb. 8 and 9).
Les Cowboys Fringants returned with OSM for a third time
Having received their first two OSM experiences, the Cowboys Fringants are doing it again for the third time by presenting their repertoire in symphonic format, again under the direction of Simon Leclerc, on November 28 and 29 at the Maison symphonique.
In the same spirit, Dominique Fils-Aimé will join OSM for the first time in an unprecedented concert with Elisapie, as guest artist, and Dina Gilbert, as conductor. Her songs are orchestrated by Blair Thomson and the voice of Dominique Fils-Aimé will be enhanced by the show’s 10 singers. There were people at mass. To be seen on May 16 and 17.
The complete program for the 2022-2023 season is available on the OSM website.
Source: Radio-Canada
