Keep the fire Burning Part 4: In front of an audience with the Mountain View Festival!

When I start complaining about my insistent cat, and how she’s determined to have her own opinions shared during my interview with the Mountain View Festival Artistic Director, her dog very quickly decides to voice his own remonstrations for the recording as well.

Arn’t we here to talk about the first live performance with an audience in over a year for the International Festival of Song and Chamber Music Society? Or are we here to complain about pets? The … Continue Reading >Keep the fire Burning Part 4: In front of an audience with the Mountain View Festival!

Perfect Cadence Wind Quintet: ‘Chamber Music is Conversation Among Friends’

Listen to an excerpt of this interview on Apple Podcasts

We sit down with Jonathan Gresl, the bassoonist of the Perfect Cadence Wind Quintet. and His Fox Renard 222 looks impressive at their recent performance.

“It is not even the most expensive bassoon you can get,” explains Jonathan. “This one is…” … Continue Reading >Perfect Cadence Wind Quintet: ‘Chamber Music is Conversation Among Friends’

From the Beauty to the Pragmatics of Performance: Karl Hirzer and the Calgary Philharmonic

Listen to an excerpt of this interview on Apple Podcasts

MUSICAlive caught up with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s newest Associate Conductor, Karl Hirzer. After some back and forth, the conversation started with the absolute basics.
“What is your job as a conductor?” we ask.
Continue Reading >From the Beauty to the Pragmatics of Performance: Karl Hirzer and the Calgary Philharmonic

Xenia Concerts: A New Way to Listen?

Sarah Nematallah is a violinist in the Cecilia String Quartet, and she and her ensemble are also the founders of Xenia Concerts Inc., for which she is the executive and artistic director. Her performance experience is not limited to the expected carpeted venues, that’s for sure:
“Throughout my career as a violinist, I’ve had the opportunity of performing in incredible concert halls all over the world: in Berlin, in A … Continue Reading >Xenia Concerts: A New Way to Listen?

Happily Hectic: Vincent is Composing His Brains Out!

Vincent Ho is an Ottawa-born classical composer who currently teaches at the University of Calgary and, incidentally, has works being performed and premiered ALL OVER the place, in a happy demonstration of how it’s Good to be Busy. While having lunch at The Palomino, at the heart of Calgary’s downtown, MUSICAlive! congratulated him on this achievement.
Continue Reading >Happily Hectic: Vincent is Composing His Brains Out!