Musically Rewarding Fortnight

What a wonderful and musical two weeks it had been! On November 10th, Charles Richard-Hamelin walked onto the stage of the Vancouver Playhouse, two years after his debut there, and shared with us his incredible musicality and mature artistry. His performance of works by Schumann and Chopin was one that we will not soon forget. Charles graciously granted the enthusiastic audience two encores – Bach/Cortot’s Arioso from the Concerto in F minor, and Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor (Op. posth). At a special post-concert reception hosted by Vancouver’s Polish Consul, we also celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Poland’s Regained independence.

Exactly a week later, we welcomed back Russian keyboard sensation Nikolay Khozyainov, who made such an impression with us a few years back, that we were happy to have been able to present him again. This time, Nikolay gave us a beautifully varied programme of Chopin, Debussy, and Stravinsky. His playing, especially in his four encores of Liszt’s Grand Galop Chromatique, Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 1, as well as operatic fantasies on themes from Carmen and Marriage of Figaro, conjured up memories of the great virtuosi of the 19th century. At the end of it all, the audience was still on its feet clamoring for more!

Welcome back to Vancouver, Charles and Nikolay. We were so happy to have you back again.